Job details inside.

Close to 100,000 guests from around the world are expected to visit Mission Hill Family Estate winery this year.  They will tour our underground cellars blasted out of the volcanic rock; taste and talk about our award-winning wines with knowledgeable and engaging staff; and experience a cuisine that is unique to the Okanagan Valley.

There is an exciting evolution of food developing within our two state of the art kitchens, built around a very healthy perspective on food and wine pairing.   Our philosophy is simple; preparing the best food, with the best local ingredients, to compliment and enhance our award winning wines.  We use only local farms, cheese makers and suppliers to create our “Cuisine de Terroir”.  

We are recruiting an experienced Sous Chef to lead our Terrace Restaurant Culinary team.  In this role, the chef will ensure a first class culinary experience in our 70 seat, outdoor al fresco dining room, overlooking the Okanagan Valley.  The Winery Sous Chef is responsible for the day to day operation the restaurant kitchen, including menu creation, leadership to a kitchen brigade of 30.  In the winter season, the Winery Sous Chef will work with the Executive Chef to execute 5-Star delivery of special events, private functions, Culinary Education programs and other first class culinary experiences.

You are known within your field as strong people leader with the ability to motivate, train and develop the creativity of others.  You bring experience in food and wine pairings, have a true passion for the finest, local ingredients and have proven your ability to building solid relationships with local producers and suppliers.  You also bring world class standards gleaned from an internationally recognized apprenticeship and a minimum of 5 years’ experience.  In addition, you have exceptional organizational skills, a solid understanding of costing, purchasing and inventory controls, and a strong focus on the bottom line.

This is a permanent, year round position with an excellent compensation package, including health and dental benefits, RRSP Matching, Profit Sharing and an opportunity to earn a Performance Bonus based on your contributions.  If you are excited at the prospect of working with wine and food on the world stage and being part of our dynamic, growing and forward thinking organization, respond in confidence to Erin Gaster, Human Resource Manager at egaster@missionhillwinery.com quoting competition MAG11-090.

Please note only those candidates we are interested in interviewing will be contacted further.

Job details inside.


Known for stunning setting, breathtaking architecture, ‘Cuisine de Terroir’-based Terrace Restaurant and exquisite wines, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery is committed to delivering a world class experience to our guests. Our Terrace Restaurant was rated by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the Top Five Winery Restaurants in the World.

We are looking for culinary and service staff with a passion for food, wine and local organic ingredients to join our award winning team in West Kelowna through the busy 2011 tourist season.

Culinary: At least three years’ experience and strong technical knowledge of contemporary cooking styles. The restaurant kitchen is a small and highly productive environment requiring strong organizational skills for success.

Service: Professional demeanor and commitment to providing top quality service at all times. Excellent cash handling skills and an understanding of selling techniques to generate higher sales. 2-3 years of food and beverage service experience in a fine dining environment preferred.

Please apply through the Employment section of our website www.missionhillwinery.com

Burlesque Fundraiser at The Keefer Bar; “European Influence, Canadian Flair” – Hawksworth and Mission Hill at the Museum of Vancouver; Oceania Cruises feature Mission Hill Family Estate Wines; Meet n’ Tweet at O Lounge: Friday, February 25; 2011 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards announced!; Chef Jeff Massey lands spont on prestigious “40 Foodies Under 40″ list; JoieFarm 2010 vintage release; Portfolio 2009 – Futures Offering; Yaletown Monthly Wine Tasting Series – Hamilton Street Grill – March 7 & 8; Woodward Canyon Wine Dinner @ Lumière; Upcoming events at Legacy Liquor Store; California in the Park; The 2nd annual 1/2 Corked Marathon

BURLESQUE FUNDRAISER AT THE KEEFER BAR

This Thursday February 24th, a night to remember! Our beautiful burlesquers will be way up north, but the show must go on- catch Dani and the Keefer Girls (with some Sweet Sip Burlesque guests) get sassy for a great cause! Beautiful burlesque bombshells Lydia Di Carlo and Villainy Lovelace dance along side The Keefer Girls, with all proceeds from the night going toward the Downtown Eastside Women’s Center, a wonderful, dedicated resource for women in Vancouver’s East Side. All this, and it gets better: at midnight, an auction for a date with cocktail guru and GM, Miss Danielle Tatarin, which includes dinner for two at Lumiere. Also up for grabs, concert tickets for Fortune Sound Club, drinks at Bao Bei and a perfume and lotion set from the sweeties at Betsey Johnson and brunch for 2 at Provence Marinaside.

A night of incredible, booty shakin good times- and all for a good cause! See you Thursday! Show starts at 10pm, $10 cover. www.thekeeferbar.com

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EUROPEAN INFLUENCE, CANADIAN FLAIR – WEDNESDAY MARCH 30th

Both Mission Hill Winery and Chef David Hawksworth share a passion for the unique terroir and enchanting flavours that flourish in British Columbia. The classically inspired New World wines of Mission Hill Family Estate elegantly unite with the European-influenced cuisine of Chef Hawksworth at the Museum of Vancouver. An exclusive preview of what’s to come at his eagerly anticipated new restaurant in the Hotel Georgia scheduled to launch spring 2011.

Mission Hill and Hawksworth at the Museum of Vancouver ~Wednesday, March 30
1100 Chestnut Street
6:30-9:30 pm
$135
Buy tickets 604-873-3311
Buy Tickets Online

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OCEANIA CRUISES FEATURES MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE WINES ON MAIDEN “PEARLS OF THE RIVIERA” CRUISE

West Kelowna, BC and Miami, FL (February, 2011) – Mission Hill Family Estate and Oceania Cruises have joined together to provide the ultimate wine lovers experience with “Pearls of the Riviera”, a fine wine and food-themed luxury cruise in the Western Mediterranean onboard the line’s 684-passenger ship Nautica.

Oceania Cruises’ 10-Day “Pearls of the Riviera” itinerary operates between Barcelona and Rome on October 15, 2011. Mission Hill’s Director of Wine Education, Ingo Grady and his wife Patti will be hosting the cruise which promises to be a delight to the senses for wine enthusiasts. Grady will guide guests through a series of private wine seminars on the Okanagan Appellation, as well as the Old World wine regions along the Riviera. There will also be an exclusive shore excursion to Badia a Passignano, one of Chianti Classico’s finest wine estates, owned by the illustrious Antinori family.

“I am delighted to join the Oceania Cruise family on an amazing journey to discover the wines of the Riviera,” states Ingo Grady. “Mission Hill’s fine wines will complement Oceania Cruise’s delicious cuisine and luxury service in an idyllic setting. Guests will experience private wine tastings, a special Winemakers’ dinner and exclusive shore excursions to experience several breathtaking Ports of Distinction.”

Ports of Distinction:
•    Barcelona, Spain
•    Portofino, Italy
•    Valencia, Spain
•    Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy
•    Palma de Mallorca, Spain
•    Amalfi/Positano, Italy
•    Provence (Marseille), France
•    Sorrento/Capri, Italy
•    Monte Carlo, Monaco
•    Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Rates start at USD $4,499 per person and include airfare. To reserve a room, contact Martin at Renshaw Travel at 604.733.1010 or 1.800.745.7753 or martin@renshawtravel.com. Visit missionhillrivieracruise.com for additional details.

About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises® offers unrivaled cuisine, luxurious accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. Award-winning itineraries visit more than 330 ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the Americas aboard the 684-guest Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. The line’s 1,250-guest Marina debuted in January 2011, followed by Riviera – a sister ship – in April 2012.

About Mission Hill Family Estate
Mission Hill Family Estate is world renowned for its award-winning wines, stunning setting and architecture, and its Cuisine du Terroir-based Terrace Restaurant. The winery’s vineyards are located in five distinct growing regions of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Reflective of the origin and unique character of the Valley and of the careful ‘Vine to Bottle’ program, Oculus, our signature Bordeaux-inspired wine, represents the pinnacle in premium winemaking. Proprietor Anthony von Mandl and winemaker John Simes produces elegant internationally acclaimed wines with New World flavours and Old World refinement from this incomparable wine valley. Visit missionhillwinery.com for more information.

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VINESTARS OF WINE CELEBRATE 33 YEARS AT PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL

Meet the industry’s top international trendsetters and principal vintners

Vancouver, BC, February 21, 2011 – To mark its 33rd year the 2011 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will welcome some of the most progressive winemakers and winery leaders in the world. From pouring at the International Festival Tasting to hosting events, these vin-pioneers are set to satisfy curious neophytes and seasoned oenophiles with personal, one-on-one meet and greets. Appearances from the following wine world celebrities are just a few reasons to partake in the weeklong festivities.

DIVA(S) AT THE MET
What’s it like to be a woman in the grape trade? Vancouver-based sommelier and Playhouse Wine Festival host Daenna Van Mulligen (alias WineDiva), who has a decade-long list of wine tasting critiques in her purse, will be introducing an international group of female winemakers, proprietors and industry headmistresses at Diva(s) at the Met. Speakers include Ann Sperling, of British Columbia’s 86-year-old Sperling Vineyards; Mary Ann Yewen, Director of Freixenet, one of the top selling sparkling wines on the planet; and Mariola Varona, the North American Export Director of the multi-award-winning Bodegas Martín Códax, specializing in the Albariño grape. Among other dignitaries, these wine queens will dish on the coveted wines they represent, as well as the stories behind their successes as principal businesswomen in a traditionally male dominated industry.

With direction from the biggest wine diva of them all, attendees will also enjoy a selection of small bites prepared by Diva at the Met’s Executive Chef Quang Dang. Join this inspirational group of women on Tuesday, March 29th at the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver, 645 Howe Street, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

THE LEGACY OF A SPANISH VISIONARY: MIGUEL TORRES
When it comes to describing Spanish wine icon Miguel A. Torres, “legendary” is an understatement. Arguably one of the most important families in the history of Spanish wine, Legacy of a Visionary is the pièce de résistance of Festival week. Miguel is the fourth generation of Torres to preside over the acclaimed and centuries-old Miguel Torres Winery, a published author several times over, Decanter magazine’s 2002 Man of the Year and Wine International magazine’s 2005 Personality of the Year.

Moderator Anthony Gismondi will be discussing Miguel’s influence and the Penedès region winery, while guests are guided through a rare and diverse selection of wines from the Torres wineries in Spain, Chile and California.

One of the most anticipated events of the Festival, Legacy of a Visionary will held on Thursday, March 31st at VCC East, meeting room 8, 999 Canada Place Way, from 5:00 – 6:45 pm.

GOOD GRACIOUS GRENACHE!
Join house wine’s Michelle Bouffard and Michaela Morris as they explore the grandeur and the many guises of Grenache. This lesser known, but surprisingly common grape, was baptized as “Garnacha” by the Spaniards and has ties to cheerful rosés, fuller-bodied reds (think: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Priorato and Rioja), and lusciously sweet elixirs. Prepare to taste some of its finest expressions hailing from Spain, France, California and Australia. Good Gracious Grenache! will be held on Saturday, April 2nd, at VCC East, meeting room 1, 999 Canada Place Way, from 3:00 – 4:45 pm.

MEET YOUR MATCH
Finding the perfect wine is like finding the perfect partner, it takes the right introduction at the right time. Oeno-enthusiasts are promised that proverbial “spark” at this year’s much anticipated, Meet Your Match event. Chaperoned by master wine matchmaker and acclaimed wine writer, Anthony Gismondi, sippers will be invited to get up close and personal with the vinestars of the wine biz. These fascinating international winery principals are set to lead tasters first-hand through the intimate secrets of some of the world’s most outstanding wines and wineries. Presented in a format that allows small groups direct and personal interaction with Festival celebrities, each group will have about 6 minutes to taste the producer’s wine, hear their story and ask questions.

Included in the VIP list is proprietor Telmo Rodriguez, one of Spain’s most celebrated and animated winemakers. Telmo sought out forgotten vineyards for the purpose of recovery and cultivation of abandoned indigenous vines to rave reviews, consistently scoring 90+ points. Alvaro Palacios, widely considered to be propelling Spanish wine into the modern era, acquired his first vineyard, Finca Dofí, in 1990, and will be pouring cellared wines for Meet Your Match guests.

Known for his outstanding Syrahs and Cabernets, South African winemaker Marc Kent of Boekenhoutskloof will be returning to the Festival with his much lauded The Journeyman Franschhoek 2005. David Guimaraens, a sixth generation to Portugal’s Taylor Fladgate and Fonseca, is considered something of a winemaking genius at the international table. In December 2010, David released one of the world’s oldest ports, SCION, to a limited group of collectors and connoisseurs, which at 155 years old, may be one of the only wines to have survived the pre-Phylloxera era.

If these wine experts haven’t already satiated your taste buds, the event will also see Stefano Leone, International Export Director of Antinori; Louis Moreau, owner and winemaker of France’s Domaine Louis Moreau; British Colombia’s own Anthony von Mandl of Mission Hill Family Estate; Cristiano Van Zeller of Portugal’s Quinta do Vale Dona Maria; Californian winemaker Rick Sayre of Rodney Strong; Rupert Symington, Joint Managing Director of Symington Graham’s Port; and David Paterson of BC’s Tantalus Vineyards. Meet Your Match is scheduled on Saturday, April 2nd at VCC East, meeting room 8, 999 Canada Place Way, from 5:00 – 6:45 pm.

ABOUT THE PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL
The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from March 28th to April 3rd, 2011. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2011, the theme region will be Spain and the global focus, Fortified Wine. The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and Festival partners; and raise funds for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.2 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 223 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

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MEET N’ TWEET AT O LOUNGE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH

The ‘Glowbal Passport’ program returns to The Glowbal Collection of Restaurants, February 24 – March 23. Throughout the course of the month, diners to each of the six restaurants in the collection – glowbal grill, COAST Restaurant, Sanafir, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria and Society – will be issued a Glowbal Passport and will receive a stamp for each visit at lunch or dinner*.

After earning two stamps, diners will automatically receive 10% off the food portion of the bill at the remaining four restaurants visited within the collection**. Travel to all of the restaurants during the promotion to earn six stamps and receive a $100 gift certificate to use at a Glowbal Collection restaurant of your choice.

The Glowbal Collection will also reward a few lucky six-stamp-table-travellers with ultimate prizes that may just require real passports… Watch The Glowbal Collection Blog for all the details!

*For each entrée purchased per visit, per restaurant, limit one per person.
**Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

Meet n’ Tweet at O Lounge

Friday, February 25
5:30 – 7:30 pm
O Lounge (COAST Restaurant)
1054 Alberni Street

Local twitterers, bloggers and foodies are invited to join a ‘Tweet Up’ at O Lounge on February 25. Mix and mingle with local insiders while enjoying cocktails and canapés, and help spread the word on Glowbal’s Passport Program.

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2011 VANCOUVER MAGAZINE RESTAURANT AWARDS ANNOUNCED!

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CHEF JEFF MASSEY LANDS SPOT ON PRESTIGIOUS “40 FOODIES UNDER 40″ LIST

February 22, 2011 (Abbotsford, B.C.) – Jeff Massey, Executive Chef and co-owner of restaurant 62 has been named in the prestigious “Top 40 Foodies Under 40″ list for 2011. The annual listing published by Western Living Magazine ranks Chef Jeff among Western Canada’s top restauranteurs under the age of forty.

Chef Jeff Massey is featured on page 60 in the March issue of the magazine. A portion of the article is available for viewing on the restaurant 62 website.

“It’s a great honour to be chosen for the 2011 list, said Chef Jeff Massey. “I’ve followed this list of industry who’s-whos since its inception and I’m so proud to be a part of this year’s distinguished group.”

The Top 40 Foodies Under 40 list ranks not only Western Canada’s top restauranteurs but also the best chefs, food producers, activists, and wine and spirits experts. The list has helped to further the careers of those it ranks by raising their profiles to a large readership of more than 772,000 from Manitoba west.

About Chef Jeff
Chef Jeff Massey has been cooking and creating original recipes for as long as he can remember. A graduate of Dubrulles Hotel and Culinary Institute, Jeff has worked at top Vancouver restaurants like Ciopinno’s Mediterranean Grill, Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar and Coast. In 2006, he relocated to the Fraser Valley and soon became the Executive Chef and part owner of restaurant 62. Since joining forces with the restaurant he has worked hard to create regionally inspired menus that stay true to the ingredients and appeal to his restaurant’s sophisticated and loyal patrons. His philosophy has always been to create and maintain a menu where the food is locally inspired, ingredient driven, and above all else, simple, clean and delicious.

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JOIE FARM 2010 VINTAGE RELEASE

Dear JoieFarm Supporters,

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2010 Vintage of JoieFarm A Noble Blend, Rosé, Un-Oaked Chardonnay, Riesling and Muscat.  The wines are now available to order online from our beautiful new website at www.JoieFarm.com by clicking on the Order our Wines link.

As in past years, we will offer a complimentary pickup day in downtown Vancouver to help our mailing list customers save on shipping charges.  We look forward to seeing you on Saturday,  March 5th from 10 am – 2 pm at The Storeroom, 1396 Richards Street.    It is a pleasure to see all of you in person at this annual event.   Please submit your orders by 6 pm Friday, March 4th  to take advantage of this pick up day.   If you do not wish to or are unable to use the Vancouver pickup day, orders will be sent out by FedEx courier at your expense.

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Michael Dinn and Heidi Noble

Visit: joiefarm.com

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PORTFOLIO 2009 – FUTURES OFFERING

Laughing Stock Vineyards has opened the Futures Offering of Portfolio 2009, our signature Bordeaux-style blend. Only available for a limited time, the Futures Offering provides early subscribers with the option to secure orders of Portfolio at a reduced price before it is released to the public later this fall. Portfolio continues to be recognized as one of BC’s big reds and as noted by John Schreiner, reputed wine writer, “Portfolio is one of those reds that should be collected by anyone serious about building a cellar of British Columbia Wines”.

This year’s vintage continues to showcase the best reds we grow with a blend of the classic Bordeaux varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The 2009 release now includes estate grapes grown on our Osoyoos vineyard named The Perfect Hedge, in addition to grapes from the Naramata Bench.

The futures price is $35 per bottle (unchanged since we launched the winery in 2003), thus the program offers discounts from the increasing release price of $42 in Fall 2011. A great arbitrage opportunity!

If you purchase Portfolio annually, you may be interested in becoming a Preferred Shareholder to gain specific benefit such as free shipping as a wine club member. See details below.

You may place your Futures order for Portfolio 2009 here.

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VANCOUVER’S MOST POPULAR MONTHLY WINE TASTING SERIES

Hamilton Street Grill
Monthly Wine Tasting Series Presents….

From the vineyards of British Columbia’s newest appellation,
Fraser Valley VQA, we offer a tasting of the region’s best…

Neck of the Woods Winery/Backyard Vineyards
Township 7 Vineyards and Winery
Domaine de Chaberton Estate Winery

Monday, March 7th or Tuesday, March 8th
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Breaking from our normal, and very popular format of three wines, this month we taste five! Try a sampling of four new wines, all from the Fraser Valley,  and have four savoury, wine-inspired food tasters while learning from Langley’s wine experts as they take you through a sit down yet casual style tasting. This month’s event also includes a reception wine, a lovely Blanc de Noir sparkling from Neck of the Woods Winery and Backyard Vineyards. At $25 per person, this tasting is one of the city’s best valued events at the best of times, this month it really is a bargain!

