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Best Hidden Patios in Vancouver

Vancouver is fortunate to have some great restaurants with outdoor patios that are secluded and hidden off the beaten track. This list represents some of the Best hidden patios in the city that you are going to love.

Note: these places are in no particular order.

Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar

1)    Reflections in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Located at 801 West Georgia Street on the 4th floor by the side elevator from the lobby. Open daily from noon til late. For reservations please telephone 604.673.7043 and for menus and more information visit www.rosewoodhotelgeorgia.com

2)    Ki Modern Japanese Restaurant

Located at 1121 Alberni Street next to the Shangri-La Hotel, entrance off of Alberni Street, up 1 flight of stairs to the restaurant, the secluded patio is on the left side. Open daily Mon-Fri and nightly Sat-Sun. For reservations, please telephone     604-609-0600 and for menus and more information visit www.kijapanese.com/

3)    Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar

Located at 615 Seymour Street through the restaurant on the main floor. Open dail. For reservations please telephone 604-605-8282 and for menus and information visit www.gothamsteakhouse.com/

4)    Gurkha Himalyan Kitchen

Located in the rear of the restaurant, entrance is inset then up the stairs at 1141 Davie Street, through the restaurant to the patio. Open daily. For reservations, please telephone 604-565-7965 and for menus and more information visit http://gurkha.ca/

5)    The Keg Yaletown

Located at 1011 Mainland Street through the restaurant and upstairs to the top level. Open nightly. For reservations, please telephone 604-633-2534 and for menus and more information visit www.kegsteakhouse.com/

 6)    Joe Fortes Restaurant

Located at 777 Thurlow Street inside through the restaurant and upstairs to the top level. Open daily. For reservations, please telephone 604-669-1940 and for menus and more information visit www.joefortes.ca/

7)    Adesso Bistro

Located at 1906 Haro Street inside through the restaurant and off to the side. Open nightly. For reservations, please telephone 604-568-9975 and for menus and more information visit www.adessobistro.net/

8)    CinCin

Located at 1154 Robson Street up the stairs inside and through the restaurant. Open daily. For reservations, please telephone 604-688-7338 and for menus and more information visit www.cincin.net/

By: Richard Wolak

Food Talks Volume 1, June 5th

This is the first event in this Food Talks series! Come join us to meet and mingle with other foodies, and to hear some enlightening speakers from the food community.

Watch the Vancouver Foodster Food Talks video

Our Speakers Line-up:

Chef Trevor Bird

Trevor Bird is 28 years old and is opening his new restaurant Fable Kitchen in Kitsilano in early May, he also runs his own catering business, Trevor Bird Cooking. He has also been featured this season on Top Chef Canada and is still in the running for Top Chef. Prior to this, he was the chef de partie at the Shangri-La hotel in Vancouver. He also worked as a chef at Truffert and as a sous chef at Restaurant Garcon, both in Montreal, where he is originally from. Trevor has a degree in culinary management from Algonquin College in Ottawa. A restless spirit, Trevor has spent equal parts of his career on the east and west coasts of Canada. His constant searching even led to a stint in Peru to cook for an NGO. He’s hoping Top Chef Canada will provide his next big challenge. Visit Trevor’s web site for tips, recipes and more.

 

Stephanie Yuen

Stephanie Yuen was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Vancouver for more than thirty years. She is the Author of the Douglas & McIntyre published “East Meets West” Cookbook (released May 2012). The first book of its kind, East Meets West is a celebration of the city’s Asian food and a mouthwatering compilation of distinctive dishes from its most talented—but often unheralded—kitchens. She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English and worked as a journalist for Sing Tao, the Vancouver Chinese newspaper, before developing a career as a freelance food journalist. She was a food columnist for CBC Radio 1, and she now writes for Edible Canada and What’s On magazine, contributes to the Vancouver Sun and appears frequently on radio and TV. Follow her blog about Asian food: beyondchopsticks.com. Stephanie also co-founded the Vancouver Chinese Restaurant Awards.

