Archive for the ‘Holiday Fare’ Category

Chanukah Treats

Chanukah is an 8 day Jewish holiday that celebrates the miracle of light it is a joyous festival of lights People celebrate by lighting the menorah, playing dreidel games, and are everyone is encouraged to eat deep-fried and oily foods including Potato Latkes, Jelly Donuts, Cookies and Chocolates. This year the festival is celebrated December 1st – 9th.

Here are some of the bakeries, restaurants and shops where you can purchase Chanukah treats in and around Vancouver, you don`t have to be Jewish to partake in this joyous festival.

Vancouver

Breka Bakery

-       Jelly Doughnuts

6533 Fraser Street – 604-325-6612

Naava

-          Latkes, Jelly Dougnuts

950 West 41st Avenue – 604-676-7632

Solly’s (3 locations)

-          Latkes, Jelly Doughnuts, Chanukah Cookies, fresh Apple Sauce

1) 368 West 7th Avenue – 604-675-9750

2) 2873 West Broadway – 604-738-2121

3) 189 East 28th Avenue – 604-872-1821

Sabra’s

-         Latkes, Jelly Doughnuts, Chanukah Cookies, Tahini, Apple Sauce and Chocolates

3844 Oak Street — 604-733-4912

Siegel’s (2 locations)

- Latkes

1) 1883 Cornwall Avenue — 604-737-8151

2) Granville Island Market

Kaplans

–Latkes, Jelly Doughnuts, Chanukah Cookies, Apple Sauce and Chocolates

5775 Oak Street — 604-263-2625

Omnitsky’s

–Latkes, Jelly Doughnuts, Chanukah Cookies, Apple Sauce and Chocolates

5866 Cambie Street – 604-321-1818

Max`s Deli

–Latkes, Jelly Doughnuts, Chanukah Cookies, Apple Sauce

3105 Oak Street – 604-733-4838

Whole Foods Cambie

–Latkes and Apple Sauce

510 West 8th Avenue – 778-370-4210

Richmond

Garden City Bakery

- Jelly Doughnuts and Chanukah Cookies

9100 Blundell Road – 604-244-7888

Cosmo Food Market

–Latkes, Jelly Doughnuts, Chanukah Cookies,

4771 Blundell Road – 604-277-7515

Apple Sauce is the side dish that complements your latkes and can double as a delicious and nutritious dessert.

Chanukah only comes once a year (yes, it does last eight days), and it is okay to enjoy your favorite holiday foods while watching portion sizes and avoid going for thirds.

Compiled by: Richard Wolak

Thanksgiving Dining Out or Dining In

Celebrate Thanksgiving at home or at a restaurant, here is a random selection of restaurants offering brunches, buffets, dinners or turkey to go!


Heron’s in Fairmont Waterfront

A HARVEST DINNER AT HERONS

The Fairmont Waterfront Presents Thanksgiving Day Dinner

$68 per person | $34 for children 12 and under | Taxes and 15% Gratuity Apply

Reservations are highly recommended for this special holiday occasion on Sunday, October 10th and can be made by calling Herons Restaurant at 604-691-1881 or by email at herons@fairmont.com.

Two Chefs and a Table

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

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

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

Fleuri Restaurant in Sutton Place Hotel

October 9th – Octoer 11th, 2010

THANKSGIVING DINNER WEEKEND

October 9th – October 11th, 2010

5:00pm – 10:00pm

$57.00 per adult

$28.50 per child 12 years & under

Exclusive of taxes and gratuities.

TURKEY EXPRESS (TURKEY-TO-GO)

Approximate weight of turkey: 18lbs.

Dinner for 8 – 13 people

$350.00 per order

Exclusive of applicable taxes.

*Please note:All turkey express orders must be taken

by Thursday, October 7th at 10:00pm.

To order, please call the Room Service Department

at 604.682.5511 ext. 34

NU Restaurant

Thanksgiving Dinner

October 10th & 11th

Chef Dan Creyke is serving a traditional feast, built with toothsome, local ingredients, both evenings – the 10th and the 11th. $30 per person. Please note, Nu is also open for brunch on the holiday Monday.

http://www.whatisnu.com/

Griffins Restaurant at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Thanksgiving Sunday Brunch Menu

October 10 from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm

$52 per adult | $26 per child 6 to 12 | Toddlers complimentary

Exclusive of applicable taxes and gratuity

Thanksgiving Day Dinner Table D’Hôte Menu

October 10 and 11th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm

$52 per adult | $26 per child 6 to 12 | Toddles complimentary

Exclusive of applicable taxes and gratuity

Reservations can be made by calling Griffins Restaurant at 604-662-1900 or online at www.opentable.com.

