Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Tinhorn Creek Press Release:

Miradoro Restaurant Reopens at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards

New spring menu, weekend brunch & the return of The Communal Table

Vancouver, BC – Miradoro Restaurant, British Columbia’s premiere winery restaurant, is pleased to announce it’s reopening on March 1st, 2012 after closing for the January / February winter months. The destination restaurant at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards offers stunning panoramic views of the South Okanagan Valley wine country and features Mediterranean-influenced cuisine that showcases the region’s finest ingredients.

Miradoro is celebrating with fresh new spring menus and a special for the month of March. Guests can build their own three-course menu by selecting any items from the regular dinner menu for only $35. Miradoro’s Executive Chef Jeff Van Geest has created a delectable offering, which features appetizers like crispy calamari frito with Thorpe Organic’s cucumber & roasted pepper salad with squid ink aioli. Miradoro’s delicious pizza offerings include pancetta with Italian bacon, roast garlic and smoked mozzarella. For the pasta lovers, there are many options, including orecchiette with sweet sausage, rapini, & chilies. A popular entrée is the rotating cut of grilled Okanagan’s Finest Angus steak served with harissa, arugula, smoked sweet onion & olive oil crushed potatoes.

New this spring is Miradoro’s Weekend Brunch, kicking off on Sunday March 11th with a special communal table brunch menu for $25. Regular a la carte brunch will be available for the rest of the season every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 1:00pm. The menu showcases European-influenced flair with locally-sourced ingredients, featuring tasty breakfast items like spot prawn risotto cake served with poached eggs, grilled leek and espelette pepper aioli; sweet Italian or Moroccan spiced lamb Merguez sausage with poached eggs; and pannetonne French toast with nutella, white wine poached pears and hazelnut praline cream.

Returning on Tuesday March 20th after its popular debut last fall, The Communal Table will bring together locals and visitors to celebrate regional food, wine and friends both old and new. In keeping with Miradoro Restaurant’s food philosophy, The Communal Table will feature a special menu of family style fare that is local, rustic, simple, straightforward and seasonal. Held at 6:30pm on Tuesdays from March 20th until June 26th, The Communal Table menu is $25 per person. Reservations are required.

About Miradoro Restaurant

Perched on the picturesque Tinhorn Creek Vineyards estate on the famed Golden Mile, Miradoro Restaurant offers stunning views of the South Okanagan Valley wine country. Mediterranean-influenced cuisine by Executive Chef Jeff Van Geest showcases the region’s finest ingredients, while Sommelier Justin McAuliffe’s wine list highlights the award-winning wines of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. Seamlessly integrating a modern look with the natural landscape and the more traditional design of Tinhorn Creek’s winery and barrel cellar, the 4,000-square-foot space features 65 seats indoors and 65 seats outdoors on a wraparound deck. Ample use of natural woods and cork creates a room that is simple, elegant — and lets the food, wine and view be the stars of the show. The destination restaurant was named one of the “World’s Best Winery Restaurants” by Wine Access Magazine.

Miradoro Restaurant is open for brunch on weekends 10:00am to 1:00pm, for lunch daily from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, for tapas from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm and for dinner from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information, please call 250-498-3742 or visit www.miradoro.ca.

Directly from the Health Check Press Release:

Mac’s has Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Check Entrees

Healthy options added to convenient grab-&-go menu

Vancouver, BC: The Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Check program and Mac’s Convenience Stores are helping British Columbians be healthy on the go. In an innovative pilot project, Mac’s
Convenience Stores is offering three Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Check entrees in all of its 57 British Columbia locations. These grab-and-go options identified with the Health Check logo will make it
easier for hurried consumers to make a healthy choice.

“We are pleased that Mac’s stores are offering healthy options to their customers,” says Diego Marchese, CEO, BC & Yukon, Heart and Stroke Foundation. “We know people want to eat healthy but they are often pressed for time and this is one more way we can help them make healthy choices wherever they are. ”Healthy Families BC strongly supports such initiatives as part of its healthy eating strategy. “Making the healthy option the easy choice will help families eat better while they are on the go,” said Health Minister Michael de Jong. “I congratulate Mac’s Convenience Stores and thank them for following through on
commitment to support our Healthy Families BC program.” Mac’s will be featuring three entrees produced by Mava Foods, a Richmond based company that prides itself on providing its customers with healthy, locally-sourced fresh foods. The entrees which meet the Health Check criteria include:

Szechuan Beef with Vegetables and Rice
Hearty Alberta Beef Stew
Curry Vegetable Stew with Tofu and Rice

“Being able to provide these healthy and tasty options at our stores is very exciting,” says Kelly McGuire, Vice President Operations, Western Canada, Mac’s Convenience Stores. “We’re pleased to offer healthy convenient ready-to-eat foods as another option for busy families.”

