UrbanDiner.ca | Vancouver Restaurant Scene Magazine » Pictorial

Events Pictorial: Pink Thai, Bob Blumer, Roaming Dragon, Fraiche, Winery Eggs, Tequila!, Reflections, Caché, Famoso

Brian K Smith — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:00:28 +0000

Come inside and check out some photos from the latest F&B events Urban Diner has attended over the last few weeks…

^ Owner, Desmond Chen poses with his cheerful staff at the last Yelp party held at Pink Elephant Thai on Alberni Street

^ Bob Blumer shares some of his crazy experiences from his new tv show, "World's Weirdest Restaurants" with the Waldorf Hotel staff and a room full of brave guests

^ Guests of Bob Blumer participate in some of the silliness of "The World's Weirdest Restaurants"

^ Roaming Dragon owners, Jennifer and Jason Apple and Jory and Joelly Simkin pose with consulting Chef Tina Fineza at the launch of their new street eats menu

^ A look inside the Roaming Dragon truck and the talented staff at work

^ Fraiche owners, Paul Chalmers and Barbara Inglis, Chef Jefferson Alvarez, and GM Phil Reigh celebrated their 1st 'Leap Year' anniversary recently, hosting friends and family to a special dinner

^ Hotel GM, Jeremy Roncoroni and executive assistant Meryl MacDonald at the St. Regis 99th birthday party

^ Rasoul Salehi of Le Vieux Pin and LaStella wineries shows off some fresh eggs from the different heritage breeds of chicken they raise at the winery to naturally maintain insects and preserve their valuable grapes

^ Tequila importer, Eric Lorenz of Agave Spirits pours some tastings of new tequila for the media at the preview of the 1st Vancouver International Tequila Expo at the Edge Social Grill and Lounge on April 17

^ Tequila Expo organizer Manuel Otero and Mexico Tourism's Cesar Mendoza pose with local writer, Samantha Stanway

^ Realtor, Brandan Price and Roselyn Da Silva at the Rosewood Hotel's launch of their rooftop Reflections Lounge

^Crystal Kwon from Vancity Buzz, Lisa Nakamura from BC Business Online, and food blogger Mijune Pak at the Rosewood Hotel's Reflections rooftop party

^ The staff at the new Caché Bistro space in Yaletown pose at their launch party held on April 18th

^ Executive chef and co-owner Alex Mok (left) and sous chef brother Jason Mok (right), prepare dessert with staff

^ Staff pose at the opening of 'Famoso' the newest Neapolitan pizzeria to arrive on Commercial Drive

Central City Rauchbier Launched with a Bacon Explosion

Rick Green — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 07:24:26 +0000

^ l to r, Sous Chef, Matthew Nichols, Executive Chef, Carl Sawatsky, Brewmaster, Gary Lohin.

Ever since Central City Brewing brewmaster, Gary Lohin, learned of the The Bacon Explosion, he’s been looking for an appropriate excuse to make it. (What took you so long, Gary?) The occasion finally came on February 25 when Central City launched their latest seasonal beer, a 5.5% ABV German-style smoked amber lager, known as a Rauchbier.

Rauchbier (smoke beer) harkens back to the days when most barley malt was dried over wood fires, imparting a smokiness to the grain that came through in the flavour of the resulting beer. When kiln-drying of malt with indirect heat was introduced, it became widely adopted and the smoke flavour in beer largely disappeared. However, two breweries in Bamberg, Germany — Schlenkerla and Spezial — have continued smoked beer production to this day, using beechwood logs.

What better to go with a classic Bavarian smoked Märzen than that other German staple, pork? Sous Chef, Matthew Nichols, was given the task of creating over 60 of the four-pound, 5,000-calorie “fatties” for Central City’s sold-out dinner.

First, a 5″ x 5″ woven bacon base was created and seasoned with Central City’s pork shoulder rub.

The bacon weave was then covered with two pounds of pork sausage filling.

