(click image to enlarge)

Experienced, motivated, ambitious, strong, leader required to run the show at Chambar Restaurant.

Only the strong need apply.

(Minimum 3 years fine dining management experience)

Submit resume to: karri@chambar.com

Summer fun with Tinhorn Creek; Notes of summer from Top Table; Teahouse mid-summer happy hour on the patio; Chef Quang Dang puts his stamp on new “Diva at the Met” menus; Raising the bar at Fraîche; Summer Fun Abounds at Beachside Forno & Fraîche Restaurant; Summer Beer Series at Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery; Go wild for tomatoes at Provence this August; Canadian Chefs’ Congress Mystery Chef Feast; Winners announced for the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines; Celebrate BC’s Best at the Wild BC Seafood Fest: August 28th

CONCERTS AND Q’S WITH TINHORN CREEK VINEYARDS

Oliver, BC… Summer has finally hit, just in time for BBQ season and the Summer concert series. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is making the season even better this year with two of their best summer wines available at your local BC Liquor store. Hitting the shelves this week is the 2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench White at $22.99, perfect for summer sipping with grilled BC Spot Prawns or Halibut. And if steak is more to your liking, try the Tinhorn Creek 2006 Oldfield Series Merlot at $24.99. Previously these wines have only been available at the Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Wine Shop, but will now be available at select LDB stores around the Lower Mainland.

The Oldfield Series wines are Winemaker Sandra Oldfield’s signature wines. This tier provides Oldfield with a playground for experimentation and is a creative showcase for the best wines from each vintage. The 2009 2Bench White is a five-variety blend that is much more than the sum of its parts. It has intense floral aromas, with flavours of tropical fruit, apples, pears, and citrus. The wine is quite rich and full-bodied, yet the fresh acidity of the Okanagan perfectly plays its part, producing a fresh, lively, mouth-watering finish. The 2006 Oldfield Series Merlot is a Merlot with a difference: 100% estate-grown South Okanagan fruit from our Black Sage Bench (Diamondback) and Golden Mile Bench (Tinhorn Creek) vineyards. It was aged for 18 months in new French and American oak. The result is a rich, full-bodied wine with concentrated cherry and berry fruit flavours and smoky, peppery, herbal complexity.

Nothing adds to a winery experience like a live concert. The Amphitheatre at Tinhorn Creek plays host to 3 more concerts this summer. Saturday, July 24th, Wide Mouth Mason entertains; tickets are sold out for this show. Saturday, August 28th, features Dustin Bentall. Tickets for these shows go quickly, so get yours now. Call the winery  toll free 1-888-484-6467.

Bedouin Soundclash hits the stage September 11th. This Juno award winning band will have just released a new album; be one of the 1st to hear it live and outdoors. Tickets are $75 and are available at the winery, call 1-888-484-6467. Or, if you are feeling lucky, visit www.tinhorn.com for details on how to win a VIP concert experience (including round-trip transportation for 2, overnight accommodation, 2 tickets to the show).  Contest closes August 31, 2010.

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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NOTES OF SUMMER FROM TOP TABLE

Recent Honours, Al Fresco Dining, Upcoming Events and Anniversaries

British Columbia Restaurant Hall of Fame

Fresh on the heels of an unprecedented 17 awards garnered at the recent Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, Top Table team members will be recognized with two more accolades.

On September 27th, executive chef Frank Pabst of Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar, and restaurant director Brian Hopkins of West, will be inducted into the British Columbia Restaurant Hall of Fame. These awards signal those “who have demonstrated exceptional professionalism working in the restaurant industry by making their restaurant a special experience.”

The BC Restaurant Hall of Fame was founded six years ago by the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, and annually honours “the greats” of the province’s culinary community. Jack Evrensel, proprietor of Top Table Group (and 2007 inductee) said, “This is a true distinction and a great honour for Frank and Brian, as well as being a real credit to the other team members in their respective restaurants.”

West’s David Wolowidnyk Wins National Cocktail Competition

We’re also delighted to announce that West’s bar manager, David Wolowidnyk, won the Ketel One-sponsored National Bar Chef Competition in Toronto on July 13th against a field of Canada’s top mixologists. His cocktail, ‘Sichuan Punch’, featured Sichuan Button-infused vodka, cardamom bitters, fresh lemon, Paris-Singapore syrup and house-made ginger beer. The delicious prize-winning cocktail will be available at West starting August 1st, following his return from Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.

Summer + Al Fresco Dining

British Columbia’s seasonal bounty—drawn from the ranches, farms and fishboats of top quality suppliers—is amply reflected on our current summer menus. And, there is no better place to partake than by dining al fresco on the patios of Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, and CinCin; and at West, during lunch and brunch Monday to Saturday and dinner seven nights. Click on the restaurant links to view the current menus: Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin, West.

Anniversaries

This Autumn, three of our restaurants celebrate landmark anniversaries: the 10th year for Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar and West, and the 20th year for CinCin. Further details—and featured menus—to follow in the coming months.

Top Table is one of the most highly respected hospitality groups in Canada, encompassing four 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 critical acclaim, both locally and internationally. For more information, visit www.toptable.ca.

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TEAHOUSE AND A MID-SUMMER HAPPY HOUR

Pizza in the Park and a Perfect Patio

(Vancouver, BC) – Treat yourself to the perfect summer afternoon and give in to a gourmet flatbread feast. This season the Teahouse is thrilled to announce their mid-summer special, Pizza in the Park. Monday through Friday from 3pm- 5pm, for only $10, diners can enjoy a flavourful pizza and a crisp cool pint of Stanley Park 1987 Amber on Vancouver’s most idyllic patio.

With a new pizza oven heating up the Teahouse kitchen, these light crisp flatbread pizzas are the perfect addition to your summer snacking experience. Executive Chef Francois Gagnon has created a series of gourmet pizzas that are excellent for sharing.

Impressing epicureans across the Lower Mainland, the renowned Smoked Salmon Flatbread complete with fresh arugula and capers is available for those indulging in the truest west coast experience. In addition, the Teahouse has spiced up the classic Margherita pizza by adding fresh basil straight from the restaurant’s own herb garden. A Peperonata Pizza featuring Italian sausage and olives is currently the staff favourite and enlivens any dull day at the office when coupled with a chilled glass of amber.

Located in the heart of Stanley Park, the Teahouse patio is an oasis for any Vancouverite looking for an afternoon getaway and an unparalleled view of Vancouver. Uniting the patio, pizza and a cool beer, Teahouse in Stanley Park obviously knows the ultimate summer recipe.

Teahouse
Stanley Park Drive, Ferguson Point | Vancouver
Tel: (604) 669-3281
www.vancouverdine.com

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CHEF QUANG DANG PUTS HIS STAMP ON NEW “DIVA AT THE MET” MENUS

New dishes carry the clean, fresh style of the chef’s “Cascadian” cuisine

July 14, 2010; Vancouver, BC: New lounge, lunch and dinner menus at Diva at the Met bear the unmistakable hallmark of Chef Quang Dang’s unique “Cascadian” style of cuisine. The three menus showcase his light, fresh and clean approach to the quality seasonal ingredients available in the region.

Chef Dang took over the position of Executive Chef at the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver in April and immediately set about defining the direction of the acclaimed restaurant. “My cuisine combines the fresh spirit of the Cascadian region with the multicultural and indigenous influences that have shaped our history, and applies them to the enviable coastal bounty of ingredients that the area produces.”

Sample dishes on the new menus include:

Milk poached smoked black cod
whole grain mustard spaetzle, fine herb vinaigrette

Dungeness crab salad
shaved fennel, gala apples and spring rhubarb

Cinnamon smoked duck breast
sunchokes, fava beans and Okanagan cherry jus

The Cascadian region stretches from Northern California up to Alaska, and unites multiple areas with a similar attitude to food. An advocate of sustainability and champion of Cascadian cuisine, Chef Dang is himself the epitome of the diverse flavours and techniques he employs in the kitchen. With family roots stretching back to both Vietnam and Scotland, he draws inspiration from his own background as well as his professional experience in some of Vancouver’s most acclaimed restaurants to create unique food that represents the area.

Along with the new menus, each month Chef Dang will create a selection of special dishes showcasing a particular ingredient or theme. July’s feature dishes celebrate local organic heirloom tomatoes with a collection of four items available at both lunch and dinner. In August the restaurant will showcase rosé wines with both menu items from Chef Dang and a special rosé flight of wine available.

Metropolitan Hotels operates four luxury properties: Metropolitan Toronto, the Soho Metropolitan, the Grande Rockies Resort and the Metropolitan Vancouver.  With more than 920 rooms, Metropolitan Hotels is committed to providing luxury accommodation for business and leisure travellers seeking an independent choice.  A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Metropolitan strives to provide superior service with distinctive accommodations. Award-winning restaurants at Metropolitan Hotels include Hemispheres and Lai Wah Heen (Metropolitan Toronto), Senses (SoHo Metropolitan), Diva at the Met (Metropolitan Vancouver) and Lai Toh Heen (mid-town Toronto).

www.divamet.com

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RAISING THE BAR AT FRAÎCHEFeaturing Summer Sippers, Creative Cocktails and New Bar Bites

July 2010 (West Vancouver); A burgeoning bar scene is bubbling at Fraîche Restaurant in West Vancouver.   Head to the hills for inspired cocktails, classic highballs and a carefully selected wine list on the other side of the Lion’s Gate Bridge.  Bar manager and North Shore native, Graham Racich is looking forward to sharing his passion for mixing drinks and making guests happy.
A Bachelor of Science degree might well explain Graham’s prowess for killer cocktail chemistry but it’s his creativity, wit and charm that keep Fraîche’s bar buzzing.  Fond of the hilltop West Vancouver neighbourhood, Graham enjoys wowing visitors and getting to know the regulars who are usually game to experiment with the mixologist’s new flavours and pairings.  When pressed for a favourite drink, Graham picks the Saffron Sun as it features his favourite liquor, Bourbon, and a nice kick of spice from his home made ’spicy saffron simple syrup.’

Graham also recommends some interesting summer sippers such as the tart and fruity, Ana Kiwi, the bright and refreshing Duke of Earl, the five-alarm, Ice Fire Margarita, or a new take on the apple – Teacher’s Pet*. (Sign up for the Fraîche Restaurant newsletter to get this recipe in the August edition.)

For afternoon meetings, a romantic rendezvous or to catch up  with the girls  – pair your drinks with some delicious snacks from the new bar menu at Fraîche.  Available weekdays from 2:30pm to 5pm, Fraîche is offering a fun and flavourful selection of bites such as Shrimp Bonbons, Goat Cheese Croquettes, West Coast Seafood Snacks and freshly shucked Oysters on the half shell.  Hungrier appetites can dig into the Fraîche Beef Burger or linger over the house made Fraîche Charcuterie.

Renowned as one of West Vancouver’s most celebrated dining experiences Fraîche Restaurant offers food that celebrates the best of the west coast, steadfast service and inspiring panoramic views. The menu reflects Chef Dino Renaerts’ varied experience as one of Vancouver’s top chefs, while his sommelier training lends to an evolving wine selection paired to the menu and to great “by the glass” choices.  Fraîche recently received Gold for Best North Shore dining in the 20th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards and was named one of Canada’s Top Ten Best New Restaurants of 2008 by enRoute magazine.