 

Mike McDermid

Mike McDermid is the Ocean Wise Manager at the Vancouver Aquarium,  a conservation program created to educate and empower consumers about issues surrounding sustainable seafood. Ocean Wise  works directly with restaurants and markets to help them make ocean-friendly buying decisions based on the most current scientific information, and provides an easily recognizable eco-logo to mark these products. Through work with partner businesses, the seafood industry, and government, Ocean Wise is helping to create a market for sustainable seafood in Canada. Mike’s background includes 10 years of research, education and program development experience focused on marine and aquatic environments in British Columbia. He has conducted fisheries related research with the University of British Columbia, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, and the Vancouver Aquarium.

Hunter J. Moyes

Hunter J. Moyes climbed the culinary ladder from an early age, and has been called “Chef” for a few years now. Currently, one of the Chefs and event organizers behind East Vancouver’s Waldorf Hotel, he leads a double life with environmental and political NGO’s on the side. With over 10,000 hours cooking under his belt across Canada, and years of events with NGO’s, Hunter is fit to talk food – with a hint of politics, a dash of environmental issues, and a pinch of local agri-news. Salt to taste.

Outside of The Waldorf Hotel, Hunter is about to launch a Non-profit Organization called The Tiffin Project, with a group of restaurants in Vancouver, who’d like to see if they can try to phase out TO GO packaging in their businesses while raising money to subsidize their purchasing of local ingredients at the same time. The project – which he’ll explain – hopes to become a revenue engine for the re-localization of the consumption power of Vancouver’s restaurant community.

 

Roberta LaQuaglia

Roberta LaQuaglia is the Operations Manager for Vancouver Farmers Markets (VFM), a non-profit society that brings locally produced food to urban consumers through the creation of pop-up plazas of commerce across the city. Roberta works collaboratively with vendors, staff, volunteers, community members and site hosts to meet the needs of all market stakeholders.  She also totes tents, hoists tables & patrols parking as one of the market crew whenever needed.

When she isn’t organizing farmers markets, Roberta can be found baking goodies for her family and preserving her market bounty for trading at monthly “Food Swap Burnaby” events, that she also organizes. Roberta is a graduate of Langara’s Display and Design program and comes by her love of food and the domestic arts honestly, from her mom.

The Evening: Enjoy tasty appetizers from W2 Media Cafe followed a wonderful line-up of speakers who will talk about themselves and their passion related to the food community.  There will be a Q & A where you will have a chance to ask questions and engage with the speakers. Each guest will receive a ticket for a glass of red or white wine, there will also be a draw for prizes and to finish off the evening you will take home a sweet Treat from one of Vancouver’s bakeries.

Growing Chefs is our designated charity,  support their wonderful organization that educates children on the food community in the public schools.

Location: W2 Media Cafe and Community Media Arts Centre, 111 West Hastings, Vancouver.

Tickets: $30 per person (eventbrite fee extra); $75 for 3 pak of tickets (get a group of your friends together and save by purchasing a 3 pak (eventbrite fee extra) before June 1st. * $40 per person after June 1st.– ticket price includes appetizers and a glass of wine, along with a sweet treat in addition to hearing from some great speakers, a Q & A follows.  A donation of $3 from each ticket purchased will go to support Growing Chefs.

Note: Limited tickets available. All ticket sales are final. No exchanges or refunds; however they are transferrable with printed proof of ticket. ALL Tickets must be purchased in advance online. Event produced by CMI Chat Media Inc

Order tickets via Eventbrite:

http://foodtalksvolume1.eventbrite.com

Charity Partner

 

Location & Appetizers Sponsor

 

Wine Sponsor

 

 

Tasting Plates Vancouver June 27

Tantalize your taste buds at over a dozen fabulous East Vancouver restaurants! This evening tasting extravaganza goes from 6pm until 10 pm and is presented by Vancouver Foodster.

Each restaurant will be serving up Tasting Plates for guests to enjoy and you will have a chance to visit many different restaurants throughout the evening, meet some new food loving friends, meet the chefs, and learn about each of the participating restaurants.

  • Vegetarian options will be available at many of the participating restaurants.
  • Bring along a friend or two, your significant other, your family or come solo.
  • A food networking dinner event connecting Vancouver’s vibrant food community.

Visit each of the participating restaurants by walking, transit, bike, or carpooling.

There will also be art, music and more get ready for an entertaining evening in EastVan.

