Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the les amis du Fromage Press Release:

Bordeaux With Sid Cross & les amis du FROMAGE

Join Vancouver’s legendary food and wine connoisseur Sid Cross as he guides you through tasting some red Bordeaux wines.  The evening will include a cheese tasting with Allison Spurrell.  Sid is the sole Canadian membre d’honneur of the Académie du Vin de Bordeaux.

The tasting will be followed by Coq au vin paired with more red Bordeaux, then finally dessert and Sauternes. Wines TBA

Available Dates

Date: Tuesday June 29, 2010

Time: 7:00pm - 9:30pm

Location: Au Petit Chavignol - 843 East Hastings

Cost: $100.00 per person.  Includes taxes and gratuity

http://www.aupetitchavignol.com/

Directly from the Papi’s Ristorante Press Release:

Due to the success of Pasta Palooza, each month we will be preparing a special 3 course pre-fixe menu for $25.95.  We have already started our Prawn Fest Dinner that will run until June 15th.  Our next festival will feature the “Foods of Southern Italy.”  Reservations are accepted.

On a fun note we will begin our “Italian Dim Sum” lunch menu beginning Tuesday, June 8th.  A tasting/sharing concept for you and your friends to enjoy. The menu will feature a small tasting plate menu of Italian Antipasto/Spuntino.  Perfect for a light inexpensive lunch on warm sunny days.  The cost of the plates will start at 4.

Chef Ken’s cooking classes are back by popular demand.  The price will remain the same $75. for a class of 7-8 recipes with paired wines for each course.  We have started to take reservations for our next set of cooking classes. They do fill up fast so do reserve now.  We will be taking a credit card deposit for each class.  On the last block of classes we saw some last minute cancellations which interfered with our being able to accomodate our lengthy waiting list. Reservations cancelled 72 hours or less will be charged $25.  These classes are very informal social gatherings.  Chef Ken shows us how to create tasty plates with ease.

June 12  Coastal Cuisine
26  Antipasto
July  10   Flavours of the South
17  Foods of Friuli Venezia
31  New Italian
Aug. 14  Flavours of the Pacific Northwest
28  Taste of Lombardy
Sept. 11 Foods of the Adriatic Coast
25 Cooking of Liguria
Oct.     2   Italian Asian Fusion
23   Tuscany

http://www.papisrestaurant.com/

Directly from the Granville Island Press Release:

For Another Sweet Season Beginning June 3rd, 2010

Summer is just around the corner and Granville Island is buzzing. Beginning June 3rd, green-thumb enthusiasts, health-conscious consumers and savvy shoppers will enjoy the fresh offerings of one of the city’s top open-air markets.

A cornucopia of home-grown plants and flowers will kick off the market finds in June. Discover the rich history and culture of the Island, next to scenic False Creek, and get inspired to create your own backyard paradise. If that isn’t enough to jump start your green thumb, behold an array of beautiful hanging baskets, a great way to decorate your outdoor space just in time for summer entertaining.

From sweet strawberries and luscious red raspberries to crisp cucumbers and oversized summer squash, Farmers Market items go from farmhouse to your house in hours.

The Farmers Market on Granville Island has a new location this year - Triangle Square, 9 am to 3 pm, every Thursday, June to October. Monthly highlights include:

June: flowers, ornamental trees, hanging baskets
July: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, greens of every kind
August: peaches, plums, apricots, corn on the cob, even more greens!
September: apples, squash, pumpkins, still even more greens!

Also, be sure to stop by the Public Market table to get in on the monthly draw for a Farmers Market Shopping Bag of Goodness.

Feel good about supporting independent growers while taking in the sights and sounds of bustling Granville Island. After perusing the Farmers Market, grab lunch at the Public Market and wander down Railspur Alley to see local artists painting, blowing, or sculpting their creations. Stop to enjoy one of the many street entertainers, or toast the season at Granville Island Brewery - one of BC’s top microbreweries. Take the day to experience all that the Island has to offer, and in the evening discover a thriving nightlife with several acclaimed theatre companies that call Granville Island home.

Granville Island Public Market and The Net Loft are open until 7 pm, seven days a week. For more information about the Farmers Market, merchants and special events, visit granvilleisland.com.

Directly from the Wines of South Africa Press Release:

The wines of South Africa will be featured in BC Liquor Stores in June. South Africa has a long and illustrious history of winemaking. In recent years, the country has earned a special reputation for producing bottles that over-deliver on value. This June, BC wine lovers will have an opportunity to explore the award-winning wines of South Africa.

On Friday, June 11th 2010, a unique South African wine tasting will be held at the 39th & Cambie Signature Liquor Store. Open to the public, this event will sample high quality and value of South African wines paired with savoury bites and a complimentary mini spa. The food will be prepared by Hart House Restaurant’s Kris Kabush and the complimentary mini spa treatments are from Spa Utopia.

