Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the CRU Wine Selections Press Release:

Vancouver’s Leading Chefs Celebrate Angelo Gaja, one of the World’s Greatest Winemakers at Exclusive Dinner to Benefit the Canadian Cancer Society

Vancouver, BC (May 16, 2012) – CRU Wine Selections is proud to present the food and wine event of the year: Vancouver’s top chefs will be pairing courses to the iconic wines of Mr. Angelo Gaja June 5th, at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Star Sapphire Ballroom. The dinner is to showcase Vancouver’s culinary talents while celebrating the exceptional wines of Angelo Gaja, with proceeds benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society.

Internationally acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest winemakers, there is no more important name or greater ambassador in Italian wine then Angelo Gaja. Credited with revolutionizing the wine business in Piedmont and changing the image of Italian wines, Angelo Gaja balances tradition and innovation to carefully produce exceptional wines that continue to represent a legacy of quality and supremacy that has evolved over 300 years. Gaja will visit only New York and Vancouver for his last North American tour, and the city’s oenophiles and gourmands are honoured to welcome him. A true icon in Italian wine, Angelo Gaja is one of the world’s most respected producers and best known wine personalities.

The once-in-a-lifetime event is to begin with a champagne reception, where guests will be greeted by leading Vancouver wine judge Sid Cross, followed by an exclusive address by Mr. Gaja. The sumptuous meal will consist of seven courses and dessert, each prepared by one of Vancouver’s top chefs. Each course will be paired with two wines, which Mr. Gaja will speak about in turn, as the sommeliers and managers of participating top restaurants serve them.

The incredible line up of participating chefs includes:

Darren Brown, Oru, Fairmont Pacific Rim
Thomas Haas, Thomas Haas Chocolates
David Hawksworth, Hawksworth Restaurant
Frank Pabst, Blue Water Café
Adam Pegg and Lucais Syme, La Quercia
Pino Posteraro, Cioppino’s
Hidekazu Tojo, Tojo’s
Vikram Vij, Vij’s

The exclusive black tie event takes place in the Star Sapphire Ballroom at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Tuesday June 5th, 2012 from 5:00pm to 11:00pm. Sponsored by the Dilawri Group, space is limited to 100 guests. Tickets are $1000 per person (plus tax) with tables of 14 people available, and proceeds will go to the Canadian Cancer Society. Tickets include: Reception, GAJA presentation, 7 course meal with 14 wine pairings, and Mr. Gaja will join each table for one course. To purchase tickets, please contact Jeanette Horwood T: 778-882-7654 E: jeanettehorwood@shaw.ca

CRU Wine Selections

CRU Wine Selections was established in 2005 by two long time professional friends and colleagues, James Johnson and Nick Kosick. The founding vision at CRU was to work with some of the world’s most exclusive wineries, bringing Western Canada a dedicated selection of wines from over 40 elite producers, with special focus on the wines of Italy. CRU is incredibly proud to partner with the Dilawri Group, the Fairmont Pacific Rim and Vancouver’s greatest Chefs to bring you this historic night in Vancouver dining with a living legend, Mr. Angelo Gaja.

www.cruwineselections.com

Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society is committed to eradicating cancer and improving the lives of people with and beyond cancer. It has more impact against more cancers in more communities than any other cancer charity. The impact comes from leading cancer prevention initiatives, funding outstanding cancer research and delivering trusted information and compassionate support.

www.cancer.ca

Directly from The Kitchen Party Press Release:

The Best Kitchen Party in Vancouver Returns

OLIVER, BC… Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country brings The Kitchen Party back to Vancouver this June 7th.  Trail Appliances, Vancouver’s premier kitchen showroom, is host to this year’s event, which features 12 of Vancouver’s top restaurants paired with the 24 wineries of Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country. Tickets for this grazing style party are just $75.00 and can be purchased on-line at http://kitchenparty.eventbrite.ca.

