Chef Andrey Durbach and Vancouver artist Robert Chaplin release a cookbook for young and old; Smoking Dog wine tasting on December 8th; Tuesday Night is Braise and Beer at Fuel; Abigail’s Party renovates, revamps and appoints Tina Fineza as executive chef; News from Firefly Fine Wines and Ales.
Details inside…
CHEF ANDREY DURBACH AND VANCOUVER ARTIST/PUBLISHER ROBERT CHAPLIN TEAM UP TO MAKE DELICIOUS CHICKEN SOUP, A COOKBOOK FOR YOUNG AND OLD 
Vancouver, BC – What happens when an outspoken chef teams up with a whimsical artist who also happens to be a self-publisher? A children’s cookbook, of course! Delicious Chicken Soup is a delightful tale of how to make homemade chicken soup, featuring an original recipe from Chef Andrey Durbach of Parkside, Pied-à-Terre, and La Buca, and illustrations by Vancouver artist and publisher Robert Chaplin.
Delicious Chicken Soup gives children and parents the opportunity to spend some time together in the kitchen making one of the most traditional and heart warming of recipes. The book begins with “the stuff you need to cook with” including: a stove, a big pot, a big bowl, and an old tin can. Colourful illustrations and easy to follow instructions guide readers through the process of making their own delicious chicken soup and the language, while easy for children to follow, is just as fun for adults. A full appendix provides “practical, not precise, conversions,” a definition of what it is to be a Michelin Chef, and recipes for Matzo Balls and Tiny Dumplings to add to your soup.
Delicious Chicken Soup will be available at Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks for $20. A book launch will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm on Sunday, December 7th, with both the artist and author in attendance. Delicious chicken soup will be served. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Books to Cooks by phone at 604-688-6755. Delicious Chicken Soup will also be available for purchase at Parkside, La Buca, and Pied-à-Terre.
About the Artist
Robert Chaplin is a celebrated Canadian artist whose practice includes the making of drawings, sculpture, jewelry, and the publication of books. A fond supporter and friend of Chef Andrey Durbach since 1994, this collaboration marks the third title in Chaplin’s series of self-published library editions. Previous titles include Ten Counting Cat and The Elephant Book.
About Chef Andrey Durbach
Chef Andrey Durbach began his career in 1982 at the restaurant Mark James, where he quickly evolved from a rookie dishwasher to saucier. In 1988, Durbach joined John Bishop as an Entremetier at his world-renowned Vancouver restaurant. It was under the tutelage of Bishop that Durbach learned the importance of fresh, seasonal, and regional ingredients. To this day, as Executive Chef and co-owner of Vancouver’s Parkside, La Buca, and Pied-à-Terre, chef Durbach combines basic elements and fresh, high quality ingredients to create cuisine that is simple and yet incredibly satisfying.
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THE SMOKING DOG WINE TASTING – MONDAY, DECEMBER 8TH
The Smoking Dog Bistro invites you to explore wines from BC. Join us from 6:00 to 7:30 pm on Monday, December 8th for an intimate wine and food tasting with some of the best BC has to offer.
A flight of exceptional wines from the Similkameen and Okanagan Valley’s will be presented by Flame Eadie of Saffire Wines and paired with regional foods crafted by our Chef. This is a sit down event, yet casual and cozy so feel free to come in jeans.
$30 per person. Space is limited. To Reserve call 604-732-8811
As we expect to be sold out, please provide a credit card. As food and wine will have been prepared guests not showing up for their reservation without cancelling will be charged the full price of the event should we be unable to see the seat.
We look forward to seeing you,
Jean Séguin and Judith Andrews
The Smoking Dog Bistro
1889 West 1st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 5B8
Tel: 604-732-8811
jude@thesmokingdog.com
www.thesmokingdog.com
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CALL OFF THE COLD WITH COMFORT FOOD
Tuesday Night’s Braise and Beer at Fuel
(Vancouver, BC) December 2, 2008 – Comfort food comes well executed and artfully delivered every Tuesday night at Fuel Restaurant.
Starting Tuesday December 2, 2008, Chef Robert Belcham and his culinary crew will craft a heart-warming, simple braised meat dish. With a different feature dish each week, the preparation will always involve beer from award-winning R&B Brewery. Vancouver’s own microbrewery, R&B wins raves from locals and expert cooks.
For Chef Belcham, the brewery’s location and quality fit just right with the other ingredients: local, underutilized meats, and local, organic winter vegetables. “I’m always pleased with the quality and taste of the products we get from our local connections” says Belcham, “It’s great to be able to share them with our guests”. Comforting dishes to be featured include: Stout Braised Shin of Beef, Polderside Farm’s ‘Coq a la Biere’, Confit of Sloping Hills Farm Pork, and Porter Braised Shoulder of Venison.
The featured dish of the week will be posted at www.fuelrestaurant.ca, and the price—which will vary depending on the meat used—will always be between just $26-$28 and include a glass of R&B beer. Call it complete comfort: just-right dishes delivered in a simple, casual atmosphere, with excellent service.