The event at 39th & Cambie will feature a dozen stellar wines:
Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon                                                111526                  $ 12.99
Sebeka Cabernet/Pinotage                                                         793067                  $ 12.99
Spier Chenin Blanc                                                                       659037                  $ 13.95
K.W.V. Roodeberg Red                                                                 7187                       $ 14.99
Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap                                                  138479                  $ 14.99
Excelsior Shiraz                                                                                183995               $ 15.99
Bellingham Sauvignon Blanc / Chardonnay                            848622                  $ 14.99
Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Syrah                               592873                  $ 17.99
Saxenburg Guinea Fowl Red Blend                                           316992                  $ 18.99
Graham Beck Game Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon                40428                    $ 19.99
Glen Carlou Grand Classique                                                      153882                  $ 19.99
Thelema Mountain Red Wine                                                       487967                  $ 24.95

These wines will be shown to their best advantage paired with tasty bites prepared by Hart House’s talented Executive Chef, Kris Kabush. In addition to indulging their tastebuds, guests can also enjoy an on site spa experience from Vancouver’s much-loved Spa Utopia.  Spa Technicians will give each guest a relaxing five-minute mini treatment.  The combination of good wine, savoury food, and a turn in a massage chair is sure to help iron the wrinkles out of your day!
In conjunction with the month-long promotion, Wines of South Africa is also offering a deluxe prize package featuring Spa Utopia and the Pan Pacific Vancouver.  The winner will enjoy a $225 spa gift certificate, lunch for two, and one night’s accommodation at the luxurious Pan Pacific all valued at $1000.

For details, and to enter the draw, visit www.wosa.co.za.

Directly from the Provence Restaurants Press Release:

Le Grand Thé Makes A Refreshing Break

(Vancouver, BC) – When most people think of ‘afternoon tea,’ the traditions and quaint tea-rooms of England pop to mind. However, there is another, more seductive version of this elegant mid-afternoon break – the French salon de thé. In France tea is très chic. From great food emporiums, to the most venerable cafés, tea is served every afternoon. Imagine yourself enjoying your favourite cuppa in the elegant surroundings of Angelina’s or Fauchon, even Marcel Proust’s epic In Search of Lost Time was triggered dipping a madeleine into a cup of tea.

For the past six years, long before afternoon tea took off as the popular respite it has currently become in Vancouver, Provence Marinaside and Provence Mediterranean Grill have been serving Parisian-style Grand Thé. Like all good things, Le Grand Thé evolves and changes over time. Available from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Le Grand Thé includes an assortment of both savoury and sweet selections plus tea or freshly brewed drip coffee for only $20. Those seeking a truly French experience may wish to include a glass of Kir Royale or bubbly – priced by the glass starting from $7.00.

The only decision you have to make is what kind of tea you prefer. Provence’s list includes an assortment of eight premium organic and flavoured teas. You may opt for traditional Organic English Breakfast or Organic Earl Grey or decide to be daring with Organic African Nectar or perhaps choose a soothing Marrakech Mint or Camomile Citrus. If tea is not your thing, then Provence always has a pot of fresh-brewed drip-coffee on the go.

Once your beverage is chosen, it comes accompanied by a two-tiered stand laden with palate-pleasing French-style nibbles. The savoury selection includes: Sweet Bell Pepper Marmalade Crostini, Smoked Salmon Profiteroles, Prawn and Cucumber Canapé, Tomato and Bocconcini Brochette with Balsamic Drizzle plus a mini Fig and Prosciutto Quiche. The lower level includes the sweet temptations: Madeleines (lemony and oh so Proustian), Parisian macarons (not to be confused with coconut macaroons. These are the heavenly French confection of flavoured pastry crème sandwiched between pillows of meringue. One bite and they become an addiction!), Orange Lavender Shortbread (very Provençal), a Chocolate Truffle Square and the ‘pièce de résistance’ - a tiny, perfect Petite Tarte au Citron. A small pot of crème fraîche and Bonne Maman preserves complete the extravagance

Provence also offers a selection of separately priced espresso drinks and luxurious hot chocolate for those who prefer beverages other than tea or drip-coffee.

The next time you are feeling over-scheduled and harried, take time to indulge in Le Grande Thé. You’ll leave restored and ready to face the world again. C’est une bonne idée, n’est-ce pas?

Provence Mediterranean Grill (Point Grey) 4473 West 10th Ave., 604.222.1980

Provence Marinaside (Yaletown) 1177 Marinaside Crescent at the foot of Davie St., 604.681.4144

www.provencevancouver.com

Don’t miss the June 24th, 2010 newsletter.  There will be 1 giveaway prize:

The winner will receive a copy of the Rose Reisman Family Favorites Cookbook plus a copy of the Vegetarian Slow Cooker Cookbook.
In order to have a chance to win you have to sign up. Sign up here.

Directly from the Nando’s Press Release:

Peri-Peri Invasion at Davie & Howe

Nando’s Flame-Grilled Chicken Opens 28th Restaurant in Canada

Vancouver, BC — May 26, 2010 — Nando’s Flame-Grilled Chicken Restaurants announced the opening of its 28th location in Canada at 828 Davie Street (corner of Howe Street) in Vancouver, BC.  The opening coincides with a special World Cup promotion that celebrates Nando’s South African inspired heritage and menu.

With over 800 locations worldwide, Nando’s Flame-Grilled Chicken Restaurants’ growth has been credited to its unique offering of high flavour food, a quick and healthy dining menu, the addictive taste of its Peri-Peri marinades, and the African inspired setting of its licensed restaurants.

In celebration of the opening of its newest restaurant on Davie Street, Nando’s Flame-Grilled Chicken Restaurants will be airing the World Cup games in all its restaurants and feature rotating menu items in honour of teams South Africa, Portugal, USA, England and Brazil. Nando’s guests will also be able to enter to win free catering for 50 for their World Cup Party, and each restaurant will award a 2010 World Cup soccer ball to one lucky winner.  Nando’s World Cup promotion will run from June 1st to July 11, 2010.

