Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Elixir Bistro are having a Thanksgiving Dinner, Taste of Yaletown, Sunday jazz brunch plus other promotions.

The Smoking Dog Bistro are featuring an October Feast and Sunday Roast.  Call 604-732-8811 for more information.

Directly from the Blue Water Cafe Press Release:

Blue Water Cafe Welcomes Montes Wines

Exclusive Winemaker’s Dinner Hosts Chile’s Premium Winery

Where: Wine Room @ Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
When:  Monday, October 5th, 2009
Time:   Reception begins at 6:00 PM
Price:  $119 plus tax & gratuity

Blue Water Cafe wine director Andrea Vescovi’s recent wine tour of Chile left him deeply impressed by the escalating excellence of its wines. But it was a visit to Montes Wine’s dramatic Apalta Valley winery, and a sampling of its Alpha and Folly wines, that convinced him to invite Montes to partner in a winemaker’s dinner at the restaurant.

On Monday, October 5th, Aurelio Montes Jr. will host a descriptive evening outlining Montes extraordinary progress: Wine Spectator recently awarded the 2006 Montes Alpha M and Montes Folly 94 points each.

“I was inspired and impressed with the story of the winery,” Vescovi says. “The drive that Mr. Montes displays can only be matched by the quality of his wines.”

Set in the Blue Water Cafe’s stunning private wine room, executive chef Frank Pabst and his talented brigade will prepare a multi-course seasonal menu to marry with each of the Montes mountainside plantation-grown wines, which Wine Spectator noted are “Rich and lush, but with superb poise and a huge core of crushed plum, raspberry ganache and macerated currant fruit.”

Call 604 688 8078 to reserve your place at the table. Seats are limited!

Directly from the Two Chef’s and a Table Press Release

Two Chefs and a Table are celebrating Thanksgiving this year with a menu that starts with the peerless and rare lamb from Polderside Farms and is completed with locally farmed traditional turkey and vegetables. The five-course menu offers the best value in town and covers a spectacular range of tastes including freshly prepared lamb pate, in-house butchered leg of lamb, and seasonal desserts made from scratch.

The Polderside Farms lamb used in this dinner is one of only four that were available this season. They raise Jacob’s Sheep, a heritage lamb, easily distinguishable from more domestic lambs by its black and white fleece and horns. It’s a hardy, adaptable species that’s well suited to organic husbandry methods. According to Virginia Jacobsen of Polderside “The heritage lamb has a finer meat texture, with a bold lamb taste . . . simply scrumptious!”

Thanksgiving Dinner will be served Saturday and Sunday October 10th and 11th on the holiday weekend and will be only $44 for the five courses. The full menu details are below and reservations are recommended.

If your Thanksgiving is already booked up, there are a number of other ways to enjoy a meal made with the delicious Polderside Lamb starting with loin and rack chops on this week’s fresh sheet. Upcoming highlights include house made lamb ravioli and sausage along with the next Wine Drinker Dinner which is set to go Wednesday September 30th.

For reservations or more information call them at 778-233-1303.

Directly from the Spinasse Press Release:

NEW CHEF AND HOURS BRING EXCITING CHANGES AT CASCINA SPINASSE

Chef Jason Stratton is now at the helm of the Spinasse kitchen. We welcome you to revisit the restaurant and discover the innovative spin that this up-and-coming new chef puts on Spinasse’s acclaimed Piedmontese-inspired menu.

Additionally, please make note and update any appropriate listings that the hours of Spinasse have changed:

Open for dinner nightly
Sunday through Thursday 5 to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 5 to 11 p.m.

Directly from the Foodportunity Press Release:

SEATTLE, WA- September 28, 2009: The second “Foodportunity,” a series of networking events for Seattle food professionals, will take place on November 2nd, 2009, from 6pm to 9pm at Tom Douglas’s Palace Ballroom.

Attendees are expected to include local food writers, bloggers, restaurateurs, food producers, PR professionals and other companies from the food and hospitality industry.

Following the sold-out success of the first Foodportunity in July, Seattle event planner and food blogger Keren Brown has invited three particularly successful restaurant entrepreneurs to tell their stories and give tips for succeeding in Seattle’s culinary world.

The evening will begin promptly at 6 PM with presentations by the panel:

Thierry Rautureau (proprietor of Rover’s and the soon-to-open Luc, author of “The Chef in the Hat” cookbook)

Ethan Stowell (with four restaurants - How to Cook a Wolf , Anchovies & Olives, Tavolata and Union)

Kurt Dammeier (Beecher’s Cheese, Maximus Minimus, Pasta & Co, Bennett’s Pure Food Bistro and a cookbook, “Pure Flavor”.