$3 from each ticket purchased will go to support Project Limelight

See our last Tasting Plates Vancouver event

Registration Hut: 27th & Main outside of Salt Spring Coffee -this is where you will show us your printed or digital tickets and will pick up your Tasting Plates Cards.

Participating restaurants include:

To be announced soon

Note: restaurants/cafes/bakeries will be centered on or around Main Street

Advance Tickets: $30 per person (eventbrite fee extra) before June 23, $100 for 4 pak of tickets (get a group of your friends/family together and save by purchasing a 4 pak (eventbrite fee extra) before June 23rd. *Regular Tickets $40 per person (eventbrite fee extra) after June 23– ticket price includes tasting plates at each of the participating restaurants throughout the evening. A donation of $3 from each ticket purchased will go to support Project Limelight. (Beverages are included at some restaurants which will be noted, you are welcome to purchase wine, beer, cocktails or mocktails at each of the participating restaurants).

Note: ALL Tickets must be purchased in advance online. All ticket sales are final. No exchanges or refunds; however they are transferrable with printed proof of ticket.  Event produced by CMI Chat Media Inc

Order tickets via Eventbrite:

Tickets on sale soon

Charity Partner

 

Community Partners

Poutine Challenge 2012 Winners

The first Annual Vancouver Foodster Poutine Challenge was a huge success featuring 29 poutine from 29 restaurants around Vancouver, North Vancouver and Richmond. Each restaurant featured their poutine from April 11-30th, and then the public voted between April 30th – May 6th. The poutine dishes ranged from the traditional to non-traditional.

The Winners are:

1st Place: Hidden Tasting Bar for their Butter Poached Lobster Poutine

Hidden Tasting Bar - Butter Poached Lobster Poutine

Created by Head Chef Matthew Richmond

433 Robson Street in The Westin Grand, Vancouver

Tel: 604.647.2521

Twitter: @HiddenVancouver

2nd Place: Society Restaurant for their Ultimate Poutine Supreme

Society Restaurant - Ultimate Poutine Supreme

Created by Chef Alfred Contiga who is on twitter @AlfredContiga

1257 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-629-8800

Twitter: @Glowbal_Group #society

3rd Place: The District for their The Full English Breakfast Poutine

The District - The Full English Breakfast Poutine

Created by Chef Kenny Kyle who is on twitter @kennynotkyle

13 Lonsdale Avenue  North Vancouver

Tel: (778) 338-4938

Twitter: @districtsocial

4th Place: Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar for their Rogue Poutine Trio

Rogue Kitchen - Rogue Poutine Trio

Created by Chef Cory Chapman

601 West Cordova Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604.678.8000

Twitter: @roguewetbar

Honorable Mention:

Out of the 29 Poutine there were 4 restaurants featuring their Traditional and the first place winner from the Traditional poutine goes to Tableau Bar Bistro.

Thank you to all the chefs and restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured their poutine on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.

I encourage you to visit the winning restaurants to try their poutine!

Looking forward to the 2nd annual Poutine Challenge next year where I challenge chefs and their restaurants to concoct more exciting poutine dishes!

By: Richard Wolak

Interview with Mark Tagulao

Mark Tagulao | Vancouver

Vancouver is home to some of the best pastry chefs in the world, many have worked for the top chefs and restaurants around the world as well as around the city. Star Pastry Chefs is a series of Interviews with some of the top chefs in and around Vancouver, within the interview each chef is to prepare or finish off three of his/her signature desserts.

As early as age 4, Mark was cooking alongside his mom, experimenting with food, and quickly developing his passion for creative cooking. After graduating from university, and going into banking,  Mark then left the world of finance to follow his passion and apprenticed with a local cake decorator before heading overseas. He then trained in the art of Pastry at the Macaron Pastry Training Center in Thailand where he was taught by famous French pastry chef, Eric Perez.   Mark returned to Vancouver and began to develop his career, mastering his pastry skills, cake decorating, sculpting, and eventually, recipe development and teaching.

Most recently, Mark showcased his sculpted custom cakes at Cake Love 2011, and appeared on the Food Network’s Recipe to Riches reality show, has been teaching at the Hungry Oven, a cooking school for kids and launched his own company Marked Edible Designs.