Quick Facts:

Mac’s is part of the Healthy Convenience Store initiative launched in August 2011; it is collaboration between the Province of British Columbia and the Western Convenience Store Association
(WCSA). In Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association’s 2011 Canadian Chef Survey, nutrition and health is ranked third in the Top 10 Hot Trends. The Food Marketing Institute’s report 2010 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends shows that 47 percent of shoppers are interested in freshly prepared, heat-and-serve food to take home.

About Mac’s Convenience Stores Inc

Mac’s Convenience Stores Inc. is part of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., who is the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. In North America, Couche-Tard is the second largest independent convenience store operator in terms of number of stores. Couche-Tard currently operates a network of 5,906 convenience stores which include 4,128 motor fuel dispensing, located in eleven large geographic markets, including eight in the United States covering 43 states and three in Canada covering all ten provinces. Some 53,000 people are employed throughout Couche-Tard’s retail convenience network and executive offices.

About Health Check

Health Check is one way the Heart and Stroke Foundation helps Canadians make healthy choices. All Health Check items meet nutrient criteria developed by the Foundation’s registered dietitians based on
recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide. Health Check works directly with food companies and restaurants to improve the food supply by challenging them to meet stronger nutrient criteria and offer Canadians more healthy choices. Health Check is the only non-profit, independent, and neutral food information program in the country. For more information on Health Check as well as healthy eating resources, tips and recipes visit healthcheck.org.

About Healthy Families BC

Healthy Families BC is a $68.7 million initiative that supports healthy eating, healthy lifestyles, helping families and communities make healthy choices and giving the most vulnerable B.C. children a healthy
start in life.

Directly from the Oakwood Canadian Bistro Press Release:

The Oakwood Canadian Bistro is delighted to launch a new dinner menu, showcasing BC’s finest ingredients. The casual, down-to-earth room is quickly carving a name for itself as Kitsilano’s favourite neighborhood restaurant, welcoming guests with honest Canadian fare crafted by Executive Chef Mike Robbins. The 85-seat bistro features a cozy fireplace and 16-seat communal table, perfect for gathering old and new friends.

Chef Robbins’ new menu continues to raise the bar on quality and value at the Oakwood. All dishes are made from seasonal and locally sources organic products. The meats are organic, local and free of hormones and antibiotics, while the seafood is sustainable, seasonal and Ocean Wise certified. From the breads to pastas to the butchery and sauces, all products are made in-house with quality and consistency.

New dinner menu highlights include fried octopus komatsuna ($7), mussels and clams ‘chowder’ ($16), vegetable tagliatelle with pesto and patty pans ($16), beef tartar with garlic wilted pea shoots ($17), braised boar and potato agnolotti ($19), Cornish hen and wild mushroom roulade ($21), brick cut ribeye with potato croquette ($24) and whole Nova Scotia branzino ($30).

At the bar, guests will find an excellent selection of local craft beers, classic cocktails and an expertly chosen wine list. The bar menu includes 11 BC craft beers on tap and select bottled beers, along with a well-rounded selection of wines by the glass.

The Oakwood Canadian Bistro is located at 2741 West 4th Avenue in Vancouver, BC. For more information, please call 604.558.1965.

Directly from the Hapa Izakaya Press Release:

Hapa Izakaya to open in Coal Harbour

(Vancouver, BC)  February 28, 2012 – Lea and Justin Ault of Vancouver’s Hapa Izakaya restaurant group are pleased to announce the opening of a Hapa Izakaya in the Coal Harbour neighbourhood, on Wednesday, March 7, 2012.  The transformation is already under way at 909 West Cordova (Waterfront Centre), at their former Hapa Umi restaurant location, across the street from the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Hapa Umi, opened as a higher-end, “sister” restaurant to Vancouver’s famed Hapa Izakayas, in March of 2011.

