THE MEDIA HOUND

The Local Ink

The food mafia have filed their copy for the week and it's all in our newsroom. Boneta is reviewed by both the Globe and Mail and the Westender, and Metro gets the once over from the Vancouver Sun and the Courier. Good on the Georgia Straight for making a surprise visit to Bistrot Bistro, long after they probably thought they were safe from the dog pilers. Meanwhile, over at the Province, Mark Laba just gets cheap.

DINE AND DASH

Are we getting a new culinary pocket in the city? Here's the latest from Joe Chaput at les amis du Fromage.

les amis du FROMAGE is expanding .... Plans have started for our new production kitchen at 845 East Hastings to keep up with the popular demand for our frozen home replacement meals. Located in Vancouver's up and coming Strathcona neighborhood, the 12,000 square foot facility will not only include much needed warehouse space, it will also house new cheese caves custom built to nurture and age cheese to perfection. Long term, there are plans for a possible third retail store. The new facility will be just minutes from downtown Vancouver, Gastown and is within walking distance to Caren McSherry's Gourmet Warehouse, Chinatown and some of the city's best restaurant supply stores.

CALENDAR UPDATE - Weekend Crazy

Is it too early to start thinking about the weekend?

Jeez! If you get bored this weekend, it's because you have no imagination. Even being broke is no excuse because a number of events taking place between Friday and Sunday are free; although you may need to get organized about it and register ahead.

We'll be supporting our own neighbourhood's activities at the Yaletown Street Party, but there's also the Cambie Village Appreciation Day, the Camp Yoomba Yogathon at UBC, Car Free Day on Commercial Drive, an Arts and Cultural Festival in Chinatown, the Bowen Island Summer Market (along with all the other municipal farmers' markets), Capers Birthday Party at the Cambie Store, plus a fish taco party, various barbecue parties, nutrition seminars, a cidery open house on Vancouver Island, an alfresco dinner at a Sorrento farm, and a lot of other things that won't help you squeeze into that bathing suit ... but, oh Hell.

If the loonies in your pocket are feeling restless with all that improved exchange advantage and you think you can brave the border crossing line ups, you can even take them for a spin down to Washington and try out the annual Taste of Seattle Festival.

You'll find all the information plus links and maps in our "This Weekend Calendar Section. Vancouverites who want to stick close to home can check the Vancouver Only version. Did we forget anything? Probably. We'll continue to check around and if we find more, we'll add it in.

And now, about that weather ....

THIS WEEK'S ROSE PICK IS:

LOUIS JADOT ROSE DE MARSANNAY
Burgundy France, 2006

Rosé purists often shun the new world pinks, because they associate them with contrived and cloying, candy-like wines. So here's one for the purists ... CONTINUE READING....

Filed in DRINK/A Bouquet of Rosé.

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TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES

Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge, has created a series of special menus that promise to take guests on a `Silk Route' excursion from the West to the East.


H.A.V.E. is a group of advocates in support of the downtown eastside who are trying to resurrect the Cook Studio food services training facility originally started by Chef James Kennedy.

They have managed to get many talented people on board with the project but still need to raise funds in order to initiate the programs they have in mind.

They are asking for charitable donations to keep the doors open. Any amount will help, so if you would like to make a donation or include the project as the charitable recepient for your next promotional project, you may contact Janice Walsh at 604-454-8039 (jwalsh@telus.net) or Amber Anderson 604-696-9026 (hcts@telus.net). See more info here.

Like the food and agriculture projects you may be suppporting, charitable efforts are also most rewarding when your dollars go to work locally, and in this case you will be helping people of the downtown eastside regain confidence and life skills.

The ink must have finally dried on the contracts. Two weeks and some management renegociating after we expected it, the
official pre-announcement for the Loden Hotel was released into the email universe today.



Cobre issues a first press release concerning their July 25th opening, and in typical Latino fashion they have a lot to say about it.
Find the full press release in the "Press Release" section. Or read the abbreviated overview plus the full menu and additional facts in the Restaurant News Section.


Filed in DAILY NEWS/Press Releases - Greater Details and RESTAURANTS/News

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RATATOUILLE VERSUS RATATOUILLE
Or how to fake it when you don't have a tiny gourmet chef under your hat.

Find out here.

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DINE AND DASH

Hand out the chocolate cigars!

A big "welcome to the world" to twins, Amelia and Julian Laba, born to Province restaurant critic Mark Laba and his wife Karen on Sunday, July 15.

Amelia, at 6 lbs, arrived just ahead of her brother Julian (5 lbs, 8 oz.), at 4 a.m.

"Peaches" is doing well ... and Dad, big brother Eli, Jason "Poppa" and Grandma ("the Law") are recovering from all the excitement too.

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