An audience Q&A session will be moderated by Mina Williams, editor of the online restaurant industry magazine NorthwestStir.com.

Following the panel presentation, Foodportunity participants will enjoy appetizers from several of Seattle’s most talked about restaurants, contact with food companies, and for the first 40 to send email to info@foodportunity.com , a “speed networking” session. “Speed networking is the best way to meet 20 people in 20 minutes,” Brown says.

Tom Douglas, awarded National Restaurant of the Year by Bon Appetit magazine and a national James Beard nominee for Restaurateur of the Year, will provide his Palace Ballroom facilities to host the event and serve appetizers along with other local restaurant favorites. Seven additional participating restaurants are: Rover’s, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, La Spiga, Lunchbox Laboratory, Joule, Cafe Campagne and Beecher’s Cheese. DiStefano winery will pour its wines, and a wide range of food products from local sponsors will be on display.

Foodportunity is open to food journalists, bloggers, public relations professionals, restaurateurs, farmers and all food-passionate people. Admission is $25 (plus tax and booking fees; $30 after October 7th) which includes bites and a glass of wine. Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/84687

Palace Ballroom is located at 2100 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle. More information is available online at Foodportunity.com.

GK Media Inc is pleased to present a New Feature Article:

Food Ontario Select Guide: Bread

Directly from the VSO Press Release:

VANCOUVER, BC – The Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets series begins on the afternoon of Thursday, October 1st. Hosted by Christopher Gaze of Bard on the Beach fame, with most concerts conducted by VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell, Tea & Trumpets is a 6-concert series of light and popular classics on Thursday afternoons at 2pm, at the Orpheum Theatre.

The Tea & Trumpets series began in 1989 as the brainchild of Otto Lowy, the host of CBC Radio’s long-running musical series The Transcontinental. His vision was to bring the idea of his radio show – a blend of European music and personal recollection – into a concert format. Lowy, who passed away in 2002, had passed on the torch to Bard on the Beach founder, Christopher Gaze. Lowy was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame for his 50+ years of work in theatre and fittingly awarded a star at the Orpheum Theatre’s Walk of Fame.

Since 1989, the series has grown from four concerts per season to six and is one of the VSO’s most successful subscription series. Tea & Trumpets is truly a social experience, with tea and cookies presented in the lobby one hour before each concert begins; in fact, it acts as a communal gathering place and special event for concert goers from all over Greater Vancouver.

Behind the scenes of a Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets series concert is a complex event involving over 50 volunteers per concert responsible for front of house duties, tea and cookie service, clean up, and special assistance to patrons. The VSO is thankful to its many dedicated volunteers who help make this concert series possible.

The VSO is grateful to Pacific Arbour for their generous ongoing support of the Tea & Trumpets series. Pacific Arbour Group builds ideal communities for seniors – they create quality residences that provide safe, comfortable places for seniors to enjoy first rate services and amenities, within convenient neighbourhoods. Please visit them at: www.pacificarbourgroup.ca.

The VSO also thanks Tetley Tea and Peek Freans for the tea and cookies served at Tea & Trumpets.

Directly from the VSO Press Release:

VANCOUVER, BC – The VSO proudly presents acclaimed pianist Garrick Ohlsson on October 3rd and 5th, 8pm at the Orpheum Theatre. Mr. Ohlsson will perform Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ Piano Concerto No. 5 with a special performance of the beautiful, lyrical Sibelius Symphony No. 2 in the second half. Balakirev’s rarely heard In Bohemia kicks off this concert. Maestro Bramwell Tovey conducts.

CONCERT INFO

Masterworks Diamond Series:

Saturday and Monday, October 3 and 5, 8pm

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Garrick Ohlsson, piano

Balakirev                             In Bohemia

Beethoven                         Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Emperor

Sibelius                               Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Directly from the Chef’s Society Press Release:

Seconds Anyone?

An assembly of Vancouver’s top chefs offer delicious fare in Vancouver Cooks 2
from the Chefs’ Table Society of BC and publishing house Douglas & McIntyre

Vancouver, BC - Five years after Vancouver Cooks, which sold more than 13,000 copies, the Chefs’ Table Society of BC returns with over 100 new recipes from 70 cutting edge chefs around Vancouver, Whistler, the Okanagan Valley and Vancouver Island, including: Pino Posteraro of Cioppino’s, Tojo Hidekazu of Tojo’s Restaurant, Vikram Vij of Vij’s, Melissa Craig of Bearfoot Bistro, Rob Feenie of The Cactus Club, Ned Bell of Cabana, Lisa Ahier of Sobo, John Bishop of Bishop’s and David Hawksworth of Hawksworth at the Hotel Georgia.