This month we are pouring from BC’s newest wine region, and soon we hope,  a new VQA designation, the Fraser Valley. But don’t let that fool you, the vineyards are mature, mostly over 10 years, and the wines made by some of the country’s best winemakers. All paired alongside Hamilton Street Grill’s Executive Chef Neil Wyles wine inspired appetizers. For more information on the wines, vineyards and wineries as well as other great food and beverage experiences in Langley and the Fraser Valley click here

Monday, March 7th or Tuesday March 8th
5:30 pm
Hamilton Street Grill
1009 Hamilton Street, Yaletown, Vancouver
Tickets $25 per person
Reserve by credit card at: 604-331-1511 or hamiltonstreetgrill@telus.net

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WOODWARD CANYON WINE DINNER AT LUMIERE- FEBRUARY 28

‘Seductive and charming … like Sophia Loren in a bottle’

So says Thomas Woodley of Woodward Canyon’s much-loved Artist Series Barbera, 2009 – that plus, “richer, riper and fuller than the northern Italian version, with a generous silky finish.”  Come join us for this very special Woodward Canyon wine dinner and see (taste) for yourself.

Executive Chef Dale MacKay plans an extraordinary Grand Relais & Chateaux dinner on Monday, February 28th. Four, five-diamond courses – each paired with specially selected Woodward Canyon wines.

Menu highlights
• BC Spot Prawns – WC Chardonnay 2009
• Fraser Valley Duck – WC Barbera 2008
• Roasted Opal Valley Lamb – WC Cab/Sav 2007
• Citrus Vacherin – Antech Cremant Doux

This very special dinner is offered for $95 per person and seating is limited to just 45, in traditional wine dinner format. reserve now

Credit card reservation at booking. Hosted by Wine Director Kevin van Hullebush, Maitre d’/Sommelier Drew Walker, and Chef MacKay. Please inquire via email, call 604.739.8185, or visit the Woodward Canyon Dinner event page of the Lumière website.

reserve now

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UPCOMING EVENTS AT LEGACY LIQUOR STORE

merridale cider tasting
4-7 pm thursday february 24, 2011

Merridale cidery uses cider apple varieties that have been proven for centuries in England, France, and Germany to make the best cider. All their ciders are made from 100% pure juice, and only the first pressing is used. They do not add water or re-press the apples to increase the yield. They do not use concentrates, chemicals at bottling, pasteurization, or fine filtration of juice.

the wine savvy series with the house wine girls “the classics”
6-8 pm friday february 25, 2011
harvest table event $75 (HST INC) click here for tickets

Discover why certain wine regions have been known for centuries to produce some of the world’s greatest wines. Familiar classics such as Bordeaux, Rioja and Burgundy will definitely be featured but we will also explore top wines from countries such as Chile and Australia. From Cabernet Sauvignon to Shiraz and Tempranillo to Merlot, these cellar worthy wines will reveal a whole new side after a few years. Enjoy the adventure of putting wine away and rediscovering it down the road.

french 75 cocktail tasting
2-6 pm saturday february 26, 2011
Amorita makes (one of) her favourite cocktails at the tasting bar – Gin, Sparkling wine, lemon and a touch of sugar.

tullibardine sauterne wood finish single malt whisky
2-6 pm sunday february 27, 2011
Miss the Tullibardine Whisky tasting in January? Not to worry – we’ve got a brand new Tullibardine in store, the Sauterne Cask, and we will be pouring all afternoon. Carefully matured in oak, then gently finished in Sauterne Casks, this mellow and subtly flavoured malt is to be treasured.

road 13 wine tasting
4-7 pm thursday march 3, 2011
A tasting of three wines coming from Oliver – two blends, the Honest John red and white; a tribute to Honest John Oliver, BC Premier from 1918–1927. Honest John epitomized British Columbians’ pioneering values: hard work, self-reliance, dependability and neighbourliness. The third wine we will be tasting is the Jackpot Syrah: full aromas and flavours of peppers, sage, sausages, gamey notes, good tannic structure and body. A small amount of Viognier blended in adds fruit, fruit, and more fruit. Ageing in traditional Burgundian as well as Hungarian and American thin stave barrels for only eight months preserves the pure Syrah flavour.

juno wines from South africa
4-7 pm friday march 4, 2011
These cheerful wines hail from the Western Cape, which has a mediterranean climate. We will be trying three different wines, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Shiraz. To the Romans, Juno was especially a deity of women, and she represented no less than the female principle of life, as seen in the fact that as every man had his genius, so every woman had her Juno!

a special visit from the winemaker of emiliana winery
2-6 pm saturday march 5, 2011
The Emiliana winery firmly believes that using sustainable, organic, and biodynamic agricultural practices results in better-balanced, healthier, and more productive vineyards, which in turn results in better quality grapes and therefore better wines. Their mission is to provide consumers with the highest quality wines with a unique expression of terroir achieved through the benefits of using organic and biodynamic agriculture.

Join the winemaker from this innovative winery in Chile for an afternoon of food and special wines. This is a free event! For more about this winery and their sustainable practices, visit their website.

russell brewing beer tasting
2-6 pm sunday march 6, 2011
Russell Brewing Company is one of the fastest growing breweries in British Columbia. Situated in Surrey, British Columbia, the brewery operates six days a week and is home to over 40 employees and a small dog named Gypsy. We will be pouring a selection of seasonal Russell ales at the tasting bar!

Food Pairing & Sparkling wine Seminar with Francoise Antech – Gazeau, owner of antech winery
6-8 pm monday march 7, 2011
harvest table event $22.80 (HST INC) click here for tickets

Legacy is excited to host Francoise from Antech, one of the best house in Limoux, France, to create sparkling wine. These versatile, affordable sparkling wines are a great foil for food. Francoise will present a history of the region alongside her wines and food pairings from The Modern Chef catering company. If you are a bubble lover, this is not an event to miss!

rare drams and legacy present a whisky seminar
7-9 pm thursday march 10, 2011
harvest table event $35 (HST INC) Click here for tickets and more information

Legacy welcomes Bob Kyle, owner of Rare Drams, a whisky importer, to the Harvest Table. Bob will lead a tasting of six whiskies ranging from Islay, Speyside and Highland. The lineup is incredible! Learn what makes whisky so unique and the different regions.

jameson irish whiskey tasting – gift with purchase
4-7 pm friday march 11, 2011
Saint Patrick Day plans this weekend? Then don’t forget this Irish staple – Jameson whiskey. Today, 220 years after John Jameson opened the doors of his distillery in Dublin, Jameson is the fastest growing whiskey in the world and the world’s leading Irish whiskey brand, distilled in Midleton, Co. Cork.  With your purchase of a bottle of Jameson receive a free VIP entrance to Doolin’s Irish Pub!

skillogalee wine tasting
2-6 pm saturday march 12, 2011
Sparkling Riesling (NV)
Clean, fresh, Clare-fruit lemony aromas with lovely bright, crisp flavours and revitalising structure that brings a smile to the sparkles and an uncomplicated pleasure in the wine.

2010 Riesling
Skillogalee has nominated by Gourmet Traveller “Wine” Magazine as one of Australia’s Top Ten Riesling producers. The 2010 vintage continues the proud tradition – zingy lime and lemon citrus with some mineral notes and a lingering crisp, dry finish – ideal on its own or with seafood.

2008 Trevarrick Riesling

* WBM 1 in 100 Wine December 2008
* Gold Medal Clare Valley Wine Show 2008

“This dramatic Riesling is one of the most stunning wines made from this variety this vintage. It tastes like very pure green apple skin and lemon blossom, with mouth-consuming minerality and phenomenal length. It will mature for decades with effortless precision” – 96 points – Tyson Stelzer

madhouse wife chardonnay and kestral lady in red wine tasting
2-6 pm sunday march 13, 2011
Don’t miss this tasting with two lovely ladies on the label! An opportunity to try a great Washington producer and a good value white wine!

kiss me I’m irish!
4-7 pm thursday march 17, 2011
Legacy celebrate all things Irish (booze, that is) with this Irish themed tasting – beers, whiskey and a little Bailey’s for dessert!

stealth vodka crantinis
4-7 pm friday march 18, 2011
Stealth Vodka is distilled four times for a clean, smooth taste. Served neat or with your favourite mixer (in this case, Cranberry juice!), Stealth Vodka is an outstanding value at 24.75.

molson m tasting
2-6 pm saturday march 19, 2011
Molson M is precision brewed with a gentler process which, helps preserve the hops and subtle flavours created by yeast during fermentation.  A lager with the most drinkable taste!

liqor 43 tasting
2-6 pm sunday march 20.2011
Licor 43 is a smooth Spanish temptation..made according to a secret formula where only natural ingredients are used. 43 carefully selected fruits and herbs from the Mediterranean basin combine to create a smooth versatile liqueur, with citrus and vanilla essence.

legacy liquor store presents: an evening with twenty something theatre
6-9 pm thursday march 24, 2011
festival style tasting $28 (HST INC) click here for tickets and more information

Legacy is pleased to announce the first of four Charity Tastings that will take place in 2011. Net proceeds from ticket sales are donated to Twenty Something Theatre, a Vancouver based independent theatre company dedicated to producing contemporary theatre that is provocative, edgy and relevant to a young generation. They are a not-for profit registered Charity. With your ticket purchase we invite you to come sample the many different products being poured at this festival tasting. Food pairings are provided as well. Please join us for what is sure to be a memorable evening!

legacy celebrates the start of the playhouse wine festival
4-7 pm friday march 25, 2011
Legacy celebrate Playhouse with a weekend of wine tastings focused on the regions and producers of the festival. Friday evening, enjoy the wines of Telmo Rodriguez, a pioneering viticulturist and winemaker from Spain. We will be sampling the LZ, a Rioja and the Vina 105, a wine from the region Cigales.

taylor fladgate port tasting
2-6 pm saturday march 26, 2011
The Global focus of this year’s festival is fortifed wines, so we’re rounding out the weekend with some delicious stickies. First up: The Late Bottle Vintage from Taylor Fladgate, an excellent after dinner drink. Try with chocolate or blue cheese.

lustau sherry sampling
2-6 pm sunday march 27, 2011
The maligned fortified wine Sherry needs a comeback, and we support the cause! Sample the delicious briny Fino Sherry or the nutty, raisiny Moscatel.

celebrate newfoundland!
4-7 pm thursday march 31, 2011
Did you know that 62 years today Newfoundland became part of Canada? Did you also know they make fruit wine? Rodrigues Winery uses lowbush Newfoundland Berries to create this rich, semi-sweet wine. It’s also Kosher!

New and Exciting Products

Wine
Van Westen Vineyards Vivacious – Predominantly Pinot Blanc, with a splash of Pinot Gris for completixty, this lively wine is sourced from the rocky soils on estate owned land.  Racy and intense, combining fresh aromas of apple peel, pear, lemon, chalk and floral notes.  The palate is full of zesty citrus-lemon, lime and blood orange with a long spicy, mineral finish.
Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon – The Cannonball – the perfect symbol of freedom and an uninhibited spirit.  This is expressed in this big bold wine, exploding with black cherry, wild berry fruit and notes of chocolate and oak.  The rich texture lingers long with a bright, fresh finish.
Sorrento Dry Grown Grenache – This distinctive wine from Mclaren Vale has notes of loganberry, toffee, apple and boiled sweets, finished off with a rich palate of raspberry puree and sweet grenadine fruit.  A wine to be enjoyed in it’s youth, pair this spicy number with korma curry, Mongolian lamb or Thai food.

Beers
• Howe Sound Total Eclipes of the Hop – This high gravity India Pale Ale is brewed with 100% barley, six varieties of hops, water and yeast.  Extra barley malt nicely balances the hige volume of hoops in this brew. Due to limited selection this beer is one per customer!
• Phillips Brewing Hoperation Tripel Cross Belgian IPA – You can almost hear the sirens as you pop the cap on this bomber.  THis IPA slams hop first into a classic Belgian yeast to create a superfortress of flavour!
• Bear Republic Hop Road Rye Specialty Ale – Hop Rod Rye is a turbo charged monster ale with a huge hop injection.  Made with 18% Rye.

Spirits
• Cruzan Black Strap Rum – Black Strap is for the real dark rum lover with a rich, exotic aroma and taste.  Strong and slightly sweet, float it on top of your drink or add it as a shot.
• Slovenska Borovicka Prelika – This Slovakian product is a grain distillate, macerated with juniper berries.  Similar to Gin.
• Glen Elgin Speyside Single Pot Still Malt Whisky 12 YO – The distillery maintains traditional practices, using worm tubs and pot stills.  The whisky has an elusive fruity character, coming from its hand-crafted approach to whisky making.

Legacy Services
• We deliver and ship province wide
• Gift baskets available in store and online; available for delivery
• Party planning services
• *NEW* Free Online Wedding Registry Program – Stock your Cellar, who needs another toaster?

We love your questions! Please call us at 604.331.7900 or come in and visit soon!

Legacy Liquor Store is located at 1633 Manitoba Street, right in the heart of Millennium Village (just north of First Avenue). We are open seven days a week, from 10 to 11 everyday. Our selection is extensive and unique, our staff are knowledgeable and friendly and we offer a wide variety of inhouse services and tastings.

Cheers!

~The Legacy Team.

Visit: www.legacyliquorstore.com

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SEASONS IN THE PARK WINE TASTING

TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2011
6:00PM – 7:30PM

Nadia Iadisernia of Mondia Alliance Wine & Spirits
will be pouring the following selection of fine wines of the California region
from Big House Wine Merchants and Cupcake Vineyards

~
BIG HOUSE ~ RED
BIG HOUSE ~ WHITE
CUPCAKE ~ CABERNET SAUVIGNON
CUPCAKE ~ CHARDONNAY
~

Canapés will be specially prepared to
accompany and complement the select wines.

Join us for an experience in unique wine and delicious food.
Cheers!

$25 per person
Cost does not include taxes and gratuity

Please call Seasons In The Park to buy your tickets at 604.874.8008

* Due to construction please enter Queen Elizabeth Park via
Main Street & 33rd Avenue to access Seasons

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THE 2ND ANNUAL ½ CORKED MARATHON

Tickets on Sale February 23, 2011

Oliver, BC… The South Okanagan Winery Association (SOWA) is thrilled to announce the 2nd Annual ½ Corked Marathon, taking place May 28 and 29, 2011. Mark your calendars and sign up early, as this event is sure to sell out quickly. The ½ Corked Marathon is unique in Western Canada, and is expected to attract 300+ competitors, along with their family and friends, in its second year. Early Bird prices for the race package are $65.00 per person, available for the first 100 racers to sign up, or until March 15th.  Once the early bird packages sell out, cost for the race package is $75.00 per person. Please go to www.sowasite.com to sign up, for all event details and special rates at Watermark Beach Resort.  Don’t forget to get your best wine-themed costume ready for you and / or your team, as costumes and the wine and food sampling along the way make this marathon a barrel of laughs.

The event will host a prerace pasta “carbo load” the night before the marathon at Watermark Beach Resort. Cost for the Pasta Party dinner is $45.00 per person, with a limited amount of seats available. The following day, a parade of costumes and teams will lead the participants to the start of the 18 km course. The race will wrap up with an awards ceremony and lunch, where the speediest and best dressed will be recognized.

The South Okanagan Half Corked Marathon is inspired by the world‐famous Marathon du Medoc, an event that now attracts over 8000 participants annually. This race is for the fun at heart and is to promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle featuring one of the most beautiful wine growing regions in Canada.  The course will wind its way along the Golden Mile and across the valley to the Black Sage Bench. Rolling hills and beautiful vineyards
will be the surrounding scenery as runners sample wines of the South Okanagan at several wineries along the route.

The South Okanagan Winery Association is a non-profit organization representing the geographical wine region beginning at McIntyre Bluff to the border at Osoyoos in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Founded in 2007, their mission is to develop and expand the grape and wine industry in Oliver and Osoyoos through education and promotion.

Participating wineries include:
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Winery
Church & State Wines
Oliver Twist Estate Winery
Cassini Cellars
Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery
Desert Hills Estate Winery
River Stone Estate Winery
Dunham & Froese Estate Winery
Road 13 Estate Winery
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
Rustico Farm & Cellars
Golden Beaver Winery
Silver Sage Winery
Hester Creek Estate Winery
Stoneboat Vineyards
Hidden Chapel Winery
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards
Moon Curser Vineyards
Nk’Mip Cellars

Details inside…

Quails’ Gate Winery is nestled in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia. Our 125 acre estate winery, located on the shores of Lake Okanagan, is owned and operated by the Stewart Family, pioneering horticulturists since the turn of the 20th century.

Members of our Quails’ Gate team are well respected and viewed as some of the most talented in the wine and hospitality industry. Quails’ Gate fosters a positive and supportive work environment, ensuring each team member has the tools needed to succeed.

We are seeking a full-time Assistant Manager for our Old Vines Restaurant. This individual will assist with the direct supervision of the OVR team, ensure the restaurant is operating in a professional, customer oriented and effective manner, in addition to assisting the Restaurant Manager in meeting and exceeding financial targets. They will be responsible for providing leadership, ensuring the service team is motivated, trained and supported, while achieving, and enforcing the Quails’ Gate service standards. They will also be responsible for daily administrative tasks, including overseeing the entire beverage program within the OVR.

The ideal candidate will be flexible to work a combination of days, evenings and weekends, possess natural leadership abilities, work well in high pressure situations, have the ability to multi-task and take initiative and a hands-on approach. They will possess a positive, outgoing and approachable personality.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of 3 -5 years of management experience within a fine dining atmosphere. They will have experience with inventory management, demonstrated organization and coaching skills, an advanced knowledge of wine and food and experience with the Squirrel POS system.

If you are seeking a position with a dynamic winery that is intent on establishing itself as Canada’s leading premium brand, please forward your resume with covering letter to Lani McGill, Human Resources, Quails’ Gate Winery, 3303 Boucherie Road, Kelowna, BC, V1Z 2H3. Fax 250-769-3451, or email to: employment@quailsgate.com

Advance tickets for North America’s leading wine festival on sale November 30th; JoieFarm Wines receive rave reviews; Legacy Liquor Store opens its doors at Millennium Water on November 25; Celebrate the holidays at Hart House; Savour the flavours of winter with new menus at Restaurant 62; Culinary Capers’ Beijing operation moves into great new space; Let the shucking begin

ADVANCE TICKETS FOR NORTH AMERICA’S LEADING WINE FESTIVAL ON SALE NOVEMBER 30TH

Take advantage of reduced prices for IFT, Gold Pass and the Celebrate Spain Pack

November 18th, 2010, Vancouver, BC – On November 30th, the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will release 1000 advance tickets to the 2011 Festival. The tickets will offer wine-savvy consumers an opportunity to purchase discounted Festival packages and International Festival Tasting tickets in advance of the official ticket release date, scheduled for January 25th, 2011.

Wines from Spain will take centre stage as the Theme Region at the 2011 Festival.  As the country with the world’s largest area of vine cultivation, Spain has emerged internationally as a producer of an extraordinary range of wines with quality and character. Coming off a FIFA World Cup win there’s no doubt that this is one country that is at the top of its game right now both in the vineyard, and on the field.

Of the 1000 advance tickets that will be released, 30 will be Gold Passes and 30 Celebrate Spain Packs, with the balance to the International Festival Tasting Room. This year’s Festival is expected to entertain and educate 25,000 thirsty wine enthusiasts.

AVAILABLE ADVANCE TICKETS:

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TASTING
Housed in the Vancouver Convention Centre East, this year’s International Festival Tasting will feature 702 wines from 176 producers spanning 14 countries. Centre stage will be the remarkable winemakers from the 2011 theme region of Spain and this year’s global focus, Fortified Wine. This year’s International Festival Tasting will be organized by country, allowing oenophiles easy access to wines of the world.

Advance ticket price $85
Regular ticket price    $95

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE 2011 IFT include a Sherry Caseta where visitors will enjoy the sound of Spanish guitar as they explore the unique characteristics and diversity of extraordinary wines from the Sherry Triangle in Southern Spain. The Fortified Wine Tasting Station will engage with connoisseurs and the curious thanks to samplings of various Sherries, Ports, Madeiras and other Fortifieds from around the world, poured by experts from the International Sommelier Guild who will demonstrate why people should not be mortified about fortified. And the Regional Tasting Stations will take visitors through a series of expert-assisted wine flights highlighting the unique regional terroirs of Alsace, Austria, Argentina, British Columbia and New Zealand.