Next, the sausage filling was covered with Central City’s house made stout barbecue sauce and topped with a layer of cooked bacon pieces.

The sausage layer was then carefully separated from the bacon weave, rolled up, and the seams sealed. Finally, the sausage was rolled over the bacon weave to completely wrap it up.

After baking, The Bacon Explosion was sliced into half-inch rounds, and served with spicy slaw, mashed potatoes and beer onion gravy. While The Bacon Explosion was originally meant to be barbecued and lathered with barbecue sauce to finish, paired with the Rauchbier, you get the smoke without the fire.

Bacon Explosion inventor, Jason Day, wrote, “Just a warning….the first Bacon Explosion leads to many more!” It also led me to want to pig out a bit more. Not part of the meal, but a fitting ending that I couldn’t resist ordering off the regular menu, was Central City’s Maple Chocolate Bacon Cheesecake. Sublime.

Central City’s Bamberg-style Rauchbier is a special limited release that may not be available again for some time, nor is it often that we see that kind of beer in BC from other brewers. If you’ve never tried this style of beer before, I recommend you visit the Central City Brewing brewpub before it is gone. Be sure to try it with food; you may like it even better! And don’t forget, you can get 2-litre growlers at the bar to take some home to enjoy.

~ RG

Photography by Brian K. Smith.

Events Roundup: Bittered Sling Bistro, Vanmag’s Big Night, Belvedere at Chambar, Siren’s Call Launch

Brian K Smith — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:04:30 +0000

Check out some photos from a selection of F&B events Urban Diner has attended over the last few weeks.
(Images by Brian K. Smith)

^ Kale & Nori's Bittered Sling Bistro (Bison Grass Vodka) featuring Vancouver Club's lead bartender Jonathan Richard on February 8th 2012 at Legacy Liquor Store

^ A whole lot of shaking going on at the Bittered Sling Bistro

^ Kale & Nori's Chef Jonathan Chovancek plating dessert at the Bittered Sling Bistro

^ Vancouver Club staff, Amy Tran, Jonathan Richard, Kelly Marion and Joshua Dehaan welcome guests at Big Night

^ Mathew Dempsey, Legacy Liquor's Amorita Adair and West Restaurant wine director, Owen Knowlton at Vanmag's Big Night at the Vancouver Club on February 10, 2012

^ Blue Water Cafe's Ricardo Valverde and Sayaka Sawaguchi at Vancouver Magazine's Big Night celebration

^ Chef Vikram Vij and Surinder Jaswal serve their famous Indian curry at Vancouver Magazine's Big Night

^Vancouver Magazine's "Restaurant of the Year" - La Quercia chefs Adam Pegg and Lucais Syme at Big Night

^ Belvedere Vodka brand ambassador Clair Smith with the barmen of Chambar

^ Belvedere's Allison Dedianko poses with a bottle of "BV Intense" a new unfiltered vodka

^ Chef Nico Schuermans gives the thumbs up to his satisfied patrons at the Belvedere Spirited Vodka Dinner during Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver on February 13, 2012

^ Robin Kort, Alice Solaine, and Christy Nguyen join winemaker Mark Simpson at the launch of "Sirens Call" at the East Vancouver Cultural Centre on February 13, 2012

^ Siren's Call winemaker, Mark Simpson, poses with his wife, Leanne Johnson-Simpson

View more event photos at the UD Facebook gallery: click here

If you have a local event that you feel would be of interest to our readers and would like to appear in the regular “Events Pictorial” feature, please submit the details and invitation to: events@urbandiner.ca

If we are able to attend the event, we will contact you directly to make confirmation.

See you out there!

Sincerely,
Urban Diner events staff

November Events Roundup: Cocktails, Cornucopia, Chinois, Bittered Sling Bistro and More!