Over the past year, critics and guests alike have praised Hapa Umi for its wide range of exceptional Japanese and Japanese-inspired dishes including a large selection of Ocean WiseÔ sustainable sashimi and sushi favorites.  After listening to a great deal of guest feedback, however, the Aults felt there was an even greater, unmet demand for an izakaya-style restaurant in the Coal Harbour area.

Since Hapa prides itself on exceeding the needs and expectations of its guests, the Aults felt it was appropriate to adapt and transform the upscale Hapa Umi into a Hapa Izakaya and offer guests the experience that the Hapa brand name is known for.

The Coal Harbour menu will offer all of the Hapa favourites, from satisfying Ishi-Yaki with ground pork, tomato, chive, lettuce and egg in a hot stone bowl, to delectably light AAA Beef Tataki drizzled in sesame-chili sauce, as well as Ocean Wise seafood forward dishes inspired by kaiseki trained, executive chef Nobu Watanabe.

Hapa’s well-edited lunch menu promises the corporate crowd efficient elegance, from Edamame Ravioli and Tempura Oysters, to Polenta Fries and Short Rib Lettuce Wraps. Hapa Izakaya Coal Harbour will offer great value with most dishes priced between $8 and $12.

The 150-seat restaurant spans a large bar, lounge, and private dining room, and in warmer months, a 50-seat patio. This sleek and modern room is outfitted with textured fabrics, luminous tiles, warm walnut finishes, and sexy leather seating overlooking the vibrant harbour.

Hapa Umi will have its final dinner service on Saturday, March 3. The location will reopen as Hapa Izakaya Coal Harbour for dinner at 5pm on Wednesday, March 7, with lunch service beginning on Monday, March 12.

The Hapa team is excited about these changes and is confident that the switch over will be well received by its long-time regulars, as well as the thriving visitor and business crowds in the area.

For more information, please visit HapaIzakaya.com or follow @HapaIzakaya on Twitter.

About Hapa Izakaya

When Lea and Justin Ault introduced Hapa in 2003 they exploded the izakaya concept in Vancouver.  Hapa Izakaya’s winning combination of a sexy room, well-priced portions of Japanese tapas, cocktails and premium sake took the city by storm; Hapa set the bar high for the host of contenders that followed. In 2010 Hapa was the first izakaya to join the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise™ seafood conservation program and one of only a handful of Japanese restaurant partners in the program to date. Hapa Izakaya’s Kitsilano and Robson locations are open daily from 5:30; the Yaletown location is open from 5pm. Hapa Izakaya Coal Harbour will be open Monday-Friday from 11:30am and from 5pm on Saturdays.

Vancouver, BC – Le Gavroche’s famous Lobster Festival is back and for the month of March guests can enjoy a lobster-packed three-course dinner for only $39. Set in a historic Victorian house with views of the Coastal Mountains and Coal Harbour, Le Gavroche is the perfect setting to enjoy everyone’s favourite crustacean.

To start, guests will have their choice of a warm lobster salad or creamy lobster bisque. For main courses, it will be tough to choose between fresh cavaletti with freshly shelled chunks of lobster and Parmesan sauce, or the lobster and shrimp cake paired with ling cod, roasted pepper vinaigrette and black rice. And finally for dessert, the special menu concludes with the choice of a creamy Tahitian bean crème brulee, or a decadent duo of chocolate mousse.

To complement this special menu, guests can treat themselves to expert Provençal wine pairings for an additional $25.

Reservations can be made on OpenTable, or by calling the restaurant at 604.685.3924.

Lobster Menu
March 2nd to March 31st
$39 (wine pairings $25)

1st Course

Warm Lobster Salad
wilted watercress, pomelo vinegar reduction
or
Lobster Bisque

2nd Course

Cavaletti Royale
cavaletti, fresh shelled lobster, Parmesan sauce
or
Lobster & Shrimp Cake on Ling Cod
roasted pepper vinaigrette, black rice

3rd Course

Tahitian Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee
or
Duo Mousse au Chocolate

About Le Gavroche

Opened in 1978, Le Gavroche is one of Vancouver’s longest-standing fine-dining establishments, offering award-winning French cuisine in a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. For decades, the setting of Le Gavroche has charmed Vancouverites and travelers alike and has garnered international attention as one of Vancouver’s most romantic dinner settings. The gently refurbished Victorian house (circa 1910’s) features views of the Coastal Mountains and Coal Harbour from the upstairs terrace and a cozy fireplace for those cold winter evenings.