Fraîche Restaurant
2240 Chippendale Road | West Vancouver
t: 604.925.7595
www.fraicherestaurant.ca

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FARMERS AND FIREWORKS

Summer Fun Abounds at Beachside Forno & Fraîche Restaurant

July 2010 (West Vancouver); From the soil to the sky there’s fun to be had at West Vancouver eateries, Beachside Forno and Fraîche Restaurant.  Make the most of the sunny days and warm nights by adding some flavour to two signature Greater Vancouver events.

Visit the Ambleside Farmers’ Market – Join us for Brunch at Beachside Forno

Nothing says summer like fresh local produce and Beachside Forno has a ringside seat to the Ambleside Farmer’s Market every Sunday from 10am to 3pm, now through the end of October.  Join us for a leisurely brunch or lunch of hearty and healthy west coast favourites before or after the charming outdoor market. The Ambleside Farmer’s Market hosts a great variety of produce from organic and conventional farmers. There’s also a good selection of prepared foods like baking, syrups, jams, jellies, honey, salsas, anti pastas and more. Not all the goodies are edible, save some room in your bag for locally made crafts including  jewellery, clothing, wrought iron, garden sculptures, soaps and pottery.  Ambleside Market also has a book exchange, games table, kids play area and live music. Hope to see you at Beachside Forno this weekend -  reservations are welcome, please call us at 604.926.3332.

Beachside Forno is THE place to go in Ambleside. Offering a stylish relaxed space overlooking the beach, ocean, mountains and Vancouver skyline, this “landmark” building has long been a neighbourhood favourite.  Chef Dino Renaerts has created a fun, casual atmosphere where mouth-watering nourishing fare and welcoming service are served up. With its large sunny patio and airy interior, it’s an ideal spot for a romantic cocktail, friendly lunch, gatherings for family and friends and, of course, to watch the summer sunset.  www.beachsideforno.com

Enjoy a Delicious Vantage Point for the 20th Annual Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival

What pairs well with Spanish fireworks?  How about a summer corn bisque, roasted Fraser Valley duck breast and a nice bottle of Spain’s 2004 Tinto Pesquera?  Add some friendly service, a welcoming dining room and a stunning, panoramic view and you’ve got the makings of a great night out.  In fact, Fraîche has all kinds of fantastic west coast inspired dishes and worldly wines that pair perfectly with all matters of pyrotechnics.  Join us at Fraîche Restaurant for dinner and drinks as Spain, the USA, Mexico and China compete in the world’s largest off shore fireworks competition this summer.  Fraîche will be broadcasting the fireworks’ synchronized music so that guests don’t miss any impact of the sensory spectacle. The Celebration of Light events are scheduled for July 21, 24, 28 and 31 and are sure to be popular nights at Fraîche. Book now by calling us at 604.925.7565 or online.
Renowned as one of West Vancouver’s most celebrated dining experiences Fraîche Restaurant offers food that celebrates the best of the west coast, steadfast service and inspiring panoramic views. The menu reflects Chef Dino’s varied experience as one of Vancouver’s top chefs, while his sommelier training lends to an evolving wine selection paired to the menu and to great “by the glass” choices.  Food. Service. View. WOW! www.fraicherestaurant.ca

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Vancouver, B.C., July 2010 – Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery celebrates the spirit of summer with its Summer Beer Series, a showcase of distinctive brews from around the world. Every Friday from August 6th to September 10th, Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery will showcase a feature beer paired with a specialty pizza crafted by Executive Chef, Andreas Wechselberger.

Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery’s Summer Beer Series kicks off on Friday, August 6th with Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc, a new Belgian Witbier brewed in Alsace, France. Crafted from a century-old recipe that utilizes oranges and spices, 1664 Blanc is a refreshing white fruit beer that possesses vibrant citrus notes.

Executive Chef Andreas Wechselberger has created a feature pizza to pair with the 1664 Blanc. Cooked to perfection in Red Card’s world-class Marana Forni brick oven, the Olive E Caprino pizza feature accentuates the nuances of the beer by with its combination of San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, orange scented olive tapenade, soft goat’s milk cheese and fresh arugula dressed with limoncella.

To celebrate the arrival of Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc to British Columbia, Red Card will be featuring it as the first beer in its Summer Beer Series. On Friday August 6th at Red Card, the Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc will be on special for $5.00 per pint or $17.00 for the beer and Olive E Caprino pizza pairing. Guests that visit Red Card for the Summer Beer Series will enjoy select beers on special for the day paired with a delicious complementing pizza and a variety of prize give-a-ways from the featured brew company. Upcoming events will highlight exclusive beers from R&B Brewing Co., Rogue Dead Guy Ale and Whistler Brewing Company.

About Red Card Sports Bar
With authentic Italian cuisine and a beautifully-restored heritage building, Red Card Sports Bar offers a dramatic and elegant environment in which to enjoy your favourite sports game. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional techniques, Executive Chef Andreas Wechselberger has created an inspired menu, executed to the highest standards.

Red Card Sports Bar is located at 900 Seymour Street, adjacent to Moda Hotel, on the corner of Seymour and Smythe Streets, in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. For more information on Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery visit:

www.redcardsportsbar.ca

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YOU SAY TOMATO AND I SAY TOMAHTO, BOTH ARE TASTY AT PROVENCE

(Vancouver, BC) – Ahhh tomatoes – the ultimate summer food – ripe, juicy and brimming with sunshine goodness. Tomatoes are a passion for many people; including Provence Chef/Proprietors Alessandra and Jean-Francis Quaglia. “There isn’t any flavour that says ‘summer’ more to me than tomato,” says Chef Alessandra. “We are fortunate to have local producers supplying us with heirloom varieties. The flavours are so intense; each variety is different and they are all so tasty.”

This August (from 1 – 31), Provence Restaurants celebrates all things tomato with special three-course Tomato Festival Menus that will satisfy even the most addicted tomato-holic. Menus differ slightly at each restaurant and are also priced differently – $45 at Mediterranean Grill in Point Grey and $48 at Marinaside in Yaletown.

Chef Alessandra’s famed Heirloom Tomato Tart makes an appearance on both menus as a starter as does a refreshing Chilled Yellow Campari Tomato Soup with poached wild prawn and cucumber relish. There is also an Heirloom Tomato and Fennel Salad.

For main course you’ll find Berkshire Pork Tenderloin Medallions served with plum tomato marmalade, tomato and lavender jus on both menus as well as Sun-dried Tomato and Caper-Crusted Sablefish and Tomato Gnocchi (served with crab at Marinaside and with lobster at Mediterranean Grill). Desserts include a Candied Cherry Short Cake with strawberries and wild-flower honey at both locations and at Point Grey only – a Trio of Tomato Sorbets.

As an added incentive (as if you needed one) both Provence locations will donate $3 from every Tomato Festival Menu sold to support Growing Chefs, an organization that teaches school children about growing and preparing food.

Whether you go balmy for Black Krims, crazy about Green Zebra’s or just adore Moneymakers – you’ll find them all and more on the menu at Provence’s First Annual Tomato Festival this August.

Provence Marinaside
1177 Marinaside Crescent | Vancouver
604.681.4144
www.provencevancouver.com

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CANADIAN CHEFS’ CONGRESS MYSTERY CHEF FEAST

Tour the Plates of Some of Vancouver’s Best Known Chefs in Support of the 2010 Canadian Chefs’ Congress

Vancouver, BC – On Friday July 30, 2010, tour the plates of some of Vancouver’s top chefs in support of the 2010 Canadian Chefs’ Congress. Located at the beautiful Vancouver Club, one of Vancouver’s oldest Heritage buildings, this beneficiary will raise funds for the Canadian Chefs’ Congress to support the education of 500 chefs from across the nation about the health of our oceans.

This Mystery Chef Feast is a formal sit down dinner affair of seven courses prepared by seven of Vancouver’s leading chefs, specially paired with world class wines. Which culinary icons will be preparing the cuisine at the July 30th dinner? What’s on the menu? It’s a mystery – guests will find out the night of the event! Those who are determined to figure out the mystery before arrival, the Canadian Chefs’ Congress will be dropping hints through their website, Facebook group page and through Twitter.

The last Mystery fundraiser supporting the 2010 Canadian Chefs’ Congress was located at The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, in which a mystery group of culinary icons prepared a feast whilst Vancouverites grazed through different kitchens throughout the school. Details on how the last mystery dinner unfolded are available here: www.canadianchefscongress.com.

The 2010 Canadian Chefs’ Congress, themed as Oceans for Tomorrow, takes place September 11th and 12th in association with the Chefs’ Table Society of BC and title sponsor, the BC Shellfish Growers Association. That weekend, chefs, cooks, apprentices and culinary students from across Canada will converge on Providence Farm in the heart of the beautiful Cowichan Valley for two days of conversation and deliberation on the state of our water ways, our effect on marine life and what constructive steps can be taken to improve the health of our oceans.

The Canadian Chefs’ Congress connects chefs to our land in solidarity with farmers, fishers, gardeners, foragers and all artisan food producers. The Canadian Chefs’ Congress is a biennial gathering of chefs from across Canada that reinforces the passion and integrity of Canadian Food Culture.

Partake in the food and drink of British Columbia’s finest in a 7-course feast at The Vancouver Club Friday July 30th. Tickets are $125 and available at: www.canadianchefscongress.com. Buy tickets, promote events and donate to help make this event a great success.

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WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA WINES

VICTORIA – The winners have been chosen for the 2010 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines. This year 281 wines were submitted from 71 wineries across the province.

The winners are:

• Desert Hills Estate Winery 2009 Gamay Noir
• Foxtrot Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir
• Gray Monk Estate Vineyards 2007 Odyssey Brut
• Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards 2007 Discovery Series Sangiovese
• Painted Rock Estate Winery 2007 Red Icon 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Peller Estates Winery 2008 Private Reserve Riesling
• Pentâge Winery 2009 Gewurztraminer
• Poplar Grove Winery 2007 Syrah
• Sandhill Wines 2007 Single Block Merlot
• Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vino Grigio

His Honour will visit the winning wineries at the end of July to present the Awards. Members of the Consular Corps of British Columbia will accompany him when he makes these presentations so they can gain knowledge of British Columbia’s renowned wine industry.
All wineries in British Columbia were invited to submit their wines for judging by a panel of wine industry professionals. Wines submitted had to be from 100% British Columbian grown grapes and produced in province to be eligible. For more information visit www.ltgov.bc.ca.

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Third Annual

WILD BC SEAFOOD FEST … wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardines – Saturday, August 28th, 2010

Richmond, BC:  The increasingly popular Wild BC Seafood Fest will take place on Saturday, August 28th between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm at the Steveston Harbour Authority Fisherman’s Park (in front of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site • 12138 Fourth Avenue) in the fishing community of Steveston, Richmond, BC.  This third annual celebration is a free outdoor public event to celebrate and enjoy wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardines!

Join members of BC’s commercial fishing industry and some of BC’s most acclaimed chefs and seafood experts as they demonstrate a variety of amazing wild BC seafood recipes and provide tips on buying, storing, preparing and even eating some of our favourite wild BC seafood.  Plus sample their amazing creations and receive copies of the featured recipes to savour them at home!