The Kitchen Party began in Vancouver in 2008 and has sold out each year – after all – we all know the best parties end up the kitchen. This year, Trail Appliances, located at 2876 Rupert Street (at Grandview Highway) features 11 incredible showroom kitchen, each with a well known Vancouver chef and 2 Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country members. (Please see attached list) This is an opportunity to taste new releases from Canada’s most sought after wines, sample canapés from celebrity chefs and bid on an outstanding wine cellar; 48 wines lovingly housed in a top of the line Viking Wine Cellar featuring 2 temperature zones, a value of over $5000. Don’t miss out on this and vacation packages to Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country

About Trail Appliances: As a family owned and operated business since 1974, Trail Appliances is one of the leading independent appliance retailers in Western Canada with 13 stores in BritishColumbia and Alberta. Trail offers Canada’s largest appliance selection creating a complete shopping experience for every need – single family homes, apartments, condos, and town homes.

About Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country: Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country is bordered by McIntyre Bluff to the north and the USA border to the south. Its major growing areas lie on three benches: the Golden Mile,  the Black Sage and the Osoyoos Lake benches. Still a very rural area, this part of the valley is dedicated to agriculture of all kinds; however the diversity of soils amd microclimates here create premier land for many grape varieties. The unifying character that makes this possible is our desert climate, which is common to all wineries. Oliver is home to The Wine Capital of Canada while Osoyoos boasts Canada’s “Warmest Welcome”.

The Kitchen Party Takes place Thursday, June 7th at Trail Appliances located at 2876 Rupert Street (at Grandview Highway). Tickets can be purchased on-line, http://kitchenparty.eventbrite.ca . The Kitchen Party is sponsored by Trail Appliances and Viking.

Directly from the Watermark Beach Resort Press Release:

Watermark Beach Resort Welcomes New Executive Chef Jonas Stadtländer

May 15, 2012 (Vancouver, BC) – The Watermark Beach Resort is pleased to announce that Jonas Stadtländer has accepted the role of Executive Chef for the Resort.  Chef Stadtländer will be at the helm of the Wine Bar & Patio, as well as and the Resort’s conference and banquet space, which hosts both conferences and weddings.  Jonas brings a combination of passion and experience to his new role leading the culinary team at the world-class Osoyoos resort.

In recent years, Jonas has acquired a wealth of experience working a variety of roles at top restaurants in Japan, Germany, Australia, and Canada.  His time at Germany’s Wielandshöhe restaurant and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Tokyo gave him an appreciation for varied culinary and cultural traditions.

He got his start here at home in Canada:  he was born and raised in Toronto, and grew up with an insider’s view of the restaurant business.  His father is well-known chef Michael Stadtländer, and his family operates a mixed farm in rural Ontario that embodies the field-to-table approach to cuisine.

Jonas is excited about his new position at the Watermark, saying that “cooking in the South Okanagan is a dream for a chef” because of the region’s amazing abundance of premium ingredients, including outstanding fruit and vegetables, quality meats, artisan cheeses, and world-class wines.

To make your reservations at the Watermark Wine Bar & Patio, call 250-495-5500 or 1-888-755-3480   www.WatermarkBeachResort.com.

Directly from the Earls Restaurants Press Release:

Earls Restaurants launches new regional craft beer program across Canada at the Vancouver Craft Beer Week May 18 – 26, 2012.

Fresh Microbrews, local to each region, reflect the commitment to all things fresh at Earls

Vancouver, BC – May 13, 2012 In a commitment to promoting microbreweries across Canada, Earls Restaurants is pleased to present their new beer selection offering craft beers local to each region where restaurants are located - British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

With the growing emphasis on only fresh, made from scratch items on their food menu, and fresh squeezed juices, no artificial flavours on their bar menus, artisanal craft beers are an important part of the authentic flavours available at all Earls 60 restaurants.

Defined as small-batch beer made by independent, traditional breweries, craft beer is free of preservatives and stabilizers and created to be served shortly after brewing and bottling.

Keeping craft beers local ensures freshness as well as offering unique flavour profiles distinct to each region.

Beverage Director Cameron Bogue (Advanced WSET Level 3), who oversaw the selection of beers for Canada and worked with a tasting panel that included Executive Chef/Corporate Development Chef Reuben Major and George Piper, the long time wine buyer for Earls, noted it was both an envious and difficult task. “With all the fantastic breweries across Canada, it was very difficult to narrow down our favourite,” explained Bogue, “we conducted a blind taste test of nearly 200 beers in one afternoon alone looking to find the very best – the perils of my job!”