Editor — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:09:36 +0000

Check out some select photos from a few of the exciting F&B events Urban Diner has attended during the month of November.
(Images by Brian K. Smith)

^ The Craft of Cointreau cocktail competition brought together some of Vancouver's best bartenders on November 6th, 2011. DHM beverage director, Trevor Kallies (sitting left) took home this year's title along with a trip to France to visit the distillery.

^ Legacy Liquor's Amorita Adair, Shangri La lead barman Jay Jones, and Vanmag booze scribe Neal McLennan judging at the Craft of Cointreau cocktail competition

^ Chef Ryan Mah, Peter Girges and Anthony Pratt at the grand opening of their new restaurant Chinois in Yaletown on November 9th, 2011

^ Everyone's favourite Canuck, Trevor Linden, poses with friends and staff at the Chinois opening party

^ Granville Island brewmaster Vern Lambourne poses with a ceremonial RCMP officer at the Butcher & Brewmaster event presented by Whistler's Dubh Linn Gate Pub on November 11, 2011

^ Top Table's Jack Evrensel celebrated Araxi's 30 years at the restaurant's legendary "Big Guns" wine dinner with Terry David Mulligan and friends during Cornucopia on November 11, 2011

^ Revelers at "Casino Royale" presented by Ric’s Grill at Whistler's Cornucopia festival on November 11, 2011

^ More lovely ladies at the Casino Royale party during Whistler's Cornucopia festival

^ The bubbles were flowing at the Crush Gala during Whistler's 15th annual Cornucopia festival

^ No expense was spared for the re-boot of the Bearfoot Bistro's infamous Masquerave party after a 3 year hiatus, now a benefit event for ONE DROP, an initiative of Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil

^ A colourful and voluptuous booze vixen poses at the Masquerave party during Whistler's Cornucopia festival

^ Cornucopia's Masquerave party brought the both the sex appeal and the top shelf booze

^ More masked party goers at Cornucopia's Masquerave party

^ Chambar's lastest man behind the wood, Jacob Sweetapple, shows off one of his fine cocktail creations at a recent media preview on November 15th, 2011

^ Kale & Nori's Lauren Mote and Jonathan Chovancek, along with Barjonesing's Jay Jones and friends at the launch of the Bittered Sling Bistro event at Legacy Liquor Store on November 22, 2011

^ Kale & Nori's Jonathan Chovancek and his helper prepare plates at the Bittered Sling Bistro event at Legacy Liquor Store

^ The Beat 94.5 afternoon host Holly Conway, Lisa Martella, executive director of A Loving Spoonful, Joanne Gassman, senior vice president, B.C. and Yukon, Bank of Montreal, and Nicole Oliver at the World AIDS Day luncheon in support of A Loving Spoonful on November 25, 2011

View more event photos at the UD Facebook gallery: click here

If we are able to attend the event, we will contact you directly to make confirmation.

See you out there!

Sincerely,
Urban Diner events staff

Pictorial: Oakwood Canadian Bistro Opening, Prestons Fall Menu, Dockside’s 10th, Black+Blue Opening Party

Editor — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:19:23 +0000

Check out some photos from a few of the exciting F&B events Urban Diner has attended over the last few weeks.
(Images by Brian K. Smith)

^ At the Oakwood Canadian Bistro opening party on October 20th - bartender Tristan Jensen, owner Mike Shea, general manager Amy Wheatly, and executive chef Mike Robbins

^ Jennifer Yau serves up a tray of OCB Burgers at the opening party

^ Alison Cromie, Farrah Alford and Natalia Lundrigar share a drink at the Oakwood Canadian Bistro party

^ Prestons' general manager Steven Billyard with chef Alessandro Vianello, Ashley Martell, Mark Zwanink, and Michael Schadinger pose during their fall menu preview event

^ Michelle Alexander and Ashley Brown enjoy drinks at Preston's bar

^ Preston's Rachel Ryall with a tray of crispy chicken kaarage

^ Dockside food and beverage director Glen Cormier and brewmaster Mark Simpson behind the bar during Dockside's 10th Anniversary party

^ Sherry Sarnowsky and Bella Chauhan enjoying the evening of special cask beer at Dockside's 10th anniversary party

^ Proprietors Shannon Bosa-Yacoub and Emad Yacoub at the October 28th opening of Black + Blue, the Glowbal Collection's seventh and most ambitious restaurant yet.