This year’s special guest chefs include: Tojo (Owner and Executive Chef of Tojo’s Restaurant, Vancouver, BC) who will feature contemporary wild BC sablefish creations; Neil Taylor (Executive Chef of Cibo Trattoria, Vancouver, BC) who will present Mediterranean inspired wild BC sardine creations; and, Stephen Wong (Vancouver journalist, food and beverage consultant and cookbook author) who will present Asian inspired wild BC salmon recipes.  Award-winning fishmonger from The Salmon Shop and Screaming Mimi’s in North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay Market, Kosta Zogaris will also add incredible information and enthusiasm as the cooking stage MC.

Other event activities will guarantee fabulous fun and feasting for all: learn all about wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardines direct from fishermen and other members of the industry; buy wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardines straight from the fishermen at the Steveston dock; buy value-added wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardine products from specialty vendors in the Market Area; partake in the kids’ activities; and, listen to the live entertainment provided by Richmond’s popular Darren Specht and the Blues-Hawks.  And visit the expanded, very popular Market Area to purchase delicious wild BC seafood creations from popular local restaurants, and the best specialty food products that BC has to offer to prepare delectable meals at home showcasing wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardines as well as vegetables, fruit, baked goods and more!

Wild BC Seafood Fest is presented by the Canadian Pacific Sardine Association, Canadian Sablefish Association and BC Salmon Marketing Council.  The Canadian Pacific Sardine Association, Canadian Sablefish Association and BC Salmon Marketing Council are non-profit, legally constituted organizations representing permit holders in the management and marketing of their respective wild BC seafood fisheries.

Today, we are excited to welcome The Diamond to the Urban Diner community. Thank you for your support!

Click on images below to view their Latest News and Upcoming Bartending courses.

(Image courtesy of: thevenusproject.com)

BC chosen to lead national sustainable certification program for tourism industry; Teahouse Unveils Stunning Edible Garden; The Glowbal Collection – July Features; An Evening at Cru in support of the Weekend to End Women’s Cancer; Q4 Ristorante to open additional location downtown; A Taste of History at the 16th annual Feast of Fields.

BC CHOSEN TO LEAD NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY

Vancouver, BC, July 9, 2010 – British Columbia’s tourism leaders gathered at the Delta Vancouver Suites hotel today, as Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts and John Yap, Minister of State for Climate Action, announced BC’s role in piloting a nation-wide sustainable tourism certification program and unveiled new tools to support greater sustainable development in the tourism industry.

Minister Krueger announced that British Columbia, with the support of ETHOS ( British Columbia’s sustainable tourism network) was chosen by the Canadian Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council  (CSTAC)to lead a pilot for a nation-wide sustainable tourism certification program.  Defined internationally as a best practice, leading sustainable tourism destinations around the world have built consumer confidence through making certification programs available to local operators.

Starting in July, twenty-four tourism operators across BC’s six tourism regions will go through a full assessment of the Green Tourism Certification Program developed by UK based Green Business Ltd.  The feedback provided by these BC based tourism operators will create the performance indicators for the Canadian version of this program.

“This will be the first sustainability certification program designed for all sectors of the tourism industry in Canada,” said Krueger.  “It shows real leadership in the further  development  of the sustainable tourism sector and we are proud to be a partner in this innovative new program and confident it will help keep British Columbia  at the forefront of sustainable tourism initiatives.”

Following the announcement of this groundbreaking certification program, Minister Yap unveiled two new sustainability tools for tourism operators.  Available immediately is the ETHOS Travel Offset Calculator tool. Minister Yap demonstrated how this easy to use web-based tool enables visitors to offset their travel carbon footprint and encourages them to use offsetting as a regular part of their booking process.  Offsets purchased through the online calculator, a free tool for ETHOS members to place on their websites, are provided by Pacific Carbon Trust.

“There is a growing awareness of the linkages between how we work, travel and vacation and our carbon footprint”, said Yap. “Tools like the ETHOS travel calculator build on that awareness, give tourists an opportunity to offset their emissions and brand B.C. as an eco-conscious tourism destination.”

In addition to contributing to a low-carbon BC economy, the calculator also presents an opportunity for operators to introduce visitors to the leading role BC plays in addressing global climate change.  Currently Tourism Vancouver is showcasing the ETHOS Travel Offset Calculator on the homepage of their visitor website.  ETHOS expects to have over 100 operators from across British Columbia using this value added tool by early 2011.

“Perhaps more than any other sector in BC, tourism offers a unique opportunity for BC to spread the message of sustainability to the world,” said Pacific Carbon Trust CEO Scott MacDonald. “By purchasing Pacific Carbon Trust offsets through the ETHOS Travel Calculator, visitors will know they are investing in credible made-in-BC emissions reduction projects that are leading to cleaner and greener environment.”

Minister Yap also presented Passion for Action’s GOBI Carbon Management Business Tool.  Supported by ETHOS, and offered at a discount to members, GobiSOFT is a comprehensive, web-based system which enables organizations to easily measure, report and manage their carbon footprint.  GobiSOFT is based on international standards, thorough research and published data sources, making it one of the most credible and complete carbon management systems on the market.

With the introduction of both tools and the certification process, ETHOS now offers its members the opportunity to fully participate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, at both the consumer and operational levels.

“Our goal today was to highlight the progress that has been made for British Columbia to lead the way within Canada in sustainable tourism development,” said Paul Vallee, Chair of ETHOS and Vice President of Tourism Vancouver.  “Our vision at ETHOS is a tourism industry in BC that is healthy, vibrant and thriving, socially, culturally, environmentally and economically.  We think this first year of operations shows there is a willingness to work collaboratively to reach our sustainable development targets and put us on the world stage as a sustainable tourism destination.”

CSTAC, which represents tourism industry members across Canada, collectively endorsed the decision to have BC based ETHOS take the lead in developing and implementing the national certification program.

“British Columbia has shown such insight in creating and supporting a unique alliance of government, industry, and non-government partners when it created ETHOS,” says CSTAC Chair, Randy Williams. “And as a member of CSTAC, ETHOS has been instrumental in the Council’s development of the Canadian Sustainable Tourism Criteria , ensuring that it is directly aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.”

Today, tourism within BC attracts over 24 million visitors annually and employs 131,000 people across 18,000 tourism businesses.

About ETHOS
Created in 2009, ETHOS serves as an independent and accountable organization to facilitate tourism’s transformation to a quadruple bottom line (economic, environment, social and cultural) industry.  ETHOS invites tourism industry members to contact them directly at 604-689-7774 and to sign up as a network member at www.ethosbc.com.

About Pacific Carbon Trust
Pacific Carbon Trust is a Crown corporation created to deliver high-quality BC-based carbon offsets to help clients meet their carbon reduction goals and to support the growth of BC’s low-carbon economy. For more information, please visit www.pacificcarbontrust.com.

About Green Business UK Ltd.
Green Business UK Ltd is the sole authorized advisory and assessment company for the Green Tourism Business Scheme. The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) has been running since 1997 and with over 2000 certified businesses in the UK and Ireland, it is the largest and most established sustainable tourism certification program of its type in the World. ETHOS has signed a contract with Green Business UK Ltd. as the sole license holder in Canada to develop, administer, and implement a Canada-based National Sustainable Tourism Certification Program formulated and driven by the principles of the GTBS. For more information please visit www.green-business.co.uk.

List of BC Participants

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LOCAL LANDSCAPE PRODUCES ENCHANTING INGREDIENTS

Teahouse Unveils Stunning Edible Garden

(Vancouver, BC, Canada) – Why give a boring bouquet of flowers when you can eat them for breakfast, lunch or dinner? It’s time to step outside the flower box because Teahouse in Stanley Park has announced a new and prospering edible garden. Already in full bloom, locals can dine among various edible ornamentals, vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and berries now producing over 36 varieties of fresh produce.

In addition to promoting sustainable regional agriculture, Teahouse in Stanley Park has simultaneously created a summer menu that takes fresh to a new level. Moving from the ground up, the garden is producing everything from Jerusalem artichokes to pineapple sage and to top it off, the roof has been covered with approximately 50 tomato plants. Mainly heirloom varieties, Chef Francois Gagnon has declared his favourite tomatoes the Green Zebra assortment – which can often be seen in his feature Heirloom Tomato Salad with goat feta, cucumber and red wine vinaigrette.

In sync with the seasons, the dishes being prepared at the Teahouse this summer reflect the freshest characteristics of B.C.’s local bounty. Chef Francois Gagnon has been inspired by the health and flavour benefits of small-scale farming and applauds the edible garden’s contribution to his latest creations. Dishes featuring coveted Salt Spring Island mussels, Qualicum Bay scallops and Fraser Valley Chicken proclaim that Teahouse is the Mecca for a gourmet west coast experience.

Located at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, the Teahouse boasts classic French bistro cuisine and on point service. Perched above the seawall, overlooking English Bay and Spanish Banks, this eatery in the ‘heart of the park’ is the perfect place to relax, celebrate and enjoy what Vancouver has to offer.

Teahouse
Stanley Park Drive, Ferguson Point | Vancouver
Tel: (604) 669-3281
www.vancouverdine.com

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The GLOWBAL COLLECTION ~ JULY FEATURES

There is no shortage of exciting events happening throughout Vancouver this summer – from the theatrics of Bard on the Beach to the hotly anticipated Celebration of Light. The GLOWBAL COLLECTION – with six lauded restaurants – presents the perfect opportunity for a delicious pre-or-post-event dining experience. From July 15 -25, glowbal grill, COAST, Sanafir, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria Italian Kitchen, and SOCIETY Dining Lounge are offering guests fresh fare, inspired from around the corner and around the world, guaranteed to complement any Vancouver staycation.

