Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Chambar Press Release:

CHAMBAR APPOINTS NEW FRONT OF HOUSE LEADERS: GENERAL MANAGER SEBASTIEN LAGORS AND SOMMELIER ROBERT STELMACHUK

December 7th, 2009, Vancouver, BC – Chambar Restaurant is thrilled to announce the addition of two industry leaders to the front of house team: GM Sebastien Lagors and Sommelier Robert Stelmachuk. Following the celebration of their five-year anniversary in September, Chambar continues to grow. “Our goal has always been to elevate and evolve the experience at Chambar,” says owner Karri Schuermans, “with a young family and recent expansions of Café Medina, The Dirty Apron Cooking School and Chambar Ale, we’re excited to expand our team. We believe Sebastien and Robert have the dedication and ambition to enhance the Chambar experience.”

Recently appointed to the position of General Manager, Sebastien Lagors brings over 15 years of industry experience, including professional training in his native-France with the prestigious École Hôtelière de Tarbes. With a passion for travel and an affinity for hospitality, Sebastien’s resume reads of the world’s leading hotels and restaurants and Chambar is excited to have such an accomplished GM at the helm heading into 2010.

Chambar’s other new addition is Robert Stelmachuk, an accomplished sommelier who has contributed to and created wine programs at some of the country’s most noteworthy restaurants, including Le Crocodile and Market at Vancouver’s Shangri-La Hotel. He is a graduate of the International Sommelier Guild (ISG), the Wine and Spirit Education Trust of London (WSET), the Grand Prix du Sopexa, and was the Director of Wine Education for the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver. With a passion that is rooted in an industry that never stands still, it’s no wonder Robert believes in creating wine programs that are constantly evolving. For Chambar, Robert is looking forward to creating a list of purposefully chosen wines to compliment the diversity of flavours in chef Nico Schuermans’ cuisine.

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 Belgian and North African influences with a commitment to seasonal, organic and local ingredients. Chambar is located at 540 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.

Directly from the Donnelly Hospitality Management Press Release:

Donnelly Hospitality Management Goes Big for the Holidays
8th Annual Toy Drive for the Salvation Army

Vancouver, BC - This year, Donnelly Hospitality Management (DHM) gets right into the spirit of Christmas giving. The hospitality industry leader is conducting their 8th Annual Toy Drive in partnership with the Salvation Army and the Donnelly Fund at Republic Nightclub on Tuesday December 15th from 8pm – 12pm.

The 8th Annual Toy Drive ensures a special Christmas for children in need across the Lower Mainland. DHM is giving a $50 Toys ‘R’ Us gift certificate to each employee, along with suppliers, close industry partners and VIP customers —over 400—to buy gifts for underprivileged kids of all ages. Gift certificate recipients are encouraged to get into the spirit and go beyond the $50; DHM will match all donations added to the $50 gift certificate. With sights set high, the caring company is aiming to donate over $30,000 worth of toys this year.

The Toy Drive is the most anticipated event of the year for DHM and includes a chic and cheerful Christmas Cocktail Party at Republic, where the goods go to the kids. Party goers will bring their unwrapped gifts, receive Christmas cocktails and complimentary appetizers, and enjoy live 80s synthpop hits from house band One Night Stand. As the party plays on throughout the night, the gifts continue to pile high from DHM staff, partners and friends who come out to support the kids.

For more information about the Donnelly Fund visit: Donnelly Fund