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Directly from the Hart House Restaurant Press Release:

Hart House Welcomes New Executive Chef Alana Peckham

Vancouver, BC – Hart House at Deer Lake is pleased to announce that Alana Peckham has joined the restaurant as Executive Chef.  Chef Peckham has already made her mark on the cuisine at the venerable Burnaby landmark by introducing fresh new lunch, brunch, and dinner menus.

Chef Peckham’s unique cooking style is influenced both by her training in French culinary techniques and her heritage as a Chinese Canadian.  Above all, however, she is devoted to using fresh and local ingredients.  She is excited about joining the team at Hart House, which is known for tremendous dining in the main dining room and hosting outstanding functions for corporations and family celebrations throughout the grounds.  She will continue to nurture their close relationships with local suppliers and looks forward to accessing the on-site herb garden for her menu.

The new menus showcase Chef Peckham’s creative talents and the abundance of premium ingredients available locally.  The brunch menu includes Banana Buttermilk Pancakes, Duck Leg Confit, and Goat Cheese & Mushroom Omelet.  Lunch options range from Salt Spring Island Mussels to the AAA Beef Burger & Fries to the Knuckle Sandwich (fresh lobster knuckles provide the punch in this recipe).  The dinner menu offers such dishes as Steelhead Salmon, Fraser Valley Duck Breast, Asparagus Tagliatelle, and Grilled Lamb Sirloin.

Guests are welcome to enjoy the new menu items on Hart House’s comfortable patio overlooking Deer Lake. Reservations are available by phone only at 604-298-4278.

Directly from the Hawksworth Restaurant Press Release:

H’s Blend Released at Hawksworth Restaurant & Bel Cafe. Hawksworth Restaurant’s award-winning sommelier team craft a unique, approachable wine blend for guests

Vancouver, BC (May 31, 2012) – The Hawksworth Restaurant team added another arrow to their epicurean bow this week, with the launch of H’s Blend, a handcrafted and accessible wine blend, available exclusively at Hawksworth Restaurant and Bel Café.

Under the watchful guidance of winemaker John Weber of Cawston’s family-run Orofino Winery in the Similkameen Valley, H’s Blend is a light and refreshing offering of both red and white wine – 100% Gamay from two separate vineyards, and a blend of 50% Pinot Gris and 50% Riesling, also from grapes grown on Similkameen vines – producing a lively and juicy bistro-style red and a distinctive and delicate white, with flavours of citrus and pear.

The relationship between Hawksworth Restaurant team and Orofino Winery dates back to 2008 when Jay Whiteley, Assistant Wine Director, joined the Orofino team for a hands-on experience on the crush pad. Inspired by the Orofino approach to making real wine to be paired with ingredient-driven, locally-sourced, flavourful food (Orofino is also home to the annual 1.6 mile dinner), the family-run vineyard became the perfect choice for Hawksworth’s own label.

“This is a true testament to the skill and relationships held by our sommelier team,” says David Hawksworth, upon the launch of H’s Blend. “We are proud to align with one of BC’s most respected wineries, using grapes from Canada’s most distinctive appellation to create our own exclusive wine blends.”

Both red and white H’s Blend were handcrafted by John Weber and the Hawksworth sommelier team, including Wine Director and Sommelier of the Year, Terry Threlfall, in Hawksworth Restaurant’s private dining room. Earlier this year, the York Room was adapted to create a blending station to garner the very best wine to complement and enhance Hawksworth’s contemporary Canadian cuisine. The result is a light, bright wine with notes of berry and citrus, an equally perfect addition to a dinner at Hawksworth, or enjoyed on the Bel Café patio.

H’s Blend is available at both Hawksworth Restaurant and Bel Café, as part of their platinum-award winning wine list for $11 per glass and $55 per bottle.