This month, glowbal grill is paying homage to Texas and its famous BBQ. Appetizers include the Chipotle, Prawn and Avocado Tortilla or Spicy Texas Chilli. Put some meat on your bones – and in your belly – with entrée selections like Bourbon BBQ Glazed Bison Ribs or the Southern Spiced 16oz Cowboy Cut Ribeye. Finish up with the quintessential summer dessert – Strawberry Shortcake. click here for full menu details

COAST explores Vancouver Island from bottom to top with appetizer plates offering Pan Seared Jumbo Scallops or Charred Local Octopus Salad with truffled sea urchin vinaigrette. Main courses offer sea selections including a Grilled Wild Ling Cod with a Dungeness Crab Crust or a ‘Canadian Surf and Turf’ of Broiled Beef Tenderloin with Poached Atlantic Lobster. Diners will fall hook, line and sinker for COAST’s patriotic Canadian Maple Parfait – complemented with house-made fudge – for dessert.click here for full menu details

Guests may just ask Sam to play it again after feasting on Sanafir’s Casablanca-inspired menu this month. The Mixed Olive Salad appetizer features confit garlic in a tangy tomato cumin vinaigrette. Lamb Tagine, Lobster and Fried Eggplant, and Fig and Apricot Couscous, are featured in the Tapas Trio entrée. For dessert, sample the decadent Crème Caramel topped with coconut and almond truffles. click here for full menu details

Discover the ancient flavours of Sardinia at Italian Kitchen. Known for its natural beauty and abundant seafood, this Mediterranean island is the inspiration for menu items like Cassula – a Prawn and Halibut seafood soup, or Culingiones – stuffed ravioli with cacciocavalo cheese and braised greens. Entrées also embrace the sea with Aragosta Arrosto – Stuffed Lobster served with Bianco Risotto, and Tonnato – Tuna with Fennel Sausage, Peas and Heirloom Tomatoes. For dessert, enjoy Frutti di Bosco al Proseco con menta – fresh berries in Proseco and mint with a limone sorbet. click here for full menu details

Explore the Puglia and Apulia regions of Italy at Trattoria. From the land of many colours comes a kaleidoscopic menu. Primo selections include a vibrant Roasted Beet Salad or Duck Tortelli in Tuscan tomato sauce. Pizza and pasta are offered for entrées, including Spicy Calabrese and Gamberi Spaghetti Nero and Oven Roasted Cauliflower and Onion Pizza. End on a sweet note with a Sugar Dusted Fritter. click here for full menu details

Summer screams for delicious comfort food and SOCIETY is dishing it up with delight. Try a Mini Chilli Dog or Bacon Vichyssoise to start the meal. Entrées include Queen Charlotte Halibut Fish ‘n Chips and Kobe Beef Hamburger Helper served alongside macaroni ‘n cheese. Strawberry season is in full swing, enjoy it with Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. click here for full menu details

Make your reservations online at glowbalgroup.com

Check out THE GLOWBAL COLLECTION blog for the latest news on all the restaurants at blog.glowbalgroup.com/. Text ‘glowbal’ to 82442 on your mobile phone for a directory of all the GLOWBAL restaurants and instant links for reservations and special offers (standard text and data rates may apply).

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AN EVENING AT CRU IN SUPPORT OF ‘THE WEEKEND TO END WOMEN’S CANCERS

Dinner begins at 7 pm and will include five courses with wine to compliment each course.

When:         Sunday August 8th at 7:00 pm
Where:       1459 West Broadway (between Granville and Hemlock)
Cost:           $120 per person which includes tax, gratuity and donation
Contact:     Cru Restaurant 604-677-4111 or go to www.cru.ca

Twenty dollars from each dinner will be donated to the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers.  This money will fund breast cancer research, treatment and patient resources through the BC Cancer Foundation.

If you would like to know more about The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers, please go to www.endcancer.ca.

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Q4 RISTORANTE TO OPEN ADDITIONAL LOCATION DOWNTOWN

(Vancouver, BC)  July 9, 2010– Patrick Corsi and Alex Tsakumis, partners in the ever-popular Q4 Ristorante in Kitsilano, are pleased to announce they will be opening a second Q4 location downtown in November 2010. The new restaurant will be located on Richards Street in the elegant boutique L’Hermitage Hotel.

“We’ve had our eye on the perfect downtown location for some time, and you can’t beat Richards and Robson,” said Patrick Corsi.

The new restaurant will be open for dinner nightly, and lunch Monday to Friday.  Box Interior Design is planning a warm, stylish comfortable space with approximately 70 seats including plenty of room at the bar which is expected to appeal to visiting hotel guests as well as residents of L’Hermitage en Ville residential tower.

Longtime Q4 executive chef Bradford Ellis is looking forward to making the move downtown from West 4^th.  His menu promises classic, unpretentious Italian, and he’s thrilled about the Wood Stone Forno pizza oven that take centre stage in the kitchen.  Naturally the menu will be complemented by an extensive wine list.

About Q4
Over a decade and a half, Q4, Vancouver’s original new Italian restaurant, has established itself as one of the city’s favourite neighbourhood restaurants.  In 2009 longtime proprietor, Patrick Corsi joined forces with a new partner, noted real estate developer and entrepreneur, Alex B. Tsakumis.  For more information please visit www.q4restaurant.com, phone 604.734.4444, follow Q4 on Twitter @Q4Restaurant, and become a fan on Facebook.

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A TASTE OF HISTORY AT THE 16TH ANNUAL FEAST OF FIELDS

Finally, the marriage of local foods and culinary arts is enjoying a broader audience in both British Columbia and around the world. And with such a rich bounty of local foods available year round, it’s easy to see why. To showcase and celebrate this connection that we are blessed with, FarmFolk/CityFolk has teamed up with Wellbrook Winery to host the 16th annual Feast of Fields on Sunday, August 29th at Wellbrook Winery, located on Bremner Farm in Delta, BC.

Each year, Feast of Fields offers an inviting, relaxed farm setting where guests wander at their own pace, taking in high summer’s many food gems prepared by the best of BC’s culinary masters. Together our region’s farmers, restaurateurs, vintners, brewers and food artisans share with the public their passion and knowledge of our local fare. Since 1994, Feast of Fields has provided a delicious opportunity for its guests to experience the simplicity of committing to a local, sustainable diet, as well as the endless enjoyment and variety that come with eating locally.

This year’s theme, ‘A Taste of History‘ will not only showcase 2nd generation farm production, but will also highlight the long standing relationships that some of BC’s best chefs have with BC farmers. Host Wellbrook Winery is located on Bremner Farm, a 55-acre property known for growing, producing and bottling some of the best juices in Canada. Started in the 1950s by Stan Bremner, the combined operations are today run by sons Alan and Terry. Along with running a successful fruit juice company, the Bremners also own Wellbrook Winery, which specializes in blueberry, cranberry, strawberry, peach, apricot and apple wines. A special feature of the winery location is ‘The Old Grainery Store’, which was lovingly restored by Terry Bremner during a two-year restoration project.

Feast of Fields is FarmFolk/CityFolk’s annual fundraiser. Net proceeds support their work year round as they help to create a sustainable food system for British Columbia. Not only will guests have a great culinary experience but they will also be investing in a secure food future.

Feast of Fields takes place Saturday, August 29 from 1–5pm at Wellbrook Winery (4626, 88th Street, Delta, BC). Tickets are $85 and can be purchased online starting June 15th at www.feastoffields.com.

Salt Spring Coffee joined Offsetters, the company’s provider of quality carbon offsets, on June 29 to announce that their 400g French Roast Nicaragua is now the first lifecycle carbon neutral coffee in Canada.

Urban Diner’s own Jackie Connelly is a key contributor to a excellent new urban gardening book hitting the digital and physical shelves this week published by Timber Press and entitled, Sugar Snaps and Strawberries: Simple Solutions for Creating Your Own Small Space Edible Garden. Check it out!

From the publisher’s description:

Imagine savoring fresh-picked strawberries on a weekend morning, plucking plump figs from your mini-orchard to quarter and serve at a farm-to-table meal with friends, or harvesting and sauteing the edible stalks of garlic bulbs. If the size of your space is bringing you back to reality, here’s the best part: you don t need a big backyard to grow your own food. In fact, you don’t need a yard at all. Andrea Bellamy, founder of the award-winning Web site Heavy Petal, gives you the dirt on growing gorgeous organic food with very little square footage. Simple, straightforward, design and growing advice can help you transform just a snippet of space into a stylish and edible oasis. Bellamy goes beyond the surface and shows you how to create and maintain healthy soil, decide what and when to plant, sow seeds and harvest, and most importantly, enjoy the process. So go ahead, picture that tiny nook, corner, strip, porch, alley, balcony, or postage-stamp-sized yard overflowing with fingerling potatoes, fragrant herbs, sugar snap peas, French breakfast radishes, and scarlet runner beans. Armed with luscious photography, encouraging tips, and sophisticated designs, you re sure to be inspired to join the grow-your-own revolution.

Visit author Andrea Bellamy’s informative gardening site: www.heavypetal.ca

~ PK

Vancouver, BC – On Friday, July 16, 2010 some of Vancouver’s most notable industry members will open the doors to their much-anticipated Gastown restaurant, L’Abattoir. Led by General Manager Paul Grunberg and Chef Lee Cooper, L’Abattoir will offer French influenced West Coast fare paired with innovative imbibing programs from Sommelier Jake Skakun and Head Barman Shaun Layton.

Located at 217 Carrall Street in the centre of Gassy Jack Square, L’Abattoir is set in a refurbished 19th century building. Capitalizing on the natural attributes of the space, the restaurant’s design features natural wood and exposed brick juxtaposed with clean lines of both glass and steel finishes set against classic French tiling. Diners will have the opportunity to enjoy the restaurant in a variety of settings including 13 stools in the front of house bar and lounge, 46 seats in the elevated dining room and 22 seats in the plush, sun soaked atrium off of Goalers’s Mews.

THE L’ABATTOIR TEAM

Chef Lee Cooper
Lee Cooper brings more than a decade of industry experience to the helm of L’Abattoir. Following his participation as a finalist in the Canadian National Bocuse D’Or competition, Lee went on to work in several Michelin starred restaurants in the USA and the UK, most notably Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck. Upon returning to Vancouver, he accepted a sous chef position at The Pear Tree and was there scouted by Jean-Georges Vongerichten to be part of the opening team at Market in Vancouver’s Shangri-la Hotel.

As head chef at L’Abattoir, Lee is excited to be leading a talented, young kitchen brigade and crafting menus that reflect his favourite dishes and ingredients.

General Manager Paul Grunberg
One of Vancouver’s most notable General Managers, Paul Grunberg has run, launched and nurtured some of the city’s most anticipated restaurants including Chambar, Market by Jean-Georges at the Shangri-la Hotel, and Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie. His leadership and strong vision has resulted in a reputation of parlaying his passion for food, wine and service into incredible dining experiences.

A keen traveller, Paul’s training began while living in Switzerland working at a family run boutique hotel. His drive for self-improvement and performance-based training is best exemplified through his qualifications received at the Dale Carnegie Leadership program, where he received several awards for communication and public speaking. He received training and education at Canada’s respected Camosun College Hotel and Hospitality Program.

As the leader of the team at L’Abattoir, Paul evokes style, sensibility and a comfortable environment for guests, by recreating his most memorable experiences dining in restaurants around the world.

Head Barman Shaun Layton
Regarded as one of Vancouver’s premier barmen, Shaun Layton has refined his palate via some of the world’s most renowned bars and lounges. His adventures on the cocktail trail have seen him competing in the U.K. and France, touring distilleries and cellars throughout Europe and the United States and participating in internationally recognized seminars and bar education programs.

With a resume that spans some of Vancouver’s most notable restaurants and cocktail lounges, Shaun has a decade of experience developing bar and staff education programs. His philosophy is grounded in a passion for the history and culture of cocktails, proper techniques and barware, and being able to turn out drinks that allow for a touch of creativity and personal flare.

Shaun was recognized at 21st Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards as Bartender of the Year.

Sommelier Jake Skakun
With a resume that spans some of the world’s most wine-centric restaurants and bars, Jake Skakun honed his skills working in Berlin, Paris and San Francisco. His passion for wine has led him through the vineyards of the world’s wine regions and even seen him getting his hands dirty working between the vines and contributing to the winemaking process in British Columbia.