Directly from the Donnelly Group Newsletter:

Wednesday, February 29th  Republic Nightclub

Supreme La Rock (Seattle) D-Rakkas (South Rakkas Crew)
Leap Year Party at Down by Law with C-Stylez Free-Up with Arems, Rexx, Hoppa & Chizzle

Thursday, March 1st Bar None Nightclub

Slum Village (Detroit) - A J Dilla Celebration

Special Guests: SonReal & Prison Garde DJs Hedspin, Flipout, Seko, Rich-A, Niña Mendoza, Bles-sed & Jay Swing

Thursday, March 8th Bar None Nightclub

Ian Carey in the house.

Directly from the Seasons in the Park Press Release:

On March 6th, 2012 we’re serving up a special Brewmaster’s Dinner created by the talented culinary team at Seasons in the Park, paired with a selection of award-winning beers from Vancouver’s own Granville Island Brewing.

While enjoying incredible views of the city and Northshore mountains, guests will learn about the history and process of Granville Island Brewing from the Brewmaster himself, Vern Lambourne.

Arrive at 6:00pm on Tuesday, March 6th, 2012, Tickets are $65 per person, including tax and gratuity and can be purchased through Seasons in the Park or in person at the Granville Island Brewing retail store.

Rita Holmberg, Seasons Event Coordinator 604.874.8008 or seasonsevents@vancouverdine.com

Granville Island Brewing retail store  604.687.2739  -  1441 Cartwright Street

Directly from the Donnelly Group Press Release:

Oscars Prix-Fixe Dinner This Sunday, February 26th at Cinema Public House

Join us Cinema Public House – 901 Granville St. – for our 2nd annual Oscars party this coming Sunday, February 26th, hosted by Natalie Langston of Novus TV. Tickets start at $25 for a 3 course prix-fixe dinner by executive chef Michael Knowlson, or $35 for the VIP package which includes two custom Oscar cocktails by beverage director Trevor Kallies.

Events begins at 4pm with the red carpet walk, where guests will be greeted by complimentary champagne and canapés upon arrival. Show starts at 5pm and the night will continue with Oscar trivia and voting, and prizes for best dressed male and female. Post-awards show, DJ Cupid will keep the party going late into the night.

For tickets and more information, please visit:     http://www.ticketzone.com/1119650-The-Oscars-at-Cinema-tickets/The-Oscars-at-Cinema-Vancouver-Cinema-Public-House-February-26-2012.html

For non-dinner reservations, please RSVP to Meredith at mm@donnellygroup.ca

The Lamplighter Public House

Bourbon & Bingo Sundays Each and Every Sunday

The Bimini Public House

Spring Chicken Wednesdays. Each and Every Wednesday

Until the end of spring get a lb of Maple Hill Farms free run chicken wings at the bimini for $3 every wednesday.

Food specials from 4pm till late.

Directly from the Playhouse Wine Festival Press Release:

TASTE THE WORLD OF WINE AT THIS YEAR’S 34TH ANNUAL PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL

Three nights, three unique experiences, one incredible room of wine

Vancouver, BC, February 23rd, 2012 – The heart of the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, the International Festival Tasting Room (or IFT) offers three nights of unparalleled tasting opportunities from March 1st to 3rd. With tickets priced at just $95 (inclusive of all taxes and fees) the IFT is a unique chance to taste rare bottles and discover new treasures as you visit with renowned winery principals from around the globe. For the first time the International Festival Tasting will face out onto the majestic North Shore Mountains, the perfect backdrop for North America’s largest consumer wine event. This year’s IFT will also be the largest to date with a whopping 54,782 sqft of space - 39% larger than any other IFT in Festival history.