Microbrews are not new to Earls Restaurants, nor is the emphasis on great quality beers. Earls broke ground as the first restaurant in Canada to offer draught beer back in 1982, when only bars and taverns could offer it (Alberta’s Drummond Brewing) and that same year Earls’ first location in Edmonton broke ground again creating Albino Rhino, their own house beer made by, then microbrewery, Big Rock. Five years later Whistler Brewing Co. took over as the microbrewery producing the iconic house brand in the west. With the 2009 move into Ontario, Muskoka Brewing produces the house microbrew in the east. Both Whistler and Muskoka also create new seasonal flavours for Earls throughout the year.

Regional selections include:

British Columbia: Phillips Brewing Co. (Blue Buck Pale Ale, Slip Stream Cream Ale), Howe Sound Brewing Co. (Devil’s Elbow India Pale Ale, Four Way Fruit) Whistler Brewing Co. (Albino Rhino house and seasonal beers) as well as bottled microbrews  by Whistler Brewing Co. (Whisky Jack Pale Ale, Grapefruit Ale)

Alberta Alley Kat Brewing Co. (Aprikat), Big Rock (Traditional Ale), Whistler Brewing Co. (Albino Rhino house and seasonal beers)

Saskatchewan Saskatoon Brewing (Pale Ale), Whistler Brewing Co. (Albino Rhino house and seasonal beers)

Manitoba Fort Garry Brewing Co. (Pale Ale, Dark Ale), Whistler Brewing Co. (Albino Rhino house and seasonal beers)

Ontario Muskoka Brewing Co. (Cream Ale, Summer Weiss, Mad Tom IPA ), Mill Street Brewing Co. (Tankhouse Ale, Organic Lager), Steam Whistle Brewing Co. (Premium Pilsner) Albino Rhino (house and seasonal beers)

The new selection of beers is available now at all Earls Restaurants.

“I started out by looking for breweries that make a selection of beers, each unique to their style,” added Bogue. “What I found was a world-class selection of beers, bolstered by stories of entrepreneurship in their local communities – in other words, craft brewing with a purpose.”

SPECIAL EVENT

In conjunction with the Vancouver Craft Beer Week Earls presents “Earls Gets Crafty”

Sunday, May 20th from 4 pm – 6 pm

$25 includes 8 beer samples, food and gratuity

Join BC Brew Masters from Phillips, Howe Sound and Whistler Brewing at Earls Restaurant, Yaletown and be part of the official launch of our new North America wide craft beer and microbrew program. We’ll sample all 8 of our BC craft beers and serve up some beer friendly appetizers from our new spring menu made fresh from scratch in our Yaletown kitchen. $25 includes 8 beer samples, food and gratuity. Tickets at  http://vancouvercraftbeerweek.com/2012/events/sunday-may-20th-2012/

GK Media Inc is pleased to present a new feature video:

Provence Restaurants: Spot Prawns

Directly from the Hamilton Street Grill Press Release:

Spring Tasting: Monday, May 28th and/or Tuesday, May 29th

One of British Columbia’s best new wines 8th GENERATION along with one of Hamilton Street Grill’s favourite wine presenters, Quinn Diepold 5:30pm - 7pm - $25 per person

In keeping with our popular and fun format, try a sampling of three new wines and have three savoury, wine-inspired food tasters while learning from a wine expert as they take you through a sit down yet casual style tasting. Guests are seated at both individual tables and at shared tables

This month we are pouring three selections of 8th Generation wines alongside Hamilton Street Grill’s Executive Chef Neil Wyles wine inspired appetizers. Neil makes excellent choices when pairing his appetizers with the wines and the tasting format is casual, informative and fun!

Monday, May 28th and/or Tuesday  May 29th
Start time 5:30 pm
Hamilton Street Grill
1009 Hamilton Street, Yaletown, Vancouver
Tickets $25 per person

Seating always sells out quickly Reserve by credit card at: 604-331-1511 or hamiltonstreetgrill@telus.net

Our favourite annual celebration - Steak Month!