Nando’s first opened in South Africa in 1987 and soon became famous for its flame-grilled chicken with a peri-peri (African Birds Eye Chili) kick. The restaurant group – which offers dine-in, take-out, licensed premises and catering options – has grown in popularity and expanded to more than 840 locations in 30 countries. Nando’s opened its first Canadian restaurant in 1994 in Richmond, BC and now boasts 28 restaurants from as far west as Vancouver Island to as far east as Ottawa, Ontario, with additional openings slated for 2010. A full list of menu items and restaurant locations is available at www.nandoscanada.com

Directly from the Red Card Sports Bar Press Release:

Countdown to FIFA World Cup

Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery Launches World Cup Cocktails and Features

Vancouver, B.C., May 26th, 2010 – Soccer fans across the world are preparing to unite for the long-awaited FIFA World Cup, which launches in South Africa on Friday June 11th.

Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery will be the most popular Vancouver destination to experience the World Cup in style. The experienced team behind the popular sports hub has launched feature cocktails, a signature pizza, and feature breakfast items in honour of the most widely viewed sporting event in the world.

Red Card’s feature cocktails were created to highlight eight key national teams, a celebrated list of “ones to watch”. Assistant General Manager Chris Ballas selected the list of eight teams and crafted an original cocktail for each, utilizing ingredients from their respective country. The FIFA World Cup champions are sure to rise from this list of talented teams: USA; England; Italy; Spain; France; Germany; Brazil; and Holland.

Show your support for your homeland with a classic “Three Lions” for England fans featuring Beefeater Gin, elderflower cordial and ice tea, or join the passionate fans of the Brazilian national team with an “E Campeao” with Cachaca 61, banana liquor with muddled lime and papaya puree. Raise a glass to our closest neighbours with a US-themed “Stars and Stripes” – Jim Beam Bourbon with caramel liquor and passion fruit puree or ally with Red Card Sport Bar and sip a “Forza Italia”, a nod to their proud Italian heritage.

To honour 1978 Argentinean team champion, Osvaldo “Ossie” Ardiles, Red Card’s talented culinary crew have crafted a delicious pizza utilizing all of Ossie’s favourite flavours. Order the “Ossie pizza” and savour delicious San Marzano tomato sauce, topped with garlic, anchovy, and mozzarella, finished with Fior di Latte and cooked to perfection in their world-class Marana Forni brick oven. Executive Chef Andreas Wechselberger has also created a delicious brunch menu to make the early morning games (June 20th onwards) much more enjoyable. Tuck into a Spanish-themed Chorizo with roasted peppers, goat cheese and arugula, a traditional British “Fry Up” or Italian sausage with peperonata and red onion.

Make Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery your top spot to enjoy the hottest action from South Africa’s pitches, sip globally inspired cocktails and indulge in authentic Italian cuisine.

Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery will be showing World Cup games from June 11th to 20th starting at 11am, with repeats running throughout the afternoon and evening. From June 20th, doors will open at 7am to catch all the action of the semi-finals, through to the final on July 11th.

Directly from the Eat! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival Press Release:

Take a BITE and TASTE of Vancouver – This Weekend! – May 28-30! at EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival New Vancouver Convention Centre - WEST

Explore and EAT from amongst over 250 food and cooking exhibit booths at this year’s EAT! Vancouver, but be sure stay for a sip or two at the Wine, Beer & Spirits Tasting Pavilion. There will be beers, wines, ciders and more from BC and around the world plus tasting seminars conducted by industry experts.

Vancouver’s own Wine Diva, Daenna Van Mulligen, an accredited sommelier, has travelled extensively around the world exploring her love for wine and will be back for her 6th year at EAT! Vancouver hosting various wine seminars including: Steps to Enjoying Wine; Sparkling Wines from Around the World; Pairing Cheese + Wine. Colin Jack, Rick Mohabir from Just Here for the Beer will be educating visitors on various beers as well as providing tips on how to pair beer with food, just in time for the upcoming summer BBQ and sports season.

The Dean of Caesar, Len Fragomeni, is returning to EAT! Vancouver for several entertaining and informative sessions at Mott’s Caesar School. Visitors will have a chance to sit in on a 45 minute lesson and learn how to prepare the best Mott’s Clamato Caesar. Participants of the Caesar school will take home a Recipe Manual and a Caesar Bartending Kit ($60 value).

Of the over 30 tasting tables, drinking local will be an easy feat with wines from Mt. Lehman Winery amongst many others. Mt Lehman is Abbotsford’s first and only winery, situated right in the heart of the Fraser Valley. All of their grapes are farmed organically.

BITE OF VANCOUVER RESTAURANT PAVILION

The BITE of Vancouver Restaurant Pavilion is back with a generous selection of restaurants that will take visitors around the world and back. The BITE area will feature a wide selection of local restaurants, offering up sample size portions of their signature menu items. Ranging in price from $1.00 to $2.50, there will be ample opportunity to try delicious offerings from several restaurants including: Crave Restaurant, Fleuri at Sutton Place Hotel, Milestones, Gramercy Grill, Dona Cata Mexican Café and Maurya Indian Cuisine, and more.

2010 MASTER CHEF COMPETITION

Sponsored by the BC Chefs’ Association, an intense battle for the title of City TV’s Master Chef will occur over the three day festival. 16 local chefs will complete transform mystery ingredients into creative culinary masterpieces, all within a 35 minute time limit. The winner will go head to head against the 2009 City TV Master Chef winner Harman Gill, from the Pinnacle Hotel at The Pier, to determine who will take the 2010 title of Master Chef.

Chefs, line cooks, sauciers will be competing from various Lower Mainland restaurants including Goldfish Pacific Kitchen,&nbsp&nbsp Me & Julio Restaurant, Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside, Sura Korean Restaurant, Terminal City Club and more.