GOLD PASS
Enjoy VIP treatment with the Festival Gold Pass, which offers incredible access to the Festival. This pass includes three evenings in the International Festival Tasting Room (with priority access), two afternoons at the Trade Tasting sessions where you’ll rub elbows with Vancouver’s top sommeliers and restaurant owners, admission to the exclusive Curtain Raiser VIP reception and weekend entry to the exclusive Gold Pass Tasting Lounge.

Advance ticket price $395
Regular ticket price    $425

CELEBRATE SPAIN PACK
Spain: Everything Under the Sun
Experience the spectrum of wines that have poised Spain as a global leader within the wine world. Housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery’s enclosed rooftop pavilion overlooking Vancouver’s bustling downtown core, this event will play host to a myriad of Spanish winemakers with a diverse selection of wines alongside Mediterranean-inspired tapas.

España: Savour the Flavours
Explore the unique culture of Spain with an afternoon of live music, Spanish bites and wines from more than thirty Spanish wineries. Overlooking beautiful Coal Harbour, this event will have guests rubbing elbows with Spanish winemakers while enjoying the warm hospitality the country is known for.

International Festival Tasting
Also included in the price of the Celebrate Spain Pack is an evening session in either the Thursday, Friday or Saturday International Festival Tasting.

Advance ticket price $225
Regular ticket price    $255

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will open on Monday, March 28th, 2011 and will feature 176 wineries participating in 63 events to a projected 25,000 attendees. Advance tickets to the Festival will be on sale November 30. For more information visit www.playhousewinefest.com.

About the Playhouse Wine Festival
The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from March 28th to April 3rd, 2011. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2011, the theme region will be Spain and the global focus Fortified Wine. The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and Festival partners; and raise funds for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.2 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 223 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

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JOIEFARM WINES RECEIVE RAVE REVIEWS

We created the 2008 PTG, our sole red wine, and 2008 Reserve Chardonnay for the richer, heartier foods that we enjoy at this time of the year.  Both wines have been extremely well received by the critics and we are proud to share the outstanding reviews with you.  Please note that both are still available in excellent quantities as we head into the depths of winter.
If you require either or both at this time you may order directly through our website.

Warmest regards,
Michael Dinn & Heidi Noble | Proprietors

PTG 2008

90-92 points – IconWines.ca – September 7, 2010
The JoieFarm “PTG”, which stands for “Passetoutgrain”, a little known wine from Burgundy, is a delicious blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Gamay Noir (40%). It combines the classic barnyard funk of a Burgundian-style Pinot Noir with the bright fruitiness of a Beaujolais – all-the-while staying true to its Okanagan roots.The nose warrants a few moments to appreciate. It starts with meaty barnyard aromas but gives way to cherry nibs and dark berries. Oak, vanilla and a touch of cotton candy add complexity to the intense barnyard and fruit ballet.   A nose to remember.The dry palate has excellent tannic structure with forward fruit flavours of cherry cola, dark fruits and savory spice. Pepper lingers on the moderate and balanced finish.   The texture is lively, but purposed with good acidity which makes this an excellent wine to pair with food (well, that’s not saying much as all of the JoieFarm wines pair beautifully with food. One suspects winemaker Heidi Noble to have had a particular dish in mind during the blending process of each wine). Drink now or cellar for another 3-4 years for further development. Enjoy 2010-2017.

91 points – Daenna Van Mulligen – Wine Diva/WineScores.ca – October 25, 2010
The PTG pays homage to Burgundy’s Passetoutgrain by blending 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Gamay which hail from the Naramata Bench (with a small amount of Pinot Noir from Vernon).  It is a personal favorite of mine with its sweet and tart red berry aromas, its potpourri of cedar chips and crushed floral notes with sous bois followed by leather, sweet spice and chalky minerality. It has a finely grained texture and nice complexity with layers of bright red fruit, spice and cocoa flavours leading into a long, juicy finish.

90 points – John Schreiner on Wine – September 6, 2010
PTG stands for Passetoutgrain, which is what Burgundians call wines made from blends of Pinot Noir and Gamay. This wine is 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Gamay, with fruit from four vineyards on the Naramata Bench one in Vernon.  Once again, all the stops were pulled out in making this wine, starting with the use of a sorting table to select the best berries. Some of the fruit was fermented in small tanks; some was fermented in a French oak cask and was actually trod by foot. You would be surprised how many Okanagan winemakers use bare feet to press Pinot Noir. The foot is much gentler than mechanical methods and gentle is good with Pinot Noir and Gamay.  The wine is dark ruby with aromas of spicy cherries. On the palate, there are flavours of cherries and spice and cola. This is another wine with heft – a rich texture and a long finish.

Tim Pawsey – North Shore News -  September  19, 2010
The wines of Joie Farm continue to impress — most notably the just-released Joie PTG 2008. PTG stands for Passetoutgrain, a Burgundian term that combines Cote d’Or Pinot Noir with Gamay Beaujolais. The 60-40 Pinot-Gamay Joie blend — another ingenious new world salute from Michael Dinn and Heidi Noble — adds up to a delicious burst of raspberry, cherry and peppery notes, with a well structured mid-palate and juicy, peppery, lingering close.

4.5/5  stars – Rod Philips – Rod Philips on Wine.com
If only more Canadian reds were like this! You get excellent fruit, with plenty of structure and complexity, a lot of high-toned vibrancy, and well-measured balance between fruit and acidity. This is a wine that embodies substance and style, and pairs with a wide range of dishes. [PTG stands for Passetoutgrains, a Burgundian appellation that blends gamay with at least one-third pinot noir.

RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2008
Beppi Crosariol – Globe & Mail – September 24, 2010
An opulent, silky, broad-shouldered chardonnay from an excellent Okanagan Valley, B.C. producer. Luscious tropical-fruit and apple notes are buttressed by toasty vanilla, honey and crème brûlée nuances, all balanced by crisp acidity. Reminiscent of a ripe Meursault from Burgundy.

91 points – Daenna Van Mulligen – Wine Diva/WineScores.ca – October 25, 2010
Made from vineyards in Naramata and Okanagan Falls and inspired by the great Chardonnays of Cote de Beaune and Maconnais, this elegant JoieFarm Reserve Chardonnay presents warm honey and hazelnut praline, layers of minerality and toasted spice notes. It is vibrant on the palate – crisp citrus and pear supported by toasted spice flavours. Expect subtle power, good concentration and seductive weight.

90+ points  – IconWines.ca – September 8, 2010
The 2008 vintage of JoieFarm’s Reserve Chardonnay is in tough as the fabulous, Lieutenant Governor Award of Excellence winning 2007 vintage is a hard act to follow. However, it succeeds admirably offering complex aromas and flavours of pears, tropical fruits and honeycomb with elegant characters and spice from a thorough oak program. There is a pleasing vein of minerality through the wine that speaks to its Okanagan birthplace despite being a blend from multiple sites.  The fruit flavours are not as forward on the concentrated palate as the 2007 (recently re-tasted in August 2010) possibly due to a cooler and delayed growing season. The attitude of the 2008 leans more towards Burgundy on the pendulum of New to Old World style.  For BC Wine collectors, assembling a vertical of JoieFarm’s Reserve Chardonnay is a must. They deliver an interesting, well-made, quality wine each year that changes and reflects the vintage – the pros and cons. This is honest winemaking. These are wines built to age that will reward careful cellaring. Drink 2010-2018.

90 points – John Schreiner on Wine – September 6, 2010
The entire range of winemaking art was employed here: whole cluster and whole berry pressing with primary and malolactic fermentation in French barriques and puncheons. A quarter of the barrels were new, 50% were a year old and the remainder were neutral.  This wine begins with an appealing gold hue. It has the aroma of ripe apricots, tangerines and honey (there was some botrytis among the grapes). JoieFarm’s own notes speak of ripe Anjou pear, hazelnut skins and freshcut pineapple. That should tell you something about how complex the wine is. On the palate, there are rich but tangy flavours of citrus, pineapple and honey. There is so much going on that it is like drinking marmalade. This wine has plenty of heft, with the structure to age like a good Burgundy.

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LEGACY LIQUOR STORE OPENS ITS DOORS AT MILLENNIUM WATER ON NOVEMBER 25

VANCOUVER, BC – Southeast False Creek residents have a reason to celebrate as Legacy Liquor Store opens its doors at Millennium Water on Thursday, November 25.  The 8,600 square foot private liquor store is hosting its Official Grand Opening Party, where the public can sample delicious products with paired food, take a tour of the store and enjoy live music.

When: Thursday, November 25, 2010 4-8pm

Where: Legacy Liquor Store, 1633 Manitoba Street, Vancouver, BC

“With a team of highly-trained staff, an extensive specialty products selection, and a comprehensive online delivery service, Legacy aims to be the one stop shop for local residents and customers all over the province,” says Amorita Bastaja, Legacy’s Store & Promotions Manager. “We’re excited to connect with people with various interests, as we will be offering an array of services from private tasting events to cellar management consultations.”

Blaine Culling, the owner of Legacy Liquor Store and Granville Entertainment Group, says of joining Athletes Village: “We’re extremely excited to be the newest entity to join Millennium Water. We have absolute confidence in the growth of the area and look forward to serving and being a positive asset to the neighbourhood.”

Party highlights include music by DJ JT James, and a bubbly tasting hosted by Michelle Bouffard and Michaela Morris of Vancouver-based consulting company, house wine.

About Legacy Liquor Store
The newest addition to the Millennium Village, Legacy Liquor Store, is an elegant and modern 8600 square foot space, the largest privately-owned liquor store in British Columbia. The store will carry one of the largest selections of international and domestic wines, beers and spirits, as well as sake, craft beer and other specialty products. Visit: legacyliquorstore.com

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CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AT HART HOUSE

November, 2010 (Vancouver, BC) – Hart House Restaurant has become a holiday tradition.  With its elegant heritage house setting, outstanding Pacific Northwest cuisine, and extensive award-winning wine list, Hart House offers a variety of ways to celebrate the season.

DICKENS LUNCHEON BUFFET – December 6th to 23rd, Available Monday to Friday
Always a favorite, our seasonal buffet menu is perfect for your corporate group lunch and includes hearty fare such as Roasted Turkey, Carved Country Ham, Root Vegetables, and Warm Bread Pudding.
·         $35 per person exclusive of tax and gratuity
·         Two seating times:  11:00am or 1:30pm
·         Reservations by phone only

CHRISTMAS DINNER – December 25th, 2010
Enjoy a traditional Turkey Dinner will all the trimmings without the hassle and stress of spending the day in the kitchen.
·         $58 per person exclusive of tax and gratuity
·         Early seating times:  4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30
·         Late seating times:  7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30
·         Reservations by phone required for both early and late seating

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER – December 31st, 2010
The perfect way to ring in the New Year!  The early seating offers three courses, and the late seating offers five courses.
·         Early seatings (5:30 or 6:00pm) – $58 per person exclusive of tax and gratuity
·         Late seatings (8:30 or 9:00pm) – $78 per person exclusive of tax and gratuity
·         Reservations by phone required for both early and late seating
And don’t forget, Hart House offers 25% off bottles of wine every Tuesday in the dining room, to complement our a la carte lunch and dinner.  Take advantage of this opportunity to explore our award-winning cellar with friends, family, or colleagues.
We look forward to celebrating with you over the holidays!

Hart House at Deer Lake
6664 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Reservations by phone only at 604-298-4278
www.harthouserestaurant.com

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SAVOUR THE FLAVOURS OF WINTER WITH NEW MENUS AT RESTAURANT 62

November 18, 2010 (Abbotsford, B.C.) – restaurant 62 is pleased to launch two new seasonal menus that exquisitely feature the flavours of winter in the Fraser Valley.

Both the new Winter Dinner Menu and the Christmas Party Menu incorporate richer flavours and bolder textures using the highest quality local ingredients brought directly from farm to table.

“As with all our seasonal menus, we strive to create contemporary regional cuisine that blends local flavours in distinctive new ways,” said restaurant 62 Executive Chef Jeff Massey. “We believe our guests will find our latest selection of elegant winter meals enticing and extremely satisfying.”

The Winter Dinner Menu is available now until February 2011 and features an array of new appetizers, entrees and desserts. New appetizers include Pastry Wrapped Red Wine Braised Beef and Baked Agassiz “Lady Jane” Farmhouse Cheese with pistachio and rosemary crust. Featured entrees include Seared Okanagan Elk with Creamer Potato and Mushroom Hash, and Smoked Bacon, Apple, Caramelized Onions and Walnut Stuffed Gelderman Pork Loin. To view the new menu in detail, click here.

The 2010 Christmas Party Menu is a three course, set menu designed for parties of twelve or more. The Christmas Party Menu offers many of the same items as the new dinner menu, plus a selection R62 signature dishes. Seating times for the set menu are 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. To view the Christmas Party Menu in detail, visit our website. Guests are advised to reserve as soon as possible, as space is limited.

About restaurant 62
restaurant 62 is the Fraser Valley’s top rated restaurant for elegant urban dining and contemporary regional cuisine.The restaurant offers a simplified modern dining experience that engages the senses and tantalizes the palate. Executive Chef Jeff Massey uses only the freshest local ingredients brought directly from farm to table to create contemporary regional cuisine, inspired by the flavours of the Mediterranean. The restaurant is unrivalled for its innovative regional menu, extensive wine selection, contemporary ambience and impeccable service. Most recently, the team launched R62TV, the first online cooking show of its kind from a B.C. restaurant. www.restaurant62.ca

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CULINARY CAPERS’ BEIJING OPERATION MOVES INTO A GREAT NEW SPACE

Vancouver, BC (November 24, 2010) – Culinary Capers Beijing, an offshoot of Culinary Capers Catering in Vancouver, has moved into an exciting new location in the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), the largest gallery in the 798 Art District. The 798 Art District is the largest art district in Beijing and is comprised of a collection of modern Chinese art galleries, event spaces and cultural shops in refurbished Bauhaus-inspired factory buildings.

In addition to being the exclusive caterer for the UCCA galleries, Culinary Capers Beijing has also opened SWITCH!, which offers the same fresh modern cuisine that has allowed Culinary Capers to garner an international reputation, only in a restaurant setting. The open restaurant kitchen is overseen by President and Executive Chef Billy Kawaja and features signature dishes such as our SWITCH! salad, duck confit dip; crispy mac ‘n cheese croquettes; and warm cinnamon donuts with mascarpone and fruit compote, all served with a playful twist.

In addition, SWITCH! serves Chef Billy K’s signature brunch menus on the weekend and can also be rented as an event space. Event clients have included American Airlines, Microsoft, and private receptions. The catering operation of Culinary Capers Beijing has created events for Adidas, Merrill Lynch, Walmart, clients of Jack Morton Worldwide and the embassies of Australia, the United States, Canada, the Dutch Republic, Mexico, and a host of private clients.

Debra Lykkemark, the CEO of Culinary Capers, had the following observations, “We are very excited about the opportunity for growth in the Beijing market and we see the location of our catering and restaurant at UCCA as a key factor in driving both the growth of our business in China and the strength of our international brand.”

About Culinary Capers Beijing
Opened in 2008, Culinary Capers Beijing is a sister company of Culinary Capers Catering, Vancouver’s market leader in off-premise catering. President Billy Kawaja and CEO Debra Lykkemark head a group of top professionals dedicated to producing cutting edge cuisine, innovative presentation, contemporary design and courteous service. The award-winning kitchen team was the official caterer for the BC Canada Pavilion in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Games.

In 2010, Culinary Capers Beijing was the recipient of two international awards for a spectacular four-course luncheon for 120 guests on the Great Wall of China, Best Off- Premise Catered Event at The Special Event 2010 Gala Awards and Signature Caterer for Best Event at the International Caterers Associations’ CATIE Awards.

For more information about SWITCH!: click here

For more information about Culinary Capers Beijing go to: www.culinarycapersbeijing.com

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LET THE SHUCKING BEGIN

Vancouver, BC… Oyster Seafood and Raw Bar quietly opened its doors last week and downtown Vancouverites are discovering a new pearl in the Vancouver dining scene. A small and charming room, distinctly focused on Ocean Wise seafood, Oyster blends the charm of the 1920’s with the upscale and modern influences of 2010. Housed in the original Vancouver Stock Exchange building at 475 Howe Street, this 25 seat oyster haven is open from 11am to 9pm Monday to Friday, with daily menu features and 3 – 6pm “buck a shuck” oysters. Signature dishes such as Potted Shrimp and Oyster Pot Pie complement an assortment of BC oysters, crab, mussels, clams and scallops. (see menu and wine)

The seed behind Oyster is Jeremy Towning. A family background in hospitality and passion for business inspired Towning to open Oyster. He has put together a team that is passionate about – yes, you guessed it – Oysters. A wine list focused on seafood pairings, and house-designed “batched cocktails” are among a few of the inventive creations at Oyster.

Oyster features a selection of BC’s finest seafood, as fresh as can B, with the emphasis on freshly shucked Oysters, prepared Scallops, Mussels, Clams, Crab and fin fish, cooked with global flare and maintaining the flavours inherent to BC seafood and the waters they come from. Oyster is located at 475 Howe Street (at Pender). To book private weekend functions pleased call 604-899-0323. Visit: www.rawbar.ca

When the oldest fine-dining restaurant in Vancouver teams up with an established Okanagan winery, you know that good things are going to happen. Tinhorn Creek and Le Gavroche have been a solid team for years, and now they’ve recently announced that proprietor and chef of Le Gavroche, Manny Ferreira, and Tinhorn Creek will launch a new restaurant at the Tinhorn Creek estate in the spring of 2011. Called Miradoiro, it will be a fine dining restaurant that looks out over the farms and orchards of the Okanagan. A wine dinner showcasing Tinhorn Creek’s wine and Manuel’s cooking was held recently to celebrate.

A fireside glass of wine is a comforting prospect on most nights, but coming in from the cold on a night that was threatening to turn your umbrella inside out, the 2009 Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay was exquisite. Fresh,  fruity and un-oaked, it started the night off right and paved the way for the 2Bench White Oldfield Series. This is a Chardonnay-heavy blend with Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, Viognier and Muscat that I loved, particularly paired with the beautiful smoked salmon and Dungeness crab blinis. The next course – onion soup, Madeira style – was possibly the most interesting dish of the evening. Similar to a traditional onion soup, it also had plump raisins and Madeira for sweetness and and a raw egg on the side, for richness. The idea was that you would stir the egg in yourself, in between sips of 2Bench Rose. “Don’t stir it too much or you’ll get scrambled eggs!” Manuel warned, a result that would perhaps have necessitated more wine.

This was a difficult year for wine in many regions, but Tinhorn Creek survived it successfully through careful planning and maybe a stroke of luck. They dropped a lot of fruit early on in the season and knowing they would be buying grapes for the first time ever, nurtured both grown and purchased crops to spectacular result. The Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Merlot are some of the best they’ve seen in 17 harvests.

We had the 2007 Merlot on the menu and it turned out to be my favorite wine of the evening. A beautifully complex glass of pepper and smoke, it was served with an enormous spiced, crusted duck confit in port sauce and a surprise glass of the 2004 Merlot from Le Gavroche’s cellar.

And that wasn’t the end of it. Mustard-spiced Salt Spring lamb rack in rosemary roasted garlic jus followed with the 2007 2Bench Red Oldfield Series. Its spicy, pepper nose and black fruit body stood up to the lamb without difficulty.