Playing out over three consecutive evenings, each night of the IFT is unique. On Thursday capacity is guaranteed to be 25% lower, offering an excellent opportunity for wine aficionados to interact with some of the world’s top winery principals. Friday evening’s session is perfect for groups and the after-work crowd looking kick off the weekend in style, while Saturday night is ideal for couples and friends eager to enjoy a night on the town. Looking for a VIP experience? Amplify your evening in the Tasting  Room with premium wines and light bites at the Gold Pass Tasting Lounge on Friday and Saturday evenings. Make a full night of it by enjoying an evening with one of the Festival’s hotel partners. Tickets to Gold Pass Tasting Lounge and IFT are still available by visiting www.playhousewinefest.com

This year, Chile takes centre stage as the Theme Region at the 2012 Playhouse Wine Festival. While in the Tasting Room make sure to check out the Wines of Chile Focus Stations, where three different varietals from Chile – Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenere, and Cabernet Sauvignon – will be presented by sommeliers who can answer your questions at three different tasting bars. If you’re interested in how Chile is leading the charge in sustainability in winemaking you can learn more about Wines of Chile’s Certified Sustainability program, then stick around for an informative and energetic video that brings more of Chile right into the room.

A true viticultural Eden, Chile’s appellation system is made up of four major D.O. regions from north to south: Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Central Valley and the Southern Region. Each of these has several sub-regions, each with distinct climatic features and terroir. The IFT will see 35 participating Chilean wineries. Taste them all!

While in the IFT, don’t miss the “Life is a Cabernet” Tasting Station. As this year’s Global Focus there are more than 185 different Cabernet(s) in the Tasting Room. Experts from the International Sommelier Guild will be your guides through a tasting-tour of this impressive and diverse varietal.

Along with the “Life is a Cabernet” Tasting Station, the IFT will also feature five Regional Tasting Stations. Grab your glass and embark on a wine tour of Australia, British Columbia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the South of France as you sample the specialties of each region.

Find something you love? Look for it in the BC Liquor Stores Festival Wine Shop, located onsite in the International Festival Tasting. For three nights only, the shop will carry all tasting room wines, some of which are not regularly available in the market. The shop is accessible with a corresponding Tasting Room ticket stub. And don’t worry if you don’t feel like carrying your wine haul home. For your convenience, the BC Liquor Stores Festival Wine Shop offers a free bottle check service. Buy early in the evening to avoid disappointment and have your purchases set aside for you to pick up when you leave. For added convenience, purchases can be shipped free of charge to your local BC Liquor Store. After the tasting, visit the BC Liquor Stores Get Home Safe booth, located outside the Festival Wine Shop, and pick up a complimentary single zone transit ticket. The ride’s on us!

Have an iPhone? Navigate the Festival this year with the new winefest app, where you can locate events, learn about speakers, and the wines you’ve tasted and make notes on what you want to buy. Now available for free download from the iTunes store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vancouver-playhouse-international/id502988274?mt=8

Directly from the Glowbal Group Press Release:

The Return of The Glowbal Collection’s Passport Program

Diners invited to collect stamps over the month long promotion — rewards and prizes abound

Vancouver, BC (February 23, 2012): Have passport, will dine. For the third consecutive year, The GLOWBAL COLLECTION of restaurants - glowbal grill, COAST, Sanafir, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria, SOCIETY, and Black+Blue - is issuing Glowbal Passports to guests.

From February 29 to March 29, 2012, diners to each of the seven restaurants will be issued a Glowbal Passport and will receive a stamp for each visit at lunch or dinner*.

After earning the first stamp, diners will automatically receive 10% off the food portion of the bill at the remaining restaurants visited within the collection**. Travel to all of the restaurants during the promotion to earn seven stamps and automatically receive a $100 gift certificate to use at a GLOWBAL COLLECTION restaurant of your choice.

The GLOWBAL COLLECTION will also reward a few lucky seven-stamp-table-travellers with ultimate prizes including the following:

+ A weekend stay in West Kelowna at The Cove Lakeside Resort penthouse suite and dinner for six at The Bonfire Grill

+ A 2-night stay in Oliver at Tinhorn Creek Winery

+ A 1-night stay in Oliver at Burrowing Owl Winery

+ A 1-night stay in Penticton at Casa Grande Bed + Breakfast, along with a Grape Friends wine tour for two

+ A Big Night Out Package that includes:
Dinner for two at glowbal grill
VIP entrance & table service for you +5 at Barcelona (includes a bottle of vodka and a bottle of bubbly)
A 2-night stay at The Burrard Hotel

And much, much more!

Go to http://www.glowbalgroup.com/blogs/ for all the details!

*For each entrée purchased per visit, per restaurant, limit one per person.
**Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.