A certified sommelier through the International Sommelier Guild and graduate of UC Davis’ Introduction to Winemaking, Jake will soon add another certification to his resume upon completing the Wine & Spirits Education Trust diploma program. The chance to thrill guests by introducing them to a new region, style or producer excites Jake most and motivates him to pursue higher levels of wine education.

ABOUT L’ABATTOIR
L’Abattoir will be open six days a week for dinner service from 5:30pm –10:30pm, with bar service extended until midnight. The restaurant will remain closed on Sundays until the introduction of lunch and brunch service, slated to commence late summer and late fall, respectively. Valet service will be available Thursday to Saturday. Walk-in traffic will be welcome thanks to a no-reservations policy. For more information, visit: www.labattoir.ca

From the press release:

The Refinery, known for having one of the most innovative cocktail programs in Canada, is now proud to launch a six month interactive and educational competition called “The Cocktail Kitchen Series”. Due to launch on July 8th 2010, “The Cocktail Kitchen Series” aims to promote niche craft cocktail development, through the expertise of Vancouver’s best veteran and up and coming bartenders who have demonstrated creativity and leadership in their craft. Only the true ambassadors to cocktail culture need to read further.

Here is the premise of the program:
Each month, a bartender is paired with a different spirit, and a different country – this will be repeated 4 times a month with a different bartender each Thursday. Guests are invited to come down and experience the interactive teachings of the featured bartender, who will attempt to effectively pair the featured country’s menu, with a set of three cocktails using the featured base spirit. Plus, there’s another spin: the bartenders will shop at The Refinery – it is mandatory that each cocktail include a Refinery house bitters. One week prior their Cocktail Kitchen, the bartender will be able to score 1 oz x 3 types of bitters/vermouths/tinctures available at the Refinery for cocktail testing. The Refinery’s Bitters Program inventory currently sits at 19 types.

Concept & Rules:
With at least one week’s notice, the featured bartender will learn of the menu and spirit to use. The cocktails should showcase the ultimate talent the bartender possesses, and as we all know, each bartender has a different style and niche. Their cocktails will be graded by each guest that participates, up to 30 people. The results are tallied at the end of the month, and the winning bartender will receive an additional money prize, and a chance to compete again the following month. At the end of the 6 month period, the bartender with the most wins gets a trip. Simple as that. This is the longest running competition this city’s ever seen!

Cost:
$30 per guest (Includes tax and gratuity) 28 seats available each week. 7-9 pm each Thursday. Tickets are available through the Refinery by calling 604-687-8001

SCHEDULE:
* July 2010 – Region: CENTRAL AMERICA
* August 2010 – FRANCE * September 2010 – Region: SOUTH EAST ASIA
*October 2010 – ITALY *November 2010 – THE WEST INDIES
*December 2010 – INDIA *January 2011 – Region: EASTERN EUROPE
*January – June 2011 – Countries and Spirits to be determined

JULY BARTENDERS:
July 08, Week 1: LAUREN MOTE (The Refinery)
July 15, Week 2:  COLIN MACDOUGALL (Blue Water Cafe, The Pourhouse)
July 22, Week 3: DAVID BAIN (West Restaurant)
July 29, Week 4: BEN DE CHAMPLAIN (The Refinery, West Restaurant)

In the last year, we have had over 40 articles written about The Refinery and our specialties, above and beyond plain old business listings. We urge you to check out website under “Press” to see for yourself how representing your bar/ restaurant with the Cocktail Kitchen Series at The Refinery is best for business. Each week we will have 2 different media personalities in attendance, as well as a film crew and photographer. The press releases we write are reaching more than the low-hanging fruit of Scout Magazine and Urban Diner for local restaurant industry news. We also do radio segments, TV spots, and reach a broad range of national and international publications, not to mention the persuasive and domineering food and beverage blog industry here and across the globe. As a bartender, this is an excellent avenue to raise your profile in the municipal and national community.

Additionally, if you are a bartender reading this, and wondering how you can get involved, please email Lauren Mote at mote@therefineryvancouver.com. Subject should read: “Cocktail Kitchen Series Bartender” – copy and paste the following into the body of the message, and fill out the questionnaire – we are booking in advance up until January 2011.

Full Name:
Which Bar(s)/Restaurant(s) are you representing?
How long have you been in the Industry?
Please include a short 250-400 word bio about yourself:
What’s your bartending style?
Do you have a preference of which country and spirit you’d like to be paired up with in a perfect world?
Please include a picture of yourself!

The Glowbal Collection of Restaurants – June features; Hamilton Street Grill welcomes winemaker Randy Picton of Nk’Mip Cellars; Felix Turianskyj joins OPUS Vancouver team as acting executive chef; Caffè Artigiano takes the world stage once again at the 2010 World Barista Championships; Au Petit Chavignol presents “Summer of Riesling 2010″; The Smoking Dog Bistro welcomes back Chef Pascal Georges; Taste Pairs with The Land Conservancy for Victoria’s summer festival of food and wine; Laughing Stock passes on the HST savings

THE GLOWBAL COLLECTION OF RESTAURANTS – JUNE FEATURES

Start summer on a high note with The GLOWBAL COLLECTION. From June 17 – 27, glowbal grill, COAST Restaurant, Sanafir, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria Italian Kitchen, and SOCIETY Dining Lounge are are celebrating the long daylight hours – and the sunshine that’s sure to come Vancouver’s way – with culinary delights inspired by locales both near and far.

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 showcases the intense flavour of Wagyu Beef with tender selections from Snake River Farms. Based in Eastern Idaho, Snake River crosses its premiere Japanese Wagyu cattle with Black Angus cattle to create American Wagyu Beef. Appetizers include Pepper-Crusted Wagyu Chuck Carpaccio or a Wagyu Short Rib with sweet pea ravioli. For entrees, move onto the Wagyu Tenderloin and Atlantic Lobster Duo or the Prosciutto wrapped Kurobuta Pork Rack paired with apple-pecan chutney and fingerling potatoes. Bring it back home with the Okanagan Peach Cobbler for dessert. click here for full menu details

COAST offers a boatload of BC Coast-inspired creations on its menu. Appetizers include smoked Qualicum Beach Scallops and fresh Dungeness Crab Cakes. The bounty of the West Coast is highlighted with entrees like Queen Charlotte Halibut served with creamed leeks and baby beets, or Wild BC Salmon paired with Salt Spring Island Mussels. For dessert, partake in the frozen strawberry parfait, bursting with marinated berries and sweet cassis syrup. click here for full menu details

Discover Spain at Sanafir. A bowl of Sopa de Ajo kicks off the Spanish serenade; the ham and garlic soup is topped with a poached quail’s egg. The feature Tapas Trio includes braised pork cheek, grilled prawn with sweet corn, and boquerone and artichoke heart ensalada. Say hola to cinnamon churros for dessert. click here for full menu details

Explore the Liguria region of Italy at Italian Kitchen. Sample the Steamed Razor Clams or a Grilled Vegetable Calzone for the Primo Piatto. Entrees include the Branzino-Mediterranean Sea Bass with cucumber-tomato gazpacho, and the Poached Tuna Trenette Pasta featuring fresh heirloom tomatoes. The Ligurian Lemon Cake includes the quintessential Italian ingredient – olive oil – to create an elegant and irresistibly moist treat. click here for full menu details

Trattoria tips its hat to Basilicata – a tiny region in Southern Italy – with a menu big on flavour. Whet your appetite with the Savory Fig And Fennel Crostini or a Peperonata Calzone. Entrees include Orecchiette Vongole – a pasta dish featuring manila clams and barlotti beans, or the Forno Roasted Lamb Loin. If you still have room for dessert, Trattoria is dishing up Burricotta Cannoli, featuring rich burricotta cheese and pistachio crema. click here for full menu details

Dig into the goodness of comfort food at SOCIETY. Sweet Potato Chili Fries and Iceberg Lettuce Salad with baby shrimp and double-smoked bacon are appetizers sure to satisfy. Southern-inspired Chicken Fried Steak is complemented with creamy mashed potatoes, and the classic clubhouse sandwich gets a redesign with seared rare Ahi Tuna, crisp prosciutto and chipotle mayo. Round out the meal with a slice of Key Lime Pie for dessert. click here for full menu details

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HAMILTON STREET GRILL WELCOMES WINEMAKER RANDY PICTON OF NK’MIP CELLARS TO THIS MONTH’S WINE TASTING

Nk’Mip Cellars (Pronounced in-ka-meep) is North America’s first Aboriginal
owned and operated winery, garnering awards and praise
for their excellent wines throughout North America

Monday, June 28th and/or Tuesday, June 29th
5:30 to 7 pm – 3 wines, 3 appetizers $25 per person

In keeping with our popular monthly format, try a sampling of three new wines and have three savoury, wine-inspired food tasters while learning from a wine expert as they take you through a sit down yet casual style tasting.
This month we are lucky to have a rare visit from a winemaker with Nk’Mip Cellar’s
master wine maker Randy Picton to take us through the wines

Monday, June 28th at 5:30pm
or Tuesday, June 29th at 5:30pm
$25 per person plus taxes and gratuity
Reserve by credit card at 604-331-1511
or info@hamiltonstreetgrill.com

1009 Hamilton Street, Yaletown, Vancouver
604-331-1511 or hamiltonstreetgrill@telus.net
www.hamiltonstreetgrill.com / twitter@hamiltonstgrill / Facebook – Hamilton Street Grill

Hamilton Street Grill Hours
Brunch served 10 am – 3 pm Saturday and Sunday
Dinner served 7 nights a week from 5 pm
Lunch served Tuesday – Friday – 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Reservations available. Large party’s welcome. Year round patio seating

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FELIX TURIANSKYJ JOINS OPUS VANCOUVER TEAM AS ACTING EXECUTIVE CHEF

Yaletown’s celebrated OPUS Vancouver Hotel and Elixir Bistro are delighted to announce the arrival of Acting Executive Chef Felix Turianskyj.

With over 15 years experience in the culinary world, Turianskyj comes from within the OPUS Hotel Group family. The native Montrealer garnered much acclaim while serving as both Executive Chef and General Manager of KOKO Restaurant + Bar at OPUS Montreal. Chef Turianskyj’s vision and passion for excellence lead the way in executing a menu that perfectly emulated KOKO’s cosmopolitan, sophisticated environment.

Turianskyj’s career began with his studies at the Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec. He then took on the role of sous-Chef at the Manoir des Érables, and was later appointed Chef for the Délégation du Québec in New York. Turianskyj then returned to Québec, where he further demonstrated his talents at chic Mont-Tremblant restaurant Aux Truffes.

Bearing Taiwanese, French and Ukranian ancestry, Chef Turianskyj grew up surrounded by global culinary influences. His passion for travel and culture took him to the Sheraton Club des Pins in Algiers, Algeria, the deserts of Qatar at the Intercontinental in Doha, and to Q’BA, New Delhi’s pre-eminent dining establishment. He has acquired a wealth of experience, from catering expansive events in the desert to planning formal dinners honouring political dignitaries, heads of state and royalty; he is ideally poised to lead OPUS Vancouver’s culinary team and will be responsible for OPUS Bar, Elixir Bistro and OPUS Catering.

