The Glowbal Collection of Restaurants ~ May features; Tinhorn Creek presents: Wine Tasting with a Social Twist; Introducing Beachside Forno in Ambleside; Fraîche Restaurant celebrates gold win for best North Shore Restaurant; Hapa Izakaya is now officially Ocean Wise; Top Table is golden; Maenam honoured at 21st annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards; Chambar recognized at Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards; Pino Posteraro to be honoured at DiRoNA 20th annual reunion and conference gala in Toronto; Elixr Bistro presents: High Spirit Wednesday
THE GLOWBAL COLLECTION OF RESTAURANTS ~ MAY FEATURES
Spring has officially sprung in Vancouver and The GLOWBAL COLLECTION of restaurants has tasty dishes on offer to rival the darling buds of May. From May 20 – 30, glowbal grill, COAST Restaurant, Sanafir, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria Italian Kitchen, and SOCIETY Dining Lounge are showcasing special spring-inspired menus, guaranteed to put some – well, you know – into your step!
Make your reservations online at glowbalgroup.com.
Text ‘glowbal’ to 82442 for a mobile directory of all the GLOWBAL restaurants and instant links for reservations and special offers.
Check out THE GLOWBAL COLLECTION blog for the latest news on all the restaurants at blog.glowbalgroup.com/.
glowbal’s Vancouver Island-inspired menu allows guests to ditch the ferry fare for their fill of Island treats. Shuck up with an order of Fanny Bay fried oysters to start or opt for the Dungeness Crab and smoked salmon cake. Continue up the Island Highway with entrée selections that include pan seared black cod; pink peppercorn crusted rack of lamb; or the ‘Vancouver Island Platter,’ loaded with a 16oz bone-in ribeye steak, pan seared Wild Salmon, Dungeness Crab cakes, creamed leeks and morel mushrooms, confit fingerling potatoes, roasted organic beets and goat’s cheese. Top off your trip with blueberry and vanilla crème brulée for dessert. CLICK HERE FOR FULL MENU DETAILS
Spot Prawn season has begun and COAST is marking the occasion with your choice of ½ lb ‘peel and eat’ Wild BC Spot Prawns with COAST signature sauce or Wild BC Spot Prawn ceviche – and that’s just the first course! Spot the prawn accompaniment in entrée selections like the grilled Queen Charlotte halibut or fresh BC ling cod. The Bing cherry crumble is a must-try dessert, featuring juicy brandied cherries and chocolate ice cream. Sample these items a’ la carte or enjoy a three-course Table d’Hote menu for $49. CLICK HERE FOR FULL MENU DETAILS
Magellan may have left Portugal, but this month Sanafir is bringing it back to the table. Start the journey with a bowl of steaming mussel soup, chock full of Linguiça sausage, braised cabbage, mushrooms and coconut. The entrée ‘Tapas Trio’ features a sweet braised pork belly, grilled diver scallop and bib lettuce and arugula salad. Sweeten the deal with dessert – a passion fruit flan, complemented with a chocolate hazelnut crisp and white praline chocolate mousse. CLICK HERE FOR FULL MENU DETAILS
Discover the Marche, a central region of Italy, this month at the Italian Kitchen. The menu pays homage to the area with dishes like the wild arugula salad; truffled salami piadina flatbread; seafood brodetto – a hearty stew made with clams, mussels, Spot Prawns and Dungeness Crab; and spaghettini with fava bean, lavender and crisp prosciutto. For a ‘grape escape,’ try the maple glazed grape and gorgonzola torta for dessert. CLICK HERE FOR FULL MENU DETAILS
Take a trip to Milan, the capital of the Lombardy region, with Trattoria’s May menu ‘ispiratore.’ Start off with the shaved bresoala and watermelon radish salad or the black olive crusted ahi tuna carpaccio, and then move onto the main attraction, selecting fresh prawns wrapped in prosciutto or the pork chop alla Milanese. Cap off the meal with a Chianti-poached pear and gorgonzola. Choose an appetizer and entrée for $28 or order from the menu a ‘la carte. CLICK HERE FOR FULL MENU DETAILS