Le Gavroche’s location is in a renovated house in Coal Harbour but, surrounded by office buildings, they’ve made the space comforting and cosy and filled it with unparalleled hospitality. The “nobility of service” evident throughout the meal is what puts Le Gavroche into an entirely different class of restaurants and what will surely set Miradoiro apart in the Okanagan.

Cheese was served with the 2007 Syrah Oldfield Series and a surprise glass of 2005 and then it was time for dessert – a nectarine “salad” with tomato confiture and a hazelnut cigar, served with a 2009 Kerner ice wine. The dessert was deliciously un-sweet –  a necessary pairing with the Kerner. Syrupy on the nose and three times as sweet again on the palate, this is a beauty in small doses.

~ Degan Beley

Playhouse Wine Festival will offer a week of Spanish Sipping in 2011; Mission Hill Family Estate celebrates ten years of Oculus; Araxi at Cornucopia: Big Guns + Bubbles; Uva Wine Bar now serves Italian-inspired breakfast and lunch; Latitude teams with Music on Main for Modulus Festival; Thanksgiving 2010 at Two Chefs and a Table; Restaurant 62 premieres original online cooking show with launch of R62 TV; Taste of Yaletown 2010 is back and bigger than ever; CRU Announces new menu & pre-theatre dinner special; Laughing Stock invites you to become a “Preferred Shareholder”; Gold Medal Plates update; Crosstown cuisine reigns supreme; An evening of classic Napa Valley wine at Boneta

PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL WILL OFFER A WEEK OF SPANISH SIPPING IN 2011

Wines from Spain and a Global Focus on Fortified Wine will bring plenty of varietals to the 33rd annual event

September 24th, 2010, Vancouver, BC – The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will mark its 33rd year with Wines from Spain and a Global Focus on Fortified Wine. The Festival, which runs from March 28th to April 3rd, 2011, will bring 176 participating wineries to the Vancouver Convention Centre and top Vancouver restaurants and hotels for a total of seven days of tastings, seminars, and wine focused events. A full list of participating wineries is now available here.

“Every vintage at the Wine Festival offers a fresh journey of discovery,” says Festival Executive Director Harry Hertscheg. “Whether it’s wines from across Spain, Fortified examples from around the globe or selections from unfamiliar wine regions, each Festival attendee gets their own unique tasting experience while trying new wines and connecting directly with their producers.”

“The great quality, value and versatility of Spanish wines continues to win fans around the world and to elicit high praise from the international wine and food media,” says Pilar Randolph, Director of Wines from Spain, “we are thrilled to have the opportunity to shine the spotlight on these wines at Canada’s premier wine festival this coming spring.” With a total of 33 participating Spanish wineries, visitors to the 2011 Festival will have the opportunity to sip wines from indigenous varietals such as Albariño, Cariñena, Garnacha, Godello, Macabeo, Mencía, Monastrell, Palomino, Pedro Ximénez, Tempranillo, Verdejo and Viura, as well as Spanish versions of more international grapes such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. All of this will be complemented by events that will highlight not only the Wines from Spain but also the delicious food, diverse culture and rich history of the country.

A number of Spain’s most notable and impressive principals will be on hand at this year’s Festival, including Miguel A. Torres, President and Managing Director of Miguel Torres Winery. Named European Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2006, Miguel A. Torres is the fourth generation of Torres to preside over this acclaimed winery in the Penedès region. Decanter magazine named Miguel A. Torres Man of the Year in 2002.

Also attending will be Alvaro Palacios of Alvaro Palacios Winery. Palacios founded his namesake winery at the young age of 25 and is often credited for resurrecting the region of Priorat. His L’Ermita is widely regarded as one of the most important Spanish wines in a generation.

Other notable names scheduled to attend this year’s Festival include:
·       Alex Giesen, Director and Owner, Giesen Wine Estate – New Zealand

·       Ann Sperling, Winemaker, Sperling Vineyards – Canada (BC)
·       Aurelio Montes Sr., Winemaker, Montes – Chile
·       Christophe Hedges, Winemaker, Hedges Family Estates and Snoqualmie Vineyards. – USA (WASH)
·       Craig McDonald, General Manager, Wine Gretzky Estate Winery – Canada (ON)
·       Fernando Alvear, President and CEO, Bodegas Alvear – Spain
·       Felipe González-Gordon, President, González Byass – Spain
·       Javier Hidalgo, Proprietor, Bodegas Hidalgo – Spain
·       Joel Peterson, Founder, Ravenswood – USA (CA)
·       Louis Moreau, Proprietor and Winemaker, Domaine Louis Moreau – France
·       Marc Kent, Winemaker and Co-owner, Boekenhoutskloof – South Africa
·       Nik Weis, Owner, St. Urbans-Hof – Germany
·       Riccardo Tedeschi, Owner and Winemaker, Tedeschi – Italy
·       Rupert Symington, Joint Executive Director, Symington Graham’s Port – Portugal
·       Stuart Blackwell, Senior Winemaker, St Hallett – Australia
·       Susana Balbo, Winemaker, Dominio del Plata – Argentina
·       Telmo Rodriguez, Proprietor, Telmo Rodríguez Wines – Spain
·       Udi Kadim, CEO, Galil Mountain Winery and Yarden – Israel

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival will open on Monday, March 28th, 2011 and will feature 176 wineries participating in 63 events to a projected 25,000 attendees. Early tickets to the Festival will be on sale November 30. For more information visit the newly revamped www.playhousewinefest.com.

About the Playhouse Wine Festival
The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from March 28th to April 3rd, 2011. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2011, the theme region will be Spain and the global focus Fortified Wine. The Festival features a week of special events including the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, and lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and Festival partners; and raise funds for the Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the Festival has raised over $7.2 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 223 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

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MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE CELEBRATES TEN YEARS OF OCULUS

Signature Wine Festivities Commemorate 10th Vintage

West Kelowna, British Columbia (September 22, 2010) – This autumn Mission Hill Family Estate celebrates the tenth vintage of its signature internationally acclaimed wine, Oculus, with a series of special events across Western Canada.  The commemorative occasions include rare magnums of Oculus “Buy the Glass” at top restaurants in British Columbia and Alberta and a selection of intimate activities in the winery’s exclusive Oculus Salon: from vintage library and barrel tastings to “Message on a Bottle” Oculus signings by Chief Winemaker John Simes and Proprietor Anthony von Mandl.  Members of the Okanagan Symphony will hold special performances in the piazza of this breathtaking winery.  Mission Hill’s iconic Bordeaux-inspired wine, Oculus, is elegant, complex and represents the pinnacle of everything Mission Hill does from viticulture to winemaking.  More details on the celebrations are at www.missionhillwinery.com/101010.

We consider the 2006 vintage of Oculus to be the best yet, having benefited from remarkable effort and investment that goes into every vine and cask that produces it.  Since 2005, Michel Rolland the world’s leading master wine blender and winemaker with numerous 100 point wines to his name, has collaborated with Proprietor Anthony von Mandl and Winemaker John Simes on all aspects of Oculus’ production. Their uncompromising approach to quality and persistent striving for perfection throughout the viticulture and winemaking process makes Oculus the ultimate expression of its region.

Oculus is both a Roman-inspired architectural feature and Mission Hill winery’s equivalent of a First Growth wine.  Like its namesake in Rome’s Pantheon, the Oculus (Latin for ‘eye’) at Mission Hill is the only source of natural light into the winery’s famed underground barrel cellar.

The 1997 debut vintage of Oculus epitomized a fusion of Old World and new World winemaking traditions rooted in the soils of the South Okanagan.  Today Oculus is a rich, elegant and refined Merlot dominant blend that has captured the attention of sommeliers, collectors and consumers worldwide.  Described by noted British wine critic Jancis Robinson as one of the best red wines in Canada, Oculus set the stage for premium Canadian wine and over the years has rated highly with the press garnering a 99 by Natalie MacLean, 91 by Anthony Gismondi, 92 by David Lawrason and 94 by John Schreiner, to name a few.

In Natalie MacLean’s words, the current 2006 vintage is a “Bordeaux-inspired red from one of B.C.’s top producers, which blends Old World finesse with New World power. The winery hand-picks and sorts grapes from the best blocks in its’ Oliver and Osoyoos estate vineyards. The wine is aged in French barrels for 14.5 months before bottling. All of this coddling results in a wine that delivers hedonistic ripples of pleasure on the palate. A core of blackcurrant and cassis is enclosed in a cigar box. Perfect for when you cash in your Google stock. Pair with: beef wellington, rib roast with coffee rub, venison, pork tenderloin. 96 points. Drink: 2009-2018”.

“This rare and limited wine embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence at Mission Hill Family Estate and reflects the depth and complexity possible from the unique terroir of the Okanagan Valley,” says von Mandl. “We first envisioned the potential to craft international caliber wine almost three decades ago, when I purchased Mission Hill in 1981.  In that short span, we’ve grown from just a handful of wineries to almost 200 and matured as a community with the BC VQA celebrating a successful 20th anniversary this year.  Similarly, a decade since Oculus’ debut, we invite you to join John and myself as we celebrate at the winery and in the finest restaurants across Western Canada.”

“Oculus was the one of the first ultra-premium wines from the Okanagan Valley. This wine has helped not only Mission Hill but British Columbia be recognised as a serious wine producer and a quality wine region internationally. I am proud to share the quality that BC has to offer and the story of Mission Hill and this iconic brand with my customers,” said Robert Byford, Managing Partner, Glowbal Group.

October is Oculus Month – Mission Hill Family Estate announces a series of celebratory activities across British Columbia and Alberta including:

Winery Celebrations – Noon to 4 pm | Saturday, October 9

Message on a Bottle
At Mission Hill Family Estate, Winemaker John Simes and Proprietor Anthony von Mandl respectively will be on hand to personalize bottles of Oculus in the Oculus Salon.

Tasting Notes
Mission Hill Sommeliers Jesse Harden and Mike Lee enlighten guests through Oculus barrel samples, library and vertical tastings, and magnum tastings in the luxurious Oculus Salon. Live music performances by members of the Okanagan Symphony. Proceeds from the Oculus tastings will be donated to the Okanagan Symphony.

Vintage Vantage
Be among the first to obtain the coveted 2007 Oculus vintage prior to its scheduled spring 2011 release. A winery cellar-door exclusive of our premium wine, which is available by allocation only in handcrafted, white pine crates!

Buy the Glass Destinations – October 8-11

For the past decade fine dining establishments across the west have been early supporters of premium Okanagan Valley wine. We thank them for their ongoing support and encourage patrons to enjoy this debut opportunity to savour Oculus by the glass at:

•             Bear Mountain, Victoria
•             Bearfoot Bistro, Whistler
•             Blue Water Café, Vancouver
•             Characters Restaurant, Edmonton
•             Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca, Vancouver
•             COAST Restaurant, Vancouver
•             Hardware Grill, Edmonton
•             Hotel El Dorado, Kelowna
•             Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria
•             Lupo, Vancouver – newly installed enomatic with Oculus by the glass for the month of October!
•             Post Hotel & Spa, Lake Louise
•             Quattro, Whistler
•             Seasons in the Park, Vancouver
•             Teahouse, Vancouver
•             The Wickanninish Inn, Tofino

“Oculus is the hard work, artistry and passion of a winemaker and its owner to show the world that Canada can make some of the best red wines in the world,” said André Saint-Jacques, proprietor, Bearfoot Bistro.

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ARAXI AT CORNUCOPIA: BIG GUNS + BUBBLES

Big Guns Winemakers’ Dinner
Araxi, Whistler
Friday, November 12th @ 6:30pm
$225, all inclusive

Big Guns: Small Producers

Exclusive winemakers’ dinner celebrates a unique collection of wines

Whistler, B.C. – On Friday, November 12th, Whistler’s premier restaurant, Araxi, will celebrate a compelling collection of wines in an exclusive winemakers’ dinner during Cornucopia: Whistler’s Celebration of Wine and Food.

These five extraordinary wineries—four from the Napa Valley and one from Walla Walla—are all small, family-owned properties engaged in sustainable farming practices. Each of the wineries has achieved critical acclaim and international followings, and through the course of the evening, introductions to each wine will be led by winery principals, including discussion on technique and terroir. This insider’s tour of excellence in winemaking promises to be Cornucopia’s tour de force.

Executive Chef James Walt has created a distinctive five-course menu that highlights the excellence of the Pemberton Valley’s autumn harvest—alongside globally-sourced ingredients—with each plate married to these prized wines:

Ehlers Estate Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Napa Valley, 2009

Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon “1886″, St. Helena, Napa Valley, 2006
‘Top-Rated’ Gayot

Miner Family Vineyards “Wild Yeast” Chardonnay, Oakville, Napa Valley, 2007
91 Points, Connoisseurs’ Guide

Miner Family Vineyards “The Oracle”, Oakville, Napa Valley, 2006
93 Points, Wine & Spirits Magazine

Pahlmeyer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, 2007
95 Points, Robert Parker

Pahlmeyer Merlot Napa Valley, 2007
96 Points, Robert Parker

Pepper Bridge Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, 2007
92 Points, Robert Parker

Pepper Bridge Winery ‘Reserve’, Walla Walla Valley, 2006
93 Points, Robert Parker

Merryvale “Profile”, St. Helena, Napa Valley, 1999
93 Points, Wine Spectator

Merryvale “Antigua” NV (Dessert Wine)
91 Points, San Francisco Chronicle
Gold Medal, Wine Enthusiast

For tickets, visit whistlercornucopia.com. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Whistler Health Care Foundation.

Bubbles + Oceans Afterparty
Araxi, Whistler
Saturday, November 13th @ 10:30pm
$155, all inclusive

After Crush! complete your evening at Araxi’s famed BUBBLES + OCEANS afterparty, a chance to let go in the heart of Whistler Village. Join us for an unforgettable night of brilliant seafood and deluxe bubbles from 20 of the world’s top Champagne and sparkling wine houses. Executive Chef James Walt will showcase an impressive selection of finely-crafted canapés and his plateaux de mer, offering the finest freshly shucked oysters, sushi and Tofino Dungeness crab. And yes, the best music in town. This don’t miss party at Whistler’s premier restaurant is one of the festival hottest tickets!

For tickets, visit whistlercornucopia.com.

The culinary cornerstone in the heart of Whistler Village, Araxi is recognized worldwide for its excellence in food, wine and hospitality. One of Canada’s leading chefs, James Walt continues to inspire both his contemporaries and his guests, creating compelling regional cuisine based on local, sustainable ingredients. Already, Araxi’s cookbook—available at the restaurant and all fine booksellers—has won multiple international awards, as well as a prestigious nomination from New York’s James Beard Awards. Whistler, B.C. 604-932-4540, www.araxi.com.

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UVA BY DAYChic Wine Bar Now Serves Italian-Inspired Breakfast and Lunch

Vancouver, BC (September 22, 2010) – Award-winning UVA Wine Bar, located in the chic Moda Hotel, is pleased to announce the expansion of its menu with a range of Italian-inspired breakfast and lunch fare. Espresso bar by day, wine bar by night, UVA was named the Gold recipient in the Best Bar/Lounge category at the 2010 Vancouver magazine Restaurant Awards.

Guests are invited to savour seasonal ingredients in Chef Neil Taylor’s daily lunch features (think local fish and fresh pasta), or tuck into a three-course set lunch for $26.00. The à la carte menu showcases dishes such as agnoli stuffed with chicken and smoked pancetta, sage butter and parmesan, roast sockeye salmon, rapini and vin cotto and vanilla pannacotta with blueberries and grappa. As with the dinner menu in Cibo Trattoria, the menu changes daily with Italian inspired dishes made with same-day fresh and local ingredients. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11am – 2pm.

Along with its new lunch offerings, UVA has also introduced an Italian breakfast menu available from 7am – 11am Monday through Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday from 7am – 2pm. Dishes such as pannetone french toast with bourbon barrel aged maple syrup and prosciutto di san danielle with bio-dynamic eggs can be savoured. And because no Italian caffè would be complete without espresso, UVA is pleased to serve Caffè Umbria’s Gusto Crema Blend, a classic Italian medium roast.

Located adjacent to the lobby of the Moda Hotel and steps from the Orpheum Theatre, UVA epitomizes the spirit of its location in the heart of downtown Vancouver’s arts and cultural district. Striking-yet-inviting décor sets a bold statement. The elegant modernism of its interior design combined with the building’s historical elements, such as its delicate 1908 terrazzo floors, creates a unique-yet-vibrant setting that must be experienced.

UVA Wine Bar is located at 900 Seymour Street, Vancouver BC / Phone: 604.602.9570 / www.uvawinebar.ca

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A CLASSICAL PAIRING: LATITUDE TEAMS WITH MUSIC ON MAIN FOR MODULUS FESTIVAL

Latitude is proud to be teaming up with Music on Main for the Modulus Music Festival at Heritage Hall (Sept. 30 – Oct. 3) for 4 nights of exciting music from classical, new and genre-bending artists. Leading music magazine, ‘Gramophone’ recently called Music on Main “one of the finest windows into the post-classical scene.”

Just one block from Heritage Hall, Latitude is the perfect place for a pre-concert dinner and drink, or join us after the show for ‘Late Nights at Latitude’ when we’ll be entertaining the post-concert crowd.

Dinner and concert discounts are available. Please visit our website for full details.
Open from 5pm daily, Latitude is a stylish yet casual place to catch up with friends, have a romantic rendezvous or simply kick back on the patio with a beer and take in Main Street.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FROM 5PM • WEEKEND BRUNCH SERVED 10AM – 2:30PM
info@latitudeonmain.com | www.latitudeonmain.com

MODULUS FESTIVAL: September 30 – October 3, 2010
“Vancouver’s annual Music on Main festival provides western Canada with one of the finest windows onto the post-classical scene.”

(Gramophone Magazine) Immerse yourself in four days of adventurous music with leading classical, new and genre-bending artists.

The Modulus Festival features throat singer Tanya Tagaq, ‘ukulele sensation James Hill, pianist David Jalbert, Philip Glass Ensemble vocalist and Rome Prize-winning composer Lisa Bielawa, Grammy-Award winning soprano Susan Narucki, the Music on Main All-Star Band, and other great musicians.

You’ll hear Steve Reich’s Vermont Counterpoint, J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Lisa Bielawa’s Chance Encounter, music by Maurice Ravel, Györgi Kurtág, Giorgio Magnanensi, Canadian and world premieres, and lots more.

Concerts take place at at Heritage Hall on Main Street and the Roundhouse Community Arts Centre in Yaletown. Festival Passes on sale now: just $85 ($45 students). Single tickets just $29 ($15 students).

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: musiconmain.ca

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THANKSGIVING 2010 AT TWO CHEFS AND A TABLE

Celebrate with in-home catering or five courses at the Bistro,

If only out of gratitude for the bounty of great local food that’s grown, raised and harvested in BC, Thanksgiving should be one of the most important holidays on the calendar for all Vancouverites and certainly those who love great, fresh food. The ever-growing focus on regional food makes Thankgiving the ideal time to celebrate the year’s harvest.

This year, Two Chefs and a Table are again marking Thanksgiving with restaurant and catering menus made using a broad range of seasonal local and sustainable ingredients. Along with delicious lamb from Polderside Farms and locally raised turkey, this year’s Thanksgiving menu will originate even closer to home with Gregg family heirloom tomatoes and herbs grown on the bistro roof.

The five-course set menu to be offered on the Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend starts with housemade lamb pate and heirloom tomato soup and finishes with seasonal desserts made from scratch. Inbetween, the centrepieces of the dinner will be the main courses of roasted lamb and turkey accompanied by local seasonal vegetables and housemade dressings.

Along with dining at the bistro, Two Chefs and a Table will also be offering a limited number of in-home catering opportunities focussed on traditional Thanksgiving menus made with the same exceptional local ingredients used in the celebratory set menu. Call 604-340-4461 or email karl@twochefsandatable.com for more details.