The 8th Annual EAT! Vancouver – Food + Cooking Festival will be taking place at the new Vancouver Convention Centre – West May 28-30. Canada’s largest consumer food and cooking festival will bring Celebrity chefs, popular local restaurants, wineries, food and beverage manufacturers, cookbook authors, retailers, artisans, and many others from the culinary world together for a three day public extravaganza.

EAT! VANCOUVER FOOD + COOKING FESTIVAL May 28-30, 2010

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE – WEST

EXHIBIT HALL C

MAY 28-30, 2010

1055 Canada Place

Vancouver, BC

V6C 0C3

www.eat-vancouver.com

Directly from Donnelly Hospitality 

Hello Ladies!

We are hosting a weekend to celebrate Sex and The City 2!

We are beginning the celebration by hosting a viewing of Sex and The City 1 at Cinema on Wednesday evening beginning at 9pm.  All who attend will receive a signature Cosmo to celebrate the occasion.  The festivities begin at 9pm.

On Thursday and Friday night at The Academic, Cinema and The Granville Room we will be giving all guests with a ticket stub for the Sex and the City 2 movie a complimentary Cosmo, sponsored by Absolute Vodka when you present your movie ticket , prior to the show or ticket stub after the show.
We will also be doing a “Best Carrie Bradshaw Outfit” competition, the winner is to receive a $100 gift certificate.

Dress to impress, grab your friends and join us for the fun.

Directly from the Hamilton Street Grill Press Release:

Please join us for Sunday Services at Hamilton Street Grill.  On random Sunday evenings we offer a family-style carving meal accompanied by a glass of beer or wine.
Singles are welcome to share tables or eat along the bar, otherwise individual table seating will be reserved.

7:00 pm - Sunday, May 30th

Join us for some award winning Sloping Hill Farm Pork, slow-roasted whole and served with loads of potatoes & just enough vegetables so
you can tell your mother you had your vegetables today!  Chef Neil is still trying to decide if he will serve it with apples or figs! The included pairing this week is a glass of 8th Generation Riesling

You are welcome to come early, dinner however is served at 7pm sharp.  Just $18 per person, plus taxes and gratuity

By reservation only, please call 604-331-1511 or info@hamiltonstreetgrill.com

June is Anniversary Steak Month at Hamilton Street Grill

Celebrating Hamilton Street Grill’s 13 beyond-fabulous years in Yaletown.  For the month of June (including Father’s Day) enjoy an 8 oz. Certified Angus Sirloin steak grilled to order, just the way you like it, with garlic smashed potatoes and market fresh vegetables.  For just thirteen dollars - yes $13!

Thirteen years ago, as a Yaletown original, Hamilton Street Grill was one of the first restaurants to set the urban scene for what has now become one of Vancouver’s most inspiring downtown districts and the city’s restaurant hot spot!

Now in its 13th year, owners Chef Neil Wyles and Joan Harvie, invite you to celebrate with this special promotion.

Please note: Not valid with any other discounts, promotions or coupons.

June 6th, 2010 is the Taste Washington Wine Event.  For more information go to: http://www.tastewashington.org/

June 13th, 2010 is the Seattle Wine Awards. For more information please go to: http://www.seattlewineawards.com/

Directly from the Amavi Cellars Press Release

Walla Walla’s Amavi Cellars Invites Public to New Tasting Room, Event Center in the Vineyards

After seven years in its rustic, downtown Walla Walla facility, Amavi Cellars has announced a move to its new, contemporary tasting room in the heart of Pepper Bridge Vineyard near the Washington/Oregon border. The building features expansive Southeastern views of the Blue Mountains, vineyards and other agriculture. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious elevated deck create a sense of intimacy with the surrounding rural area. A stunning, 20-foot-long zinc bar invites guests to gather and provides an exquisite platform for sampling the winery’s highly rated, estate-grown wines.

The new location is a realization of the owners’ desire to provide a better Walla Walla experience for its customers and to move operations closer to its estate vineyards. Referring to the vineyards as the “soul” of Amavi wines, Managing Partner Ray Goff says that it is the winery’s goal to honor and underscore the role of agriculture in fine wine. “In our previous urban location, we ran the risk of becoming disconnected from Mother Nature and the year-long process of creating each vintage,” Goff says. “Being among the vines produces a refreshing, humbling sense of awe — and a deeper appreciation for the wines our winemaker and viticulturist Jean-François Pellet crafts — that we would like to share with our guests.”

Goff adds that in addition to providing a better atmosphere, the new tasting room offers significantly more space and a layout designed for entertaining. “Hospitality is a cornerstone of our values, and we now have the appropriate venue for our events and for customers’ small weddings and business retreats.”

Seattle architect David Clinkston of Clinkston Brunner worked closely with the winery partners to create a building that tucks neatly into the hillside while simultaneously flaunting clean, dramatic lines. The wood, steel and glass building contrasts tastefully with the rolling hills and surrounding agriculture, inviting passersby to take a closer look. Landscaping is underway and will feature drought-resistant, native plants.

Owned by the Goff, McKibben and Pellet families, the winery is known for its estate-grown, sustainably farmed Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Sèmillon wines. Its single-vineyard Les Collines Vineyard Syrah has attracted particular attention from wine critics over the last few vintages. The grapes in the winery’s three estate vineyards — Les Collines, Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills — are certified sustainable and in high demand. In the overall wine market, Amavi Cellars’ wines are categorized as ultra-premium, yet they are commonly considered a value among their Walla Walla peers.