Childhood favourites have been re-imagined at SOCIETY Dining Lounge. Whimsical appetizers on the feature menu include the brioche ‘n gruyere grilled cheese with fried pickle, as well as jalapeno, crab and cheddar ‘poppers.’ Main course options like the Albacore tuna casserole and short rib potpie with creamy mashed potatoes provide all the comfort of home cooking without going home! Should you be so inclined, have your cake and eat it too – with a slice of the playful peanut butter and jam cheesecake. CLICK HERE FOR FULL MENU DETAILS
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WINE TASTING WITH A SOCIAL TWIST
Oliver, BC…..Tinhorn Creek Vineyards has always been a leader in the BC Wine industry and embracing the age of social media has proven no different. The Tinhorn Creek team are avid tweeters, Facebook followers and are very LinkedIn. So, to meet their fellow social types, Winemaker Sandra Oldfield and the crew from Tinhorn Creek Vineyard are hosting a Staggered Tasting, Wednesday, May 26th from 6 – 9pm in the Audience Lounge at CBC, 700 Hamilton Street, Vancouver. This event is structured as “brown bag meets speed dating”, with a fast paced tasting followed by light canapés, and guided unveiling of wines by Sandra Oldfield and live tweeting galore. Tickets are an incredibly reasonable $20 and can be purchased at www.staggeredtasting.eventbrite.com or by calling the winery at 1-888-484-6467.
This irreverent look at Speed Dating has nothing to do with dating, but more about the fast paced times we live in and making wine tasting fun. Guests have five minutes per brown bag, then move to the next table, taste and move on. Upon completion, winemaker Sandra Oldfield will guide tasters through the nuances of each varietal, with the chance to win great prizes if you choose to enter the game and guess the wine. Enjoy the cool space of CBC, taste and re-taste wines, nibble on canapés and leave with a souvenir Riedel wine glass. Music by DJ Skinny. BUT, no staggering allowed!!!
On the hillside overlooking vineyard, sagebrush, and the old gold mining creek that gave the winery its name, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is located just south of Oliver B.C., in the famed Golden Mile wine growing district. As the number one winery destination, evoking classic south Okanagan terroir, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards offers an unrivalled visitor experience and wines that rank among the best in the world. For more information about Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, call 1.888.484.6467 or visit the website at www.tinhorn.com.
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INTRODUCING BEACHSIDE FORNO IN AMBLESIDE
Same Fantastic Location, Patio and Dining Room – Exciting New Chef, Forno Oven and Menu
(West Vancouver, BC.) It’s hard to improve on a classic, especially one that features rosy summer sunsets on an idyllic patio overlooking ocean, mountains and Stanley Park. But Chef Dino Renaerts and the ownership team have done it with Beachside Forno – a new twist on an old favourite.
Renaerts stepped into his role as Executive Chef and Co-owner at sister restaurant Fraîche in March and has just opened the doors to Beachside Forno following a kitchen renovation. Like the new name states, the updated concept revolves around the Forno oven, inspiring a casual menu of expertly made pizzas, seafood, salads and pastas, as well as killer cocktails and a great wine list.
Beachside Forno pays homage to it’s much loved original, the long-running, Beachside Café . ” We want to be Ambleside’s go-to restaurant for locals and visitors,” says Renaerts. “Beachside Forno has an inviting room, a patio to die-for and a menu that reflects the way people love to eat.” It’s simple, seasonal food done very well in a comfortable space for a great value.
The menu offers tasty Forno baked pizzas, classic fish and chips, seafood chowder, an oyster Po’ Boy sandwich as well as a variety of toothsome pastas, healthy ‘big salads’ and a few other specialties.
