Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the COAST Press Release:

On Friday, July 10, COAST Restaurant and O Lounge open at 1054 Alberni Street. Josh Wolfe is Executive Chef and Jan Erik Wichmann is General Manager.

“With a back-to-basics seafood menu, COAST will showcase the best quality seafood served with classic style,” says proprietor, Emad Yacoub. “This is a place where diners can slurp icy oysters, crack into a crab claw and savour a rich chowder, along with a crisp glass of wine or a nice, chilled beer.”

Executive Chef Josh Wolfe can capture his approach in one word: dramatic. “Guests will enjoy oysters still dripping with saltwater. Chowders are prepared in front of them. Our Sushi Chef creates something magical before their eyes.”

At the 24-seat ‘Oyster & Chowder Bar’, Atlantic and Pacific COAST oysters will be shucked along with signature dishes like Dungeness crab cakes, seafood platters, lobsters, chowders and sushi. Landlubbers may select juicy cuts of Triple A Canadian Prime beef. A well balanced wine list features 100 wines under $100, stocked full of Pacific Northwest gems.

Directly from the Eat BC! Press Release

June 29, 2009, Vancouver, British Columbia

The British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) announced today that its popular EAT BC! dining program will be re-branded as EAT & Drink BC!  to reflect the significant contribution of BC’s beverage industry to consumers dining experience.  Eat & Drink BC! is gearing up to be the biggest dining program ever staged in Canada.

Ian Tostenson, President and CEO of the BCRFA commented that “the restaurant industry requires a shot in the arm right now.  Year over year statistics show that some sectors of the industry are down by as much as 10%. Take the current state of the BC economy, and combine it with the upcoming 2010 Olympics, and you have the perfect storm to stage this enormous undertaking.  By promoting a province wide dine out program that’s priced to reflect value, restaurants will be able to provide patrons with the ideal opportunity to experience all that makes the food and beverage industry of B.C. truly unique and world class”.

The October, 2009 Eat & Drink BC! restaurant promotion will feature prix fixe menus to reflect value  ($15, $25, $35).  All menus will be locally inspired; featuring foods grown, raised or majority processed in B.C. and will be combined with the best of B.C.’s wines, beers,and non-alcoholic beverages.  During the program, diners can expect great value and the best in fresh, local and tasty British Columbian cuisine. The upside for restaurants of course, is in the substantial infusion of dollars into B.C.’s food and beverage production and restaurant
sales.

Directly from the Take 5 Cafe Press Release

VANCOUVER, British Columbia—June 30, 2009—Take 5 Café™, a local award-winning European coffee house and homemade Italian foods eatery, is celebrating summer with an array of coffees, frappinis and all fruit smoothies that are refreshing and affordable.

Take 5 Café offers its customers 100% Specialty Grade Arabica Coffees that are exclusively selected and roasted in small batches for the company. This special “small batch” roasting process ensures a taste profile that is in line with a coffee’s true cup character.

Available at all seven Take 5 Café locations across Metro Vancouver, coffee aficionados will enjoy and arrangement of Italian inspired artisan and custom blend coffees ranging in price from $1.69 for a small drip coffee to $4.09 for a large latte. Coffees include:

The Mediterranean – a flavourful and satisfying medium roast coffee highlighted with exotic Kenya AA’s.

The Venetian – a full bodied, dark roast coffee with slightly sweet and volcanic overtones.

When in Rome – a custom espresso that exhibits a wonderful balance between its syrupy body, sweet profile and silky smooth finish.

Tuscan Sun – a decaffeinated espresso that is Certified Organic and Swiss Water Processed.