^ The heart of Black+Blue is the giant glass meat cooler filled with every cut of beef imagined and lined with bricks of Himalayan rock salt

^ Stepania Indelicato serves up a Blue Bentleys at the Black+Blue opening party

^ Susan Yan serves Black Hills Syrah 2009 in the VIP section of Black+Blue

^ Fitness trainer Anna Wong and media personality Meena Mann at the Black+Blue party

If we are able to attend the event, we will contact you directly to make confirmation.

See you out there!

Sincerely,
Urban Diner events staff

Events Pictorial: Taste of Yaletown, Wine Yacht, iPad Menus at Lift

Editor — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:18:22 +0000

Check out some photos from a few of the exciting F&B events Urban Diner has attended over the last couple weeks.
(Images by Brian K. Smith)

^ Hapa Izakaya Bartender Leo Higashio and Alice Huang toast Taste of Yaletown dining promotion running this Wednesday, October 19th - October 30th.

^ Alice Chen of Grooster.com at Hapa Izakaya's Taste of Yaletown media preview

^ Cento Notti Gm Jack Scott pours the bubbles for Heather MacDonald, Taste of Yaletown host Carolyn Smith, Christine Tarves, and Amy Van Vliet

^ Paul Marshall, Executive Chef at Cento Notti in the Opus Hotel serves the popular Tiramisu at the Taste of Yaletown media preview

^ Glowbal Steakhouse Chef Jay Vallee and General Manager Brandon Copico show off the sirloin steak offered on their Taste of Yaletown menu

^ The hospitable folks of Hamilton Street Grill stop to pose during the Taste of Yaletown media preview: Darin Hodge, Neil Wyles, Erin Temleton, and Lisa Conroy

^ House Wine gals, Michaela Morris and Michelle Bouffard toast the launch of the Wine Yacht with a series of wine and food pairings on October 13, 2011

^ General manager and wine director of Lift Bar and Grill, Steve Lobsinger, introduces the restaurant's new iPad menus

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you have a local event that you feel would be of interest to our readers and would like to appear in the regular “Events Pictorial” feature, please submit the details and invitation to: events@urbandiner.ca

If we are able to attend the event, we will contact you directly to make confirmation.

See you out there!

Sincerely,
Urban Diner events staff

Is the World Ready for White Sturgeon Caviar from the Fraser River?

paulkamon — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:21:48 +0000

Is Sechelt going to be the caviar capital of Canada? The Sunshine Coast’s Target Marine Hatcheries, the producers of Northern Divine caviar think so, and have invested over $5 million dollars over the last 11 years to prove it.

The idea to raise farmed sturgeon in Canada (also see Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar from NB) started in some ways as a reaction to the fall of the USSR in 1991 and their loss of control over the Black and Caspian Seas, home to wild Beluga sturgeon, the producers of the world’s finest caviar. With renewed competition for the precious roe from freshly independent republics of the former Soviet Union, the world’s most delicate and prized food, known to fetch up to $10,000 per kilo, was suddenly in turmoil.

Not surprisingly, all the caviar producing countries failed to properly manage the fishery and it went into serious decline, leading to an eventual ban in the US in 2005 followed by an international ban in 2006.

Over a decade ago, Target Marine, a closed containment aquaculture operation that made its business producing salmon smolts for fish farms, saw the opportunity and decided to explore the idea of farming sturgeon. Located on a 60 acre property just north of Sechelt next to Tillicum Bay Marina on the Salish Sea, general manager, Justin Henry, took some time out of his busy day to give Urban Diner an in-depth tour of the facility and their quest to produce the world’s first Fraser River sturgeon caviar.