OPUS Hotel Vancouver
Uniquely stylish and always fresh, OPUS Hotel Vancouver redefines the boutique experience, blending contemporary design with warmth and intuitive service. Ninety-six guestrooms feature vibrant colours, spa bathrooms and five lifestyle-inspired décor schemes. Located in fashionable Yaletown, close to Vancouver’s best restaurants, spas and boutiques, the hotel is home to Elixir Bistro and the dramatic OPUS Bar. OPUS was voted one of the world’s top 100 hotels by readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

www.opushotel.com

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SUNSHINE, SWEETS AND SCENERY

Seasons In The Park Welcomes New Summer Menu Items

(Vancouver, BC) – To celebrate summer, the highly acclaimed Seasons In the Park, is thrilled to announce the start of their new summer menu.  Starting today, the restaurant will unveil a number of seasonal dishes designed to leave diners spoilt for choice.  Inspired by the parks own growing herb garden, Executive Chef Buddy Wolfe, has prepared a seasonal menu brimming with fresh, local ingredients.

Highlighting a number of plates including Miso Soy Marinated local Black Cod, seared Ahi Tuna as well as Chop Salad with green beans, beets and tomatoes, the restaurant has crafted a fun, flavourful menu. Bringing a sense of playfulness back into the restaurant, the menu will also feature a number of fun adaptations including the to-die-for sunburnt lemon pie. The summer items are in addition to the already extensive signature menu and will be available from now through to the fall.

Seasons in the Park, perched on top of Queen Elizabeth Park, boasts a patio overlooking the entire city with idyllic views of the park gardens, English Bay, and the North Shore Mountains.  With outdoor fireplaces, giant wood beams and an unparalleled view, there is truly no finer patio in this city.

Visit: www.vancouverdine.com

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CAFFÈ ARTIGIANO TAKES THE WORLD STAGE ONCE AGAIN

Barista Kyle Straw to Compete in the 2010 World Barista Championships

Caffè Artigiano’s Kyle Straw will represent Canada in the 2010 World Barista Championships (WBC), held in London, England from June 23-26. A professional barista, Straw is the General Manager of Caffè Artigiano’s Hornby Street location.

On October 15th, 2009, Straw won the seventh annual Canadian Barista Championships, held in Vancouver at the Canadian Coffee & Tea Show. The panel especially loved Kyle’s signature drink, which drew inspiration from a Black Forest cake. Made with a winning combination of espresso from the Koke Cooperative in Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, Kyle’s signature drink wowed the judges with its great balance of flavours and elegant presentation.

Straw’s achievement carried on the legacy of his Caffè Artigiano patriots who have won every Canadian title since the competition began in 2003. Caffè Artigiano is the only caffe in the World to have competed in the World Championships more than 4 times; in fact this is their 7th year in a row to participate in the coveted competition.

Straw is honoured and excited to compete with seasoned baristas on the international level in a world-class city. In preparation for his shining moment, Straw has been training every day, working with Chef Scott Jaeger from the Pear Tree to develop his signature drink. While Straw can’t reveal too much about his concoction, he does divulge that it has been created to compliment the special espresso roast—one of the sweetest he has ever tasted—that he’s currently developing with 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters’ Vince Piccolo, with assistance from his team at Caffè Artigiano (Phil Hong, Todd Pollock and Willie Mounzer).

Celebrating its 11th year, the event welcomes gifted baristas from over 50 countries who compete for the annual title of World Barista Champion during the SCAE event. Enthusiasts from across the globe take in the ultimate espresso experience watching live and via an internet live webcast.

Each competitor must prepare and serve 12 separate espresso beverages including the classic espresso and cappuccino, as well as four “signature” drinks of their own creation, and present them all to a distinguished panel of judges. Competitors have only fifteen minutes to prepare all twelve drinks and are judged on station cleanliness, taste, beverage presentation, technical skills and overall judge’s impression.

For more details about the competition, visit www.worldbaristachampionship.com

About Caffè Artigiano

Caffè Artigiano opened in Vancouver, BC in December 1999 with the vision of an Italian-style coffee house and bistro that offered superior coffee, excellent food and a lively yet comfortable atmosphere. Today, Caffè Artigiano continues to shine as North America’s premiere coffee house. Taking great pride in the training and skills of its professional baristas, Artigiano is proud to be the home of several champion baristas who ensure that each cup of coffee served is poured to perfection. For more information please visit: www.caffeartigiano.com

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SUMMER OF RIESLING 2010

In honour of the worlds greatest wine varietal,
we are celebrating summer with our
“Summer of Riesling”
All rieslings…all summer…25% OFF
June 21 – Sept 21

Au Petit Chavignol
843 East Hastings Street | Vancouver
Tel: 604-255-4218
www.aupetitchavignol.com

Open 7 days a week from Noon onward
Serving Brunch Sat & Sun 11am-3pm

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THE SMOKING DOG BISTRO – A NEW CHEF TEACHES AN OLD DOG A FEW NEW TRICKS

The Smoking Dog Bistro proprietors’ Jean Séguin and Judith Andrews are delighted to be welcoming back Chef Pascal Georges to the stoves at Kitsilano’s favourite neighbourhood bistro, marking a return to the classic, casual French bistro food the restaurant is renowned for.

Chef Georges, now in his early 40’s, was the Executive Chef for Jean-Claude Ramond when the restaurant opened over 15 years ago. He remained with Jean-Claude for 5 years and returned for another 2 years, taking The Smoking Dog through the transition when it was sold to Jean and Jude. Pascal and his family recently returned to Vancouver from France and Asia, where he worked at some of those region’s top hotels and restaurants.

The Menu
French Bistro food is classic – A simple formula of impeccable ingredients and simple yet meticulous preparation. Even classics however have to move with the times, Canadian beef’s superior flavour deserves lighter sauces and guests now expect to taste the fish, not the butter sauce. The Smoking Dog, like any true bistro, offers good value and has kept prices at a level where neighbourhood guests can drop in a few times a week, not only once or twice a year.

Returning classics on The Smoking Dog menu include the signature Mimosa Salad, butter lettuce, garnished with tomatoes, diced egg and parsley, dressed with a Dijon sauce; Salade Niçoise, large enough for a light main course, uses a true recipe from Nice with local albacore tuna, roasted bell peppers, olives, quail eggs, green beans, anchovies, baby vine tomatoes, mini eggplant and squash. The menu offers three classic soups – a French Onion soup is gratinéed with Gruyere’s milder cousin Swiss, on a browned crouton, Lobster Bisque is rich with lobster stock and the Tomato and Gin soup is made from fresh tomatoes, still with the classic dollop of crème fraîche, but with a vegetable stock to keep it lighter. Grilled quail returns, now served with a generous topping of lightly tempura vegetables and new to the menu is a Potato Tarte with Smoked Salmon and Tuna Tartar.

The Smoking Dog’s Pepper Steak, an 8 oz well-aged tenderloin served with French green beans and pommes puree, remains on the menu. Fresh halibut, roast duck, prawns, two pastas and a risotto round out the well priced $14 to $29 entrée menu.

In homage to true bistro food, and a nod to the original Jean-Claude menu, a small $15 menu offers Steak Frites, Roast Chicken Frites or Grilled Salmon Frites throughout the day and evening. Served as a simple meal with just pommes frites and sauce, sides of French green beans, market vegetables and salads can be added for an additional charge.

The lunch menu offers the same selection of appetizers and desserts, with lunch time favourites and smaller entrée’s. A quiche changes daily and the much loved Smoking Dog Bistro Burger, using hand chopped top sirloin, remains.

Desserts, all made in house, also include the classics with Crème Brûlée and Crème Caramel, Chocolate Fondant and Profiteroles. An Apple Tart Tatin, rustic and somewhat chunkier than its fine dining cousin, is served with vanilla gelato.

The wine list is value priced, matching the style set by the restaurant, offering many French selections as well as local & international wines.

The Address
Kitsilano is the entrance to Vancouver’s West Side. Located just one block off Burrard at 1889 West 1st Avenue, The Smoking Dog resides in a residential neighbourhood. It’s pretty and quiet, the beach a block away and it’s on a bike path. It has a 70 seat dining room, a dozen high top bar seats and a large patio, heated in winter, which offers up an extraordinary corner view of people-watching opportunities, especially on sunny afternoons and evenings. Locals walk but it’s well worth the drive across one of the bridges.

The Smoking Dog Bistro
1889 West 1st Avenue | Kitsilano
Tel: 604-732-8811
www.thesmokingdog.com
twitter@thesmokingdog

Open all day, 7 days a week, from 11:30 am
Staying open all afternoon for late lunches and early dinners

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TASTE PAIRS WITH THE LAND CONSERVANCY FOR VICTORIA’S SUMMER FESTIVAL OF FOOD AND WINE

Victoria, BC –Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine, July 15-18, 2010 shines the spotlight on the delicious abundance of local, seasonal and sustainable products that come from the land.  Naming The Land Conservancy as beneficiary of Taste 2010 is therefore the perfect pairing.

“Taste is a festival with local conscience.  We are promoting the best of Victoria and British Columbia.  It’s not just about all the great local cuisine and wine, but about the characters behind those products who walk the talk,” says Kathy McAree, festival organizer, culinary tour operator, writer and radio host.  Partial proceeds from the festival will go to The Land Conservancy whose mandate focuses on land protection.  “I am thoroughly impressed with TLC’s recent success saving Madrona Farm and am proud to be working with an organization with such passion and commitment.”

“We are pleased to be working with Taste to bring local food security issues to the forefront of Islanders’ minds,” says Heather Skydt, TLC’s Communication Manager.  “Madrona Farm is a community asset now, and future generations will benefit from its success.  We are so appreciative of all the local restaurants for donating their time and money to help protect this spectacular 27-acre farm only 10 minutes from downtown Victoria.”

Taste connects festival participants directly with the maker who in turn have direct connections to the products and the land.  For one ticket price, The Main Event participants can chat with winemakers, cheesemakers, chefs, cidermakers, gin distillers, and even a sakemaker as they indulge in a wide variety of local cuisine from top Victoria chefs and restaurants as well as taste wine, cider, tea, gin and even sake all produced in British Columbia.

This culinary tourism experience kicks-off Thursday, July 15 at the Crystal Garden in downtown Victoria with The Main Event, an evening of BC wine tasting along with offerings of fresh and seasonal Vancouver Island cuisine.

On subsequent days, Taste will feature 10 events led by British Columbia food and wine personalities including Chef David Mincey of Camille’s and culinary Olympian Chef Brad Horen, as well as local Victoria Sommelier and Master of Wine student Louise Wilson.  Wine and food seminars July 16, 17 and 18 include “Sips and Seafood” on Victoria’s inner harbour seashore at the Inn at Laurel Point, “Swine and The Vine” with a pig roast right downtown at the Hotel Grand Pacific, an inside look at BC’s sustainable seafood industry at Finest At Sea plus “Chocoholics Anonymous” with chef David Mincey.

An Italian “long lunch” at La Piola will salute Madrona Farm and the work of The Land Conservancy on Saturday, July 17 at 1pm.  Chef Cory Pelan is creating a 3-course lunch with fresh produce from Madrona Farm and local wine pairings will be enjoyed.