Located at 3796 Peppers Bridge Road in Walla Walla, the 1,000 square-foot tasting room and adjacent 500-square-foot conference room are complemented by a 500-square-foot elevated deck, offices, dry goods storage and wine-production areas. For information regarding corporate retreats, weddings and other high-end events, please contact Patty Lynch at patty@amavicellars.com or 509-525-3541.

Normal business hours are 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. daily.

Directly from the Tat’s Deli Press Release:

Grand Re-Opening, New Location
Tuesday, June 4, 2010

Tat’s Delicatessen

159 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104

206-264-TATS

http://tatsdeli.com/

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR:
Opening Reception Party on Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Ages: All Ages Encouraged!
Food and Refreshments will be provided!

All of us at Tat’s would like to thank all our loyal customers for their support over our first five years.  We would not be where we are at without the great word of mouth advertising!

We are very excited to announce the relocation of our new store in Pioneer Square at 159 Yesler Way, in April 2010.   The space will be even bigger and better than our old spot.  The new Tat’s Deli will seat 50 and we will feature the addition of Beer and Wine, as well as extended hours that will include dinner service and Saturdays!  We also offer catering as well as free delivery on any order for 10 or more.

About Us:

TAT’S East Coast Delicatessen was started by Brian Tatman & Jason Simodejka in the spring of 2004. Both Brian (Tat) and Jason grew up on the East Coast in the Philadelphia and New Jersey areas and moved to Seattle circa 1996. It didn’t take long to realize that Seattle wasn’t taking full advantage of the tasty culinary treats that their hometowns had to offer. After years of searching for the perfect location, testing recipes and coordinating vendors to supply us with truly authentic product lines, we finally began to realize our dream.

Now Tat has new co-owner Mike Sichel, who has been at Tat’s since its inception, and has stepped into Jason’s shoes now that he’s moved back to the East Coast.

We found a classic spot in Pioneer Square where we saw our opportunity to bring the tastes of home to Seattle. Through hard work, determination and support of both family and friends we began to serve Seattle a little taste of what the East Coast has to offer. We hope you’re ready!

Tat’s  Deli Grand Re-Opening!

For further information on the deli, catering or delivery: http://tatsdeli.com/.  For contact information: tat@tatsdeli.com.

Mission Statement:

TAT’S Delicatessen strives to be an authentic reproduction of the East Coast deli experience in both product and atmosphere. We are dedicated to providing a diverse menu of high quality eat-in, take-out and delivery meals using only the freshest ingredients, always served in a friendly, efficient manner.

GK Media Inc is pleased to present a new feature recipe from Whitecap Books:

French Lentil Salad with Bacon from the new For the Love of Salad Cookbook.

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

Directly from the Top Chef Press Release:

“TOP CHEF CANADA” CASTING DIRECTORS SCOUTING FOR VANCOUVER’S TOP CULINARY SUPERSTARS AT THE EAT! VANCOUVER FOOD + COOKING FESTIVAL

In a rare opportunity, Vancouver’s top culinary talent are invited to meet – in-person – the casting directors from Top Chef Canada, one of Canada’s hottes and most anticipated culinary TV shows of the year.  Casting directors Jennifer Pratt and Cliff Dempster are on-hand during the EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival, located at the Vancouver Convention Centre, from Fri., May 28 to Sun., May 30 to accept applications to compete on Top Chef Canada, scout talent and answer casting questions. Full applications can be downloaded at www.foodnetwork.ca/topchef.

“We are on the lookout for the best, brightest and most passionate chefs in the Vancouver area,” says Jennifer Pratt, Casting Director, Top Chef Canada. “Being on this show is an amazing opportunity for local culinary talent to not only win a dream prize of $100,000 to kick start their culinary dream, but also showcase their cooking chops to the entire nation.”

Produced by Insight Entertainment for Food Network Canada, Top Chef Canada will select the country’s best culinary talent to face-off in a gruelling competition that will put their skills and creativity to the test. Ultimately only one chef will claim their rightful place in the spotlight, winning the top prize of $100,000 and the Title of Canada’s Top Chef. Head judge is culinary master Mark McEwan. The series premiers Spring 2011 on Food Network Canada.

During the EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival, Jennifer Pratt and Cliff Dempster can be found at the Top Chef Canada table, set-up beside the Food Network Celebrity stage. Admission to the festival costs $15 at the door or $12 for tickets bought in advance online at www.eat-vancouver.com.

The 8th Annual EAT! Vancouver - Food + Cooking Festival will be taking place at the new Vancouver Centre - West May 28-30. Canada’s largest consumer food and cooking festival will bring Celebrity chefs, popular local restaurants, wineries, food and beverage manufacturers, cookbook authors, retailers, artisans, and many others from the culinary world together for a three day public extravaganza.

Directly from the Foxglove Farm Press Release:

Foxglove Farm on Salt Spring Island and the Centre For Arts, Ecology, and Agriculture has launched its 2010 summer program series.

Building on last year’s success, the centre has expanded its offerings with a focus on the culinary and agricultural arts.

Join Eliot Coleman, author of the New Organic Grower, Andrea Carlson of Bishop’s Restaurant, ecologist and author Briony Penn, farmer and author Michael Ableman, plant breeder John Navazio, chef, author, and mushroom expert Bill Jones and other  world class instructors for a thought provoking, informative, and delicious program series.

The workshops are held at the 120 acre historic Foxglove Farm - one of Salt Spring Island’s original homesteads, bordering Maxwell Lake and surrounded by hundreds of acres of protected forest and agricultural fields. The farm now produces 50 different organic fruits and vegetables, orchard crops, and 10 acres of grain.