Did you always want to be a pastry chef?

No I wanted to become a lawyer at first, then a dentist. I was in HR then banking, then went into this industry professionally about 2 years ago.

Do you follow or apply a specific food design?

I like to take the traditional and remising combinations and I see everything and how it works, taking inspiration from everywhere.

Where do you get inspiration?

Cookbooks, tv, photography, paintings, sculptures, how things are put together (shapes and colours). Travelling and trying different dishes.

Tell me about your involvement with Cake Love

A group of 5 cake makers decided to create a cake decorating conference in Vancouver which took place in 2011. We are now planning the 2nd annual conference, bringing instructors from all over North America to Vancouver in October 2012.

Mark Tagulao and his Coca Cola Macarons

Is there a pastry chef or two that inspire you?

  • Adriano Zumbo (Australia)
  • Eric Perez (Thailand)

How would you describe your style of desserts/cakes at Marked Edible Designs?

A twist on old favourites.

What is your favourite Pastry Shop in Vancouver?

Sweet Revenge

What are your favourite cities in the world for pastries?

Sydney, Australia and Manilla, Philippines

The 1st Dessert:

Berry Macaron & Green Tea Macaron

Berry Macaron & Green Tea Macaron

What is in the dessert?

  • Using a mixed berry tea for the filling in the berry macaron.
  • Using a matcha tea for the filling in the green tea macaron.

What was your inspiration behind this dessert?

I love tea, think of a recipe, create the filling, then create the macarons. Adapating recipes.

If you weren’t a pastry chef what do you think you’d be doing?

I think I would be teaching and working with people.

The 2nd Dessert:

Teapolitan Ice Cream Cake

Teapolitan Ice Cream Cake

What is in the dessert?

The ice cream layers were green tea, vanilla/cardamom and earl grey with an almond sponge base.

What was your inspiration behind this dessert?

My love for tea, my friend bought me an ice cream machine for my birthday, I played around.

I understand you recently created the recipes for Cartems Donuterie, tell us how that came about?

Through a mutual friend of Jordan (co-owner of Cartems Donuterie) and I, connected us talking about ideas and then I created the base recipes for chocolate and vanilla and also some specialty flavours – Earl Grey, Bee Stings, and Gluten-free.

What types of dessert oriented products have you been designing/creating?

Cakes, macarons, cookies, ice creams, sugar sculpting, and chocolate making.

The 3rd Dessert:

Genoise Ube

Ube Genoise

What is in the dessert?

Ube essence infused sponge and buttercream.

What was your inspiration behind this dessert?

One of my childhood favourites and its Filipino.

What kinds of classes do you teach?

Sugar pulling, chocolates, cake decorating, macarons.

What are the most unique flavours of Macarons you have made?

Coca Cola, and hopefully a S’mores will be next.

Check out Mark’s Gallery of Cakes

Stay tuned for the next chef in the Star Pastry Chef series.

By: Richard Wolak

French Macaron Baking Class with Chef Marco Ropke

Chef Marco Ropke

On April 13th,  I attended this hands on French Macaron class with Chef Marco Ropke at the Pastry Training Centre. Our class of 10 students were educated on the steps needed to make the best macarons.

Chef Marco making the Macaron batter

Chef Marco piping the Macarons on to the cookie sheet

Macarons in the drying stage

This was my first class at the Pastry Training Centre, Marco demonstrated Macarons to us, we were partnered up and assigned stations where many of the ingredients were pre-portioned for us to then follow the recipe and make on our own.

Students at work

Batch of chocolate macarons my station partner and I made

Macarons the classmates made

During the popular French Macaron class, we learned many of the tricks of the trade to make these very special and tricky little cookies. We worked on various different flavours, colors and fillings.

Chef Marco demonstrating the filling for the macarons

Chef Marco preparing the macarons for filling

This was a 4 hour pastry course and each of us left with a selection of macarons prepared in class. Various pastry techniques were covered, this course is a combination of hands-on experience and demonstrations.

Chef Marco piping in the filling on the macarons

The class made a selection of macarons with different flavours and fillings. My station partner and I made chocolate macarons with chocolate ganache.

As in all of their classes, all tools, utensils & equipment are provided. Aprons, recipes, light snacks and beverage are provided.