A special trade tasting of British Columbia wines will take place prior to The Main Event for accredited food and beverage professionals.  For further information on Taste 2010 events, visit www.VictoriaTaste.com.

Tickets to The Main Event are available on-line and for purchase at many retailers and hotels around Victoria with a full listing on the Taste website.  To attend events around Victoria Friday through Sunday, please register on-line www.VictoriaTaste.com.

For more information about Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine, contact Kathy McAree directly at info@VictoriaTaste.com

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LAUGHING STOCK NEWS

We’re in the RED…wine that is…Our Summer Wine Releases

Summer sunshine has arrived in the valley and so have some of our big reds, including some first time limited releases:

Pinot Noir 2008 – $29.00 – Offered through our Small Caps program with only 180 cases available, David has made Pinot Noir only every second year. With the challenging reputation that proceeds this varietal and the reward when greatness is achieved, we couldn’t resist to do it again and we’re quite pleased with the results.
90-91 pts – John Schreiner

Blind Trust Red 2008 – $29.00 – Our winemaker has full discretion over the assets so you’ll just have to trust us. This wine might contain some, but not all of the following: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot. Big and juicy this year with tons of depth.
90-91 pts – John Schreiner

Syrah 2008 – $34.00 – This is our first release of Syrah, one of the new grape varieties that we are working with at our East Bench – Osoyoos vineyard. The style we have developed is aligned with classic Côte Rôtie, blending 92% Syrah with 8% Viognier. This is a BIG wine and only 275 cases produced.
Gold Medal Winner – Northwest Wine Summit 2010

These wines are only available direct from the winery or in select restaurants. Order now online or call the winery at 250.493.8466 and we’ll ship direct to your door.You will have the option to take advantage of our Post-HST Pricing.

POST-HST PRICING ON JULY 1ST – WE EAT IT, YOU DRINK IT!

While the upcoming introduction of the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) in BC will cause the costs of many items to increase, BC wineries have the opportunity to pass those savings directly on to the consumer, thus decreasing the cost of BC wine when purchased directly from the winery.

We have chosen to do just that and as of July 1st, 2010, will be passing along the 3% tax savings to wine buyers on our website and in our tasting room.

Currently, wine is one of the only products sold with taxes included in the display price and most consumers are not even aware that the current tax rate for wine in BC is 15% which includes 5% GST and 10% PST liquor tax. Therefore the taxation of wine will actually decrease when the 12% HST is introduced.

You don’t have to wait until July 1st. If you are ordering online, just tick the Post-HST pricing option and we will process the order after the HST is introduced.

From the official press release:

Sunday, June 27th, 6:30pm to 9pm, Canadian Chefs’ Congress take over the professional kitchens of Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts to host a Mystery Kitchen Tour.  All proceeds go towards this year’s Chefs’ Congress held on Vancouver Island September 11th to 12th; 2010’s focus is ‘Oceans for Tomorrow’.

Tickets for the Mystery Tour are $75.00 ( Click here to purchase tickets).  With only 100 tickets available, you’ll have to act fast.  Eight of Vancouver’s top-notch culinary purveyors, sworn to secrecy, are paired with wine and is host to their very own kitchen parties. Make your way thru the corridors of Pacific Institute to all eight food and wine stations ending your mystery kitchen tour with a dessert finale.  This exclusive and mysterious evening of superb food and wine pairings won’t disappoint. Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is situated at the gateway to Granville Island at 1505 West Second Avenue, Vancouver, BC.  To contact please call (604) 734-4488 or visit www.picachef.com.

The Canadian Chef’s Congress 2010; ‘Oceans for Tomorrow’, is slated for September 11 & 12, 2010, when chefs, cooks, apprentices and culinary students from across Canada will converge on Providence Farm in the heart of the beautiful Cowichan Valley for two days of conversation and deliberation on the state of our water ways, our effect on marine life and what constructive steps can be taken to improve the health of our oceans.  Attendees will have the opportunity to sample Canadian inspired dishes from leading provincial and territorial chefs from across the country.   As host, BC chefs will present the very best that our province has to offer. The weekend will be a series of unique tastes and experiences as you munch and mingle with fellow chefs, sipping BC wines, ales, beers, ciders, and mead.  For full schedule details visit www.canadianchefscongress.com/british-columbia.

The Canadian Chefs’ Congress (CCC) connects chefs to our land in solidarity with farmers, fishers, gardeners, foragers and all artisanal food producers.  The Canadian Chefs’ Congress is a biennial gathering of chefs from across Canada that reinforces the passion and integrity of Canadian Food Culture.  www.canadianchefscongress.com

From the official press release:

Vince Piccolo, coffee guru behind 49th Parallel Coffee Roasting Company in partnership with Shannon and Chip Wilson, founders of lululemon and imagine1day have joined forces in a campaign to raise money for Ethiopian school children. Beginning today, 49th Parallel Cafe in Kitsilano released one of the world’s most rare and expensive Ethiopian coffees.

Grown in volcanic soil at an altitude of 1800 meters, the coffee known as Ethiopia Sidamo Nekisse Micro Selection is an exceptionally scarce, high quality micro-lot coffee. The flavour and taste of the handpicked Nekisse bean has a truly unique flavour profile not found in other coffee producing countries. “It has a deep, berry and chocolate-like flavour, that makes the Sidamo bean so distinct,” says Piccolo. Heavily sought after, the availability of this coffee is extremely limited. 49th Parallel Roasters will be the only Canadian company to roast these beans.

^ Imagine 1 Day founders, Chip and Shannon Wilson pose with Vince Piccolo of 49th Parallel Coffee Roasting Company

With 100% of net proceeds donated to imagine1day, the goal is to raise $13,500, the amount it costs to build a classroom. A 12-ounce bag costs $30 and sells at the 49th Parallel Cafe (2152 West 4th Avenue) and online. “It is a partnership that just makes sense”, said Chip Wilson. “Two organizations that understand the power of community locally and globally”, he continued. For over 5 years 49th Parallel has paid farmers well above fair-trade guidelines. However, with the new initiative, the company will be able to take it one step further, “after all these years, we finally get to return the favour, we go back to these communities and build a school for their children”, said Piccolo.

Producing some of the best coffee in North America, 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters meticulously balances scientist with the artisan to ensure roasting perfection and consistent flavour-profiling in each and every batch of coffee. Today, the company distributes to hundreds of cafes, across Canada, and the United States. www.49thparallelroasters.com

imagine1day is a non-profit organization with the goal to ensure every child in Ethiopia receives a quality, primary education by 2020. 100% of donations will contribute to their programs, i.e. no administrative fees. www.imagine1day.org

UPDATED: Monday, May 31, 2010 – 10 pm

CRU offers new menu, new wines, and familiar fabulous dinner deal; Le Grand Thé makes a refreshing break at Provence Restaurants; June Wine Drinker Dinner at Two Chefs and a Table pairs local, sustainable ingredients with Poplar Grove Wines; Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery Launches World Cup Cocktails and Features; Laughing Stock Vineyards passes HST savings along to wine consumer; The Bishop’s Garden; Celebrity farmers, chefs, and artists come together for stimulating program series on Salt Spring Island.

CRU OFFERS NEW MENU, NEW WINES, AND FAMILIAR FABULOUS DINNER DEAL

Starting Friday, May 28 2010, epicureans have more reasons than ever to visit neighbourhood favourite CRU Restaurant. CRU now offers a fresh new small plates menu, an updated wine list, plus the three-course Prix-fixe for only $38 all summer long.

CRU just won the Best Small Plates category in the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards for the second year in a row. Inspired by this prestigious win, CRU is launching new seasonal menus, offering guests a variety of exciting new flavour combinations. The Small Plates menu will still feature favourites like the Crispy Duck Confit and the crowd-pleasing “Cellar Door” Caesar, but guests can also try intriguing new dishes like:

• Chilled Octopus Salad, ponzu Asian slaw, sweet chili sauce
• B.C. Spot Prawns Salad, lemongrass-infused melon, passion fruit jalapeño vinaigrette
• Pan-seared Qualicum Bay Scallops, on lentils and pancetta, with lime aioli
• Grilled Local Asparagus, lemon mascarpone and a soft-poached egg

CRU’s Prix-fixe menu continues to be an amazing value at $38 per person. Guests will, however, be faced with the daunting task of deciding which option to select for each course. Starters include

• Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio with caper berries, truffle aioli and shaved parmesan
• Citrus-cured Roasted Sablefish creamed leeks and oven-dried tomato

Deciding on a main course is equally challenging:

• Baked Ricotta Flan – puy lentils with grilled, marinated & pickled vegetables
• Roasted Pork Loin – crushed potatoes, oloroso sherry morel cream
• Pan-seared Halibut – brandade croquette, vegetables “a la greque”

And, finally, the diner is faced with choosing a sumptuous dessert item:

• The “Grand Cru” Chocolate Torte – vanilla sour cream mousse, thyme & sour cherries
• Little Goat Cheese Cake – citrus sablé, port-stewed rhubar
• Basil & Lemon Semifreddo with white chocolate ganache and fresh berries

View the complete menus at www.cru.ca

CRU Restaurant
1459 West Broadway | Vancouver
604-677-4111

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LE GRAND THÉ MAKES A REFRESHING BREAK

(Vancouver, BC) – When most people think of ‘afternoon tea,’ the traditions and quaint tea-rooms of England pop to mind. However, there is another, more seductive version of this elegant mid-afternoon break – the French salon de thé. In France tea is très chic. From great food emporiums, to the most venerable cafés, tea is served every afternoon. Imagine yourself enjoying your favourite cuppa in the elegant surroundings of Angelina’s or Fauchon, even Marcel Proust’s epic In Search of Lost Time was triggered dipping a madeleine into a cup of tea.

For the past six years, long before afternoon tea took off as the popular respite it has currently become in Vancouver, Provence Marinaside and Provence Mediterranean Grill have been serving Parisian-style Grand Thé. Like all good things, Le Grand Thé evolves and changes over time. Available from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Le Grand Thé includes an assortment of both savoury and sweet selections plus tea or freshly brewed drip coffee for only $20. Those seeking a truly French experience may wish to include a glass of Kir Royale or bubbly – priced by the glass starting from $7.00.

The only decision you have to make is what kind of tea you prefer. Provence’s list includes an assortment of eight premium organic and flavoured teas. You may opt for traditional Organic English Breakfast or Organic Earl Grey or decide to be daring with Organic African Nectar or perhaps choose a soothing Marrakech Mint or Camomile Citrus. If tea is not your thing, then Provence always has a pot of fresh-brewed drip-coffee on the go.

Once your beverage is chosen, it comes accompanied by a two-tiered stand laden with palate-pleasing French-style nibbles. The savoury selection includes: Sweet Bell Pepper Marmalade Crostini, Smoked Salmon Profiteroles, Prawn and Cucumber Canapé, Tomato and Bocconcini Brochette with Balsamic Drizzle plus a mini Fig and Prosciutto Quiche. The lower level includes the sweet temptations: Madeleines (lemony and oh so Proustian), Parisian macarons (not to be confused with coconut macaroons. These are the heavenly French confection of flavoured pastry crème sandwiched between pillows of meringue. One bite and they become an addiction!), Orange Lavender Shortbread (very Provençal), a Chocolate Truffle Square and the ‘pièce de résistance’ – a tiny, perfect Petite Tarte au Citron. A small pot of crème fraîche and Bonne Maman preserves complete the extravagance

Provence also offers a selection of separately priced espresso drinks and luxurious hot chocolate for those who prefer beverages other than tea or drip-coffee.