This year’s workshops include a three-part ‘Field to Plate’ cooking series, The Art of Wild Crafting, Four Season Harvest, Seeds For Change, a ‘Farm, Arts and Culinary Camp for Kids’, Small Scale Grain Production, Foraging for Fungi, Farmstead Cheesemaking, The Artisan Baker, Growing For Market, Growing For Family, Backyard Poultry, Growing Tree Crops, and Preserving the Harvest.  There is also the annual Foxglove Festival – with live music, tours, fresh food and home-made ice cream.

Online registration and information on 2010 classes can be found at www.foxglovefarmbc.ca.  For information about Michael Ableman visit www.fieldsofplenty.com.

Directly from the WOSA Press Release:

Quebec’s Véronique Rivest Winner of the WOSA Sommelier World Cup!

May 21, 2010 (Toronto, ON) – As excitement continues to build around South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ of soccer in a few weeks time, Wines of South Africa (WOSA) today announced the winner of its Sommelier World Cup challenge after a close race. Congratulations to Véronique Rivest!!

Véronique is well known and loved in the Canadian wine industry. She represented Canada at the World’s Best Sommelier Competition in Greece in May 2007, and placed in the top ten. In June 2007, she won the prestigious Wine Woman Awards competition in Paris and was named Wine Woman 2007. She most recently won the Peter Lehmann Shiraz World Sommelier Award 2010, while participating in the ASI contest for Best Sommelier in the World in Santiago de Chile in April, where she also placed in the top twelve.

On May 18, the Toronto semi final took place at the Queen and Beaver on Elm Street – a fitting spot for anything soccer-themed! The competition was intense as some of Eastern Canada’s top sommeliers jockeyed for first place. At the end of the day, Véronique Rivest of Quebec placed first and William Predhomme of Toronto a close second.

On May 20, an equally intense Vancouver semi was held at the Vancouver Lawn and Tennis Club. After several rounds, the West coast crowned Jacques Lacoste its champion, with Alison Vidug squeezing the second place win.

Twelve countries in total will participate in the Sommelier World Cup. All semi-final events will take place in participants’ home countries during May and June of 2010. Winners from the semi-finals will have a week-long, all expenses paid, trip to South Africa for the final competition in October 2010.  All finalists will tour the country’s winelands, visiting wineries, meeting winemakers, and tasting wines as well as enjoying South Africa’s iconic restaurants.

To follow results from the other competing countries, visit www.wosasommeliercup.co.za.

Directly from the Dirty Apron Press Release:

GAME FOR GOURMET

The Dirty Apron Cooking School Launching Culinary Bootcamp on June 21st

Vancouver, BC, May 21st, 2010 - The team that taught you how to impress your dinner guests with delicious menus and savvy kitchen skills will soon take your cooking one step further. On June 21st The Dirty Apron Cooking School will launch Gourmet Bootcamp, the school’s first class series covering kitchen fundamentals. The weeklong program that will run throughout the summer and fall months is designed to teach the tricks of the trade, and students are guaranteed to leave with more than a few industry tricks under their toque.

Led by industry veteran and professional instructor Walter Messiah, Gourmet Bootcamp curriculum will focus on kitchen fundamentals and building a culinary foundation. Spread over the course of five days, instruction will begin with the basics of crafting stocks and sauces and will then move on to essential knife skills, meat and butchery, preparing and cleaning fish and shellfish, working with grains and vegetables, and the art of desserts and pastries. On the final day of the course, students will be tested with a Black Box style challenge that will have them crafting a three-course menu from a box of mystery ingredients.

Space will be limited to an intimate class of just 16 students and will run from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday throughout the summer and early fall. Cost for instruction is $975.00 all-inclusive and includes meals throughout each day. For a complete schedule of daily class activities and menu, please visit the website: http://www.dirtyapron.com/

Directly from the Sanafir and Society Press Release:

Sanafir + Society Celebrate Sex and the City
Complimentary Cosmos for Sex and the City 2 moviegoers, May 27 - June 10

Vancouver, BC (May 20, 2010): Attention Sex and the City fans! Strap on the Manolos and head down to Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge or SOCIETY Dining Lounge to toast the opening of the Sex and the City 2 movie. From May 27 through June 10, the Vancouver hotspots will offer complimentary Cosmopolitan Martinis to all Sex and the City moviegoers*.

The long-awaited sequel to the popular first film (based on the television series of the same name), opens May 27. What better way to celebrate than with a Cosmo - the boozy pink concoction made famous by the Sex and the City characters.

Guests can choose to visit Sanafir or SOCIETY pre- or post-flick. Both restaurants are ideal for celebrating the fun and flirty movie. Vibe and imbibe at Sanafir, in the heart of the Granville Street Entertainment District, with delicious ‘Tapas Trios,’ perfect for sharing with friends. SOCIETY, in trendy Yaletown, is known for its re-imagined comfort food; skip the popcorn and save room for the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Balls or classic Poutine.

Whichever Sex and the City leading lady guests relate most to - Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha or Miranda - each restaurant’s distinctive offer is guaranteed to please; so raise a glass and salute the movie - cosmo-style.

*Guests will receive a complimentary Cosmopolitan with the purchase of any menu item and the presentation of Sex and the City 2 movie ticket stubs. Offer valid at Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge and SOCIETY Dining Lounge, May 27 to June 10, 2010.

About Sanafir
Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge is Vancouver’s most imaginative tapas restaurant and bar located at 1026 Granville Street. Lush décor reminiscent of an Arabian night creates a luxe and exotic atmosphere. The menu showcases innovative twists on Asian, Mediterranean and Indian flavours. Please call 604.678.1049 to reserve your table.