Thanksgiving Dinner will be served Saturday and Sunday October 9th and 10th and will be only $44 for the five courses. Full menu details are below and reservations are recommended. To book your table, or for more information on Two Chefs and a Table, visit www.twochefsandatable.com or call 778-233-1303.

Two Chefs and a Table Thanksgiving Menu

First Course
Polderside lamb pate w/classic garnish & handmade onion bread

Second Course
Heirloom tomato soup: Gregg Farm heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil puree, classic bacon croutons

Third Course
Polderside Roasted lamb leg: rolled and slow roasted with fresh herbs, sweet potato, yam and carrot

Entree
Roasted local turkey: white and dark meat with a chestnut dressing, pan jus, pomme puree and local fall vegetables

Dessert
Choice of: Pumpkin pot de crème w/ a cinnamon cream
or/ Matsuda Farms apple tart: Hand picked Macintosh apple w/ vanilla gelato

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RESTAURANT 62 PREMIERES ORIGINAL ONLINE COOKING SHOW WITH LAUNCH OF R62 TV

September, 2010 (Abbotsford, B.C.) – Known for bringing the freshest local flavours from farm to table, the team at Restaurant 62 has taken their expertise online with a series of culinary instructional videos as part of an online cooking show called R62 TV. The locally produced Internet video series is just one of the many features available on Restaurant 62’s newly launched multi-media website at www.r62tv.com.

The R62 TV weekly webisodes will feature informative culinary instruction and wine education by Restaurant 62 Executive Chef Jeff Massey and Sommelier, Eric Ferris. In addition, the platform will offer a recipe database, daily articles, an interactive “Ask Chef Jeff” feature, plus online wine sales – all designed to enhance and expand the overall Restaurant 62 experience.

“As far as we can tell we’re one of the first restaurants in B.C. to launch an online cooking series like R62 TV,” said Eric Ferris, Restaurant 62 General Manager and Sommelier. “In doing so, we hope to reach new audiences and expand the R62 brand far beyond our restaurant patrons.”

The R62 TV series of videos will cover wide ranging culinary topics from how to prepare grilled lobster tails to techniques for the ultimate Chateau Briande. Episodes will also include “Wined Up” wine reviews and recommendations from vintages around the world. Each segment is approximately 6-10 minutes long and will have a frequency of five episodes per month beginning September 2010. R62 TV is produced by Burnaby’s Gloo Studios and Internal Wealth Studios in Chilliwack, B.C. To view a sample episode from R62 TV click here.

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TASTE OF YALETOWN IS BACK AND BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER

One of Vancouver’s most popular dining events is set to dazzle once again

VANCOUVER, BC, September, 2010 – Taste of Yaletown is back and bigger and better than ever. The Yaletown Business Improvement Association announces that the 6th annual Taste of Yaletown event will be held October 13th – 31st, 2010. The event invites Vancouver’s food and wine enthusiasts to discover and enjoy the fantastic offerings from a record number of Yaletown’s premier restaurants, who will offer guests a special three-course menu at set prices of $25, $35 or $45.

“Taste of Yaletown has become one of the top dining events in the city and we have no doubt that the 6th year will break all of our past records for participation, attendance and excitement,” says Neil Wyles, President of the Yaletown Business Improvement Association. “It is a pleasure to be able to support our community through the Greater Vancouver Food Bank while showcasing the fun and food to be had in our unique corner of the city.”

A perennial local favourite, Taste of Yaletown draws throngs of foodies and wine enthusiasts from all corners of the GVRD to experience the best in dining and drink at an affordable price. For the restaurants it is all about connecting with new customers, dazzling existing ones and creating exclusive three course tasting menus that highlight culinary finesse. This year’s Taste of Yaletown also features the most participating restaurants the event has ever had.

The participating restaurants in 2010 are:

Bistro Sakana
Brix Restaurant
Cactus Club Café
Capones Restaurant & Live Jazz Bar
Charm Modern Thai Bar
Earls Kitchen & Bar
George Ultra Lounge
Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar
Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
Hamilton Street Grill
Hapa Izakaya
Hub Restaurant
Hurricane Grill
Milestones
One Hundred Days
Provence
r.tl
Rodney’s Oyster House
Section (3)
SNS Lounge
Simply Thai
Society Lounge
Sweeney’s of Yaletown
The Keg
Urban Thai Bistro
Yaletown Brewing Co.

In addition to being a dining event, Taste of Yaletown is community-based and directed at raising support and awareness for an important, food-related cause. During the 2010 event, all participating restaurants will donate 10% of their evening sales on Oct XX, 2010 to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and the public will be encouraged to come out to dine in support of the cause. Since 2005, over $110,000 has been raised, demonstrating YBIA and its partner restaurants’ commitment to the community.

Taste of Yaletown 2010 is presented by title sponsor, CIBC. Dedicated to supporting local communities, CIBC, will not only be presenting the entire event in October, but will also extend the Taste of Yaletown brand out for a special private event in January 2011.

Please visit www.yaletowninfo.com for menu details from each participating restaurant.

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CRU ANNOUNCES NEW MENU AND PRE THEATRE DINNER SPECIAL

September, 2010 (Vancouver, BC) – Vancouver’s CRU Restaurant is welcoming the change of the seasons by stirring up its menu with some exciting new dishes and offering a dinner special to theatergoers.

As well as the ever-popular Salade Niçoise, CRU’s lunch menu now includes dishes that provide comforting warmth in even the gloomiest weather:  Cavatelli Bolognese, Mushroom Truffle Risotto, or Crispy Duck Confit served with warm bacon vinaigrette and spätzle goat cheese hash.

The restaurant’s award-winning small plates menu still has favourites like Syrah-braised Beef Short Rib and the “Cellar Door” Caesar, but has expanded to include some new taste combinations, such as
·         Warm Ricotta Flan, Caramelized Onion Tart or Brandy-cured Liver Terrine
·         Pan-seared Qualicum Bay Scallops on cod brandade, with lemon-caper foam and pancetta chips
·          “Bacon & Eggs on Toast” crispy pork belly, soft-poached egg on toasted brioche with maple dijon

CRU’s three-course prix fixe menu also features a selection of seasonal dishes such as
·         Riesling-poached Pear with toasted filberts, gorgonzola & baby greens
·         Roasted Pork Loin, pearl barley and wilted kale, oloroso sherry shiitake cream
·         Mushroom Truffle Risotto with parmesan curls and fresh pea tendrils
·         Warm Apple Spice Cake with sour cream mousse and caramel drizzle

Guests who order prior to 6:30 pm can take advantage of CRU’s Pre-Theatre Dinner Special.  If they present tickets to any Arts Club, Playhouse or Pacific Theatre production they will receive 15% off their dinner bill.

CRU Restaurant
1459 West Broadway, Vancouver
Pre-theatre Dinner Deal
15% Off
5:30 – 6:30 Daily
www.cru.ca

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BECOME A PREFERRED SHAREHOLDER

Our new Preferred Share Wine Club makes it even easier for you to enjoy Laughing Stock’s wines. Preferred shares pay regular dividends of wine deliveries direct to you door and we have created two levels of shares for you to consider:

Series A Preferred is designed for collecting and cellaring by providing guaranteed full-case allocations on any or all or our releases including Small Cap limited production wines. Whether you enjoy getting a case of Portfolio every year (at Futures pricing of course), or want to receive some of your other favourite wines, this membership streamlines the process, provides free shipping within BC and other shareholder benefits.

Series B Preferred is for a diversified selection of 6 specially selected Laughing Stock wines delivered direct to your door 3 times a year.

Other shareholder benefits include:

• Preferred access to newly released wines
• Free shipping within BC for Series A shareholders and for re-orders of 1 case or more for Series B shareholders
• Invitation to winery events, including some shareholder-only events
• Complimentary tasting room tastings and private tour – with advance notice

And more! Full details are available on our website: laughingstockvineyards.com

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ALEXANDRE BILODEAU CONFIRMED AS HONOURARY AMBASSADOR AND KEYNOTE FOR THIS YEAR’S GOLD MEDAL PLATES VANCOUVER ‘CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE’

BARNEY BENTALL AND COLIN  JAMES JUST ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINE ENTERTAINERS!

Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada’s first 2010 Olympic Gold medallist will be the honourary ambassador at Vancouver’s Gold Medal Plates event on Friday, October 29th, at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. 11of the Region’s most feted and talented chefs will battle it out to see who will be named the area’s best chef. After tasting the chef’s amazing creations, Alexandre may even be found up on stage with headline entertainers – Barney Bentall and Colin James!

A celebration of Canadian excellence, Gold Medal Plates brings together the finest chefs, wines and athletes. Olympic and Paralympic athletes are paired with each competing chef as they serve their signature dish and wine pairing to over 700 guests. 2009 Gold medallist, Chef Rob Feenie, will create the dish for the A panel of culinary judges selects the gold, silver and bronze winners; the gold medal winning chef from Vancouver will go on to compete at the Canadian Culinary Championships held February 18-19, 2011 in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Competing chefs are:
Darren Brown, Coast Robert Clarke, C Restaurant Quang Dang, Diva at the Met Stuart Klassen, Delta Grand, Kelowna Dale MacKay, Lumière Nicholas Nutting, The Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino Nico Schuermans, Chambar Roger Sleiman, Quails’ Gate Winery, Kelowna Cam Smith & Sana Ewart, Joy Road, Penticton Neil Taylor, Cibo Trattoria

Friday, October 29
Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, 1088 Burrard St.
5:15 – 6:00 p.m. – VIP Reception – Interviews with chefs and athletes
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Culinary competition
7:45 – 9:00 p.m. – Dessert, hot stove interview with Alexandre Bilodeau, live auction and Vancouver’s gold, silver and bronze medal culinary winners announced
9:00 – 9:30 p.m. – Show featuring Canadian icons, Barney Bentall and Colin James

Gold Medal Plates’ regional competitions begin in October with Edmonton kicking off the cross-country events. It will be Vancouver’s chance to shine and support the athletes in their quest to Own the Podium! Other cities to follow include Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, St. John’s, Edmonton, Toronto and an inaugural event in Saskatoon! Since its inception, Gold Medal Plates has donated more than $4.1 million to support Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes and has elevated the profile of Canadian cuisine and wine. For more information: www.goldmedalplates.com

Canadian Olympic Foundation – The Beneficiary of the events: The Canadian Olympic Foundation is a national charitable organization created by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) supporting high performance athletes across all winter and summer sports. The Foundation’s mission is to generate support to meet the technical, scientific, medical and coaching needs of Canada’s high performance sport system and assist Canada’s athletes in becoming ambassadors for sport, healthy living and the pursuit of excellence across the nation. Net proceeds from Gold Medal Plates are given to the Canadian Olympic Foundation to support high performance programs such as Own the Podium. To learn more about the Foundation and the programs it funds, please visit www.olympicfoundation.ca.

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CROSSTOWN CUISINE REIGNS SUPREME

September 23, 2010, Vancouver, BC – The people have spoken. For the 15th Annual Best of Vancouver issue, Georgia Straight readers have voted Beatty Street’s culinary row as their favourite stop, day and night, for all things food and drink.

Evening hotspot Chambar Restaurant took first place as the city’s Best Independent Restaurant, with daytime counterpart Café Medina awarded as the definitive destination for Best Brunch, and neighbouring culinary playground, The Dirty Apron lauded as Vancouver’s Best Cooking School.

Karri and Nico Schuermans have been entertaining a packed house since opening the doors to Chambar back in 2004. Three years later, their casual approach to offering the finer points of food, wine and service translated into Chambar’s daytime counterpart, Café Medina. Partnering with long time employee, Robbie Kane, the stylish cafe became renowned citywide for its eclectic menus, incredible coffee and tempting Belgian waffles. Never content to rest on their laurels, the Schuermans opened The Dirty Apron Cooking School in 2009 with Chambar’s then sous chef, David Robertson. An instant hit, the culinary playground continues to teach gourmets and toast burners alike the tricks of the trade. And set to open in October, The Dirty Apron Delicatessen will cater to those wishing to align convenience with at-home gourmet.

About
Chambar serves a unique Belgian and North African influenced menu alongside award winning cocktail, beer and wine programs. Located at 562 Beatty Street, Chambar serves dinner nightly from 5:30pm – midnight. For more information: www.chambar.com

Nestled at 556 Beatty Street, Medina is a quaint café serving connoisseur-savvy coffee, Belgian waffles for sweet sustenance and an eclectic alternative for breakfast, lunch, and brunch. For more information: www.medinacafe.com

The Dirty Apron Cooking School offers a selection of hands-on classes that vary from creating regional classics to understanding ingredient-driven basics and executing essential knife skills. The School and adjacent Delicatessen are located at 540 Beatty Street. For more information: www.dirtyapron.com

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A CLASSIC EVENING OF NAPA VALLEY WINE AT BONETA

On Tuesday October 5th celebrate over 4 decades of estate wine making with Napa Valley’s famed Trefethen Vineyard and Boneta Restaurant.

As one of Napa Valley’s few remaining family wine estates, Trefethen Vineyards has never purchased a single outside grape.

Located in the Oak Knoll District, the estate vineyard is nestled in a verdant landscape of vines at the cooler, southern end of Napa Valley.

Diners will have the opportunity to sample some of the winery’s special library selections, including their signature wine, HaLo, and a gorgeous Chardonnay celebrating their 35th anniversary vintage of this wine.

To highlight these exceptional wines Chef Jeremie Bastien has created a four-course menu of hearty fall dishes including Wild Mushroom Arancini and Parsley Root Ravioli with Brown Butter and Fried Capers.

Expert sommelier and Napa enthusiast Neil Ingram will also be on hand to walk guests through this wonderful glimpse of classic Southern California wine making at it’s finest.

Tickets are $85 per guest and include the four-course menu, wine pairings, tax & gratuity.

For additional inquiries or to reserve your table please call 604.684.1844 or email info@boneta.ca.

Trefethen Wines at Boneta
Tuesday October 5th
1 West Cordova
Dinner promptly at 7PM

www.boneta.ca

www.trefethen.com

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.”

Araxi

• 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.

Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar

• 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.’”

CinCin

• 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.”

West

• 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.

2010 Afterglow – Naramata Bench Wineries Spring release; Warren Geraghty to depart West; Something’s Fishy at Provence in April; JoieFarm named “2010 BC Winery of the Year”; Nathan Guggenheimer named Chef de Cuisine at DB Bistro Moderne, Vancouver; Culinary Capers Catering Receives Event and Catering Awards; Playoff with Panache at Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery; Who Framed Roger Rabbit? We (The Refinery) did; Tinhorn Creek Breaking ground with TLC; Two Chefs & a Table launches new brunch menu

2010 AFTERGLOW ~ NARAMATA BENCH WINERIES SPRING RELEASE + WINE AUCTION

For more information, visit www.naramatabench.com
To purchase tickets, click here.

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WARREN GERAGHTY TO DEPART WEST A message from Top Table proprietor, Jack Evrensel:

“It is with no small regret that I announce that Warren Geraghty, executive chef of West Restaurant, will be departing at a yet-to-be determined date.

Warren has made many valuable contributions in leading our culinary team since arriving from his native London, England in 2008. His conversant style with local ingredients continuously pushed West to the forefront of British Columbia’s fine dining landscape and his contributions to West: The Cookbook were invaluable in chronicling many of the restaurant’s signature recipes.

Our talented kitchen brigade will continue to develop and implement our seasonally-based culinary program, and to achieve the high standards that are synonymous with West. We wish Warren all the very best in his future endeavours.”

Visit: www.westrestaurant.com

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SOMETHING’S FISHY AT PROVENCE IN APRIL (Vancouver, BC) — From April 1st through 30th, join Provence Marinaside in Yaletown for some finny fun and fine food at its second annual Poisson d’Avril. In France, ‘Poisson d’Avril’ (April’s Fish) is a one day affair corresponding to our April Fool’s Day. The good folks at Provence Marinaside believe you can never have too much of a good thing and have extended the fun to encompass a month-long celebration of all things fishy.

The celebration comes with its own ‘fish forward’ three-course menu offering a ‘school’ of choices for only $45. On it you’ll find fish of every description prepared in a myriad of ways. From sardines to salmon, confit to bouillabaisse there is something to please every fish lover on the extensive menu. For an additional $5 you can also order the Whole Fish of the Day, accompanied by seasonal vegetables and seven-grain rice. Then end on a sweet note with a choice of something decadent from Provence’s regular menu of hand-crafted desserts. Can you say ‘French lemon tarte?’  “As an inaugural member of Ocean Wise, we serve only fish that have been harvested in a sustainable and responsible manner. That still gives us plenty of choice,” states Provence’s Executive Chef and Owner, Jean-Francis Quaglia. “Poisson d’Avril is an opportunity to welcome spring with a bit of fun.” Everyone gets involved, including the children of staff who have created the hand-drawn fish what whimsically adorn the restaurant and menus during the promotion.

In France, Poisson d’Avril is an ‘excuse’ to poke a little fun and play a practical joke or two. People attach fish (usually paper cut-outs) to the back of their friends and family, who, unaware of the addition to their wardrobe, continue about the day with the new accessory until someone shouts ‘Poisson d’Avril!’ and the jinx is up. Patissiers and chocolatiers create special fish-shaped treats while at some restaurants, little chocolate fish are presented following the meal.

During April, some Provence patrons will find a lucky Poisson under their plate or pinned to their coat. These Poissons come with a prize – perhaps a complimentary appetizer, dessert or meal discount or a copy of New World Provence or even a chance to win a personal cooking demonstration class in their home with Chefs Alessandra and Jean-Francis Quaglia.

The restaurant will also offer a daily rosé feature by the glass, half litre or bottle. While there is something very fishy happening at Provence Marinaside in April, diners will agree that the Poisson d’Avril menu is no joke!

Information/Reservations: www.provencevancouver.com

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JOIE FARM NAMED “2010 BC WINERY OF THE YEAR” JoieFarm is proud to announce that we have been named the “2010 British Columbia Winery of the Year” by Wine Press Northwest in the spring edition of their magazine. This award is selected by the editors of Wine Press Northwest based on blind tastings, visits, accolades and other considerations.

Wineries of the Year must have also completed at least five vintages. The complete article can be found online: here Wine Press Northwest is an independent quarterly magazine published out of Walla Walla, Washington. Wine Press Northwest is focussed on Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia’s talented winemakers and the wineries, vintners and restaurants that showcase Northwest wines. JoieFarm is owned and operated by Michael Dinn and Heidi Noble in beautiful Naramata, BC.

JoieFarm is interested exclusively in the grape varieties of Alsace and Burgundy which excel in the cool-climate, desert landscape of the Okanagan Valley.

For more information, please contact Michael Dinn at 250-488-1960 or wine@JoieFarm.com.

Visit: www.joiefarm.com

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Nurturing and promoting talent from within is a trademark of Daniel Boulud and the management style of his restaurant group. So it comes as no surprise that the new Chef de Cuisine for DB Bistro Moderne in Vancouver has been a sous chef at the restaurant since it’s opening in December 2008. In fact, Nathan Guggenheimer, just promoted to lead the kitchen of this French inflected British Columbia bistro is a veteran of both DB Bistro and its adjacent more upscale sister restaurant, Lumière.

Nathan Guggenheimer will take on his new role as Chef de Cuisine as of Sunday April 4th, with an Easter Sunday menu. He is a British Columbia native from Pitt Meadows who has been cooking since 2002 when he got his first training at Vancouver Community College. He has traveled and studied in France to fine tune his culinary technique and gained valuable experience working with respected Chefs such as Philip Howard at The Square in London and later David Hawksworth at Vancouver’s West. In preparation for his role at DB Bistro Moderne, Nathan cooked along side Chef Daniel Boulud at DANIEL in New York City, and most importantly, has been working closely with DB Bistro’s current Chef de Cuisine, Stephane Istel, as well as Lumière’s Dale Mackay.