Divided into four sections that focus in turn on local food, international flavours, emerging talents and the province’s pioneering chefs, Vancouver Cooks 2 celebrates the key elements that have forged Vancouver’s unique culinary culture and made the city a world-class dining destination. We also see the industry behind the scenes, understanding its heritage and the innovative strides Vancouver chefs have taken and continue to take in pushing our restaurant community ever forward.

Written for the home cook, Vancouver Cooks 2 pairs more than 50 full-colour photographs with the mouthwatering, locally inspired recipes, each paired with wine notes, featuring leading BC wineries.

The Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia is a province-wide collaborative dedicated to creating a foundation for the exchange of information between culinary professionals. The society supports innovative and sustainable programs that inspire, educate and nurture BC’s chefs, producers and the local food industry at large. They promote standards of excellence with the aim of enhancing the reputation of our regional cuisine.

Royalties from the sale of Vancouver Cooks 2 go to the Chefs’ Table Scholarship and Bursary Fund. For more information visit:

www.chefstablesociety.com

GK Media Inc is pleased to be presenting an ongoing collection of recipes from various cookbooks.
The recipe that will be featured today is English Pea Soup from the new Araxi cookbook.

To download all of the recipes please use the recipe iPod guide or go to the Recipes page.

To have a chance to win a copy of the Araxi cookbook, please enter our October 29th, 2009 newsletter draw.

Directly from the Eat! & Drink BC Press Release

Eat & Drink BC! launches October 1st - Bring Your Appetite for the Best of British Columbia

September 21, 2009 - Vancouver, BC

The fourth annual Eat & Drink BC! program launches October 1, 2009, and promises to deliver some of  BC’s best dishes. With over 150 establishments across the Province serving up BC’s best bounty, there is certain to be something for everyone.

This year’s program encompasses a wide spectrum of restaurants at a variety of price points throughout the Province.  Restaurants will be providing either a 3 course menu at varying price points (under $20, under $30, under $40 or $40) or a BC Bundle - consisting of one or two uniquely BC items.

Eat & Drink BC! program now is in its fourth year, found itself in the  unique position of having to decide to continue this program or not.  Funding that had been provided by the government in past years was no longer available.  When asked why the BCRFA felt it was crucial to continue this program despite the lack of support,  Ian Tostenson, President and CEO had this to say ” The buy local initiative behind this program has multiple effects for the Province’s economy.  Dining programs with consumer value drives much needed restaurant sales, chefs and restaurateurs support our local growers when they buy their product, and marketing encourages consumers to buy local whenever and wherever they can.”  to not continue the program was not really an option.

The program was also extremely fortunate to have the support of previous presenting sponsor BCAA return, along with our gold sponsor BC fresh, and new sponsors this year Vincor and Pure Blue.  “Without the generous support of our sponsors, none of this would be possible” says Sharron Tulk, Director of Marketing.  “In this economy, we are so grateful that these companies see the value that this program has to offer.  Supporting this program shows their commitment to being business leaders in the Province.”

To kick off the program and drive awareness, the Eat & Drink BC team will be hosting  booths at BC farmer’s markets in North Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria on Saturday, September 26th.  .

Vancouver

Day :               Saturday, September 26
Time:               10am-3pm
Location:          East Plaza at Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver, 123 Carrie Cates Court

Kelowna

Day :               Saturday, September 26
Time:               8am-1pm
Location:          Corner of Dilworth drive and Springfield Road

Victoria

Day :               Saturday, September 26
Time:               10am-2pm
Location:          1330 Fairfield Road, Victoria

Directly from the Mission Hill Press Release:

Mission Hill Family Estate to host BC’s Premier Celebrity Chefs Okanagan Book Launch & Charity Dinner: Chefs’ Table Society, Vancouver Cooks 2

West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia (September 22, 2009) - WEST KELOWNA, OKANGAN VALLEY, BC - SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 - Forget what you’ve heard about too many cooks in the kitchen, Mission Hill Family Estate will host the official launch of the Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia cookbook, Vancouver Cooks 2, with an exclusive reception and five-course dinner, October 9. Sharing the evening’s spotlight with Mission Hill’s Winery Chef Matthew Batey are four of British Columbia’s premier chefs, including: Pino Posteraro of Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill, Vikram Vij of Vij’s and Rangoli, Ned Bell of Cabana Bar and Grille, and Rob Feenie of Cactus Club Restaurants.