^ General manager of Target Marine, Justin Henry

The original fish stock was received from Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo where sturgeon research has been on-going since the 1980’s. The recent opening of a $5.25-million International Centre for Sturgeon Studies on campus will ensure further and more in-depth studies, as still very little is known of the life cycle of this mysterious pre-historic fish (read more here).

The Fraser River sturgeon (a white sturgeon) is the largest freshwater fish in North America and can grow up to six meters in length, weigh of over 600 kilograms, and live for over 150 years.

According to the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, the white sturgeon population of the lower Fraser River plummeted in the early 1900’s to near-extinction levels as a result of unchecked intensive commercial fisheries and the population has been slow to recover ever since.

Researchers at the university claim that sturgeon are more robust than salmon and deal better living within the closed containment system. The pens at Target Marine are high-tech fish tanks. The fresh creek water that flows-through these giant vats is constantly monitored, aerated and scrubbed of excess CO2 with the solid wastes being removed into a septic tank, eventually ending up as composted fish fertilizer.

When the fish reach a juvenile stage (around 7 kg) their sex is determined, either by ultrasound or by biopsy and they are then separated; the males are processed for meat while the females are further matured to produce eggs, which can be 11 or more years in the making. Extracting the eggs is a delicate operation and requires a sterile environment. First the ovaries are removed, and rubbed on a screen to release the eggs. They are then rinsed, drained and then pure dry salt is added to the mix. Left to rest for approximately 1 hour, they are then graded by size, texture and colour. Right now there are 2 grades (small and large) with plans to increase the grades when the harvest grows each coming year.

The caviar is sold in tins of 30 gram ($99), 50 gram ($155), 100 gram ($304), 250 gram ($744) 500 gram ($1459) and 1 kg ($2860), easily making it the most expensive food product in Canada.

Wondering what this unique culinary product looks like on a plate? The first sales of Northern Divine caviar, which is Oceanwise certified, fittingly went to ocean conservation pioneer Harry Kambolis’s C Restaurant.

Here’s a look at Chef Lee Humphries exclusive Northern Divine caviar menu featured at ‘C’ for $235 per person:

(Images courtesy of Hamid Attie)

^ Kumamoto Oyster and cucumber with Northern Divine Caviar

^ Scrambled Egg smoked hawkshaw salmon, Northern Divine Caviar, brioche

^ Pan Seared Sablefish with Pomme Fondant creamed leeks, caviar-lobster hollandaise

^ Northern Divine Caviar with Potato Blini traditional garnish

With positive reports from the restaurant describing it as a hit with visiting tourists during its first run on the menu this last summer, Sechelt may just have become the ‘Caviar Capital of Canada’.

~ PK

For more information and to purchase Northern Divine caviar, visit: northerndivine.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Target Marine Hatcheries has applied to the District of Sechelt for rezoning amendment that would allow them to process sturgeon for caviar on the premises. The request has met with some controversy with local residents who have complained about the noise coming from the site and have concerns about the requested changes, citing the open-ended amendment that would allow the operation to increase the size and footprint on the existing site.

In an article in the local paper in January 2011, Target Marine’s Justin Henry responds to the concerns assuring locals that the company does not plan to increase its size and just wants to complete it’s whole operation intact.

“If there’s a way we can word our zoning to limit the size, then that’s what we’ll do. We’re happy to do that.”

“We are asking for the right to add the last half hour to 11 years of sturgeon culture and we are asking the community to support this initiative to leave no doubt in Sechelt council’s minds that this is what the community wants. Sechelt can become the caviar capital of Canada,” Henry said.

The application will be decided by referendum in the next municipal election taking place on November 19th of this year.

Events Pictorial – Wine, Wine, Party, Party!