“Nathan has demonstrated real dedication to his craft and an ability to perform consistently. He has a talent for combining British Columbia’s incredible ingredients with classic French technique. He’s earned my respect during these last two years cooking at Lumière and DB Bistro, proving he’s ready to take on greater responsibility,” affirms Daniel Boulud.

The promotion became available to Nathan Guggenheimer when Daniel Boulud asked the current Chef de Cuisine, Stephane Istel, to take on the challenge of overseeing the kitchen of his new DB Bistro Moderne opening at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Resort this coming June 2010. The result is an ideal opportunity for a worthy young local chef to show his talent close to home. Look for Nathan weekday mornings as he shops from local farmers at the Trout Lake and Kitsilano markets on his way to work.

DB Bistro Moderne, opened in 2008, is located at 2551 West Broadway in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighborhood and is a sister restaurant to the Manhattan original. The restaurant is operated by Chef Daniel Boulud and his restaurant management group and has been recognized as a Conde Nast Traveler HOT LIST TABLE, earned 4½ stars in the Vancouver Sun and AAA’s three diamond award. Most recently the restaurant received a 2009 Golden Plate Award for Best New Restaurant in Vancouver.

Visit: dbbistro.ca

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CULINARY CAPERS RECEIVES EVENT AND CATERING AWARDS A Latin menu using fresh regional and sustainable ingredients earned the award for Best Food Presentation. And a Tuscan al fresco celebration featuring a seated and interactive food station dining experience won for Best Catered Event. The Star Awards are presented annually and are the top honour for Canadian event professionals. Other noted achievements in March included Culinary Capers Beijing taking home a 2009 CATIE Award (Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence). An exclusive plated luncheon on the Great Wall of China was the winner for Signature Caterer for Best Event. The CATIE Awards were presented on March 8th by the International Caterers Association at the 2010 Catersource Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas which was attended by over 4,000 industry professionals. The Awards recognize the achievements of caterers from around the world. Culinary Capers’ pulled off gold medal performances of our own for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games It took 500 chefs, waiters, bartenders, and kitchen and operations staff working out of four kitchens to successfully pull-off the most exciting time in the company’s storied 24 year history.

Some fun stats:

Our kitchen teams turned out:

578 events
59,279 people served
196,867 hors d’oeuvre
21,944 petite desserts
15,025 breakfast items
14,221 entrées and mini meals
563 hors d’oeuvre platters
432 Team Canada hockey jersey sugar cookies

Information about Culinary Capers can be found at culinarycapers.com

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PLAYOFF WITH PANACHE AT RED CARD SPORTS BAR + EATERY

(April 1, 2010, Vancouver, BC.) In just a few weeks, Olympic-fever will revive as hockey-fever with the upcoming Playoff season. Can our courageous Canucks make it through to the Stanley Cup finals this year? And can they possibly beat the odds and raise the chalice for the very first time? Be sure to catch all the action in style at Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery situated in the core of downtown’s excitement.

To add to the revelry, Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery is celebrating Playoff Season with the “Hockey Lover’s Deal”, which includes a delicious Hockey Lover’s Pizza (topped with sopressata, spicy sausage, bacon and mozzarella) made fresh in an authentic wood burning oven and a glass of your choice of local beer on tap (Canadian, Miller Genuine Draft, R&B Cream Ale, Rickards White, or Whistler Premium Export), all this for just $15. Take advantage of this superb feature, available every Canucks game night at Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery.

Of course, there is more than just one way to enjoy the game at Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery – delve into our chic cocktail menu, marvel at our glowing marble bar, experience one of Red Card’s specialty dishes….and if you keep your eyes peeled, you may even spot a celebrated hockey player or two!

For reservations call 604.689.4460 or visit www.redcardsportsbar.com

About Red Card Sports Bar With inspired Italian cuisine, prepared with the freshest ingredients to the highest standards and a beautifully-restored heritage building, Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery offers a dramatic and elegant environment in which to enjoy your favourite sports game. Red Card Sports Bar is located at 900 Seymour Street, adjacent to Moda Hotel, on the corner of Seymour and Smithe Streets, Downtown Vancouver. Open Monday – Saturday: 11.00am – 1.45am and on Sunday: 11.00am – midnight with pizzas served until 01.00am!

For reservations call 604.689.4460 or visit www.redcardsportsbar.com

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WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? WE DID When – Saturday April 03 2010 from 5:00pm – late My goodness. Just when you thought we couldn’t have more fun on a Saturday night, The Refinery proudly brings you an Easter Dinner, unlike anything you’ve likely seen before. The heroic tale of Roger Rabbit, famed cartoon actor from the 1940’s finds himself on the big screen at The Refinery while you indulge in a delicious menu prepared by Chef Mike Carter and his team. Have a little sip on Lauren Mote’s carrot juice cocktail while your server performs a soliloquy from The Story of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter. What’s even cooler? Some awesome DJ spinning tunes in a bunny outift.

Click the carrot to reserve your spot. Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the menu

$25 – 3 course Prix-Fixe

Easter Egg Salad Hard
boiled quails eggs, baby red potatoes, cured ham, green onion, pickled beans, chive aioli

Rabbit and Sausage Stew
Slow braised rabbit saddle, Tuscan sausage, kale, fennel, tomato saffron broth, white beans

Roasted Carrot Cake
Orange ginger icing, warm sultana compote, rum and vanilla ice cream

How’s about a quick joke? What is the difference between a crazy bunny and a counterfeit banknote?………………… One is bad money and the other is a mad bunny!

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BREAKING GROUND WITH TLC
Oliver, BC… The time has come; Tinhorn Creek Vineyards has broken ground to begin construction on their newest venture, a restaurant venue that overlooks the South Okanagan. In conjunction with Manuel Ferreira of Le Gavroche Restaurant in Vancouver, winery partners Kenn Oldfield and Bob Shaunessy eagerly look forward to April 2011 and the opening of this highly anticipated addition to the Golden Mile. And continuing the partnership that Tinhorn Creek Vineyards established in 2004 with The Land Conservancy (TLC) Tinhorn Creek management and construction crew are making sure that the restaurant site is positioned to do little harm to indigenous plants and grasses. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards has long awaited the construction of this restaurant. Plans were announced in the fall of 2008 to begin construction the following spring, and then the economic world changed. As we look toward the future, signs of recovery are promising and so time has come to move forward with the restaurant development. A new plan places the restaurant immediately adjacent to the outdoor amphitheatre. Guests will delight in the outstanding cuisine and service that has established Manuel Ferreira as one of Vancouver’s most respected restaurateurs. Breathtaking views of the South Okanagan Valley ensure that this restaurant will complement the high standards Tinhorn Creek has set for all visitors to the winery. With 65 seats both inside and out, the restaurant at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards will be open 10 months a year, providing both locals and visitors a spectacular experience.

The Conservation Partners Program is an initiative that aims to form a partnership between Conservation and Agriculture in BC, with mutually beneficial results. This initiative works to protect and enhance the natural habitat that live and thrive on Tinhorn Creek property. A site inspection with the TLC and Tinhorn Creek Vineyard’s Kenn and Sandra Oldfield resulted in the TLC preparing a plan detailing any native plants that may be in danger; how to remove and re-locate these plants, and advice as to which of the many native plants and trees might be added to the site.

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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TWO CHEFS AND A TABLE LAUNCHES NEW BRUNCH MENU Brunch is a vital weekly ritual for many. Whether taken solo with a newspaper and bottomless coffee or with friends and caesars, it’s the one meal that sets the tone for a weekend. Unlike weekday meals that get daily do-overs when they don’t work, Brunch is a once-a-week effort and avid brunchers tend to be a picky and ritualistic lot.

Two Chefs a Table has launched a new brunch menu to signal the arrival of spring in Vancouver. With an even greater emphasis on ingredients made in-house and a range of new flavours and dishes to match the season, the new menu offers a range of tastes perfect to start any weekend or holiday.

From English Muffins to sausage, jam to hollandaise sauce, each Two Chefs brunch dish is heavy on ingredients made from scratch on the Two Chefs kitchen. Over the winter, Chefs Karl Gregg and Allan Bosomworth have worked hard to perfect the homemade English Muffins and roasted ham that are now featured in Benedicts. Those looking for a topping for their toast will be able to enjoy the Two Chefs homemade pear jam, while carnivores can order the caribou sausage one of what will be an ever-changing selection of homemade sausages and jams made in the Two Chefs kitchen.

When ingredients are not made in-house they’re sourced from the freshest local sources like the artisan breads used at breakfast. And, like most kitchens, Two Chefs and a Table runs on coffee and it’s always an essential part of the day. Two Chefs prides themselves on their coffee, made fresh and hot and always served in a French press at the table.

For a completely new breakfast taste, the Two Chefs Brunch Risotto combines the sweet, satisfying base of risotto with mushrooms, poached eggs, caribou sausage and grilled tomatoes for a well rounded, hearty start to the day. Two Chefs offers their own spin on the Croque Madame with local charcuterie in place of the traditional ham and parmesan hollandaise and an over easy egg to complete the plate.

With the Sun climbing higher in the sky, the bright, airy Two Chefs room is perfect for a relaxed brunch with friends or solo with a paper at the newly rebuilt bar facing into the open kitchen.

Two Chefs and a Table is located at 305 Alexander Street in Railtown and at www.twochefsandatable.com on the web.

Job details inside.

Old Vines Restaurant is designed to offer our guests the ultimate experience of wine and food in a spectacular vineyard setting. Working with the team at Quails’ Gate, you will create dishes around the local Okanagan bounty with culinary flair that mirrors flavours and food styles from around the world.

Old Vines Restaurant offers an excellent venue to build a career in the culinary arts. Open year-round, opportunities exist for advancement and gaining knowledge of pairing wines with 5 star Okanagan cuisine.

As we head into our 2010 season, we are looking for experienced, talented, mature individuals to join our culinary team in the following roles:

Sous Chef will assist our Winery Chef in the day to day operations of our Old Vines Restaurant Kitchen and culinary team; ensuring guests experience the ultimate winery culinary program. Assuming a second in command position and running the kitchen in the absence of the Winery Chef. Overseeing daily operations of the kitchen though menu planning and costing, achieving operational and financial goals, inventory control and mentoring staff all while achieving Quails’ Gates standard of culinary excellence.

Successful completion of a formal chef training program, including Inter provincial Red Seal or equivalent is required. 3-5 years of experience in a similar role within a fine dining establishment and Food Safe level 2 certificate. In addition to advanced wine and food pairing,  will also be creative and passionate about the culinary arts with the ability to learn and adapt new techniques & styles as instructed

Chef de Parties will assume responsibility of an assigned station and assist our Sous Chef with line service, while ensuring customers experience the ultimate winery culinary program. Successful completion of a formal chef training program, Inter provincial Red Seal (or equivalent) and 3 years previous experience cooking in a high volume restaurant required, preferably in fine dining establishments, as well as Food Safe Level 1.

1st Cooks will achieve the Quails’ Gate standard of culinary excellence, through food preparation and direct front line cooking of meals during service.   Pursuing or successful completion of a formal chef training program in addition to three years previous experience in a similar role, preferably in fine dining is required as well as Food Safe Level 1.

2nd Cooks will be directly involved in food preparation, including soups, sauces, stocks, vegetables, and meats. Ensuring the line is prepared for service, and freshness of mis en place. Two years previous experience in a similar role, preferably in fine dining, as well as Level 1 Food Safe.

Other positions include 3rd Cooks, Prep Cooks & Dishwashers. These important roles give employees a solid grounding in kitchen operations and are integral to its’ smooth operation and overall success.

To Apply
If you are seeking an experience with a dynamic winery that is intent on establishing itself as Canada’s leading premium brand, please forward your resume with covering letter to:

Lani  McGill ~ Human Resources

Email: employment@quailsgate.com
Website: www.quailsgate.com

Grab Your Glass-Tickets to Wine Festival Events Available Feb.2nd; Cru Haiti fundraising dinner; Laughing Stock’s 2010 Market Review and Forecast; 2009 JoieFarm vintage release; Fraiche Restaurant teams up with Naramata’s Foxtrot Vineyards for a 5 course winemaker’s dinner; Jean Georges protége to head Market by Jean-Georges in Shangri-La Hotel; Kris Kabush named Hart House executive chef; db Bistro presents: Jackée Guillou Trio on Jan 20; Lumiere presents: “Passion and Potions” on Jan 25; Opus Bar named hottest nightspot by Zagat Survey;

TICKETS TO THE VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL ON SALE FEBRUARY 2, 2010; TRADE DAYS CONFERENCE TICKETS ON SALE FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Tickets to the wildly popular Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival go on sale Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010. Tickets to trade events will be on sale February 9, 2010. The 2010 Festival will be one of the largest to date in its thirty-two year history. With 197 wineries and not one, but two theme regions of New Zealand and Argentina, attendees to the 2010 Festival will have the opportunity to sample a diverse array of wines, while the global focus of Rosé will bring a selection of these highly quaffable summer wines to many a tasting booth. Tickets to the Playhouse Wine Festival can be purchased online at PlayhouseWinefest.com or by phoning the Playhouse Box office at 604-873-3311.

THEME REGIONS ARGENTINA AND NEW ZEALAND
“2010 is all about altitude, latitude and attitude,” says Festival executive director Harry Hertscheg. The combination of these two very distinct cultures and countries will provide both strength and sex appeal to this year’s Festival, while the newfound confidence of Rosé wine in the global market will add a counterpoint to the Pinot Noirs, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blancs and Malbecs that will be poured.

On the Argentine side, the dizzying altitudes and snow capped Andean mountains produce grapes that are ripened to perfection year after year. From rich Malbecs to the distinctive Torrontés, the 36 participating Argentine wineries in the 2010 festival will include some of the country’s top wineries.

With 41 New Zealand wineries from varying degrees of latitude participating in the 2010 festival, visitors can expect to find a wealth of diversity thanks to world class Sauvignon Blancs and terroir-driven Pinot Noirs, refreshing aromatic and fruit driven Chardonnays, and complex fuller-bodied reds.

GLOBAL FOCUS ROSÉ
Any wine that inspires headlines of renaissance and revolution deserves a close examination. Rosé has been adopted as an underdog by its fans but the truth is that Rosé wines offer the refreshing characteristics of white wine and the complexity and colour of reds. Valued for their ability to match with a variety of cuisine, the days of the deceptively named White Zinfandel are over. The world’s wine drinkers are developing a taste for the drier, more refreshing variations; proving that pink doesn’t always have to be sweet.

ABOUT THE PLAYHOUSE WINE FESTIVAL
The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from April 19 to 25, 2010. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. In 2010, the global focus will be rosé. The festival features a week of special events including a gala auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. The Playhouse Wine Festival is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for consumers and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and festival partners; and raise funds for the Playhouse Theatre Company. Since its inception in 1979, the festival has raised over $6.8 million to enable Western Canada’s leading theatre company to mount 209 productions and develop extensive community outreach and educational programs.

The Shore Club generously presents the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

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CRU LENDS A HELPING HAND IN HAITI WITH FUNDRAISING DINNER

(Vancouver, BC) – On Sunday, January 31 2010, CRU Restaurant will invite Vancouverites to support the people of Haiti at a Haiti Earthquake Relief Fundraising Dinner.  Guests will enjoy an outstanding four-course dinner paired with wines from CRU’s renowned cellar.  The evening will also feature a silent auction.

We have all been affected by the images and stories that have come out of Haiti after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake.  CRU is mustering its efforts to help the families and children who have lost their possessions and their loved ones in this overwhelming tragedy.

CRU staff will volunteer their time at the dinner, and the restaurant will donate all the food and beverages for this important event.  100% of the proceeds from the dinner will be donated to relief efforts in Haiti.  The monies raised will also be matched by the Canadian government, doubling the amount of support that will be provided to the beleaguered country.

Please help us show the people of Haiti that they are not alone in this time of crisis.

Haiti Earthquake Relief Fundraising Dinner

Sunday, January 31 2010
6:30 pm
$100 donation per person

CRU Restaurant
1459 West Broadway | Vancouver
Reservations available by phone at 604-677-4111 or online at www.cru.ca

Dear JoieFarm Supporters,

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2009 Vintage of JoieFarm A Noble Blend, Rosé, Un-Oaked Chardonnay, Riesling and Muscat.  The wines are now available to order online at www.joiefarm.com/order_joie_wines.htm .  Please note that there is a 3 bottle limit on the Muscat due to limited quantities.

As in past years, we will offer a complimentary pickup day in downtown Vancouver to help our mailing list customers save on shipping charges.  We look forward to seeing you on Saturday February 6th from 10 am – 2 pm at The Storeroom, 1396 Richards Street.    It is a pleasure to see all of you in person at this annual event.   Please submit your orders by 6 pm February 3rd, 2010 to take advantage of this pick up day.   If you do not wish to or are unable to use the Vancouver pickup day, orders will be sent out by FedEx courier at your expense.

Thank you for your ongoing support,

www.JoieFarm.com

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(West Vancouver, BC.) Executive Chef Wayne Martin has created a delightful menu to pair with some of BC’s most buzzed about wines. Celebrated BC wine maker Gustav Allander will be pouring cellar-worthy red and white wine at Fraîche’s Foxtrot Winemaker’s Dinner on Monday, January 25th. There is limited seating available for the reservation-only, $125, five-course menu that begins at 6:30pm with a sparkling wine reception.

The Menu:

Sparkling Wine Reception

Foxtrot Chardonnay -
Dungeness Crab Salad, lightly smoked apple mousse, vanilla butter sauce

Foxtrot Pinot Noir –
Seared Sablefish, Veal Cheek Ravioli, Chicken Consomme

Kettle Valley Old Main Red
Lamb Tournedos, Barley Ragout, Chippolini Onions, Lamb Jus

Lake Breeze Mustelle
Okanagan Goat Cheesecake with Orange Pear Marmalade, Caramel Tuille

$125.00 per person

Please contact us at 604.925.7595 or info@fraicherestaurant.ca to reserve.

About Foxtrot Vineyards
Foxtrot Vineyards is a small family-owned and operated winery located on the Naramata bench in the BC’s Okanagan Valley. The winery specializes in ultra premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and has received praise from top sommeliers and international wine critics alike. The wines are sold in many of the top restaurants in BC and Alberta with limited amounts available through our website as well as select wine stores.

About Fraîche Restaurant
The team behind Fraîche strives to create an exceptional dining experience of both calibre and comfort – their mission is to create memorable, interesting cuisine that is seasonal and regional in a welcoming setting. Fraîche’s subtle elegance makes it versatile for every occasion – from brunch to business lunches and after work drinks to romantic dinners and celebrations of all sorts. Fraîche was named one of Canada’s Top Ten Best New Restaurants of 2008 by enRoute Magazine and received a silver for Best North Shore in the 20th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. The restaurant’s panoramic cityscape views complement Martin’s inspired menus, as does the impressive service, top notch wine list and lovely little extras, such as free valet parking.

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Team prepares for Fun & GAMES in 2010

Bruno Valentino steps easily into the role of General Manager for MARKET by Jean-Georges, the signature restaurant of Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver, for three-star Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.  Valentino, who arrived in Canada one year ago, was Assistant Restaurant Manager and an integral part of the opening team for Jean-Georges’ first Canadian restaurant.

Immediately prior to joining MARKET by Jean-Georges, Valentino was General Manager for Lagoon Restaurant, the Jean-Georges restaurant at the St Regis Resort Bora Bora in French Polynesia.  A native of France, Valentino moved rapidly through the culinary and hotel ranks before catching the eye of Jean-Georges.  A graduate of the Paul Augier catering school in France, Valentino has worked throughout Europe and the United States.