About SOCIETY
At SOCIETY, opposites come together to create all-new pleasures. The cuisine is based on a simple concept: traditional comfort food, completely re-imagined. A dining lounge where comfortable meets chic, warmth meets undeniable cool, light humour meets dark sensuality. Located at 1257 Hamilton Street; please call 604.629.8800 to reserve your table.

Directly from the Donnelly Hospitality Press Release:

MIX MASTER MIKE - WEDS, MAY 26TH

The Blend and Absolut are pleased to announce the return of Mix Master Mike to Republic. The Invisibl Skratch Piklz and Beastie Boys DJ left an amazing impression at last years show so we had to bring him back to kick off this years Absolut World Tour.

9:00PM - 3:00AM
Republic - 958 Granville Street

PETE ROCK - THURS, JUNE 17TH

Direct from Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon, Donnelly Nightclubs is pleased to welcome back to Vancouver DJ Pete Rock. “The Chocolate Boy Wonder” is best known for his jazz influenced beats that have him widely recognized as one of the greatest producers of all time. He helped define the classic sound of 90’s Hip-Hop by producing “Another Pete Rock Remix” for the likes of Biggie, Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Naughty By Nature, Mary J Blige, and of course classic after classic with his own group Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Come check New York’s finest rock out at Straight Goods Thursdays and witness why they call Pete Rock “Soul Brother #1″.

9:00PM - 2:00AM
Bar None - 1222 Hamilton Street

GOODLIFE LONG WEEKEND - SUN, MAY 23RD

Come get down to the best of Hip Hop, R&B, and all your favorite party jams with a great crowd in a brand new setting.

10:00PM - 2:00AM
Post Modern - 7 Alexander Street

PM FRIDAYS - EVERY FRIDAY

$4 Booze Fridays
Really Good Music with Trevor Risk, Demoe & Guests
Staying True to Gastown

10:00PM - 3:00AM
Post Modern - 7 Alexander Street

EMBASSY - EVERY FRIDAY

Featuring Vancouver’s top resident Djs with rotating special guests setting the Friday night vibe with hip hop, RnB and dance music for Vancouver heads to get down.
With resident DJs Jay Swing, Flipout, Remsta and Relik dropping the best tunes to start your weekend off right!

10:00PM - 3:00AM
Pop Opera - 686 West Hastings Street

POP SATURDAYS - EVERY SATURDAY

Expect an all-star resident DJ lineup including LokoBoy, Stimulant J and P-Love playing hip hop, R&B, mashups, electro and old school to keep you dancing all night long. An eclectic group of party people, Vancouver’s nicest high-end room, amazing beats and expert service, every Saturday Pop at Pop Opera

10:00PM - 3:00AM
Pop Opera - 686 West Hastings Street

Directly from the PICA newsletter

Sunshine Greets & Summer Eats!

It finally feels as though summer might be around the corner, so it is the perfect time to explore lighter fare and wines at our Summer Sensations Wine Dinner.  Enjoy a five-course menu with choice of entrée for $45 per person.  Add our Sommelier’s top summer wine picks for $30 per person.  This one-night only event takes place on Wednesday, June 16th with seatings at 6:30 PM.  Our last few theme dinners have been a sell-out, so reserve early by calling 604.734.0101 or online at www.bistro101.com.  Full menu and wine selections also available online.

Spot the Spot Prawns

It’s every local Chefs’ favourite time of year, BC Spot Prawn season!  Available fresh for only 10-weeks of the year, BC Spot Prawns are sweet, delicious, and currently available on our daily Bistro 101 menus.  Visit Bistro 101 and other local restaurants to enjoy our ocean’s amazing gift while you can.  BC Spot Prawns are sustainably harvested and considered a good dining choice by the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program.  Reservations for Bistro 101 can be made online at www.bistro101.com

New Menu Pricing at Bistro 101

A reminder that we have new menu pricing in our Bistro:  Market Menus (three courses with choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert) are now running Monday to Thursday for both lunch ($18 per person) and dinner ($24 per person).  Our very popular West Coast Buffet will continue to run on Fridays at only $20 per person for lunch and $30 per person for dinner.  Reservations are recommended!

What is Malolactic Fermentation?

One of the many questions you’ll learn to answer, (in addition to gaining a better understanding of wine labels, varietals, regions and wine making techniques) in our wine study programs.  Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts offers the internationally recognized Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) certification courses in Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels.  For more information or to register for our next session of classes call 604.734.4488 or visit www.studywine.ca.

Cook. Sip. Eat.

The heart of any party can usually be found in the kitchen.  Enjoy a cooking, dining and wine tasting experience at our Cook! and the City internationally themed cooking classes.  Upcoming classes include Mexican, Spanish and Thai cuisine and include a three-course menu and wine pairings in a small, hands-on kitchen environment.  New classes are being scheduled all the time.  Please note, our foundational classes (ie: Knife Skills, Stocks & Sauces, Breads, Pies or Ice Cream) do not include wine service.  To view our calendar, for more information or to register, visit http://www.picachef.com/cookandthecity.html.  Or call 604.734.4488.

Directly from the Top Table Press Release:

TOP TABLE IS GOLDEN

Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin and West honoured at Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

Vancouver, B.C. – Top Table restaurants were recognized at the podium an unprecedented 17 times at the 21st annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards held Tuesday, May 18th at the Sheraton Wall Centre. A panel of 19 judges acknowledged Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin and West, before a standing-room only audience of British Columbia’s leading restaurateurs, chefs and service professionals.