A reception in the Wine Shop will kick off the festivities, with an optional tour for guests of the underground Barrel Cellar. A sumptuous five-course wine and food pairing will follow in Mission Hill’s Chagall Room, named for the exquisite tapestry by Russian-born painter Marc Chagall that adorns the room - one of only 29 Chagall tapestries ever made.

Guests will enjoy a culinary homage to British Columbia with delicious selections prepared by the all-star chef line-up. The menu features cookbook-inspired dishes by the chefs paired with Mission Hill’s premium wines a sampling includes fennel marinated sablefish with Reserve Riesling, seared Qualicum scallops and squash ravioli with Perpetua, and south Okanagan Valley venison with Quatrain.

Completing the evening will be a special take-home gift — each guest will receive a copy of the Chefs’ Table Society cookbook, Vancouver Cooks 2 with the authors available for personalized book signings.

Later this autumn, Mission Hill will also be offering a special Chefs Table Society culinary workshop at the winery based on recipes from the new cookbook.

Details:
Chefs’ Table Society Book Launch
Reception and Dinner
Mission Hill Family Estate, Chagall Room

Date: Friday, October 9, 2009
Time: 6:30 - 11:00 pm
Cost: $175 plus taxes (per person)

Directly from the Tourism Whistler Press Release:

Whistler Spa Escapes - relax, unwind and rejuvenate in a picture perfect mountain setting

Whistler, B.C. - Relax and rejuvenate mind, body, and soul during Whistler Spa Escapes this fall. Ten participating spas in Whistler are offering visitors the ability to unwind and revitalize - and save up to 50 per cent on spa services and wellness products from now through November 2, 2009.

Combine these heavenly spa specials with exceptional accommodation rates, fresh mountain air, award-winning restaurants, a spectrum of shops and limitless activities - and you’ll want to get here fast, and then slow down.

Leave the stress of a busy summer behind and indulge in a variety of treatments and specials, including manicures, pedicures, facials, massage treatments, body scrubs and more.

Participating spas are:
Avello Spa & Health Club (at the Westin Resort & Spa)
Beauty of Whistler Esthetic Services
Blue Highways Shiatsu and Massage
Eco Chic Spa Whistler
Loka Wellness & Yoga (at Nita Lake Lodge)
Solarice Spa
Spa at Four Seasons Resort Whistler
Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa
Vida Wellness Spa (at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler)
Vital Spirit Spa

A full list of specials and promotions is available by visiting www.whistler.com/spa_escapes/.

Spa Escapes has teamed up with VISA to offer a special promotion. Use your VISA to purchase a Spa Escapes service at one of the participating spas and you will automatically be entered to a chance to win the ultimate Whistler pamper package**. One grand prize consists of a half day spa treatment for two, a $150 CAD dinner certificate plus accommodation in Whistler.

GK Media Inc is pleased to present a New Feature Article:

Food Seattle Select Guide: Tomatoes

Directly from the Fuel Restaurant Press Release:

Vancouver, BC – The abundance of autumn takes the spotlight this November at Kitsilano’s Fuel Restaurant. The third annual ‘Whole Hog’ dinner will feature a five-course menu that promises to utilize pork in each and every dish—including dessert. The event celebrates and pays homage to many seldom-used cuts and showcases pork’s versatility. Executive Chef Robert Belcham has taken care to source the finest pork he can find. “We are happy to work with Dirk at Sloping Hills Farms” says Belcham, “he has brought ethical farming to the next level and it really shows through in the quality of his pork.”

Sloping Hills is just one of the many local farmers and purveyors Fuel Restaurant has connected with to create a network for sourcing the finest ingredients. Belcham 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 November 25, 26 and 27 at Fuel Restaurant from 5:30pm until close at Fuel Restaurant. The five-course menu is $69; and wine pairings chosen by Sommelier Tom Doughty can be added for only $39. Pork selections to be featured on the ‘Whole Hog’ menu include: Spiced Crackling with Salsa Verde, Stuffed Trotter, Finocchiono, Smoked Lard Ravioli with Fried Brain, Slow-Roasted Shoulder and Bacon Ice Cream (see menu below). Due to limited quantities please reserve ahead by calling 604.288.7905, and provide a credit card to reserve your table.