Richard Luxton, who joined MARKET as a server in January 2009, has been appointed Restaurant Manager.  Luxton, known for his customer-focused roles, including the staging of special events and VIP dinners for visiting celebrities, has worked at other premier dining destinations in Vancouver, including CinCin, Lumiere and West as well as spending a year in New York.

Award-winning lead bartender Justin Tisdall, also part of the MARKET opening team, has been promoted to Bar Leader, and will expand his role, over-seeing the hotel’s entire beverage portfolio.  Known for shaking it up throughout Vancouver, literally, Tisdall has been an integral part of Vancouver’s bar scene since 2002.  In addition to roles with Hell’s Kitchen, Lumiere and Boneta, Tisdall has won accolades from Vancouver Magazine, Urban Diner and most recently winner of the Giffard Iron Bar competition, and will represent Canada this May in France for the Giffard World Competition.

Located on the 3rd floor of Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver, and directly accessible from the street at 1115 Alberni, the restaurant is open for breakfast from 7:00 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch 11:30 to 2:30 p.m.; dinner 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. (last seating); bar weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to midnight.

Bruno Valentino steps easily into the role of General Manager for MARKET by Jean-Georges, the signature restaurant of Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver, for three-star Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.  Valentino, who arrived in Canada one year ago, was Assistant Restaurant Manager and an integral part of the opening team for Jean-Georges’ first Canadian restaurant.

Immediately prior to joining MARKET by Jean-Georges, Valentino was General Manager for Lagoon Restaurant, the Jean-Georges restaurant at the St Regis Resort Bora Bora in French Polynesia.  A native of France, Valentino moved rapidly through the culinary and hotel ranks before catching the eye of Jean-Georges.  A graduate of the Paul Augier catering school in France, Valentino has worked throughout Europe and the United States.

Richard Luxton, who joined MARKET as a server in January 2009, has been appointed Restaurant Manager.  Luxton, known for his customer-focused roles, including the staging of special events and VIP dinners for visiting celebrities, has worked at other premier dining destinations in Vancouver, including CinCin, Lumiere and West as well as spending a year in New York.

Award-winning lead bartender Justin Tisdall, also part of the MARKET opening team, has been promoted to Bar Leader, and will expand his role, over-seeing the hotel’s entire beverage portfolio.  Known for shaking it up throughout Vancouver, literally, Tisdall has been an integral part of Vancouver’s bar scene since 2002.  In addition to roles with Hell’s Kitchen, Lumiere and Boneta, Tisdall has won accolades from Vancouver Magazine, Urban Diner and most recently winner of the Giffard Iron Bar competition, and will represent Canada this May in France for the Giffard World Competition.

Located on the 3rd floor of Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver, and directly accessible from the street at 1115 Alberni, the restaurant is open for breakfast from 7:00 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch 11:30 to 2:30 p.m.; dinner 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. (last seating); bar weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to midnight.

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(Vancouver, BC) – Burnaby’s Hart House is pleased to announce that Kris Kabush will be the restaurant’s new Executive Chef.  Homegrown talent, Kris brings both enthusiasm and a wealth of experience to his new role.

Hart House is known for fresh and innovative Pacific Northwest cuisine, served in the casual elegance of its heritage house dining room.  As Executive Chef Kris will be a great asset to the restaurant. He has a passion for creating inspiring cuisine and an unrivalled commitment to excellence.  Born and raised in locally, he developed a serious interest in the culinary arts at 16.  Before he had finished high school he had already secured a position at Bacchus in Vancouver’s Wedgewood Hotel.  Upon graduation he challenged the first-year exam and went straight into the second year of Vancouver Community College’s Red Seal Apprenticeship program.  Kris had completed his apprenticeship 18 months later.

Kris has worked at a number of Vancouver landmarks that share enviable reputations, including The Four Seasons Hotel, Lumière, the Delta Vancouver Suites Hotel, and Cioppino’s.  He brought this experience, along with an enthusiasm for trying new things, to Hart House when he joined the staff as a sous chef in fall of 2008.  He says that having access to Hart House’s on-site garden and working with a team of creative staff bring an element of play to his work.  Hart House guests can look forward to outstanding Pacific Northwest cuisine as Kris takes the helm.

Hart House at Deer Lake
6664 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby

Reservations by phone only at 604-298-4278
www.harthouserestaurant.com

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DB BISTRO PRESENTS: JACKÉE GUILLOU TRIO JAN 20

CLASSIC FRENCH BISTRO AFFAIR: $35 PRIX FIXE MENU

• Appetizer

• Main Course

• Tart du Jour

The extraordinarily talented Jackée Guillou, winner of the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award for 2009, makes her 2010 debut at db Bistro.

Chef de Cuisine Stephane Istel has created a very special three-course menu for the occasion.

Jackée and her trio will perform live, in sets, from 6pm through 9pm in the dining room.

Jackée is known for her vintage sound and sings in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. For event details, a sample song list and to listen live, visit Jackée’s event page on our website.

RESERVE NOW or email.

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IN THE WORLD OF OPERA, PASSIONS & POTIONS ABOUND

Please join us January 25th for an evening of gastronomique intrigue in benefit of the Vancouver Opera in Schools program.

The Lumière ‘Supper Club’ and db Bistro Moderne become the scene of a fun and dramatic, consecutive act, culinary performance of a lifetime.

Featuring the inspired works, in six acts, of chefs Dale MacKay and Stephane Istel:  Tarte Flambee,  Duck Paté en Croûte, Cornmeal Crusted Qualicum Bay Scallops, Beef Wellington, Artisinal Cheeses and, of course an exquisite Opera Cake of Quince and White Chocolate with Lemon Ice Cream.

For Good or Ill … Dress to Kill

Hosted by Proprietors Manjy and David Sidoo, Doris Bradstreet Daughney, Parviz Cordwell, Rona Radler and Susan Van der Filer.

6pm Classic Cocktails, 7pm Dinner. Attendance limited to 75 guests.

$350 tax receipt issued per $500 ticket purchased.  Please contact Carolyn Hay at Vancouver Opera for details and to purchase tickets, via email or tel 604.682.2871

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OPUS BAR NAMED HOTTEST NIGHTSPOT

BY ZAGAT SURVEY(Vancouver, BC) January 20, 2010 – OPUS Bar has once again been named the city’s most popular nightspot by Zagat, the world’s leading leisure consumer information provider.

Kelowna’s Tree Brewing released this limited edition specialty brew in the fall of 2009, a combination of a pale ale and a classic porter, in support of the Tree Canada initiative, Fire ReLeaf, to help homeowner’s with the cost of replanting trees lost to wildfires over the summer.

This dark ale, reminiscent of an English Ale, has a subtle sweet malt and hoppy aroma with some notes of coffee, raisin and caramel.  The beer pours a dark reddish brown and produces a fairly thick and tanned creamy head that leaves a nice and consistent lace on the glass as it is consumed.

The first sip starts with an upfront hop bitterness that slowly subsides into a sweet roasted malt flavour with delicate hints of  caramel and chocolate. The beer has a light to medium body with a slight chewiness that lingers in the mouth a little longer than expected. The pronounced aftertaste is bittersweet.

Black Tree Dark Ale is a highly drinkable beer that combines the hoppiness of a pale ale with the darker roasted malt of a porter. However, this combination, while creating an interesting fusion of normally accessible flavours, also seemed to pull my taste buds in two different directions.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but a bit confusing to my beer palate as it tried to bridge the two beer styles.

This beer with it’s pronounced combination of hop and malt flavours will pair well with a wide spectrum of foods, especially smoked meats, sausage, barbeque, and a fine, soft camembert cheese. ~ PK

Brewer: Tree Brewing
ABV: 5%
Category: Specialty Blend (Pale Ale & Porter)
Appearance: 4
Aroma: 3.5
Flavour: 3.5
Mouthfeel: 3
Overall: 3.5
Score: 17.5/25
Availability:  limited quantity of 650ml bottles available at BC liquor stores.

“Sustainably Stuffed” food drive at SIP Lounge and The Refinery; Charmed 365 days and counting; Araxi and Blue Water Cafe win Gourmand World Cookbook Awards; Sarah McCauley appointed Wine Director at CinCin Ristorante; Merroir + Terroir – Blue Water Cafe’s Unsung Heroes Menu sings of the sea; Maenam to open 7 days a week; MIX The Bakery holiday menu; JoieFarm – “Best of the Best” at the 2009 Platinum Judging; Christmas Dinner and Turkey to Go at Elixr.

UPDATED: 10:45 PM Monday, December 14th

SUSTAINABLY STUFFED FOOD DRIVE AT SIP LOUNGE & THE REFINERY

From December 12 – 23 SIP Lounge & The Refinery will be asking each guest to bring in a non-perishable food item to support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

With your donation, please include a business card, and nightly we will be raffling off Gift Certificate for SIP Lounge & The Refinery – available for use in food and/or beverage. We will also be accepting cash donations on behalf of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

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CHARMED 365 DAYS AND COUNTING

Let’s do lunch…

Charm is celebrating their one year anniversary at 1269 Hamilton- Vancouver Magazine’s notoriously dubbed “suicide location.”
To say this hybrid of Thai cuisine and urban living has survived would be a large understatement as the Yaletown community has embraced the plush boudoir atmosphere and Chef Tipnarie Kulsiriwanich’s nouveau take on classic Thai.

In 2010, Kulsiriwanich intends to travel back to her roots: traditional Thai fare. Having lived and cooked in Sydney, Japan, New York, San Francisco and of course her homeland Thailand, Kulsiriwanich will continue to dazzle with her daring vision and creations, while including a more authentic perspective.

To mark this achievement Charm is now offering $10 Lunch Plates for those who want delicious and affordable meals while escaping the headache of formal dining wait periods or the dreaded food court environment.

All plates include a guilt-free single serving of Crispy Prawn Wontons and savoury Tom Yum Soup. Mains include an array of traditional Thai Curries with your choice of protein and perfectly steamed rice, Pad Thai with a balanced blend of the cardinal four S’s: sweet, sour, salty and spicy, classic comfort food- Pineapple Fried Rice and a variety of Stir Frys custom tailored to suit the vegan as well as their carnivorous lunch buddy. Still hungry? You’ve been so good this year, you deserve to indulge in the Chocolate Chili Tort and take a mini break from the office.

Come in and celebrate with Charm Modern Thai as they embark in their second year. 2010 is slated to be a period of new records, further growth, exciting new menus, fantastic community events and of course, Charm.

For more info please contact Desmond Chen at 604.737.7223 or dc@charmmodernthai.com Visit: www.charmmodernthai.com

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ARAXI AND BLUE WATER CAFE WIN GOURMAND WORLD COOKBOOK AWARDS

“Cookbooks may take years to compile and months to edit, but their real joy comes when you bring them home, and just cook.”

Our entire Top Table team is delighted to share with you that our two recently released cookbooks, Araxi: Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant and Blue Water Cafe Seafood Cookbook have won Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for Best Chef Book in Canada and Best Seafood and Fish Book in Canada respectively, joining West: The Cookbook, which won Most Innovative Cookbook in Canada in 2008.

This great news came to us just yesterday from Madrid, and we wanted to let you know right away.

Araxi and Blue Water Cafe will now be entered in the Gourmand Best in the World competition, with the results announced at the Paris Cookbook Fair on February 11th, 2010.I would like to especially acknowledge the efforts of chefs James Walt and Frank Pabst, each of whom spent many hours relentlessly testing their recipes, and making them accessible for the home cook. To purchase, click here.

Wishing you and your family a warm and happy holiday season.

With best regards,

Jack Evrensel
Proprietor

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SARAH MCCAULEY APPOINTED WINE DIRECTOR AT CINCIN RISTORANTE

Vancouver, B.C. – Jack Evrensel, proprietor of Top Table Group, is delighted to announce Sarah McCauley as Wine Director of CinCin Ristorante.

“Sarah has determinedly worked her way ever upward at Top Table restaurants, while continuously improving her professional wine credentials,” Evrensel said.

Beginning in 2002 as a server at sister restaurant West, Sarah took a leave overseas to work at London hotspot Zuma in Knightsbridge. She returned to Vancouver as a senior server and maitre’d at CinCin’s sister restaurant, Blue Water Cafe where her passion for guests’ experiences saw her play a strong leadership role.

This year, Sarah completed her Diploma and Certified Instructor designation (AIWS) from the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust (WSET). She has also attended Vin Italy for the last several years, renewing her wine connections in Tuscany and Piedmont, while constantly refining her knowledge of Italian wines, “the better to arrange the perfect marriage with CinCin’s menus,” as Evrensel says.

Indeed, Sarah manages an extensive wine cellar, including what has been acknowledged as the best selection of Antinori wines in Canada and deep vertical collections of other top Italian producers such as Bertaini, Gaja, Ornellaia, and Sassicaia. She also works with a carefully compiled portfolio of labels from British Columbia to California, and around the world.

Located in the heart of Robson’s fashionable shopping district, CinCin Ristorante presents Italian-inspired dishes from the heritage wood-fired kitchen. Dinner served nightly from 5pm until 11pm and late menu until midnight. Open for lunch during the holiday season until December 23rd. 1154 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada. For reservations, call 604 688 7338 or visit www.cincin.net.

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MERROIR + TERROIR – BLUE WATER CAFE’S UNSUNG HEROES MENU SINGS OF THE SEA

Vancouver, B.C. – Tuesday, January 5th marks the launch of executive chef Frank Pabst’s annual Unsung Heroes festival at Blue Water Cafe, a month earlier this year to precede the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Long a champion of sustainably-resourced seafood, chef Pabst’s month-long initiative spotlights lesser-known, yet delicious coastal species from responsibly managed fisheries.

But this year, the festival’s 6th, sees some innovative twists.

“Chef Pabst laid down a challenge,” said wine director Andrea Vescovi, “to pair our merroir with our terroir. So we’ve matched the Unsung Heroes with a selection of exciting wines that highlight lesser-known varietals and wineries, and some labels just harder-to-find.”

Alongside Blue Water Cafe’s regular raw bar and à la carte selections, chef Pabst will offer a selection of small plates featuring Unsung favourites – Humboldt Squid, Octopus, Periwinkles, and Jellyfish, to name a few – many of which found within the pages of his new cookbook, just named “Best Seafood and Fish Book in Canada” by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Sushi master Yoshi Tabo has also reached into his repertoire, featuring some of his own Unsung Heroes, including Geoduck, Herring, and Uni.

Ten percent of the Unsung Heroes menu proceeds will be donated to the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise sustainable seafood program of which Blue Water Cafe is a founding member.

Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar is Vancouver’s definitive seafood restaurant located in the heart of Yaletown at 1095 Hamilton Street. Dinner is served nightly from 5:00pm – 11:00pm with late menu until midnight. Open for lunch Monday – Friday during the holiday season until December 23rd. Valet nightly. For reservations call 604 688 8078 or visit www.bluewatercafe.net.

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MAENAM TO OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

Vancouver, BC – Beginning Sunday, December 13, Maenam will open for dinner seven days a week (Maenam is currently closed on Sunday and Monday). Maenam’s new hours will be Monday to Saturday, 5 pm to 2 am (with last call for food at 1 am and last call for drinks at 1:30 am), and 5 pm to midnight on Sunday.

Lunch service at Maenam will remain five days a week; Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 2:30 pm.

Chef Angus An is currently in Thailand to search out authentic new dishes and ingredients. Also, beginning on December 13, guests at Maenam will be able to sample daily specials of new dishes from Chef An’s travels, in preparation for an exciting new menu launch in January.

Reservations for the new opening dates are now available on Open Table.

For more information, visit www.maenam.ca.

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MIX THE BAKERY’S HOLIDAY MENU

HOLIDAY MENU
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Nutcracker Cake-Chocolate Genoise, laced with brandy, is layered with chocolate chestnut mousse and finished with a dark chocolate
Glaze.  $22.95/41.95

Eggnog Cheesecake-Rich sour cream cheesecake laced with French brandy and yuletide spices.  $21.95/39.95

Marzipan Stollen-Rum soaked fruit are folded into this buttery, German Christmas bread with marzipan baked inside. $16.95

Apple Date & Orange Tarte-Granny smith apples, dates and zesty orange is encased in a buttery pastry with streusel.  $14.95/29.95

White Chocolate Apricot Bread-Sweet dried apricots, white chocolate chunks and subtle spices are combined to create this favourite holiday
Loaf.  $5.95

Pumpkin Pie-Back by popular request, this traditional favourite is super rich, creamy and spiced just right!  $17.95

Yukon Scallion Pull-Apart Rolls-tender focaccia rolls with roasted Yukon gold potatoes and sweet scallions.  $4.40/pk

Also returning this season-Lola & Zoe’s Dog Treats, Holiday Cookies, Butter Almond Toffee, Carnival Corn, Chipotle Sugared Pecans, And our delicious house-made Artisan Preserves!

Gift Boxes-Ideal for Corporate and Hostess Gifts!  $45/65

HOLIDAY COOKIES

GINGERBREAD CUTOUTS-a holiday classic, nice and spicy cutout in traditional Gingerbread man shape

VIENNESE SPRITZ FINGERS-a light and buttery cookie with a simple
Sprinkling of red or green sugar

FRUITED MACAROONS-mini coconut cookies with mini chocolate chips,
Apricots and dried cranberries

RASPBERRY LINZER RINGS-almond spiced linzer cookies sandwiched
With raspberry jam

CINNAMON LINZER WAFERS-thin almond and cinnamon tile shaped cookie

MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIE-a traditional holiday cookie made with almonds and walnuts and a dusting of powdered sugar

APRICOT RUGELACH-a rich cream cheese and butter pastry rolled with apricot jam and brandied currants

Visit: www.mixthebakery.com

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JOIEFARM – “BEST OF THE BEST” AT THE 2009 WINE PRESS NORTHWEST PLATINUM JUDGING

JoieFarm is proud to announce that our 2008 Riesling and 2008 A Noble Blend have finished 1st and 2nd overall in the 10th Annual Wine Press Northwest Platinum Judging. Both wines were designated Double Platinum, while the 2008 Riesling was also awarded the title “Best of the Best”, only the second white wine in the history of the competition to do so.

Wine Press Northwest, independently published out of  Walla Walla, Washington, annually invites wineries from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho to enter wines that have won gold medals in a recognized national or international competition. These wines are then tasted again and awarded accordingly by their distinguished panel of judges. To win a Platinum, three out of four judges must agree to its greatness. If all four judges deem the wine a Platinum, then it is designated Double Platinum.  This year there were a record 450 wines entered with only 12 wines receiving the coveted designation of Double Platinum.

To review the complete results of the Wine Press Northwest 2009 Platinum Judging please click here.

JoieFarm is owned and operated by Michael Dinn and Heidi Noble in beautiful Naramata, BC.  JoieFarm is interested exclusively in the grape varieties of Alsace, Burgundy and Champagne which excel in the cool-climate, desert landscape of the Okanagan Valley.

For more information, please contact Michael Dinn at 250-488-1960 or wine@JoieFarm.com.

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CHRISTMAS DINNER AND TURKEY TO GO AT ELIXR

Christmas is about spending time with the ones you love… Elixir has a plan to make sure that happens for you, by offering two gourmet options: Christmas Dinner in our Bistro, or have Elixir Turkey Dinner to go

Christmas Dinner in Elixir Bistro
Executive Chef Don Letendre prepares a gourmet Christmas dinner sure to rival Mom’s. In fact, we think its better! So indulge, linger over the to-die-for dessert and celebrate no dishes, while enjoying some well deserved time with the ones you love.

