Singapore Chli Crabs, Seafood at Coast and Glowbal, Cascade Room Opens, Brooklyn Brewery, Updates for Chambar, Westside, PlanB, the District, Deuce,

EATING IN SEASON
Seafood That Goes Swimingly with Summer ...

Singapore Chili Crabs in particular, because after you've eaten one, you want to take a dip in the ocean.

The messy but delicious dish of Singapore Chili Crab is widely recognized as a Singapore food icon and an unofficial “national� recipe. In Asia (and also New York), festivals are held annually to celebrate the dish (crabs cooked in a rich piquant tomato gravy loaded with fresh chili, garlic and other spices) whenever the crustaceans are in season.

Until August 31, Prima Taste at 570 Robson Street is having a Chili Crab Festival right here in Vancouver. The technique for eating them is to crack the shell with a nutcracker or your fingers, eat the succulent meat and then mop up the sauce with bread or ‘man tous’ (Chinese buns). Perfect with beer.

While quantities last, Prima will be making the whole crabs available for $25 (when the minimum spend at the table is $60.) Sorry, only one crab per table at this price, otherwise more platters are available at $38.

Also featured during this promotion is another crab favourite – The Black Pepper Crab (shown above right). A staple in Singapore restaurants, this dish features thick, black pepper sauce with a zesty blend of spices and XO liquor. Reserve either at 604-685-7881.
























For those in search of something less spicy but just as tasty, Chef Sean Riley has a Chef’s Table dinner coming up at Coast restaurant on August 23, 24 and 25 that will feature lobster and scallops. Price is $60 per person with wine pairings option available.

There will be two seatings each night for these dinners, 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Call 604-685-5010 for reservations. Coast Restaurant is at 1257 Hamilton St.

Don't forget that Coast and Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar are both currently offering BC seafood menu specials until August 15th. See This Weekend's Calendar Listings for menu details.


Filed in FOOD/In Season ... and ...RESTAURANTS/Chef's Specials






RESTAURANT NEWS

Welcome to The Cascade Room.
(Directly from the press release.)

We are pleased to announce the "imminent" opening of The Cascade Room.

Who are we? You may know of a little spot on Main Street called Habit!. Due to the overwhelming response from the neighbourhood we have decided to venture forth with a new restaurant concept (third if you include Tangerine, 1999-2005).

The Cascade Room is located at 2616 Main Street, next door to Habit, and consists of the same ownership group of Nigel Pike, Wendy Nicolay, David Nicolay and Robert Edmonds. This time we have brought along some friends. Managing the bar will be Vancouver Magazine's current "Bartender of the Year", Nick Devine, while in the kitchen Travis Williams, previously of Blue Water Restaurant and Adesso will be preparing the food.

Why Cascade? ... Continue Reading.


Filed in DAILY NEWS/The Greater Details ... and ... RESTAURANTS/News and Rumours.





THE MEDIA HOUND

When the first ten word search combinations on the CF keyword counter came in and they were: Gill + Transcontinental, Globe and Mail + Transcontinental, Alex Gill and train place, etc. ... Well, we sort of twigged in that Alexandra Gill had chosen The Trans Continental as the subject of this week's restaurant review.

And so she has. Read it here All Aboard for a Hearty, Extravagant Meal.

No one who writes about this place can resist saying "All Aboard", can they?

The Vancouver Sun did, as we did too. read here.


Filed in MEDIA/ This week's local ink.





TWO OFFSPRING IN THE WORKS

One more ETA for a new restuarant -- the next door sidekick to Chambar that has been on hold since rumours about it began circulating in early spring.

Owners Nico and Karri Schuerman report that two things have kicked progress on that project into the slow lane. One of course is the City workers' strike, which has locked up the filing cabinets of all licensing departments; the other is the imminent arrival of the Schuerman's second baby (due next month).

They are also waiting on tenants located near the back of the building to move out before they can begin the renovation necessary to offer their full breakfast and lunch concept. "In the meantime", says Karri, "the space will be used as a 'coffee & waffle shop' - with damn fine coffee!" In the evening the space will be utilized as a private function room for Chambar.

No name has been chosen for the new cafe yet. Any suggestions? Send them to Info@Chambar.com

Filed in RESTAURANTS/News and rumours



DINE AND DASH

From the unconfirmed rumours department ….


GIANNI PICCHI HAS LEFT WESTSIDE

It sounds like Chef Gianni Picchi’s dream of owning the West Vancouver restaurant he was once employed by has turned into a nightmare.

Ambleside residents who have recently attempted to visit the only months old Westside restaurant (formerly the Beachside Café), had been mystified by its frequent and erratic closing times. Now there seems to be a permanent “Closed for Renovations� sign on the door.� ... Continue Reading.


File in DAILY NEWS/ Dine and Dash



And now for the news that has been confirmed …


PLAN B PUSHED BACK TO SEPTEMBER

Glenn Cormier reports that he is now looking at a late September opening for his Plan B restaurant (due to arrive at 1144 Homer St. in Yaletown.) As it did for other restaurateurs with works in progress, the city strike brought the forward momentum for getting all the necessary inspections and licenses to a screeching halt.

Ryan Zuvich is still on board as chef. He just got back from spending the early part of the summer in some high profile kitchens in England and Europe. Says Cormier, “I myself prefer to relax on my vacations, I guess he prefers to work.�



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THE CASCADE ROOM AND THE DISTRICT DUE TO OPEN ANY DAY

Nigel Pike and partners is also just mere days away from introducing their new Cascade Room which will be located next door to their Habit Lounge on Main Street. Travis Williams (ex LK Dining Lounge, Adesso Bistro and Blue Water), has signed on as as Head Chef, and Nick Devine (ex George) wil be Bar Manager.

Other than that, compared to all the activity in Gastown, things are quiet on Main, except for the fact that Monsoon closed at the end of the month and Soma re-opened on 8th and Main.





After first mentioning them in early June, it would appear that Paul Mon-Kau, Chef Brett Turner and their partners are now ready to open their small restaurant, the District, at the foot of Lonsdale. The reason we thought their blog was stalled -- We were reading it upside down. Oops. Accustomed to blogs that place new material at the top, we didn’t think to scroll down through the old stuff for the new postings. Yup, we're the dummies.

Previously Turner worked in the kitchens of a number of restaurants including the Beach House in West Vancouver. Mon-Kau sold restaurant equipment and fixtures at Genesis.




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DEUCE NOW OPEN

And as for one of the District’s neighbours further up Lonsdale, Deuce, yes, it's finally open. Despite the forced cancellation of their big party, also thanks to the stirke, everyone seems to have found the place anyway. As of today they are open for lunch, and looking lovely we might add. See their website and photos here.






Filed in RESTAURANTS/ News and Rumours.

PLACES:

1) Cobre - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
2) Memphis Blues Kelowna - Restaurant, Kelowna
3) TransContinental - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
4) So.Cial at le Magasin - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
5) Sanafir - Restaurant, Downtown, Vancouver

THINGS:

1) 100 mile menus on Vancouver Island
2) Hong Kong style restuarants in Vancouver
3) Rogers chocolates
4) Breganze Frizzante
5) Osake Granville Island

MOST INEXPLICABLE CONNECTION:

(none today)

NUMBER OF COUNTRIES LOGGING IN: 222
NUMBER OF CITIES WORLDWIDE (visiting yesterday): 50 (#50 was Babylon, New York)