Press Releases for June 13, 2007

TOASTED OAK BECOMES THE FIRST SOUTH OKANAGAN RESTAURANT TO BE ACCREDITED BY OCEAN WISE AND BC CULINARY TOURISM
(Directly from the press release.)


Oliver, BC June 9, 2007 -- The Toasted Oak Wine Bar and Grill in Oliver, BC, announces it has achieved accreditation with both Ocean Wise, and BC Culinary Tourism. With the demand for culinary tourism increasing exponentially each year, these are both significant steps in laying the foundation for recognition of the South Okanagan as a culinary destination.

Ocean Wise is a Vancouver Aquarium conservation program created to help restaurants and their customers make environmentally friendly seafood choices. The Ocean Wise symbol featured on menus at participating restaurants assures diners that a seafood dish is guaranteed ocean-friendly by the Vancouver Aquarium.

The British Columbia Culinary Tourism Society (BCCTS) is committed to promoting uniquely British Columbian culinary experiences as a component of the larger promotion of provincial tourism. BCCTS’ promotions also target locals by fostering an awareness of the excellence within BC’s food scene and elaborating upon its connectedness with BC product.

The efforts of Chef Jeffrey Brandt are coming to fruition as he is building upon the quality ingredients that the local community has to offer. “Our menu changes seasonally to take advantage of the changing crops� says Chef Brandt, “we’ve just launched our early summer menu and are excited about the first signs of local strawberries and the abundance of wild mushrooms this year.�

Find out what is on the new Toasted Oak early summer menu by visiting their website at www.winecountry-canada.com. Located in Oliver’s old fire hall, the Toasted Oak Wine Bar and Grill is the culinary component of the Wine Country Welcome Centre. The centre contains the restaurant featuring local ingredients and over 350 BC wines, a BC VQA wine store and a tour company focused on farm, vineyard and culinary tours that will launch this summer.



NEW MANAGEMENT AT AERIE RESORT
(Edited from the Press Release.)

June 13, 2007 – (Victoria, British Columbia) - Egon von Foidl, President and CEO of HRG International, has announced that Patrick Blanch will assume the role of general manager for the Aerie Resort effective June 8, 2007. Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the properety, he will be assisted by his wife Joanne in a role similar to that of European innkeepers - visible as a couple and working as a team.

Blanch, former general manager of the Hearthstone Lodge and Fireside Lodge in Sun Peaks, BC is a former member of the Canadian National Ski Team and regular competitor in the annual Victoria Marathon.

A renewal for the resort will include the addition of Chopard amenities in guest rooms (the first property in North America to carry this line), new beds with luxurious linens, high-tech flat screen plasma televisions, and fresh coats of paint in the guestrooms.

The Aerie Resort, a member of the Relais & Chateaux group, is perched high in the coastal mountains of Vancouver Island, next to the Cowichan Valley, and close to Victoria.




A PRESS RELEASE FROM BONETA (WE THINK)
(The publisher claims no responsibilty for this one)


Dear friends,

3000 square feet in historic Gastown, 40 golden mirrors and one Wolf -- just some of the ingredients creating the sleep deprived fever dream that is Boneta; the modern bistro opening at 1 West Cordova Street in late June (weather permitting).

The trio behind the project, Mark Brand, Neil Ingram and Andre McGillivray became friends while working some of Vancouver’s most celebrated restaurants including Lumiere, Chambar, Le Crocodile and White Spot. Together they hot-wired Bonobo Entertainment Inc. to create Boneta which will boast a peek-a-boo kitchen, locally foraged art, exclusive beers from Brooklyn Brewery complete with historic 1980’s taps, a vindictive cocktail list and a bullet hole riddled bank vault of bottled treats.

Guests will benefit from Boneta’s short attention span; a constantly changing menu and an unpredictable wine list ensure valid excuses for frequent visits. Happily, the entire enterprise is replete with enough reclaimed, recycled and sustainable material to wash the most thorough wallow in decadence shiny clean (weather permitting).

Chef Jeremie Bastien, most recently of Lumiere, hails from a family of successful restaurateurs in Quebec. Literally born into the industry, Jeremie’s mother welcomed her son after a ferocious Valentine’s Day service at her restaurant Le Mitoyen. At age 25 this life long gourmet takes the lead in the kitchen showcasing his culinary chops while cooking underwater in the world’s first chef-inclusive sous-vide chamber (weather permitting).

Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner as well as offering a respectable F#&* Off Friday lunch - a tradition in the making.

Love Boneta
XOXO