Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Cobre Press Release:

(Vancouver, BC) – Canadians’ knowledge of Brazil is generally limited to Rio de Janeiro’s famed Carnevale, Ipanema Beach and samba. We know very little, if anything, about the country’s culture, food and various states. Like Canada, Latin America’s largest country is comprised of different regions, each with a distinctive cuisine informed by its people (both indigenous and immigrant), the climate and the food crops that are produced and harvested there. The cuisine of Brazil is far more sophisticated and complex than that found in any one city or region - imagine if everyone thought of ‘Canadian cuisine’ as being limited to what you could find in only one of our cities or provinces?

On June 11th, Vancouverites have the opportunity to join Chef Yara Castro Roberts, one of Brazil’s top chefs, on a ‘cook’s tour’ of her native land. She is in Vancouver to promote her latest book The Brazilian Table, in which she takes readers on a culinary exploration of the flavours, dishes, ingredients and traditions of her vast country.

Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks and Cobre Nuevo Latino restaurant have teamed up to present a special dinner featuring Cobre Chef Stuart Irving’s interpretations of some of the recipes drawn from The Brazilian Table with beverage pairings by Cobre’s Beverage Manager, Jason Kelly.

Tickets for this intimate dinner with Chef Roberts includes Chef Irving’s specially designed four-course menu, beverage pairing and a personally autographed copy of the book. Tickets are priced at $95 and are only available through Books to
Cooks 604-688-6755.

Chef Roberts is the first chef to write in English about the food of Brazil. She was the host of the Emmy-nominated Cook’s Tour PBS television series. Currently she is the subject of Delicious Brasil, a new series about Brazilian cooking and lifestyles. She began her culinary education as a young girl in Belo Horizonte, Brazil with her mother, Belita de Castro, a well-known chef who owned a catering business and a cooking school in Brazil. Her father Etienne, a journalist, was a gourmet as well. Chef Roberts received her initial professional culinary training at Boston University Culinary Arts Program, and followed that with classes in food history at Radcliff College and in pastry making at the Ritz-Escoffier Cooking School in Paris.

Directly from the Bistrot Bistro Press Release:

Kitsilano’s Bistrot Bistro won’t let the recession stop them from giving back

Community groups receive much needed funds from Karma Tuesday’s

As proprietors Valerie and Laurent Devin like to say, “there is no yoga required”, simply come out to Bistrot Bistro in the heart of Kitsilano, enjoy they food and atmosphere of 4th Avenue and we will take care of the rest.  In this case, the rest is a cheque for the local disabled sailing program (disabilityfoundation.org) founded by former mayor, Sam Sullivan.

This is not the first time that Bistrot Bistro have signed off on a Karma Tuesday contribution.  Since opening their doors in 2007, Valerie and Laurent have felt that along with delivering great value and delicious food and wine, they had a responsibility to their community.  So, shortly after opening their doors (and their retracting front windows) they launched the monthly Karma Tuesday program.  Customers and neighbors from across the city submit their charity or non-profit group, Bistrot Bistro selects a monthly recipient and donates 5% of each Tuesday’s proceeds. In this way they are able to give back to the community and to say thank you for its support.

Several groups have participated and received support from Bistrot Bistro including: The Rick Hansen Foundation, Big Sisters of Lower Mainland, Cassie/Friends Fund, Scotty Hard Fund, Children’s Heart Network and Dress for Success to name a few.  For the full list go to bistrotbistrot.com.

Non pretentious, accessible to all and fun are the key word for Valerie and Laurent.  They remain committed tot the heart of their commitment to their customers and to the community, with the promise of good food, great value and giving back.

Valerie and Laurent Devin and the Bistrot Bistro family.

Opus Hotel and Arts Umbrella Special Event:

Thursday, June 25, 2009
Opus Vancouver
8:00pm till late
$130 per person (Tax receipt applicable for a portion of the ticket price)
Attire: Fashionista
Tickets: $130
For more information please go to the Arts Umbrella website.

Directly from the Fuel Press Release:

Upcoming features in the Fuel Sandwich Series include:

Reuben - corned brisket, sauerkraut, potato salad
Pulled Sloping Hill Pork Shoulder - carolina style bbq sauce, slaw, Portuguese bun
Fried Sidestripe Shrimp Po Boy - remoulade sauce, crispy grits
Summertime Classic - crispy bacon, heirloom tomato, avocado
4th Ave Smoked Meat - house made rye, sweet mustard, french fries
Braised Beef Collar ‘Dip’ - cheddar and onion bun, whole grain mustard crème fraiche, brodo
Baked Pork and Fennel Meatball Sandwich - preserved tomato, provolone, garlic butter.

Directly from the Granville Island Press Release:
Granville Island Photo Contest:
Celebrate Granville Island’s 30th Anniversary by
Entering Your Favourite Island Shot!

Vancouver, BC (June 5, 2009): Calling all shutterbugs - Granville Island wants you! Vancouver’s beloved cultural attraction is celebrating thirty years of island life this Canada Day, July 1.

Forget the pearls - this urban redevelopment success story is looking to commemorate the milestone with Granville Island snapshots instead. Have you captured the perfect sunset from the Granville Island dock? Snapped your friends noshing in the Public Market or your children creating works of art in the Kids Market? Is your screensaver a fun shot from the annual Winterruption Festival? Granville Island wants to see the film!

The contest is open to locals as well as visitors from around the globe. Images from the past three decades are welcome.

Submitting a photo is a snap! Send your favourite photos to contests@newsbureau.ca