Fuel Restaurant provides expert service and incredible food in a comfortable and friendly setting. Hailed as the 2009 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Chef of the Year, Executive Chef Robert Belcham sources out only the best quality regional products. By doing all his butchery in house from whole animals, Robert & his kitchen team offer incredible whole roast items and a wide selection of house made charcuterie.

Sommelier Tom Doughty has assembled a collection of special vintages and esteemed producers in the Fuel wine list that have been chosen specifically with the food menu in mind. These unique offerings are what sets Fuel apart and creates a truly unparalleled dining experience for guests.

Directly from the Le Clos Jordanne Press Release

Canada’s “Bottle Shock” mimic Le Clos Jordanne now available
at select Wine Rack Stores!

Since its launch in 2006, Le Clos Jordanne, of Jordan Village on the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario has quickly become a producer of a highly coveted, world-class wine. As of September 23, 2009, a limited amount of Le Clos Jordanne ‘06 will be available for purchase at select Wine Rack Stores throughout Ontario. The availability of Le Clos Jordanne at Wine Rack stores allows wine lovers easier access to this exceptional VQA wine.

In steady demand, Le Clos Jordanne winery has consistently received critical acclaim since its inception. Highlights of this praise include being recently named one of the world’s top 10 organic wines by The Independent in the UK; also in the UK, one of the most highly respected members of the international wine critics’ circle, Jancis Robinson, recently called Le Clos Jordanne “the Ontario Pinot producer I have found to be most impressive”.

This past spring Le Clos Jordanne caught the attention of the world’s wine community at the “Judgement of Montreal”, a blind tasting held in Quebec for Cellier magazine. Thirty-three years after the “Judgment of Paris” - the famous tasting that revolutionized the reputation of New World wines, and inspired the movie ‘Bottle Shock’ - Le Clos Jordanne’s 2005 Claystone Terrace Chardonnay captured the top spot for Chardonnay in the “Judgement of Montreal” experts’ tasting. In addition to this momenteous win, Le Clos Jordanne Winemaker Thomas Bachelder was named Winemaker of the Year at the annual Ontario Wine Awards.

The following Toronto Wine Rack stores will offer Le Clos Jordanne:
Bathurst & Bloor - 581 Bloor St. West - inside Honest Ed’s
King St. West & Bathurst - 746 King St. West
Leslie & Lakeshore - 17 Leslie Street, inside Loblaws
Church & Wellesley St. East - 77 Wellesley St. East
Le Clos Jordanne will also be available in Ottawa at the Elgin St. & Sommerset Wine Rack location - 277 Elgin Street

Wines and Prices:
Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir            $70
Le Grand Clos Chardonnay         $65

Single Vineyard :
Le Clos Jordanne Pinot Noir        $40
Le Clos Jordanne Chardonnay     $40

Village:
Village Reserve Pinot Noir           $25
Village Reserve Chardonnay        $25

Directly from the Wines of Argentina Press Release

Biggest Contingency EVER of Wineries from Argentina at October 1st Tasting

September 21, 2009 (Vancouver, BC) – A total of 48 wineries have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Discover Your Inner Tango with Wines of Argentina event. Held on Thursday, October 1 2009, the event offers guests an exclusive opportunity to explore the quality and diversity of Argentinean wines, many of which are not currently available at BC Liquor Stores.

The event features a star-studded roster of wineries:

Alta Vista,Andeluna,Argento,Bianchi,Canale,Casa Montes,Clos De Los Siete
Cobos,Colome,Decero,De Los Clops ,Dominio Del Plata,Doña Paula,Eclipse
El Origen,Etchart,Fecovita,Filus,Fin Del Mundo,Flinchman,Graffigna,La Chamiza
La Juanita,Lavaque,Luigi Bosca,Michel Torino,Navarro Correas,Norton
O Fournier,RPB,Robino,Ruca Malen,Santa Ana,Schroeder,Septima
Sottano,Sur de los Andes,Tapiz,Terrazas,Pascal Toso,Trapiche,Trivento
Universo Austral,Urraca,Viñas De Altura,Vistalba,Xumek,Zuccardi

The top-quality wines will be paired with bites prepared by Executive Chef Federico Ziegler of Mendoza’s award-winning Restaurant La Bourgogne at the Vistalba Carlos Pulenta winery.  Chef Ziegler, who has worked at renowned restaurants in France as well as South America, will design a menu featuring authentic Argentinean flavours to show the wines at their best.