With summer in sight and the patio doors wide open, it’s the perfect time for the refreshed seaside eatery to make its debut. Beachside Forno opened last weekend and welcomes diners in for lunch, dinner, drinks and weekend brunch. Beachside Forno is a fun and friendly casual dining experience that will capitalize on the unbeatable seaside location and the talented chef’s local, regional and sustainable sensibilities. With its ideal location for picnics, playing and power walks, Beachside Forno’s “To Go” program will also be launching soon. Stay tuned for more details.
Beachside Forno
1362 Marine Drive
West Vancouver, BC
604.926.3332
www.beachsideforno.com
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FRAÎCHE RESTAURANT CELEBRATES GOLD WIN FOR BEST NORTH SHORE RESTAURANT At the 21st Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards
“Most restaurants with panoramic views rely on their wrap-around windows but Fraîche takes Gold for flawless execution and well-rounded flavours.” ~ Vancouver Magazine, June 2010
(West Vancouver, BC.) Fraîche Restaurant took first prize in yesterday’s Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, the city’s top restaurant industry acknowledgements. The awards were presented at a gala attended by hundreds of industry peers, colleagues and enthusiasts at the Sheraton Wall Centre.
“This is a fantastic acknowledgement for Fraîche and validates our efforts past and present to be one of the Lower Mainland’s very best restaurants,” offers Executive Chef and Co-owner Dino Renaerts. “Kudos to my predecessor, Chef Wayne Martin for setting a bar we are proud to maintain. Creating memorable, interesting cuisine that is seasonal and regional in a welcoming setting is our mission. Recognition like this means we are providing our guests with what we set out to do.”
Fraîche’s subtle elegance makes it versatile for every occasion – from brunch to business lunches, to an engaging after work bar experience, to romantic dinners and celebrations of all sorts. The restaurant’s panoramic cityscape views complement the cuisine as does the impressive service and top notch wine list.
Accolades have followed Fraîche from its opening in 2007, including being named one of Canada’s Top Ten Best New Restaurants of 2008 by enRoute Magazine. This along with numerous glowing reviews from Greater Vancouver restaurant “foodies” have set the stage for continued recognition of the stylish hillside dining room. The team at Fraîche looks forward to welcoming guests from near and far to enjoy a warm, welcoming and delicious dining experience.
“Thank you to the Vancouver Magazine judges and our loyal guests for supporting our vision and celebrating our efforts.”
Executive Chef Dino Renaerts came to West Vancouver in March from his latest post as Executive Chef for Diva at the Met in the Metropolitan Hotel. A certified sommelier, Renaerts believes that a well-designed pairing of food and wine is much greater than the sum of their parts. Recognition for his distinct approach to cooking has followed him throughout his career. Accolades for numerous regional and international competitions led to higher profile at home – Renaerts was named as a culinary talent to watch by Vancouver Magazine, the Province newspaper and City Food Magazine. Devoted to his province and his craft, Renaerts is actively involved in British Columbia’s culinary scene. He was president of the BC Chef’s Association from 2006 – 2008 and has made contributions with his food and wine expertise to “Get it Canada.”
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HAPA IZAKAYA FIRST OF ITS KIND TO SUPPORT VANCOUVER AQUARIUM’S OCEAN WISE PROGRAM
(Vancouver, BC) May 20, 2010 – Hapa Izakaya, Vancouver’s most popular Japanese izakaya restaurant group, has just become the first izakaya to join the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise™ seafood conservation program and one of only a handful of Japanese restaurant partners in the program to-date.
“Since 2003 Hapa Izakaya has built a solid reputation around its unique Japanese tapas. We’ve been committed to including sustainably caught seafood at all three of our locations for some time now,” says Justin Ault, co-owner of Hapa Izakaya. “It’s great to officially be a part of the Ocean Wise program.”
Thanks to the efforts of organizations like the Vancouver Aquarium that dedicate their mission to saving the world’s oceans and marine life, the importance of consuming seafood in a sustainable manner is growing in popularity and recognition. When guests open Hapa’s new menu they will see the Ocean Wise™ symbol next to those seafood items that were sourced in a way that ensures the long-term viability of that species.