Finished Macarons

Pastry Training Centre of Vancouver is located at 818 Renfrew Street in Vancouver.

Telephone: 604-569-1680

www.vancouverpastryschool.com

@pastrytraining on twitter

By: Richard Wolak

Poplar Grove Winemakers Dinner

Winemaker Ian Sutherland (left) & Val Tait (right)

I attended this dinner at Tapanade Bistro on April 4th, that featured Poplar Grove Wines along with their Winemaker Ian Sutherland.

Following the welcoming reception that featured the 2009 Poplar Grove Viognier and canapes, we all sat down to dinner.

Now on to dinner and the pairings!

First Course:

Dayboat Halibut

Dayboat Halibut – spring vegetable salad, Spotted Prawn jus

Paired with Poplar Grove Reserve Chardonnay 2010

Second Course:

Fraser Valley Duck Breast

Fraser Valley Duck Breast – carrot puree, confit leg ragu, mustard & cocoa spaetzle, cherry gastrique

Paired with Poplar Grove Merlot 2007

Third Course:

Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb

Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb – chickpea panisse, ratatouille, rapini, warm olive and anchovy vinaigrette

Paired with Poplar Grove CSM 2008

Fourth Course:

Nostrala – Alpine Style BC Cheese

Nostrala – Alpine Style BC Cheese

Paired with Poplar Grove The Legacy 2006

Fifth Course:

White Chocolate Panna Cotta

White Chocolate Panna Cotta – meyer lemon curd, compressed pineapple, kiwi, basil, almond streusel

Paired with Late Harvest Riesling 2009

 

Executive Chef Justin Cheung

Comments:  All of the wines and courses were well paired, I found the Poplar Grove Reserve Chardonnay 2010 was the perfect match and quite lite to the Dayboat Halibut – spring vegetable salad, Spotted Prawn jus. Poplar Grove Merlot 2007 was delicious with the Fraser Valley Duck Breast – carrot puree, confit leg ragu, mustard & cocoa spaetzle, cherry gastrique; and the Poplar Grove CSM 2008 was outstanding with the sous vide Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb – chickpea panisse, ratatouille, rapini, warm olive and anchovy vinaigrette.

Executive Chef Justin Cheung and his team did an exceptional job with the dishes and wine pairings.

Tapanade Bistro is located at 3711 Bayview Street in Steveston.

Poplar Grove Wines is located in Penticton, BC.

By: Richard Wolak

WIN 2 Tickets to Dish ‘N Dazzle

Enter to WIN 2 Tickets to Dish ‘N Dazzle ($150 value)

Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

May 16, 2012 @ 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

This year’s casual walk about event is sponsored by Wines of Argentina.  The evening brings out the brightest lights on the local culinary scene in support of the hospitality industry’s own charity, the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation (BCHF).

Event sponsor Wines of Argentina will provide over 80 wines for tasting, more than 10 top Vancouver restaurants will be on hand with food pairings and local bartenders will put their swizzle sticks to the test in a cocktail competition.  There will also be a massive silent auction in support of the BC Hospitality Foundation.

See the menu 

All proceeds will go to the BCHF, which provides financial support for hospitality industry members who are facing extraordinary medical expenses.

Buy tickets here

 CONGRATULATIONS Alisa Sakamoto the winner of the contest (drawn by random.org)

Now for The Contest

Follow these 3 steps:

1) Write a comment below, list your two favourite restaurants in the Vancouver area that has the best service.

2) Follow us both @vanfoodster @bchospitality and retweet the following on twitter:

I entered to win 2 Tickets to @bchospitality Dish ‘N Dazzle via @vanfoodster http://bit.ly/JdcoQZ #ContestGiveaway  RT to enter!

3)    Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vancouverfoodster

All submissions will be entered to win for the random draw. The winner of this contest will be announced via twitter and posted.  The contest giveaway is to enter to Win 2 Tickets to Dish ‘N Dazzle (value $150).

Fine Print: Contest will run until 11pm on 5/3/12 You must enter your full name and twitter address if you have one and register with your email address when entering the contest.

Vancouver Foodster is @vanfoodster on twitter and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/vancouverfoodster and on Google+

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