Editor — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:32:40 +0000

Check out some photos from a few of the exciting F&B events Urban Diner has attended over the last couple weeks.

^ Okanagan Crush Pad's Alison Scholefield poses with a bottle of Haywire Rose at the recent wine tasting at the new Boneta in Gastown

^ Okanagan Crush Pad's David Scholefield ready with a bottle from his newly launched line Bartier & Scholefield

^ Okanagan Crush Pad's head winemaker, Michael Bartier, with his red "The Goal" and white "The Cowboy" wines at the exclusive industry tasting at Boneta

^ Laughing Stock Vineyard's David and Cynthia Enns join the Top Table wine directors, Sarah McCauley, Samantha Rahn, and Andrea Vescovi for the official launch of Top Table's "Director's Blends" (a private label wine collaboration) at Cincin Ristorante on Wednesday, September 14th

^ Pink Elephant Thai restaurateur Desmond Chen and friend with Playboy bunnies at the 25th Anniversary of Thai House Restaurants (Image courtesy of Brian K Smith Photography)

^ Thai House restaurateur Desmond Chen poses with local food blogger, Victoria Chemko at his family's 25th anniversary party

Tuesday Hammer Tour

paulkamon — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:44:41 +0000

Tuesday was my night to roam, so I decided to take the VCBW Hammer on tour and visit some of this year’s venues, capturing some of the big personalities that make this 9 day craft beer festival so much fun. Enjoy!

^ Alibi Room's Nigel Springthorpe wields 'The Hammer' and immediately goes berserk with a desire to tap kegs

^ Driftwood brewmaster Jason Meyer in good form at the Alibi Room before the Upright x Driftwood Brewmaster’s Dinner

^ Raincity Brand's Adam Henderson, importer of Oregon's Upright and Ninkasi is rumoured to be in the next Thor sequel

^ Ninkasi brewmaster Jamie Floyd from Eugene, Oregon is excited to join this year's VCBW festivities

^ Alex Ganum, head brewer at Portland's Upright Brewing returns for his second VCBW visit

^ Former Alibi alumni, Gudrun's Patrick Tubajon gets hammered at the Upright x Driftwood dinner

^ VCBW superfan Bert Legg on a beer week vacation from Arizona. Tell your friends Bert!

^ AFIC's Ken Dick at the Irish Heather for the start of the Brooklyn Crawl

^ The Irish Heather's Mike Mitchell prepares to open a bottle of Brooklyn's East India Pale Ale in one swift motion

^ Boneta's Mark Brand never misses. Ever.

Boneta's Neil Ingram is judge, jury, and victorious sommelier after a narrow win over cicerone Chester Carey in their beer vs wine showdown on Monday night

^ Tyson Reimer of Gastown's Peckinpah is ready to tap his next R&B cask and BBQ a whole hog for your fine dining pleasure on Wednesday, May 11 at noon.

^ Howe Sound Brewery co-owner Leslie Fenn is all smiles at their brewmaster dinner at Central Bistro

^ Red Truck's Sam Payne pleads with brewmaster Dave Varga to not spill any of his precious 'Big Black Bock" beer

^ Au Petit Chavignol Chef Jenny Shearman does her best Gallagher impression with chef Joe Chaput's melon at the Red Truck Brewmaster Dinner and Cheese Tasting

^ VCBW superfan, Shangri La Hotel bartender Jay Jones at the Red Truck Brewmaster Dinner and Cheese Tasting at Au Petit Chavignol

Tickets to remaining events still available! Visit: vancouvercraftbeerweek.com

Events Pictorial – Casks, Books, and Lots of Wine

paulkamon — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:18:55 +0000

Check out some photos from a few of the exciting events Urban Diner has attended over the last few weeks.