The next time you are feeling over-scheduled and harried, take time to indulge in Le Grande Thé. You’ll leave restored and ready to face the world again. C’est une bonne idée, n’est-ce pas?

Provence Mediterranean Grill
4473 West 10th Ave. | Vancouver
604.222.1980
www.provencevancouver.com

Provence Marinaside
1177 Marinaside Crescent | Vancouver
604.681.4144
www.provencevancouver.com

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JUNE WINE DRINKER DINNER AT TWO CHEFS AND A TABLE PAIRS LOCAL, SUSTAINABLE INGREDIENTS WITH POPLAR GROVE WINES

This is a very special time of year for Vancouver chefs as some of the best local ingredients are just coming into season. With that in mind, the Two Chefs and a Table June Wine Drinker Dinner will focus on some of the best local, sustainable products that this region has to offer. Featuring courses made house-made sausages, wild line-caught Barkley Sound salmon, local Kushhi oysters and spot prawns and Pemberton beef this tantalizing menu is built upon ingredients that are the envy of chefs all over the World. During the special dinner on June 2nd, the courses are being served with specially paired selections from Poplar Grove Winery and their sister winery Monster Vineyards.

The Wine Drinker Dinner will be held on the evening of Wednesday June 2nd and the set menu will be offered until the end of the week as part of the daily dinner service. The dinner costs $65 per person (excluding tax and gratuity) and reservations are recommended. For more information or reservations call 778-233-1303 or email info@twochefsandatable.com.

Menu

First Course
Wine: Monster Rosé 2009
Spicy Lamb Sausage with Kusshi oysters w/spicy radish and chives mignonette

Second Course
Wine: Monster Gewürztraminer 2008
Cured Salmon and Beet Carpaccio: Long line caught salmon, citrus cured, roasted golden beets, mustard ricotta cheese, frissée, olive oil crisps

Third Course
Wine: Poplar Grove Chardonnay 2008
Local Spot Prawns- grilled with cilantro and chive oil, green papaya salad with a cured shrimp nuoc chaam

Entree
Wine: Poplar Grove Cab Franc 2006
Choice of: Iron Seared Pemberton beef w/red wine demi, lobster mushrooms, pomme puree & roasted heirloom carrots
Or/
Free range Pork Belly: 24-hour marinated and pressed w/Quebec maple syrup, pan roasted sweet potato puree and baby roasted vegetables

Dessert
Wine: Poplar Grove Late Harvest Riesling
Choice of:  Poplar Grove Blue Cheesecake: mix of rich cheesecake, lined with artisan made Poplar Grove blue cheese, finished with a lavender honey
Or/
Fresh Berry Pavlova: local berries with a classic Pavlova

Visit: www.twochefsandatable.com

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COUNTDOWN TO FIFA WORLD CUP

Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery Launches World Cup Cocktails and Features

Soccer fans across the world are preparing to unite for the long-awaited FIFA World Cup, which launches in South Africa on Friday June 11th.

Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery will be the most popular Vancouver destination to experience the World Cup in style. The experienced team behind the popular sports hub has launched feature cocktails, a signature pizza, and feature breakfast items in honour of the most widely viewed sporting event in the world.

Red Card’s feature cocktails were created to highlight eight key national teams, a celebrated list of “ones to watch”. Assistant General Manager Chris Ballas selected the list of eight teams and crafted an original cocktail for each, utilizing ingredients from their respective country. The FIFA World Cup champions are sure to rise from this list of talented teams: USA; England; Italy; Spain; France; Germany; Brazil; and Holland.
Show your support for your homeland with a classic “Three Lions” for England fans featuring Beefeater Gin, elderflower cordial and ice tea, or join the passionate fans of the Brazilian national team with an “E Campeao” with Cachaca 61, banana liquor with muddled lime and papaya puree. Raise a glass to our closest neighbours with a US-themed “Stars and Stripes” – Jim Beam Bourbon with caramel liquor and passion fruit puree or ally with Red Card Sport Bar and sip a “Forza Italia”, a nod to their proud Italian heritage.

To honour 1978 Argentinean team champion, Osvaldo “Ossie” Ardiles, Red Card’s talented culinary crew have crafted a delicious pizza utilizing all of Ossie’s favourite flavours. Order the “Ossie pizza” and savour delicious San Marzano tomato sauce, topped with garlic, anchovy, and mozzarella, finished with Fior di Latte and cooked to perfection in their world-class Marana Forni brick oven. Executive Chef Andreas Wechselberger has also created a delicious brunch menu to make the early morning games (June 20th onwards) much more enjoyable. Tuck into a Spanish-themed Chorizo with roasted peppers, goat cheese and arugula, a traditional British “Fry Up” or Italian sausage with peperonata and red onion.

Make Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery your top spot to enjoy the hottest action from South Africa’s pitches, sip globally inspired cocktails and indulge in authentic Italian cuisine.

Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery will be showing World Cup games from June 11th to 20th starting at 11am, with repeats running throughout the afternoon and evening. From June 20th, doors will open at 7am to catch all the action of the semi-finals, through to the final on July 11th.

About Red Card Sports Bar
With authentic Italian cuisine and a beautifully-restored heritage building, Red Card Sports Bar offers a dramatic and elegant environment in which to enjoy your favourite sports game. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional techniques, Executive Chef Andreas Wechselberger has created an inspired menu, executed to the highest standards. Red Card Sports Bar is located at 900 Seymour Street, adjacent to Moda Hotel, on the corner of Seymour and Smythe Streets, in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. For more information on Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery visit:

www.redcardsportsbar.ca

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LAUGHING STOCK VINEYARDS PASSES HST TAX SAVINGS ALONG TO WINE CONSUMER

-New Harmonized Sales Tax Actually Means Lower Winery Pricing-

While the upcoming introduction of the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) in BC will cause the costs of many items to increase, BC wineries have the opportunity to pass those savings directly on to the consumer, thus decreasing the cost of BC wine when purchased directly from the winery.

Laughing Stock Vineyards has chosen to do just that and as of July 1st, 2010, will be passing along the 3% tax savings from the transition to HST to wine buyers on their website and in their tasting room.  Currently, wine is one of the only products sold with taxes included in the display price and most consumers are not even aware that the current tax rate for wine in BC is 15% which includes 5% GST and 10% PST liquor tax.  Therefore the taxation of wine will actually decrease when the 12% HST is introduced.

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch recently revealed there will be no tax savings passed through to the consumer as the LDB changed their liquor mark-up on all domestic and imported wine and spirits to offset that potential savings. BC wineries, however, are not affected by that new LDB liquor mark-up when they sell directly from the winery and thus have flexibility to adjust pricing to reflect the lower tax rate.

“Coming from a business background, we look at the big picture and since we have the option to decrease our pricing without hurting our bottom line, we are going to pass that tax savings along to the wine consumer,” says David Enns, winemaker and winery owner.  “We just feel that this is the right thing to do.  We eat it, you drink it.”

Visitors to www.laughingstock.ca and Laughing Stock’s tasting room on the Naramata Bench can expect to see price adjustments effective July 1st, 2010.

About Laughing Stock Vineyards:
Located on the picturesque Naramata Bench in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Laughing Stock Vineyards is a serious enterprise with a lighthearted attitude. David & Cynthia Enns gave up their careers as research consultants in the investment industry to pursue their dream of founding a winery. And with a name like Laughing Stock, they wake up everyday with the motivation of not living up to their name. Fortunately, their flagship wine, Portfolio, has received many accolades and awards. www.laughingstock.ca.

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THE BISHOP’S GARDEN – A DISPLAY OF FRIENDSHIP

From May 27 to June 19, South Granville’s Winsor Gallery (3025 Granville Street) plays host to a show by famed artist Alan Wood. The Bishop’s Garden – presents a new series of wood relief sculptures, collage and watercolours, based on the haven found in a close friend’s garden. That close friend is restaurateur John Bishop and that garden is the one found in the back of Mr. Bishop’s Point Grey home.

” It seems like I’ve known Alan for ever,” says Mr. Bishop. “In the early days, my wife Theresa and I would save up to buy his work. In turn, Alan and his wife Flora started coming to the restaurant and the friendship grew over the years.”

“When Flora passed away five years ago, I started to drop by John and Theresa’s home. They were always so welcoming and kind. I’d come and sit in the back garden – it became my refuge. One evening, I came for dinner. John and his son David had arranged eight of my pieces around the garden illuminated by candlelight. It was magic. That gave me the idea to try to capture and interpret the calm and happiness I have found there. This show is the result,” says Mr. Wood. “I named the series The Bishop’s Garden because I want to honour the role played by everyone in the Bishop family in creating this special space.”

Alan Wood is one of Canada’s leading artists. He has received international acclaim for his painting and is best known for his use of colour and for creating the outdoor environmental work, Ranch. Mr. Wood is a prolific artist and since 1962, has participated in many group and solo exhibitions in Great Britain, Europe, Canada, the United States and Australia.

For more information on Mr. Wood, the exhibit and Winsor Gallery: www.winsorgallery.com

Bishop’s
2183 West 4th Avenue | Vancouver
604.738.2025
www.bishopsonline.com

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FOXGLOVE FARM ON SALT SPRING ISLAND AND THE CENTRE FOR ARTS, ECOLOGY, AND AGRICULTURE HAS LAUNCHED ITS 2010 SUMMER PROGRAM SERIES
Foxglove Farm on Salt Spring Island and the Centre For Arts, Ecology, and Agriculture has launched its 2010 summer program series.

Building on last year’s success, the centre has expanded its offerings with a focus on the culinary and agricultural arts.

Join Eliot Coleman, author of the New Organic Grower, Andrea Carlson of Bishop’s Restaurant, ecologist and author Briony Penn, farmer and author Michael Ableman, plant breeder John Navazio, chef, author, and mushroom expert Bill Jones and other  world class instructors for a thought provoking, informative, and delicious program series.

The workshops are held at the 120 acre historic Foxglove Farm – one of Salt Spring Island’s original homesteads, bordering Maxwell Lake and surrounded by hundreds of acres of protected forest and agricultural fields. The farm now produces 50 different organic fruits and vegetables, orchard crops, and 10 acres of grain.

This year’s workshops include a three-part ‘Field to Plate’ cooking series, The Art of Wild Crafting, Four Season Harvest, Seeds For Change, a ‘Farm, Arts and Culinary Camp for Kids’, Small Scale Grain Production, Foraging for Fungi, Farmstead Cheesemaking, The Artisan Baker, Growing For Market, Growing For Family, Backyard Poultry, Growing Tree Crops, and Preserving the Harvest.  There is also the annual Foxglove Festival – with live music, tours, fresh food and home-made ice cream.

Online registration and information on 2010 classes can be found at www.foxglovefarmbc.ca.  For information about Michael Ableman visit www.fieldsofplenty.com.

For more information or to enroll please email: school@di6mond.com