Ault adds that, “We are excited to do our part in providing environmentally friendly seafood options for our guests. Our seafood dishes are some of the most popular choices on our menus and daily fresh sheets. It just makes good business and environmental sense to serve sustainable seafood.”
To further show its support of saving the worlds’ oceans, Hapa will be participating in the Aquarium’s signature fundraising gala on June 11 known as Night at the Aquarium. Hapa is one of a dozen participating restaurants that will be serving their delicious fare for more than 700 guests. One hundred percent of all event proceeds go to the Aquarium’s education and conservation activities.
About Hapa Izakaya
When Lea and Justin Ault introduced Hapa in 2003 they exploded the izakaya concept in Vancouver. Hapa Izakaya’s combination of a sexy room, well-priced portions of Japanese tapas, cocktails and premium sake took the city by storm; Hapa set the bar high for the host of contenders that followed. Today, Hapa continues to be a standout for its presentation of Japanese food in a city where Asian dining endures stiff competition. It remains the place to go when you’re in the mood for a unique blend of food, fun and culture. All three locations — Robson, Kitsilano and now Yaletown — are open from 5:30 p.m. to midnight, Sunday through Thursday, and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Reservations by phone are recommended. Visit www.hapaizakaya.com for information.
About the Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is a global leader in connecting people to our natural world, and a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, conservation practices, education, research, and direct action. Learn more at www.vanaqua.org
About Ocean Wise™
Ocean Wise is Canada’s leading sustainable seafood program. The Ocean Wise logo on a restaurant menu, deli-counter or seafood product is the trusted symbol of ocean-friendly seafood choices for discerning consumers. Launched in Vancouver, BC in January 2005 by the Vancouver Aquarium, the Ocean Wise program has grown from a small, local initiative to a national program now working with nearly 300 partners at over 2700 locations. Learn more at www.oceanwise.ca
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TOP TABLE IS GOLDEN
Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin and West honoured at Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards
Vancouver, B.C. – Top Table restaurants were recognized at the podium an unprecedented 17 times at the 21st annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards held Tuesday, May 18th at the Sheraton Wall Centre. A panel of 19 judges acknowledged Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin and West, before a standing-room only audience of British Columbia’s leading restaurateurs, chefs and service professionals.
Top Table proprietor Jack Evrensel said, “I would like to salute the excellence of all the winners, and the brilliance with which they represented our province to the world during this Olympic year. In particular, I would like to recognize our culinary and service teams at Top Table for their remarkable achievements during the last twelve months. To see all of our restaurants win Gold Awards speaks volumes to the dedication and hard work of every team member.”
- Best Whistler, Gold
- Silver Wine List Award, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
After publishing a multiple-award-winning—and James Beard Award-nominated—cookbook, and hosting thousands of international visitors for the Winter Olympics, Araxi capped off an extraordinary year by winning the Gold Award for Best Whistler restaurant for the 10th time, an unprecedented showing in the 21-year history of these Awards.
Once again, Chef James Walt captured this award for his seasonal farm-to-table menus proved wildly popular with Araxi’s loyal patrons and judges alike, while providing inspiration and leadership for the farmers and ranchers of the Pemberton Valley. Restaurant director Steve Edwards and his team of sommeliers and servers continue to provide the gracious service that has become a benchmark for Whistler.
- Restaurant of the Year, Gold
- Chef of the Year, Frank Pabst
- Best Seafood, Gold
- Best Regional, Bronze
- Best Service, Bronze
- Best Formal Japanese, Honourable Mention
- Platinum Wine List Award, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
Blue Water Cafe achieved a remarkable trifecta of Gold Awards this year, winning Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, and Best Seafood. According to Vancouver Magazine: “There’s a reason this landmark room on Hamilton Street always seems to be hopping. Proprietor Jack Evrensel has carefully put together what one judge called ‘a dining experience that appeals to almost everyone, from serious foodies to suburbanites out for a special night.’”