Thursday, December 24 & Friday, December 25
3 course menu – $80.00 per person plus applicable taxes and gratuity

For more information or to make your reservation call 604.642.0557

Elixir Turkey Dinner To-Go!
Why slave away in the kitchen? While you could be sipping on eggnog, watching Christmas classics with the family and allowing Executive Chef Don Letendre and his team to create a traditional feast to take home. We won’t mind if you take all the credit!

Turkey with all the trimmings – $40.00 per person plus applicable taxes

*Please Note: All to-go orders must be taken by Monday, December 21st by 4:00pm. To place your order, please call 604.642.6787 ext. 2026

François makes his mark with the new Teahouse menu; Chinese Restaurant Awards, Diner’s Choice winners announced; Two Chefs Poplar Grove Wine Drinker Dinner set for December 2nd; Naramata Inn’s Heirloom Spa holiday open house; Portfolio gifting ideas from Laughing Stock; Holiday happenings at Hart House; Chef Wayne Martin of Fraîche debuts Heirloom Catering;  JoieFarm wines now available for sale online; Holidays at Q4;

FRANÇOIS MAKES HIS MARK ~ NEW TEAHOUSE MENU UNVEILED
(Vancouver, BC, Canada) – For over 30 years, Teahouse Restaurant has been defined by its breathtaking location in Stanley Park.  Today, that’s about to change as new Executive Chef François Gagnon releases his new menu (click here to view menu).

Since joining the Sequoia Company of Restaurants to head up the team at the Teahouse, Gagnon has completely reinvented the cuisine.  According to Gagnon, “The new menu has a distinct, ‘classic bistro’ feel with dishes like Cassoulet, Roasted Sablefish and Steak and Frites.  I wanted to build a menu that was primarily bistro; one which would allow traditional dishes to stand out and let the ingredients speak for themselves.” Other menu highlights include: Qualicum Beach Scallops and the AAA Tenderloin. “Even though we have created an entirely new menu,” says Gagnon, “We did keep some Ferguson Point classics like the Carrot Soup with Crème Fraîche to keep the tradition going.”

To say that Gagnon comes to the Teahouse with an impressive resume is an understatement.  First apprenticing with François Rousseau in Quebec, Gagnon made the jump to France where he trained under acclaimed chef Joel Garault, of Hotel Hermitage as well as Roger Verger of Le Moulin de Mougins.  Since then, he’s never looked back.  In 2002 he began working with Rob Feenie, both at Lumiere as Chef de Partie and at Feenie’s as Chef de Cuisine.  Soon after he made his mark at Blue Water Cafe as Executive Sous Chef alongside Frank Pabst and most recently he was Executive Chef at Cin Cin Ristorante.  Says Gagnon, “The opportunity to be at the Teahouse is unlike anything I’ve experienced in my career.  This is an exciting time, I feel it’s my kitchen to do what I want.”

According to Sequoia Group of Restaurants, bringing in Gagnon as the new Executive Chef was the “final piece” of the Teahouse re-branding, which began in May 2009. To celebrate they will be lighting up the Teahouse and going all out for the festive season. Other upcoming events where Gagnon can show off his new menu include the launch event of Senator Larry Campbell’s new book A Thousand Dreams and a children’s Christmas breakfast for the Canucks Autism Network.

Located at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, the Teahouse began operations in 1979. Boasting fresh local ingredients and classic bistro cuisine, the Teahouse is known for comfortable, simple dining… as well as the best views in the city.

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CHINESE RESTAURANT AWARDS, DINER’S CHOICE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

(Vancouver, BC) – Who says that the Canadian electorate is apathetic? Perhaps they just need something meaningful for vote for? Apathy was nowhere in evidence with voting for the second annual HSBC Diners’ Choice Awards. More than 9,300 votes were cast in 15 award categories. Good food, good taste and the art of dining well are very important topics in cuisine-crazy Metro Vancouver. We take eating very seriously.

The HSBC Diners’ Choice Awards are one of two components of the Edgewater Casino Chinese Restaurant Awards. The other is the Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards which will be announced at a gala event scheduled to take place following the 2010 Olympics.

“Good food is an essential element of Chinese culture,” says Critics’ Panel Chair Stephanie Yuen. “The freshness of ingredients, balance of flavours, and subtlety of dishes are all hotly debated topics amongst Asian diners. It is no surprise to us that the Chinese community embraced the CRA so enthusiastically, but we are thrilled that mainstream society is also passionately involved in voting for their favourite restaurants.”

Many of the winning restaurants are to be found in Richmond. In fact 56 percent of the winners come from Richmond with Alexandra Road being a hotbed of culinary excellence – six winners come from that one street! For true Chinese cuisine cognoscenti, Richmond is a Mecca for the best dining in Metro Vancouver. “There is such a strong Asian restaurant culture in Richmond that it is no surprise to us that many of the winners are to be found there,” comments Ms. Yuen. “Now that the Canada Line is running, it is even easier for people from Vancouver to come and explore Richmond’s rich culinary offerings.”

The HSBC Diners’ Choice Awards included 15 categories with Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in each. See the attached list for the full list of winners. “The best thing about the Diners’ Choice Awards is that it encourages people to get out and try somewhere new, so everyone wins in the end.” click here to view the winners list

The CRA wishes to thank the following partners who make the Awards possible: Edgewater Casino, HSBC Bank Canada, Mercedes-Benz, Tourism Richmond, CBC TV and Radio, China Eastern Airlines, Heineken, Underwater Harvesters Association, Georgia Straight, CHMB AM1320, Ming Pao, World Journal, Klip Magazine, 818Channel, Edible-Britishcolumbia.com, Westca.com, Aperture Photography, Chinese Canadian Chefs Association and the Vancouver Multicultural Society.

Be sure to watch CRA’s web site (www.chineserestaurantawards.com) for updates on The Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards and the Awards Gala in 2010.

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TWO CHEFS POPLAR GROVE WINE DRINKER DINNER SET FOR DECEMBER 2ND

Two Chefs and a Table is pleased to announce the next in its series of Wine Drinker Dinners to be held December 2nd in partnership with the award-winning Poplar Grove Winery.

Located on the slopes of the Naramata Bench, just outside Penticton, Poplar Grove Winery began as a quintessential garage winery in 1993. Over the last two years, Poplar Grove has entered an era of re-invention, moving from an artisan winery to a world-class winery with 150 acres of new vineyards under cultivation.

Paired with signature selections from Poplar Grove Winery and their second label Monster Vineyards, December’s menu will not only focus on fall flavours and local ingredients, such as Polderside Duck, but will include course which feature Poplar Grove Blue Cheese.

For this dinner in the Vancouver’s darkest, stormiest season, chefs Karl Gregg and Allan Bosomworth have created dishes that perfectly combine robust textures and traditional winter ingredients with subtle flavours and classic preparations to satisfy the soul and please the palate.

The Wine Drinker Dinner is $65 per person (tax and gratuity not included). As always, reservations are recommended. Email info@twochefsandatable.com or call 778-233-1303 to secure your table.

Menu

Amuse Bouche
Cold cured wild salmon w/radish, cucumber and micro greens, beet crème fraiche
Wine: Monster Vineyards Rose 08

First Course
Leek and Potato Soup: hand made with Yukon Gold potato, braised leeks, crisp prosciutto, chive oil
Wine: Monster Vineyards 08 Sauvignon Blanc

Second Course
Fall risotto w/caramelized onions, fresh sage, chickpeas
Wine: Poplar Grove Pinot Gris 08

Third Course
Poplar Blue Cheese Croquettes made w/Poplar blue cheese, basil aioli, fresh mustard micro greens
Wine: Poplar Grove Merlot 06

Entrée
Polderside duck breast:  pan seared, orange and bay leaf reduction, seasonal fall vegetables
or/
Double Braised Short Ribs: long braised with fire-roasted tomato, rosemary, shallots, accompanied by yam puree, heirloom carrots
Wine: Poplar Grove Cab Franc

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NARAMATA INN’S HEIRLOOM SPA HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

The Heirloom Spa is excited to once again hold their annual open house celebration!  Everyone is welcome and all our past guests are invited to bring a friend.

If you haven’t yet thought about your holiday shopping, or are confounded about what to get that special someone, let the Heirloom Spa staff take care of the details for you.  Some examples of what we’ll be offering during the open house are:

•Purchase $100 in gift certificates and recieve an additional $25 gift certificate
•Save up to 35% on AVEDA gift boxes for him or her
•Complimentary hors d’ouvres and refreshments
•Door prizes
•Complimentary services including hand massage & make-up touch ups

As well, this year The Naramata Heritage Inn & Spa is hosting the annual Naramata Artisan and Craft Fair on the same day.  Local artists and artisans will be showcasing their talent and their products throughout the Inn.  But wait!  There’s more!  The Naramata Bench Winery Association will be hosting an open house at the member wineries December 5th and 6th from 12 – 5pm (look for their balloons along Naramata Road). And finally, the Cobblestone Wine Bar will be open on the 6th for anyone needing their toes warmed up!  Yum!

So, come out and enjoy the day(s) with us – shopping, socializing or just relaxing Naramata style!  If you can’t make it in person, give us a ring at 1-866-617-1188 or email spa@naramatainn.com and we’ll take care of the rest!

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‘TIS THE SEASON…PORTFOIO GIFTING IDEAS

Since the financial markets have recovered by over 30% year to date (phew!), it’s time to mix some holiday cheer into your investment decisions this Christmas and check out the following gifting ideas:

Collector Magnums – Inflate your assets with large format collector Magnums including:
• Portfolio 2007 – 1.5 L – $100, 3.0L – $200
• Chardonnay 2008 – 1.5L – $65

Library Release – How has your Portfolio performed? Vertical of sold out vintages ‘04, ‘05, ‘06 of Portfolio, our flagship Bordeaux blend. Available in:
• 3-pack – $150
• 6-pack – $300

Note cards with personalized messages available for gifts direct-shipped to your clients or friends.

Consider having Laughing Stock wines for your upcoming Christmas functions. We can direct deliver to your office or event venue.

Please place your online order here, or call the winery at 250.493.8466. These specialty gift items are only offered for a limited time until December 18th, or as quantities last.

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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS AT HART HOUSE

November 19, 2009 (Vancouver, BC) – Burnaby’s Hart House Restaurant is always a great place to celebrate life’s special moments. Our house is a welcoming retreat to enjoy the company of your friends and family during this festive time of year.

DICKENS LUNCHEON BUFFET – December 7th to 24th, Monday to Friday only
Select from hearty winter favourites such as Roasted Turkey, Carved Country Ham, Root Vegetables, and Warm Bread Pudding.
·         $35 per person exclusive of taxes and gratuity

CHRISTMAS DINNER – December 25th, 2009
Join us for traditional Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings or Seared Sablefish or Braised Beef Shortribs.
All the pleasures of a Christmas feast with none of the culinary drudgery!
·         $55 per person exclusive of taxes and gratuity
·         Reservations required for both early and late seating.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER – December 31st, 2009
Ring in the New Year with style.  The early seating offers three delectable courses, and the late seating is a decadent five-courses.
·         Early seatings (5:30 or 6:00pm) – $55 per person exclusive of taxes and gratuity
·         Late seatings (8:30 or 9:00pm) – $75 per person exclusive of taxes and gratuity
·         Reservations required
In addition to these special events, Hart House offers 25% off bottles of wine every Tuesday in the dining room (a la carte lunch and dinner), making it the perfect place to get together with friends, family, or business colleagues over the holiday season. Make your reservations today!

Hart House at Deer Lake
6664 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Reservations by phone only at 604-298-4278
www.harthouserestaurant.com

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CHEF WAYNE MARTIN OF FRAICHE DEBUTS HEIRLOOM CATERING

New Catering Program offers local food for any occasion in time for the Holidays

In Short:
Wayne Martin, the busy executive chef of Fraîche and Crave restaurants, launches Heirloom Catering, offering easy solutions to ease the stress of holiday entertaining. For relaxed events for 10 or upscale events for 200, Heirloom Catering offers solutions for every event. Call 604-319-5027 or email catering liaison andrew.sward@heirloomcatering.ca for more information.

More Detail:
In time for the busy holiday season, Martin has opened a new catering program to appeal to busy gastronomes. Led by chef Martin and Andrew Sward, former Culinary Capers catering manager, the new catering service is sure to be a great success.

Heirloom Catering offers a variety of options for stress-free entertaining for either relaxed or upscale fetes and private gatherings. Heirloom Catering is also able to cater larger events at venues like the West Vancouver Community Centre or the UBC Boathouse in Richmond.

Aside from creating memorable private events, Heirloom Catering also caters breakfast and lunch to businesses and board meetings, entertaining clients and staff alike while still keeping up productivity. Either at the office or on the town, Heirloom Catering can answer any culinary dilemma.

After 15 years honing his craft in the esteemed kitchens of Four Seasons Hotels around the world, Martin opened Crave on Main in 2004, Fraîche in 2008, and Crave Beachside in 2008. Martin also spreads his culinary philosophies through shows like the recent Vancouver Home & Interior Design Show in October  and in November Cornucopia Whistler’s Food & Wine Festival where he partnered with Road 13 Vineyards and winemaker Michael Bartier to present a sumptuous luncheon at a private home.

Sward is a natural to lead the catering efforts for Martin. Sward’s team showcased exceptional cuisine at the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Games and he was the general manager of Fraiche. Now he is the catering liaison for all three restaurants under the umbrella of Heirloom Catering, and his proven team delivers remarkable results.

To discuss catering for your upcoming event, please contact Andrew Sward at 604.319.5027 or email andrew.sward@heirloomcatering.ca

Fraîche Restaurant is located on Chippendale Road nestled in the hillside of West Vancouver. With seasonal menus of reinvented classics, Executive Chef Wayne Martin creates flavours as breathtaking as the views.

CRAVE: where quality and care are evident in every bite of the grown-up, comfort-food menu. A delicious creation of Chef Wayne Martin, former Four Seasons Hotel executive chef, this upscale bistro prides itself in featuring fresh, local, and often organic ingredients. The atmosphere is relaxed, casual and fun while the food is creative, generous and affordable.

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JOIE FARM WINES NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE ONLINE

In analyzing client feedback and media coverage over the past several years, our clients and colleagues have told us that they love JoieFarm wines, but have difficulty accessing them.  In order to address this problem  we have decided to make our wines available year round (based on availability) via our website: click here

Our wines must be ordered in denominations of 12 (all one wine or mixed based on availability) for safe shipping.  The wines will be shipped by courier only.  We are not able to accommodate pickups in Vancouver (except for our annual Spring release)
or from our winery.  For a number of logistical reasons we strongly encourage that all wine deliveries are made to a business address.  The cost of shippping within BC is $25/case for the first case, $10/case for each additional case.  The wine is shipped in a special wine shipper for safe travel.   The store is only available to Canadian customers. All transactions are made through
a secure server so your privacy is guaranteed.

WINES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE (prices include tax and bottle deposit)
JoieFarm “A Noble Blend” 2008   -  $23.50/btl
JoieFarm Un-Oaked Chardonnay 2008 -  $22.50/btl
JoieFarm Reserve Chardonnay 2007 – $30.00/btl
JoieFarm Rose  – Sold Out – Next release of 2009 vintage – Late January 2010
JoieFarm Riesling – Sold Out – Next release of 2009 vintage – Late January 2010
JoieFarm PTG  – Sold Out – Next release of 2008 vintage – September 2010

The website on-line store is now up and running.  Refresh your stocks for holiday entertaining or just to tide you through until our next vintage release in late January 2010. Consider JoieFarm Wines for your upcoming party plans and holiday gifting.

Holiday shipping will be available up until December 14th, 2009.  Orders can be placed after December 14th, but they will
not be shipped again until January 4th, 2010.

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HOLIDAYS AT Q4

‘Tis the Season
Q4 caters to holiday entertaining at the restaurant, at home, or
office.   Book now to secure your preferred date.

Lunch Rush
Q4 is now open for lunch every Friday.  December 1 through
December 23, Q4 will be open for lunch every week day for
mid-day holiday celebrations.

$10 Pastas
Q4’s $10 pasta on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday is here to stay.  Join us early in the week and enjoy 10 pastas for $10 each
right through the holidays and beyond.

Business as Usual
Q4 will be business as usual during the 2010 Winter Games. Be sure to visit your favourite neighbourhood restaurant while
the world stops by.

For more information contact Q4 Restaurant
2611 West 4th Ave. | Vancouver
www.q4restaurant.com
patrick@quattrorestaurants.com
604.734.4444

BC Restaurant Hall of Famer, Chef Bernard Casavant (Sonora Room, Fairmont Chateau Whistler), has joined the Manteo Resort as Executive Chef of the resort and the Wild Apple Restaurant and Lounge.

Official press release:

CANADIAN TOP CHEF JOINS OKANAGAN’S TOP RESORT

For Immediate Release
October 13, 2009

Chef Bernard Casavant, a member of BC Restaurants Hall of Fame has joined the team at the world-class Manteo Resort as Executive Chef of the resort including Wild Apple Restaurant and Lounge. “Wild Apple Restaurant has all the elements of a great restaurant including location and we believe we’ve found the final piece of the puzzle in hiring a chef of this calibre to complete a picture-perfect resort. The fantastic location, along with waterfront dining on the patio provides the ultimate Okanagan background for Chef Bernard’s award-winning dishes,” states Heather Schroeter, Manteo’s General Manager.

Chef Bernard has built a solid foundation in the restaurant industry winning the respect of his peers with a number of prestigious restaurants including Executive Chef at Chateau Whistler Resort and most recently Executive Chef at the Sonora Room Restaurant at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery.  He has the distinction of being the first West Coast born and trained chef to represent Canada in the Bocuse d’Or Competition. This event is frequently referred to as the culinary equivalent of the Olympic Games. In addition to Chef Bernard’s long career of culinary accomplishments he feels strongly about mentoring young talent and inspiring young chefs to fulfil their dreams and will continue this tradition as he takes the helm of the Manteo Resort Food
and Beverage program.

In a tribute to the Okanagan’s growing reputation as a wine destination, Chef Bernard has christened the new menu for the Wild Apple Restaurant and Lounge as “wine country cuisine.”  He defines wine country cuisine as “one that is rooted in the traditions of the past, with a modern twist, lots of great food and wine that sparks good times and builds memories.  For us in the industry, we must remember the celebrations that are based on the arrival of the seasons and anchor our menus on that. We’re fortunate to live in a part of the world that is fast becoming recognized for its wine production,” Chef Bernard says, “and I want to capitalize on that fact, plus use it as a jumping off point in designing and establishing a new style of locally-based cuisine.”  Although Chef Bernard will start stirring the pots this week and changes will be almost immediate, his full new menu is slated to be available in December.

In creating and developing the new menu at Wild Apple, Chef Bernard will bring some of his signature dishes, developed over his years in Whistler, including locally sourced Mountain Berry ‘T’ Crusted Duck Breast, Star Anise infused Wild Salmon, Roasted Carrot and Brie Soup, Organic Apple Tatin with Caramel ice cream and his famous Cinnamon and Hazelnut Buns.

“We’re cognizant of the fact that eating out has become more of a luxury than ever, so knowing that a restaurant like Wild Apple is here in Kelowna that you can trust to provide exceptional food and wine paired with a memorable experience every single time is priceless information,” says Schroeter.  In his Executive Chef role at Manteo Resort, Chef Bernard will also be bringing his creative talent to the catering department ensuring all groups meeting or celebrating at the resort will also enjoy his high quality and innovative menus.

Wild Apple Restaurant & Lounge with Chef Bernard’s “wine country cuisine” is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is located in the Manteo Resort at 3762 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna, BC.

Manteo Resort Waterfront Hotel & Villas is located on the edge of Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, BC.  Minutes from championship golf and award –winning wineries and only an hour from powder skiing at Big White and Silver Star, Manteo Resort Waterfront Hotel and Villas is the premier Okanagan Lake resort destination.