Fuel Restaurant
By providing expert service and incredible food in a comfortable and friendly setting, Fuel Restaurant has received a number accolades since opening last year. Hailed as the Best New Restaurant in Vancouver by Where Magazine; Best New Formal Restaurant by Urban Diner; and one of the Top 20 Restaurants in Vancouver by the Vancouver Sun, Fuel is an exciting new addition to the Vancouver dining scene. Executive Chef Robert Belcham sources out the best quality regional and sustainable products. By doing all his butchery in house from whole animals, Robert & his kitchen team offer incredible whole roast items and house made charcuterie. These unique offerings are what sets Fuel apart and creates a truly unparalleled dining experience for guests.
Fuel is open for lunch Monday to Friday from 12:00pm – 2:30pm, and dinner seven nights a week from 5:30pm. Fuel Restaurant is located at 1944 West 4th Avenue (@ Cypress), Vancouver BC. For more information please call 604.288.7905, or visit:www.fuelrestaurant.ca
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ABIGAIL’S PARTY RENOVATES, REVAMPS AND APPOINTS TINA FINEZA AS EXECUTIVE CHEF
Vancouver, BC – Corkscrew Entertainment has appointed Chef Tina Fineza as the Executive Chef of Abigail’s Party, and will re-open after renovations and launch her new menu on Monday, December 1, 2008.
The updated menu will feature a modern take on gastropub and comfort favorites, such as:
Kurobuta Pork Belly Sliders
Housemade sauerkraut, grainy Dijon
Housemade Ricotta Gnocchi with Braised Bison Ragu
Italian parsley salsa verde, shaved Pecorino
Moroccan Chicken with Warm Couscous Salad
Preserved lemon, apricots, slivered almonds, green olives
Ling Cod with Vegetable Succotash
Yams, spinach, fresh corn, chanterelle mushrooms, chervil and fennel salad, smoked paprika oil
Moccia Italian Sausage Sandwich
Slow-cooked peppers and onions, bocconcini, olive oil, garlic
“Milk and Cookies”
Maker’s Mark bourbon and dark chocolate milkshake, housemade “Oreo” cookies
“The new menu is simple, classic and a great value,” says Chef Fineza, who developed the menu in collaboration with Abigail’s Party Chef de Cuisine, Jesse Grasso.
Chef Fineza will continue in her role as Executive Chef at the Flying Tiger and will oversee both restaurants. With recent consulting work with Les Faux Bourgeois and Habit Lounge, Fineza has become one of Vancouver ’s most sought-after culinary minds.
“I strongly believe that Chef Fineza is one of Vancouver’s most knowledgeable and talented chefs,” says James Iranzad, who co-owns the restaurants. “We are thrilled to have her at the helm of two of our restaurants.”
Abigail’s Party is located at 1685 Yew Street in Kitsilano, and is open for dinner Monday to Saturday, and brunch on weekends and holidays. More information and the full updated menu is available at www.abigailsparty.ca.
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NEWS FROM FIREFLY FINE WINES & ALES
Gift Baskets – Christmas Presents
It is our priviledge to be a part of your special moments.
Our gift baskets come in a variety of sizes, certain to fit your needs. Best of all, we customize your Gift Basket to suit your budget as well as your personal taste.
Perhaps your company is celebrating an important event, or you’re hosting a Christmas party, or want to thank some clients.
The love of your life, a family member, a friend, or a colleague would appreciate the warming flavours of great wine or beer.
We can make up the basket with what you would like including wine, beer, exclusive olive oil, olives, crackers, chocolate, glasses, Mount Pleasant Cheese Shop gift cards, etc.
Just give us a call at 604.875.3325 or even better, stop by and at the same time you can enjoy the wines in our tasting machine!
Beer and Wine for your Christmas Party
With Christmas hurtling towards us like a freight train, the last thing you need to worry about is what you’re going to drink. Which is where Firefly steps in.
We love wine and beer. We love discovering new wines, new winemakers, new beer, new brewmasters and sharing these finds with you.
Whether you are planning a Christmas Party with your clients, your staff, your family, let us know, we can help you … and you will impress your guests and not break the bank (unless you want)!
New Products
Beer
Swans Pumpkin Ale Buckerfields Brewery – BC
Russell Fort Garry Dark – BC
Rogue Dead Guy 1.89 liter – USA
Green Flash Double Stout – USA
Rogue American Amber 1.89 liter – USA
Belgium Variety Pack – Belgium
Schneider Weisse – Germany
Jacobsen Saaz Blonde – Denmark
Moneuse Speciale Noel – Belgium
Rogue – Double Dead Guy – USA
Rogue – St Rogue Red – USA
North Coast Brewing Old Rasputin Russian Imp. Stout – USA
Alpha Hellenic – Greece
Rogue Chipolte – USA
Wine
Seven Stones Meritage – BC
Seven Stones Pinot Noir – BC
Rolling Stones Satisfaction Cabernet Blend – USA
Mantra Zinfandel Alexander Valley 06 – USA
Osoyoos Larose 2006 – BC
Visit our website at www.fireflyfinewinesandales.com
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