^ Tom Orange and Norm Eng of Beer Thirst help the Granville Room launch their first weekly cask night with a dry-hopped Elysian ESB

^ Author Andrea Bellamy holds up her latest gardening book "Sugar Snaps and Strawberries" with photographer Jackie Connelly at Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks launch party

^ Wine festival director, Harry Hertscheg, at the 2011 Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival official launch party at Joey's Wine Bar

^ Holler PR's Ryan Bazeley and Urban Diner's own Katherine van der Gracht at Joey's wine fest party

^ Good Life Vancouver's Cassandra Anderton with Breakfast Television's Dawn Chubai help celebrate the launch of the 2011 wine festival

^ Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Global TV's Nathan Fong at Market at the Shangri La's "Wine Down" post-fest cocktail party

^ Mark Anthony's Debbie Shing and Le Vieux Pin's Rasoul Salehi pose at the Wine Down party at Market by JG

^ 49th Parallel's Barrett Jones, Cincin barman Colin Turner, and Montecristo food scribe Joie Alvaro Kent at the Wine Down party

Events Pictorial – Tales of the Cocktail Edition

paulkamon — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:59:42 +0000

Check out some photos from the 1st annual Tales of the Cocktail on Tour in Vancouver.

^ Dave Arnold and Don Lee after their Tales of the Cocktail "Science of Cocktails: New Techniques Behind the Bar" demonstration

^ Pourhouse bartenders Brian Grant and Christopher Flett during the Tales of the Cocktail bar crawl present their signature cocktail the "Chimney Sweep"

^ L'Abattoir bartender, Shaun Layton proudly presents his barrel-aged Martinez

^ The Refinery's Lauren Mote w/ her signature TOC cocktail the "Mayflower"

^ Master Distiller Desmond Payne, the father of Beefeater's 24 premium gin, shows off his baby

^ Chef Nico Schuermans and cook roasting a pic in front of Chambar for the Tales of the Cocktail wrap party on March 15

^ Brown and Foreman's Chase Stampe poses with Canadian Professional Bartenders Association president, Dani Tatarin at the final Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver event, Chambord's Palais Royale at The Refinery on March 21

^ Sazerac fans pose with Buffalo Trace Master Blender, Drew Mayville

^ The Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver Team (top) Paul and Ann Tuennerman, Jay Jones (bottom) The Cocktail Angels (L-R) Neely Hannah, Michelle Dunnick, Melissa Young, Christina Gaspari

Events Pictorial: Marquis, Southern Comfort, Dining Out for Life, 100 Nights, and a New Latitude

paulkamon — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:37:34 +0000

Check out some photos from a few of the exciting events Urban Diner has attended over the last few weeks.

^ Benton Brothers, Jonah and Andrew, serve some of their fine cheese at Marquis Wine Cellars' annual "Social Media Friends Tasting"

^ Wendy McGuinness, bar manager of Chambar, poses with her cocktail at the Southern Comfort Society Challenge at the Cascade Room

^ Jon Smolensky of Brix, recent winner of the "Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Official Cocktail Competition" competing at the Southern Comfort Society Challenge

^ The Southern Comfort Society Challenge winner The Keefer Bar's Dani Tatarin (middle) along with Brown and Foreman brand managers, Ryan Cheverie and April Solonyka

^ In the Shebeen, Jody Levesque (Sumac Ridge Estate Winery) Sheena Sargeant (Friends for Life Society) and Lisa Martella (A Loving Spoonful) welcome the media to the launch of this year's Dining Out for Life fundraiser taking place at 238 participating restaurants from Whistler to White Rock on Thursday, March 24, 2011

^ RocksGlass Concepts' Peter Girges, Heth PR's Kate MacDougall and GM Anthony Pratt celebrate the launch of "100 Days" the second phase of their temporary '70's glam' restaurant concept in Yaletown's Opus Hotel

^ The Cascade Company's Nick Devine and Nigel Pike at the re-vamped launch of Latitude, now featuring a sexy new menu of Latin American street food

Pictorial: Academic 1 Year, Big Night, Cocktail Kitchen Finale, Fairmont’s “Lifestyle Cuisine +”

paulkamon — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:54:12 +0000

Check out some photos from a few of the exciting events Urban Diner has attended over the last few weeks.