The panel offered further praise for the Chef of the Year: “Executive chef Frank Pabst dazzles, as he has for years, with his ‘stellar menu highlighting locally sourced, sustainable seafood,’ continuing on to cite “his ‘crusade for sustainability,’ ‘determination to explore the culinary potential of species that many chefs overlook,’ and his ‘impeccable technique.’ ‘He may be soft-spoken,’ said one judge, ‘but the humble and lovely Blue Water chef is a force to be reckoned with.’”
- Best Last Course, Gold
- Premier Crew Service Award, David Stanger
- Gold Wine List Award, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
Top Table recently announced the Autumn 2010 opening of the atelier thierry with CinCin’s talented chocolatier-pâtissier, Thierry Busset. So it seems only fitting that the judges presented CinCin with Gold for Best Last Course, saying: “Gold went to Busset, whose ‘skills shine in the simplest of dishes: ethereal coffee macarons, tiramisu like no other, brilliant sorbettos and gelatos.’”
Just five restaurant professionals are selected each year for the Premier Crew Service Award. This year, we’re delighted to announce that CinCin’s David Stanger was the recipient of this highly sought-after award, and as Vancouver Magazine stated: “Charm, attentiveness, and a good sense of humour set these front-of-house stars apart.”
- Best Service, Gold
- Restaurant of the Year, Bronze
- Best Last Course, Bronze
- Best Regional, Honourable Mention
- Platinum Wine List Award, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
West won its fourth consecutive Gold Award for Best Service, praise indeed for restaurant director Brian Hopkins and his front-of-house brigade. As the judges stated: “Great service is choreographed but not stagey, friendly but not overbearing, efficient but never rushed. It’s sensing when to show up and when to disappear. West won Gold because of what one judge called its ‘unfailingly gracious, flawless service, right down to the smallest detail—and service is all about the details.’ Another judge said it’s a testament to the West team that ‘a room with such refined edges could feel this comfortable.’”
West also took home Bronze in the Best Last Course category, signalling Rhonda Viani’s years of dedication, and showing that the art of the sweet can be a healthy and refreshing denouement to one’s evening.
Top Table is one of the most highly respected hospitality groups in Canada, encompassing four of the leading restaurants in Vancouver and Whistler: Araxi, CinCin, Blue Water Cafe and West, as well as the highly anticipated atelier, ‘thierry’ (Autumn 2010). Continuing to evolve in the pursuit of excellence, each venue has received significant criticalacclaim, both locally and internationally. For more information, visit www.toptable.ca.
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MAENAM HONOURED AT 21ST ANNUAL VANCOUVER MAGAZINE RESTUARANT AWARDS
Vancouver, BC, May 19, 2010 – Executive chef Angus An was honoured with Gold for Best Thai and Silver for Best New Restaurant at the 21st annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. It was just one short year ago that An decided to re-brand his west coast inspired Gastropod (winner of Best New Fine Dining at the 18th Annual Vancouver Magazine Awards) and reopen as Maenam, a restaurant dedicated to serving authentic Thai cuisine rooted in traditional recipes. In that short time, the West 4th Avenue wonder has been applauded by both customers and critics alike. “These awards are an incredible honour,” says Angus, “and it is wonderful to be recognized by such a distinguished panel amongst such a talented group of industry professionals for creating dishes that are true to Thai tradition.”
About Maenam
The cuisine at Maenam is rooted in balancing intense fresh flavours with seasonal ingredients and locally sourced products, while always considering the context within which these dishes would traditionally be enjoyed. Maenam is open seven days a week, from Tuesday to Saturday from 12:00PM to 2:30PM, Monday to Sunday from 5:00PM to 10:45PM, and late night on Friday and Saturday from 10:45PM to 1:00AM. For more information or to make a reservation please visit www.maenam.ca.