June is steak month at the Hamilton Street grill as we celebrate our 16th year in style

This years anniversary month special is the California Cut Striploin served with garlic mashed potatoes and market and vegetables. A thick juicy Striploin for only $16, all month long

Reservations 604-331-1511 (Hey, what a great way to celebrate Father’s Day!) Not valid with other promotions

Directly from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Press Release:

Superstar Yevgeny Sudbin performs Mozart with the VSO, with Conductor Laureate Kazuyoshi Akiyama celebrating his 40th anniversary of conducting the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Vancouver, BC – The weekend of May 26th to the 28th sees the VSO debut of piano superstar Yevgeny Sudbin, performing one of Mozart’s most important – and most brilliant – works for piano, his Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor. Also featured on the program are Debussy’s beautiful L’isle joyeuse and La Mer, and Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture.

These performances are conducted by VSO Conductor Laureate Kazuyoshi Akiyama. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the VSO’s association with Maestro Akiyama, who served as Music Director from 1972 to 1984. In Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, as well as on tours throughout British Columbia, across Canada, to the US West Coast and Japan, Maestro Akiyama has conducted over six- hundred concerts with the VSO and can be heard on five critically acclaimed recordings. The VSO is immensely proud of its association with Maestro Akiyama, a world-renowned conductor and recipient of the Emperor’s Purple Ribbon Medal from the Japanese Government for his outstanding contribution to the country’s musical culture. We celebrate our 40th anniversary of beautiful music-making on this performance weekend.

Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin has been hailed as potentially one of the greatest pianists of the 21st century, and the International Record Review called him “one of the most important pianistic talents of our time.” Sudbin regularly performs with many of the world’s most distinguished orchestras, and his recordings have always met with critical acclaim.

The matinee performance on Sunday, May 27th is dedicated to the many hundreds of VSO Volunteers who give generously and tirelessly of their time to assist the VSO in many aspects of operations. Volunteers staff the VSO Gift Shop; work at every concert assisting patrons, handing out information and selling lottery tickets; spend thousands of hours in the VSO offices assisting with administrative tasks, important mailouts, data entry, etc.; staff the reception desk; sell lottery tickets at malls and other locations throughout the Lower Mainland; staff the Tea & Trumpets matinee series; help raise important funds through projects such as the Volunteer Music Appreciation Program, the Symphony of Style Fashion Show, the Holland America Luncheon, and more. The VSO salutes these amazing volunteers!

CONCERT INFO

Masterworks Diamond

Saturday & Monday, May 26 & 28, 8pm, Orpheum

Rogers Group Financial Symphony Sundays

Sunday, May 27, 2pm, Orpheum

Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor

Yevgeny Sudbin, piano

Mozart          The Magic Flute: Overture

Mozart          Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491

Debussy         L’isle joyeuse

Debussy         La Mer

TICKET INFORMATION:

Tickets: $26.75 - $84 (senior, student and subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available online at www.vancouversymphony.ca or by calling VSO customer service at 604.876.3434

Directly from the Donnelly Group Press Release:

Hooker’s Green at the New Oxford - Now Open

If you follow the newly fabricated winding raw metal staircase down from the library at the New Oxford, you will be greeted by the dimly lit games area of the newest addition to the Donnelly Group Public Houses, Hooker’s Green.

Not to be mistaken with ladies of the night, Hooker¹s Green takes its name from a unique shade of green, created by 18th century botanical artist William J. Hooker.

The space is complimented by a large covered patio, a massive wooden bar, its own library and of course a well-stocked and stimulating cocktail and beer menu.

Open seven days a week from 4pm, Hooker’s Green offers a menu of locally sourced modern pub fare and a selection of 14 rotating craft beers on tap.

For more info please visit us at www.donnellygroup.ca

Hooker’s Green
1141 Hamilton Street
p. 604.669.4848
Sun – Thur: 4:00pm – 1:00am
Fri & Sat : 4:00pm – 2:00am

Directly from the Dockside Restaurant Press Release:

The Coal Harbour Liquor Store is pleased to announce the date for the extremely popular

Pelican Bay Spring Wine Tasting Event

This event is offered exclusively to members of the Coal Harbour Liquor Store VIP CLUB.

Taste over 30 different wine labels while enjoying a selection of appetizers and taps compliments of the culinary team at the Dockside Restaurant.

This spectacular location provides a beautiful backdrop to the event.

