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Directly from the Taste BC 2010 Press Release:

Liberty’s Taste BC 2010 Vancouver’s Favourite

Fundraiser for BC Children’s Hospital

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (January 19th, 2010) – Great wine, fantastic food, hundreds of revelers and all for a wonderful cause!

Liberty Merchant Company’s 16th Annual Taste BC 2010 drew hundreds of Vancouverites to the Hyatt Regency Hotel on January 19th to indulge in tastings from some of the finest restaurants, wineries, breweries and cheese purveyors in BC.

The annual celebration of local flavours and the people who create them brought together the elite in British Columbia’s food and beverage industry, while raising proceeds for the BC Children’s Hospital’s Oak Tree Clinic.

Tied for “Best of Show” were Thornhaven Estate Winery 2008 Gewürztraminer and Foxtrot 2006 Pinot Noir. Aces Wine 2008 Pocket Aces Syrah won the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Drink, while Rodney’s Oyster Bar took the Favourite Food prize.

Liberty Merchant Company extends their appreciation to everyone who donated time, effort and product to the cause:

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

Favourite Drink:   Aces Wine 2007 Pocket Aces Syrah

Favourite Food: Rodney’s Oyster Bar – Raw BC Oysters

OFFICIAL JUDGING RESULTS

BEST OF SHOW: Thornhaven Estate Winery 2008 Gewürztraminer and Foxtrot 2006 Pinot Noir

GOLD WINNERS:

Blue Mountain Brut N/V, Wild Goose 2008 Autumn Gold, Wild Goose 2008 Stoney Slope Riesling, Thornhaven Estate Winery 2008 Gewürztraminer, Wild Goose Vineyards 2008 Gewürztraminer, Averill Creek 2007 Pinot Noir, Averill Creek Cowichan Black N/V Blackberry

SILVER WINNERS:

Sumac Ridge 2007 Black Sage White Meritage, Clos de Soleil 2007 Sauvignon/Semillon, 8th Generation 2008 Riesling, Ex Nihilo 2007 Riesling, Blasted Church 2008 Pinot Gris, La Stella 2008 Vivace Pinot Grigio, Lake Breeze 2008 Pinot Gris, Blue Mountain 2008 Pinot Blanc, Lake Breeze Vineyards 2008 Pinot Blanc, White Bear 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Quails’ Gate 2007 Chardonnay, Therapy Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay, Lake Breeze Vineyards 2008 Rose, Quails’ Gate 2007 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir, Nk’Mip 2007 Quam Qwim Pinot Noir, Ex Nihilo Vineyards 2006 Merlot, Lake Breeze 2006 Seven Poplars Merlot, Aces Wine 2007 Pocket Kings Meritage Red, Black Hills 2007 Nota Bene Meritage Red, Laughing Stock 2007 Portfolio Blend Meritage Red, Seven Stones 2007 Standing Rock Meritage Red, Jackson-Triggs 2007 Sunrock Shiraz, Vista D’Oro 2007 D’Oro Walnut, Sonoran Estate 2006 13 Moons Oraniensteiner Icewine, Sea Cider 2008 Pippins Apple Cider, Red Racer Pale Ale, Howe Sound IPA Devil’s Elbow, Victoria Gin.

BRONZE WINNERS:

Rigamarole 2007 White, Therapy Vineyards 2009 Freudian Sip, 8th Generation 2008 Classic Riesling, Tantalus 2008 Riesling, Mistaken Identity 2008 Gewürztraminer,

8th Generation 2008 Pinot Gris, Poplar Grove 2008 Pinot Gris, Kettle Valley 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Stag’s Hollow 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Cerelia Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay, Robin Ridge 2007Chardonnay, Misconduct Wine Co. 2008 Massacre Rose, 8th Generation 2008 Pinot Noir, Eau Vivre 2007 Pinot Noir, Blasted Church 2006 Merlot, Fairview Cellars 2006 Merlot, Gehringer Brothers Estate 2007 Dry Rock Merlot, La Stella 2006 Allegretto Merlot, Poplar Grove 2006 Merlot, Young & Wyse Collection 2008 Merlot, Hillside Estate 2007 Cabernet Franc, Stag’s Hollow 2006, Clos Du Soleil 2007 Meritage Red, Ex Nihilo Night Meritage Red, Fairview Cellars 2006 The Bear Meritage Red, Fairview Cellars 2006 Madcap Meritage Red, Aces Wine 2007 Pocket Aces Syrah, Orchard Hill 2007 Red Roofs Apple Cider, Howe Sound Oatmeal Stout Diamond Head,

HONOURABLE MENTION WINNERS:

Gehringer Brothers 2008 Ehrenfelser, Blue Mountain 2007 Pinot Gris, Forbidden Fruit 2007 Cerise D’Eve Cherry Port.

Sponsors:

CTV, The Vancouver Courier, Precision Graphics Inc, Jesse Winter Heading Photography, Riedel Canada, Whistler Water

Esteemed judging panel for Taste BC 2010 Awards Night: Rob Stelmachuk• Tyler Dawson • Park Heffelfinger • Brent Fraser • Mark Taylor. A special thank you for your time and expertise.

Directly from the Cardero’s and The Sandbar Press Release:

“R” MONTHS ARE SHUCKING, SUCKING, FINGER-LICKING GOOD TIMES

Cardero’s and The Sandbar Launch Fresh New Deal

(Vancouver, B.C.) – Cardero’s and The Sandbar restaurant together, announce the launch of the new Ohhh Oysters menu.  Starting this week and running to the end of March, the two waterfront restaurants will feature fresh Chef Creek and Village Bay Oysters paired with New Zealand Oyster Bay wines.

“Many people don’t realize it, but oysters are really only fresh from September to April -also known as the “R” months” states Cardero’s own Executive Chef, Annabelle Leslie.  To get people motivated, the restaurants have prepared a number of dishes.  From freshly shucked raw oysters, Poor Boy sandwiches, pan-fried or baked Rockefeller oysters, and Vodka Oyster Shots “for those who dare,” says Leslie.  Menu highlights will include American-style oysters with house-made cocktail sauce, red wine mignonette or the bold Vietnamese inspired mignonette with jalapeno, cilantro and minced red pepper.

Cardero’s and The Sandbar are part of the Sequoia Company of Restaurants. Cardero’s situated amongst the sailboats, seaplanes and Northshore mountain views is tough competition for the non-stop energy of Granville Island and The Sandbar.  No matter your choice, each restaurant boasts a menu packed with freshly landed local catch, not to mention some of Vancouver’s best backdrops!

What: Ohh Oysters Everyday

1 dozen Oysters + bottle of Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc for $49

Glass of Sauvignon Blanc + ½ dozen Oysters for $19

Vodka Oyster Shooters for $6.95 – Pan Fried Oysters $11.95 –

Oyster Poor Boy $13.95 – Oyster Rockefeller $9.95

Where: Cardero’s                     The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant

604.669.7666                           604.669.9030

1583 Coal Harbor Quay             1535 Johnston Street, Granville Island