Tickets for the event are going fast, so don’t wait to reserve yours at http://www.tickets.winesofargentina.ca/.

GK Media Inc is pleased to be presenting an ongoing collection of recipes from various cookbooks.
The recipe that will be featured today is Mini Maccabiah Balls from The Jewish Princess Cookbook.

To download all of the recipes please use the recipe iPod guide or go to the Recipes page.

To have a chance to win a copy of the Jewish Princess cookbook, please enter our October 1st, 2009 newsletter draw.

Directly from The Smoking Dog Press Release:
Join the Smoking Dog Bistro on Wednesday October 7th, 2009 from 6 to 9 pm.
A Fundraiser for Saints.  Stand up food and wine event for dogs and their owners.- Yes dogs are invited. $30 ticket price includes hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, a beverage and lots of extras.  Silent auction dog treats and more.  Call Tammy at 778-552-1301

Directly from the Bistro Pastis Press Release:

(Vancouver, BC) — This summer’s smash hit film Julie & Julia has people rediscovering the pleasures of French food. Classics such as Boeuf Bourguignon and Sole Meunière play a prominent role in the film while the success of the movie has created a rush to buy a copy of Ms. Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. In the movie, Julie Powell trudges home everyday from work to cook her way through Child’s epic tome, not an easy feat in our time-crunched all-too-busy world.

There is an easier way…

Enter Vancouver’s own corner of France, Bistro Pastis. Proprietor John Blakeley knows a thing or two about classic French comfort food – he grew up with these dishes. For the month of October, Bistro Pastis is offering a very soothing La Cuisine de Chez Nous menu for only $37.50 for three-courses. Perfect for a crisp autumn evening by Bistro Pastis’ fireplace, this three-course menu is a demonstration of ‘The Art of French Cooking - Mastered.’

Autumn is a time for the rich flavours of slowly braised dishes. Craving the famed Boeuf Bourguignon? You’ll find it as one of three Mains on La Cuisine de Chez Nous. Classic Coq au Vin? It’s also there. Instead of Sole Meunière, John is offering Sole Normande, a very tasty dish where the sole is cooked with shrimps, mussels and clams in a nod to our bountiful ocean. It is served with a decadent White Wine Cream Sauce (‘Sauce Parisienne’ according to Ms. Child) and a Rice Pilaf.

Stepping back to starters, La Cuisine de Chez Nous presents three difficult choices: a classic Salade Frisée with Smoked Bacon and Poach Egg (who can go wrong with including bacon?); a luxe-as-velvet Potato and Leek Soup or an elegant Terrine de Canard served with traditional cornichons.

To finish, a seasonal Tarte aux Pommes with Caramel Sauce and Crème Anglaise or a thoroughly decadent and very comforting Profiteroles au Chocolate. Chocolate or Apples? Apples or Chocolate? Hmmm… You may just have to return for a another dinner this month to try the dishes you did not have the first time. At $37.50, this menu is not only soothing to your soul, it’s also soothing on the pocketbook.

Directly from the La Buca, Pied a Terre, L’altro Buca Press Release:

Vancouver, BC – Join Pied-à-Terre, La Buca and L’Altro Buca in celebrating an adventurous selection of rare game, bold sauces and the finest fungi during this year’s Game and Wild Mushroom Festival, held October 15th to October 24th. Chef Andrey Durbach’s distinctive menus highlight the flavours of the autumn harvest and will offer diners a chance to experience the earthy tastes of locally foraged morels, chanterelles, matsutake, porcini and field mushrooms served alongside hearty cuts of unsung game and the rich reductions that Durbach is known for. For the first time, the Game and Wild Mushroom Festival will be featured on the menus at each of Durbach and Chris Stewart’s three restaurants.

Intense flavours will take centre-stage on Durbach’s Italian Game and Wild Mushroom menus at La Buca and L’Altro Buca with items such as seared Hokkaido scallops with crisp wild boar belly, cauliflower puree and warm balsamic vinaigrette; poached and roasted breast of pheasant served with foie gras stuffed morels, Parma ham and vin santo; and pappardelle pasta with ragu of bison cheeks, pecorino cheese and gremolata.

Fans of Durbach’s French-fortified cooking at Pied-à-Terre will have a chance to sample countryside driven dishes such as air dried bison with warm potato and haricots vert, melted raclette and cornichons with pickled button onions; bigeye tuna served with chanterelles, red wine, beurre noisette and onion rings; and grilled loin of red deer with green peppercorns and wild alpine berries.