THE MEDIA HOUND
THIS WEEK'S LOCAL INK

Read these before you get yer butt off the couch. Nancy Lanthier has rounded up the links to our local inksters and their latest reviews for Transcontinental, Posh, Marrakech Morroccan Bistro, Brown's Social Club in Yaletown, Shalizar and the Lazy Bay Caf and Bakery. ... READ IT ALL HERE.

Here's our Highlight for the week:

Hey, gimme a high five! The Wine Diva has come up with a fun and revealing item -- a continuously updating electronic gage that twirls, whirls and coughs up the names of the five most highly rated wines by visitors to the site. You can almost hear the drum roll as it operates. TRY IT OUT! Top Five Wines (Just posted today!)

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TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES
(September 28, 2007)
(Edited from the press release)

Fuel Restaurant will celebrate the bounty of fall with their first annual 'Whole Hog' dinner. The 5 course menu will incorporate pork in each and every dish, paying homage to many seldom utilized cuts of the animal. “We are happy to work with Dirk at Sloping Hills Farms� says Executive Chef Robert Belcham, “he has brought organic farming to the next level and it really shows through in the quality of his pork.�

Fuel Restaurant uses an extensive network of organic farmers and purveyors. Robert and his team are very excited to incorporate the very best of the local bounty to highlight the incredible flavours of this very special pork.

The ‘Whole Hog’ menu will be available from October 17th – 20th at Fuel Restaurant. The five course menu is $55.00; add $35 for wine pairings chosen by Sommelier Tom Doughty. Pork Selections to be featured on the ‘Whole Hog’ menu include: House-made Charcuterie, Braised Crown Bacon, Stuffed Pig’s Ear, Crispy Sweetbreads and Roasted Saddle.

Fuel is open for lunch Monday to Friday from 12:00pm – 2:30 p.m., and dinner seven nights a week from 5:30 p.m. 1944 West 4th Avenue (@ Cypress), Vancouver BC. 604-288-7905.


Filed in DAILY NEWS/Press Releases.

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NEW BOOKS FOR FALL
MY LAST SUPPER: 50 Great Chefs and Their Final Meals

WINE OF THE WEEK

Filed in DRINK/Obscure Little Canadian Wines.

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TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES
(September 27, 2007)

Vince Piccolo officially announces the opening of his 49th Parallel Coffee Roaster in Kitsilano.

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DINE AND DASH
THE LEGEND OF FEENIE


We received notice this morning that the BCAMA are having their “Marketer of the Year� Gala tonight at the Westin Bayshore. Although invited, we won’t be attending because to tell the truth, the thought of being trapped in a ballroom filled with Marketers makes us break out in hives. However, it is interesting to see that this year’s award recipient is the White Spot.

As stated in the invitation:

“The evening will feature a welcome reception, dinner and a presentation on how White Spot transformed itself from a legendary diner to a contemporary dining experience.�

Okay, just our opinion, but should they really be getting an award for this? ... Like, isn’t that going backwards?

Whatever … White Spot Executive Chef Chuck Currie and Chef Rob Feenie will be doing the “presentation� during the evening and they are always kind of cute together.

And speaking of Mr. Feenie …. Lately it has baffled us that so much attention has been focused on Feenie’s little conniption at the Feast of Fields event when so many bigger fireworks have been going on at Lumiere itself. And what’s up with that? According to who you talk to, or what you care to believe, the following has gone down, and all of it or none of it may be true. ... CONTINUE READING.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Dine and Dash

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DINE AND DASH
LENGTHEN YOUR PRIVATES AND MAKE MORE FRIENDS: Blue Water Expands Private Dining Room


Business is busy as usual at the Top Table Group, last night they hosted the “Bright Lights� Red Carpet Event for the Vancouver Film Festival at CinCin , and over at the Blue Water Cafe and Raw Bar they are getting closer to opening their new, expanded private dining room.

The expansion will move into the space next door that was formerly inhabited by a cigar store. Hence they’ve managed to kill two birds with one sledgehammer. 1) The elimination of the stinky cigar fumes that would sometimes leak into Blue Water’s side of the drywall, and 2) They have nearly tripled the private dining space from a limiting sit down capacity of 24, up to 60+ (seated), or in the case of a cocktail party, 100+ standing. ... CONTINUE READING.


Filed in RESTAURANTs/News and Rumours.

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TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES
(September 26, 2007)

With 79 wineries participating, this year's Okanagan Fall Wine Festival (starting this weekend) promises to be the biggest one yet.
Here's some of the highlights.


At Memphis Blues in North Vancouver a performance from a Double D entertainer now comes with the meal.

The Cioppino Cookbook is now in stock at Barbara-Jos Books to Cooks and there is a going to be a party.

Ron Shewchuk runs to find a cure for breast cancer.

The Canadian Cookbook Awards have announced their short listed entries, and the two westcoast contenders are ....

Why did the escargots cross the Golden Gate Bridge? They are going to the 1st Slow Food Nation in San Francisco planned for May 2008.

REGIONAL REPORT
WHATS NEW AND HAPPENING IN VICTORIA THIS FALL


RED FISH BLUE FISH OPENS WITH A GREEN TWIST
THE CURTAIN RISES ON CAPITAL ARTS FESTIVAL
BREAD AND WHEAT FESTIVAL
FROM WINE TO WHISKY, CIDER TO CALVADOS
ANNUAL SALMON RUN AND EAGLE EXTRAVAGANZA SPAWN IN VICTORIA

Click here to find out more about these upcoming events.


Filed by Holly Lenk.

Filed in REGIONAL/Victoria.

THE MEDIA HOUND
YOU KNOW YOU'VE MADE IT WHEN....

... your personal list of faves shows up as a full page in the New York Times Travel Magazine and a slide show on their website. Vancouver Designer Raif Adelberg got this kind of validation last Sunday, and in return, he passes on the favour to the Irish Heather pub and Vij's restaurant.


In Store - Northern Star: The Vancouver Designer Raif Adelberg shows of Canada's Capital of Cool.

WHO'S GOT IT - THE BUZZ METER For - SEPTEMBER 28, 2007

PLACES:

1) Transcontinental - Restaurant, Gastown, North Vancouver,
2) Italian Kitchen - Restaurant, Downtown, Vancouver
3) Brown's Social Club - Restaurant, Yaletown, Vancouver
4) Cascade Room - Restaurant, Main St., Vancouver
5) Boneta - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
6) Shashuka - Restaurant, East side., Vancouver
7) Pala Lago - Restaurant, Cultus Lake
8) Bonfire - Restaurant, Westbank
9) Phoscao Cafe - Cafe, North Vancouver
10) Cobre - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver

THINGS:

1) Restaurant trends
2) new restaurants in Gastown
3) Top Chef Vancouver
4) food marketing strategies - tricks and tactics
5) Have Culinary training

MOST INEXPLICABLE CONNECTION:

Cityfood in Germany

NUMBER OF COUNTRIES LOGGING IN: 129
NUMBER OF CITIES WORLDWIDE (visiting yesterday): 61. Number 61 was West Hollywood. This town was the first in the US to ban cat declawing, gas-powered leaf blowers, use of the term "pet owner"(in favour of "pet guardian"), and to elect a majority gay city council.