Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Top Table Press Release:

Top Table Bars Fête Olympic Victors with Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte

Podium Athletes Invited to Celebrate at Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin + West

Vancouver + Whistler, B.C. - Winning an Olympic medal is no easy feat. The road is long, the sacrifices many, and the support structures that enable athletes to reach the podium are elaborate. But ask an Olympic athlete the key to their success, and the reply is almost always, “My family and friends.”

Araxi in Whistler, and Blue Water Cafe, CinCin, and West in Vancouver, will salute winning athletes during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics by helping them toast family and friends at the restaurants’ bars with a complimentary bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte champagne.

“We want to congratulate the bronze, silver and gold medalists from all countries, and give them the opportunity to toast those closest to them, that took them to the pinnacle of their sport,” said Jack Evrensel, proprietor of Top Table. “Top Table is all about teamwork, and so are the endeavours of Olympic athletes - this is a simple way to show our appreciation.”

Medalists: Reserve in advance through Top Table’s restaurant directors, bring your medal, and the bubbles will begin to flow.

RESTAURANT                             LOCATION                                                                    CONTACT

Araxi                                    4222 Whistler Village Square                                   Steve Edwards, 604 932 4540
Blue Water Cafe                    1095 Hamilton Street, Yaletown                                Stephan Cachard, 604 688 8078
CinCin                                  1154 Robson Street                                                 Ricardo Ferreira, 604 688 7338
West                                    2881 Granville Street @ 13th                                    Brian Hopkins, 604 738 8938

Directly from the Cafe Medina Press Release:

CAFÉ MEDINA OPENS TAKE-OUT WINDOW JUST IN TIME FOR OLYMPIC LINES
Providing Sweet Sustenance for Those on the Move

February 5, 2010, Vancouver BC – Olympic game goers and Vancouverites alike will be pleased to know that Café Medina’s mouth-watering waffles and connoisseur-savvy coffees will be available at the café’s new take-out window.

Located at the entrance of the café, the take-out window has been implemented in response to the influx of people that will be using Beatty Street as a thoroughfare during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Sure to be a welcome addition to a neighbourhood that will soon be bustling with foot traffic, the new take-out window will cater to passersby looking to lounge in between destinations or those hoping to grab a little sweet sustenance while on the move.

Sister to neighbouring night time hot spot Chambar, Café Medina is a quaint café serving espresso-based drinks, Belgian waffles and a full breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu comprised of eclectic dishes created by owner and chef, Nico Schuermans. Café Medina is located at 556 Beatty Street. The café will maintain its regular hours during the Olympics, opening Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm with breakfast service from 9am to noon. Weekday lunch service is from noon until 3pm. Café Medina is open Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with brunch service from 9am to 3:00 pm.

Directly from the Blue Eyed Marys Press Release:

Valentine Menu

Seared Scallops On A Cabbage And Prosciutto Tart With Chocolate Balsamic Vinaigrette

Cocoa And Spice Rubbed Paradise Valley Pork Tenderloin With Chocolate Port Demi Glace And Apple Celeriac Mashed Potatoes

Truffle Cake With Raspberry Sorbet And Chocolate Caramel

$40

Mindful Menu

Whole Wheat Pizza with Turkey Sausage, Leeks and Farmhouse Castle Blue Cheese Drizzle

Blue Goose Organic Beef Brisket Braised In R&B Raven Cream Ale Served with An Apple and Squash Salad

Hazelnut Cake with Spiced Apple Compote & Whipped Cream

$35

The Mindful Menu represents our efforts to be good stewards of the  sources of food in this part of the world.
Our menus have always reflected the seasonal aspect of cuisine. The  ingredients for ourMindful Menu are all local from small family run companies like ours and the portions and combinations reflect what we feel is a
more healthful approach to eating.It is our pleasure to discuss ingredients and if you know of a source  for good local food please share it with us.

Eat Local; act like a neighbour!

February 2010

Starters

Celery & Gruyère Soup with Pancetta and Walnut Oil 8

Greens with Roasted Garlic-Rosemary Dressing and Cornmeal Shortbread 9

Tortière Tart with Root Vegetable and Tarragon Vinaigrette 10

Main Courses

Maple Roasted Acorn Squash Filled with Wheat Berry Quinoa Pilaf and Parsnip, Cauliflower, Apple Purée 18

Roasted Free Range Chicken Breast with Coconut Rice, Mango Chutney and Curry Oil 21

Seared Rare Albacore Tuna with Lentil and Chickpea Salad and Sundried Tomato Pesto 23

Venison Striploin with a Potato Pancake, Roasted Pear, Horseradish Cream and Rosemary Reduction 24

Dessert

Butter Tart with Apple Sorbet and Rum Caramel 8

Cranberry Upside-down Cake 8

Chocolate Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream & Chilli Caramel 8

Directly from the db Bistro Moderne Vancouver and Lumiere Press Release:

db Bistro Moderne Vancouver and Lumière Build on Tradition of Excellence; Sister Restaurants Receive High Praise from ZAGAT

February 4, 2010 - Vancouver, BC – Proprietors David and Manjy Sidoo and Daniel Boulud are extraordinarily pleased to announce that, db Bistro Moderne, Vancouver, and Lumière received outstanding ratings from ZAGAT, the world’s leading provider of consumer survey-based information on where to eat, drink, stay and play, worldwide. “It’s wonderful to receive excellent critical review, but it is truly gratifying to learn that our customers and peers share those sentiments as well,” says David Sidoo.

“We introduced db Bistro Moderne and re-introduced Lumière to Vancouver just over one year ago, during industry-challenged times and to the most discerning group of diners the city has seen in over a decade.  The 2010 ZAGAT survey results certainly direct all credit where it is due – to our world-class Chefs Daniel Boulud, Dale MacKay and Stephane Istel, and to our incredible restaurant team.”

ZAGAT restaurant ratings are consumer survey-based, and focus on three easily digestible categories, namely food, décor and service.  Each category is assigned a numeric rating from one to 30, with 30 representing perfection.  An average cost per cover is assigned, and a short encapsulating paragraph delivers the overall experience to the uninitiated in 100 words or less.

The Grand Chef Relais & Chateaux class Lumière restaurant captured a heady 26, 23 and 25 rating points respectively, with an average cost per person, including wine, of $108.  The cumulative commentary began, “Those seeking a sublime, divinely decadent experience make the pilgrimage to owner Daniel Boulud’s warm inviting, modern West Side destination French, where the epitome of Vancouver fine dining is exquisite, yet as understated as the name and enhanced by attentive, not intrusive service…”

The new db Bistro Moderne Vancouver received 23, 22 and 22 points respectively, with an average cost per person, including wine, of $61 CAD.  More meaningful however than the numbers is the introduction: ”Owner Daniel Boulud knows his stuff say fans, calling the vaunted db Burger a must try at this glamorous, well-cloned outpost of the Manhattan original that brings a definite New York vibe to the West Side with its bistro twists on French classics…”

Less than one week ago, db Bistro Moderne Vancouver announced receipt of AAA/CAA’s (Triple A’s) Three Diamond rating for outstanding cuisine, service and restaurant concept – a noteworthy achievement for a brand new restaurant.

“We will continue to work hard to earn the continued trust and loyalty of our clients and our critics, most particularly as we welcome the world this month during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games,” adds Sidoo.