This is an extremely popular event and there are limited tickets available so dont delay…

Tuesday May 29th

5:00pm - 8:00pm

Dockside Restaurant in the Granville Island Hotel

Directly from the Provence Restaurants Press Release:

PROVENCE PATIOS + SPOT PRAWNS = HEAVEN

(Vancouver, BC) - Spot Prawn season officially opened on Saturday, May 5th. For six weeks, Lower Mainlanders revel in the juicy sweetness of these local ‘gems of the sea.’ Whether you prefer yours steamed or grilled or poached, everyone can agree there is nothing more heavenly than enjoying spot prawns and a glass of rosé on a patio.

Both locations of Provence Restaurants (Mediterranean Grill in Point Grey and Marinaside in Yaletown) have patios and are featuring special (and different) three-course spot prawn menus (priced at $48) for the season.

Mediterranean Grill’s (P1) menu features such treats as Spot Prawn Salad, simply prepared Steamed Spot Prawns, a version of surf ‘n turf with AAA Beef Tenderloin and Flambéed Spot Prawns.

Over at Marinaside (P2), the Yaletown location, Chef Jean-Francis Quaglia has cooked up a menu that highlights the Spot Prawn in such dishes as Poached BC Spot Prawns with Yellow Tomato Gazpacho, Spot Prawn Duo (grilled and Provençal style) and Lois Lake Steelhead with Spot Prawns.

While both menus include a choice of dessert from the regular menu, we feel there’s only one dessert that is the perfect complement to a Spot Prawn feast – Provence’s famed Lemon Tarte.

So the big decision comes down to which menu and which patio. As reflected in the menus, each location of Provence has its own distinct personality – elegant P1’s patio in Point Grey overlooks a bustling neighbourhood ‘high street’ and is festooned with gorgeous hanging baskets while trendy P2’s patio in Yaletown overlooks the False Creek seawall.

The two locations even have a friendly Spot Prawn competition going on (see video link below). “It’s a bit of fun and a wonderful way to encourage our patrons to try the other location,” says Provence co-owner and P1 Chef, Alessandra Quaglia. “Ever since we opened P2, we’ve had a friendly rivalry between the two kitchens,” concurs her husband and P2 Chef, Jean-Francis Quaglia, “our patrons like it.” So make the most of the next six weeks and try the Spot Prawn menus at both Provence locations because once the season is over, you’ll have to wait another year for this version of Heaven.

Directly from the Cloverdale Rodeo Press Release:

FIRE UP THE GRILL AT THE FIRST EVER CLOVERDALE COWBOY COOK-OFF BBQ COMPETITION

Cloverdale, BC – Get ready for secret recipes that have been passed on for generations, aromas that will make your mouth water and the best food ever served on a paper plate at the first ever Cloverdale Cowboy Cook Off BBQ Competition during this year’s Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair, May 18-21, 2012. Barbequing masters from Canada and beyond will fasten their cowboy boots and prove they know how to work a grill – country style – as they battle it out in a fierce competition for title and cash.

Presented by Well Seasoned, more than 25 different teams will compete for $10,000 in cash prizes. The competition begins Saturday afternoon with a pie and chili contest. Next up is an Iron Chef style contest, BATTLE BACON. Each team will be provided with 5 lbs of Johnston’s BC Bacon and the teams can make anything they want using bacon as the feature ingredient. At 5 pm on Saturday the BACON dishes will be submitted to the judges for evaluation.

After BATTLE BACON teams will start to cook their meat in preparation for the competition on Sunday. Beef brisket and pork shoulder can take up to 15 hours to cook, so the cooks will have to stay up all night to tend to their meat. The main competition starts Sunday at 11am, and every hour on the hour teams will turn in different meat entries to the judges.

Each judge has been trained and certified by the Pacific Northwest BBQ Association. Judges will be evaluating the food based on appearance, texture, taste and flavour. The food is rated on a scale of 1-10 by six different judges. After the teams have submitted their food to the judges, they will pass out samples to the public. Get ready for some of the best barbeque you have ever experienced!

Show Times:

Saturday May 19th

1:00 pm – Pie

2:00 pm – Chili

4:00 pm – BATTLE BACON

Sunday May 20th

11:00 am – Pork Shoulder

12:00 pm – Beef Brisket

1:00 pm – Chicken

2:00 pm – Ribs

5:00 pm – Awards

For more information visit www.cloverdalerodeo.com.