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CHAMBAR RESTAURANT RECOGNIZED AT VANCOUVER MAGAZINE RESTAURANT AWARDS
Vancouver, BC, May 19, 2010 – Chambar Restaurant was recognized on several fronts at the Vancouver Magazine 21st Annual Restaurant Awards. The Beatty Street sensation was awarded Gold for Best Other European, with Pastry Chef Eleanor Chow receiving an honourable mention for Best Desserts and Wendy McGuinness’ bar program given an honourable mention for Best Bar/Lounge. In addition, Chambar’s Guest Relations guru Eryn Collins was honoured with a Premier Cru award for her outstanding contribution to Vancouver’s hospitality industry over the past 10 years.
“There is an incredible amount of talent and ambition in Vancouver right now,” says Chambar owner Karri Schuermans, “it’s wonderful to have so many members of the Chambar family recognized for their extraordinary efforts and achievements.”
ABOUT CHAMBAR
Chambar invites you to leave your day at the door for an unpretentious fling with fine dining. Housed in a refurbished brick and beam heritage building, the restaurant’s cuisine is a unique blend of Belgian and North African influences with a commitment to seasonal, organic and local ingredients. Chambar is located at 562 Beatty Street in the Crosstown District. Dinner is served nightly from 5:30pm – midnight. For reservations phone 604-879-7119 or visit: www.chambar.com.
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PINO POSTERARO TO BE HONOURED AT THE DIRONA 20TH ANNUAL REUNION AND EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE GALA IN TORONTO
Pino Posteraro, Executive Chef/Proprietor of Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca in Yaletown, has been selected to join the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) Hall of Fame. He becomes the first Vancouver restaurateur, and only the third in Canada (after Jacques Landurie of Les Halles, Montreal, and John Arena of Winston’s, Toronto) to be so recognized. In its citation, DiRōNA spoke of Posteraro’s “reputation, culinary achievements, and community involvement, particularly with Chefs Table Society of BC,” and lauded his longstanding commitment to his industry.
The announcement caps an exceptional year for Posteraro and Cioppino’s, perennial winner in the Best Formal Italian category of Vancouver Magazine’s Restaurant Awards and last year’s Restaurant of the Year. In 2008 Posteraro was named Vancouver Magazine’s Chef of the Year, and in the summer of 2009 he was invited to cook at James Beard House in New York.
“Naturally, I am very honoured to join such a distinguished group,” said Posteraro. “But a restaurant is more than one person, and I share this honour with everyone, past and present, who has worked so hard to make Cioppino’s exceptional. Right now we have a staff of 70, and this award belongs to them as much as me. I also owe my family great thanks for supporting me and allowing me to spend so much time in the kitchen.”
Posteraro also pointed out that “Vancouver is a special place to cook. We have some of the finest suppliers and ingredients you’ll find anywhere in the world — especially the sustainably harvested seafood and local produce. The level of fine dining in this city is very high, and the wealth of extremely good restaurants motivates all of us to keep getting better.”
Posteraro will be the sole inductee into the DiRōNA Hall of Fame at a gala celebration at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto on September 22, 2010.
The night of September 21, 2010, Posteraro will prepare a dinner for 350 attendees also at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, in which he will showcase Urbani truffle products, local BC ingredients from Organic Oceans and award winning wines from Mission Hill.
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ELIXR BISTRO PRESENTS: HIGH SPIRIT WEDNESDAY
Wednesday May 26, 2010 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Elixir Bistro – 350 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC
Ticket price is $35.00 per person, plus applicable tax and gratuity.
Join us for High Spirit Wednesday led by Jack Daniels ambassador Chase Stampe – A stylish spirit tasting showcasing Jack Daniels Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Whiskey and Single Barrel Whiskey will be held in Elixir’s plush Velvet Room. Novices and aficionados will explore the world renowned brand with delicious tasting plates crafted by the very talented Elixir Bistro team to highlight the unique characteristics.
Reservations are required by contacting: Jessica Dunn at jdunn@opushotel.com or 604.694.2137.