^ The Donnelly Group's Trevor Kallies and Hawksworth PR gal, Tiffany Soper pose during the Academic's 1st year anniversary party on January 27th

^ At Vancouver Magazine's "Big Night" - 'Best Small Plates' Chef Alana Peckham of Cru with her foie gras torchon, mission figs and pistachios paired w/ Penfolds Grandfather Tawny fortified wine

^ 'Best Formal Italian', Cioppino's Pino Posteraro offers a Thiessen farm pheasant cannelloni and mushroom cream paired w/ Champagne Lallier Grand Réserve

^ 'Best Casual Japanese' - Kingyo's master samurai chef, Koji Zenimaru with his slow-braised beef with balsamic sweet and sour sauce and coriander oil paired with Ricossa Barbaresco at Vancouver Magazine's "Big Night" party

^ The Refinery's Lauren "Ivana" Mote at the Cocktail Kitchen's Russian-themed finale party. D'ah baby!

^ Fairmont Pacific Rim bartender Jacob Sweetapple with his fresh raspberry and sparkling wine cocktail

^ Food writer and industry consultant Jason McRobbie poses with Fairmont Pacific Rim executive chef, David Wong, at the Waterfront Hotel during the launch of the hotel chain's "Lifestyle Cuisine +" culinary program that offers more healthy menu options, such as vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free items

Pictorial: January 2011 Events Round Up

paulkamon — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 02:03:48 +0000

Check out some photos from a few of the exciting events Urban Diner has attended over the last few weeks.

^ The Tales of the Cocktail crew lands in Vancouver with a splash with their preview event at Gastown's Boneta Restaurant (L-R Christina Gaspari, Charlotte Voisey, Ann, Ann Tuennerman, Jay Jones, Melissa Young, Neely Hannah, Michelle Dunnick)

^ Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival PR star Shannon Heth with event director, Harry Hertscheg at their "Festival Taste" media preview that featured some of great wines being featured at this year's festival on March 28 - April 3.

^ Stag Hollow's owner Larry Gerelus and winemaker Dwight Sick celebrated 15 years in the business with the launch of their limited edition “Cachet Series” of wines at the Legacy Liquor Store in Vancouver on January 18.

^ Sanafir Executive Chef Mike Robbins and Glowbal Group CEO Emad Yacoub show off some of their tasty offerings for Dine Out Vancouver January 24- February 6.

^ Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley & the Brix Restaurant kitchen team pose during at their recent bourbon dinner on January 20, 2011

Pre-Holiday Events Pictorial

paulkamon — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:42:59 +0000

Check out some photos from a few of the events Urban Diner has attended over the last few weeks.

^ Relais & Châteaux book launch at Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks: (L-R) Lee Parsons of Wedgewood Hotel, Nicholas Nutting of Wickaninnish Inn, Terry Pichor of Sonora Resort, and Ali El-Khalafawi from the Wickininnish Inn cooked up tasters from the 2 new cookbooks

^ Vancouver City Councilor, Suzanne Anton, sabres a bottle of champagne at the grand opening of the Legacy Liquor Store at the Athlete's Village

^ Vancouver City Councilor, Heather Deal, gets ready to sabre another bottle of champagene at the celebration of the new Legacy Liquor Store

^ Chambar's Wendy McGuinness pouring her unique bourbon cocktail creations at The Refinery's Cocktail Kitchen competition

^ Epic Media's Paul Done and St. Regis Hotel GM, Jeremy Roncoroni welcomed guests to the hotel's 2nd year anniversary party (Image courtesy: Mark Kinskofer)

^ At the St. Regis 2nd Anniversary Hotel party, a cook prepares some pasta for the arriving guests (Image courtesy: Mark Kinskofer)