Top Table proprietor Jack Evrensel said, “I would like to salute the excellence of all the winners, and the brilliance with which they represented our province to the world during this Olympic year. In particular, I would like to recognize our culinary and service teams at Top Table for their remarkable achievements during the last twelve months. To see all of our restaurants win Gold Awards speaks volumes to the dedication and hard work of every team member.”

Araxi

* Best Whistler, Gold
* Silver Wine List Award, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

After publishing a multiple-award-winning—and James Beard Award-nominated—cookbook, and hosting thousands of international visitors for the Winter Olympics, Araxi capped off an extraordinary year by winning the Gold Award for Best Whistler restaurant for the 10th time, an unprecedented showing in the 21-year history of these Awards.

Once again, Chef James Walt captured this award for his seasonal farm-to-table menus proved wildly popular with Araxi’s loyal patrons and judges alike, while providing inspiration and leadership for the farmers and ranchers of the Pemberton Valley. Restaurant director Steve Edwards and his team of sommeliers and servers continue to provide the gracious service that has become a benchmark for Whistler.

Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar

* Restaurant of the Year, Gold
* Chef of the Year, Frank Pabst
* Best Seafood, Gold
* Best Regional, Bronze
* Best Service, Bronze
* Best Formal Japanese, Honourable Mention
* Platinum Wine List Award, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

Blue Water Cafe achieved a remarkable trifecta of Gold Awards this year, winning Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, and Best Seafood. According to Vancouver Magazine: “There’s a reason this landmark room on Hamilton Street always seems to be hopping. Proprietor Jack Evrensel has carefully put together what one judge called ‘a dining experience that appeals to almost everyone, from serious foodies to suburbanites out for a special night.’”

The panel offered further praise for the Chef of the Year: “Executive chef Frank Pabst dazzles, as he has for years, with his ‘stellar menu highlighting locally sourced, sustainable seafood,’ continuing on to cite “his ‘crusade for sustainability,’ ‘determination to explore the culinary potential of species that many chefs overlook,’ and his ‘impeccable technique.’ ‘He may be soft-spoken,’ said one judge, ‘but the humble and lovely Blue Water chef is a force to be reckoned with.’”

CinCin

* Best Last Course, Gold
* Premier Crew Service Award, David Stanger
* Gold Wine List Award, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

Top Table recently announced the Autumn 2010 opening of the atelier thierry with CinCin’s talented chocolatier-pâtissier, Thierry Busset. So it seems only fitting that the judges presented CinCin with Gold for Best Last Course, saying: “Gold went to Busset, whose ‘skills shine in the simplest of dishes: ethereal coffee macarons, tiramisu like no other, brilliant sorbettos and gelatos.’”

Just five restaurant professionals are selected each year for the Premier Crew Service Award. This year, we’re delighted to announce that CinCin’s David Stanger was the recipient of this highly sought-after award, and as Vancouver Magazine stated: “Charm, attentiveness, and a good sense of humour set these front-of-house stars apart.”

West

* Best Service, Gold
* Restaurant of the Year, Bronze
* Best Last Course, Bronze
* Best Regional, Honourable Mention
* Platinum Wine List Award, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

West won its fourth consecutive Gold Award for Best Service, praise indeed for restaurant director Brian Hopkins and his front-of-house brigade. As the judges stated: “Great service is choreographed but not stagey, friendly but not overbearing, efficient but never rushed. It’s sensing when to show up and when to disappear. West won Gold because of what one judge called its ‘unfailingly gracious, flawless service, right down to the smallest detail—and service is all about the details.’ Another judge said it’s a testament to the West team that ‘a room with such refined edges could feel this comfortable.’”

West also took home Bronze in the Best Last Course category, signalling Rhonda Viani’s years of dedication, and showing that the art of the sweet can be a healthy and refreshing denouement to one’s evening.

Top Table is one of the most highly respected hospitality groups in Canada, encompassing four of the leading restaurants in Vancouver and Whistler: Araxi, CinCin, Blue Water Cafe and West, as well as the highly anticipated atelier, ‘thierry’ (Autumn 2010). Continuing to evolve in the pursuit of excellence, each venue has received significant critical acclaim, both locally and internationally. For more information, visit www.toptable.ca.

Directly from the Chambar Press Release:

CHAMBAR RESTAURANT RECOGNIZED AT VANCOUVER MAGAZINE RESTAURANT AWARDS

Vancouver, BC, May 19, 2010 – Chambar Restaurant was recognized on several fronts at the Vancouver Magazine 21st Annual Restaurant Awards. The Beatty Street sensation was awarded Gold for Best Other European, with Pastry Chef Eleanor Chow receiving an honourable mention for Best Desserts and Wendy McGuinness’ bar program given an honourable mention for Best Bar/Lounge. In addition, Chambar’s Guest Relations guru Eryn Collins was honoured with a Premier Cru award for her outstanding contribution to Vancouver’s hospitality industry over the past 10 years.

“There is an incredible amount of talent and ambition in Vancouver right now,” says Chambar owner Karri Schuermans, “it’s wonderful to have so many members of the Chambar family recognized for their extraordinary efforts and achievements.”

ABOUT CHAMBAR
Chambar invites you to leave your day at the door for an unpretentious fling with fine dining. Housed in a refurbished brick and beam heritage building, the restaurant’s cuisine is a unique blend of Belgian and North African influences with a commitment to seasonal, organic and local ingredients. Chambar is located at 562 Beatty Street in the Crosstown District. Dinner is served nightly from 5:30pm - midnight. For reservations phone 604-879-7119 or visit: www.chambar.com.