Hamilton Street Grill

Sunday Services

Thanksgiving Feast

Sunday, October 10, 2010

$25 per person exclusive of tax and gratuity

Reservations a must please

1009 Hamilton Street Grill

Yaletown, Vancouver

604-331-1511

Hamiltonstreetgrill@telus.net

www.hamiltonstreetgrill.com

Bacchus in the Wedgewood Hotel

Thanksgiving

Monday, October 11

Dinner served between 5.30pm and 10pm

$55.00 per person

$20.00 children under 10 years old

Gratuity and Taxes not included

Compiled by: Richard Wolak

Moon Cakes at Pan Pacific Vancouver Brunch Sept 19

Pastry Chef Hans Pirhofer (L) & Executive Chef Daryl Nagata (R)

I took part in a media tour and tasting the other day, led by Pastry Chef Hans Pirhofer at the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver where he and Executive Chef Daryl Nagata made their specialty Moon Cakes. These Moon Cakes are unlike any you may have had before, these are made with all Canadian ingredients including Nk’Mip Late Harvest Riesling, Filburts, Walnuts, Quebec Maple Syrup, Fireweed Honey and other ingredients.

Pastry Chef Hans Pirhofer

For one day only, Sunday September 19th you can savour some of the Canadian Moon Cakes made by the pastry team lead by Pastry Chef Hans Pirhofer. The Pan Pacific Vancouver will recognize one of the most important dates in the Chinese calendar, the Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival.

To celebrate the rising of this year’s September 22 full moon, on Sunday, September 19 the Pan Pacific Vancouver’s renowned Sunday Brunch will take on an Asian theme, featuring a host of specialties with the highlight being these uniquely Canadian Moon Cakes.

The Pan Pacific Vancouver has kept their Moon Cakes authentic in terms of crust and form, the Pan Pacific Vancouver Pastry Team has concocted fillings that showcase Canada’s bounty with ingredients including Ice Wine, filberts from Agassiz, sun-dried cranberries and dried Okanagan fruits and berries.

“We were one of the first teams in Canada to celebrate the bounty of our great land by using Canadian ingredients in making Moon Cakes,” says Daryle Nagata, Executive Chef of the Pan Pacific Vancouver. “From late harvest wines to regional fruits, berries and nuts, our Moon Cakes are an authentically Canadian representation of the Moon Cake.”

Moon Cakes are traditionally given to friends and family members as a token of friendship, longevity and good luck. The Pan Pacific Vancouver will present their unique Ice Wine Moon Cake to each guest at the Moon Festival Sunday Brunch, September 19.  The lavish buffet will feature the luxury hotel’s most popular items including fresh seafood, carved Alberta beef, omelets made to order as well as specialties from China, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Korea.

Moon Cake

Moon Festival Celebrations at the Pan Pacific Vancouver

Sunday Brunch, September 19 at 11:30am – 2:30pm

Entertainment: The Golden Pearl Trio

Brunch: $49 per person, taxes additional

For reservations and information please call 604-895-2480.

By: Richard Wolak

Yaletown Best Burger Competition on Canada Day

Head on down to the 1200 block of Hamilton on July 1st and celebrate Canada Day Yaletown style. The highlight of the day is going to be the Yaletown Best Burger Competition being held in front of SOCIETY of which yours truly Richard Wolak (@vanfoodster) will be judging along with fellow celebrities Erin Ireland (@erin_ireland), John Chow (@johnchow), Raul Pacheco-Vega  (@hummingbird604) and Cassandra Anderton (@goodlifevan). The burger competition begins at 4pm, get there early to find the perfect viewing spot.

Canada Burger

All restaurants located in Yaletown were invited to submit their burger into the competition and I truly hope for tastebuds sake that there are some of the tastiest burgers in the competition. There are some rules that go along with this competition and one of them is that the burgers can not contain any form of Pork.

Participating Restaurants include:

  1. SOCIETY Dining Lounge
  2. Earls Yaletown
  3. BBQues
  4. The Hamilton Street Grill
  5. Section 3
  6. The Hub Restaurant
  7. Glowbal Grill

The burger competition is one of several events taking place during the Canada Day Street Party on Hamilton Street in Yaletown.

See you there!

By: Richard Wolak

65th Annual Steveston Salmon Festival July 1

Canada’s biggest little birthday party has a lot to celebrate. This year the festival turns 65 and is looking pretty good for a senior citizen. The 2010 theme is “Red goes green” and will include a number of initiatives to help reduce their carbon footprint.

The Salmon Festival will also feature a special “green zone,” including displays from the City of Richmond and other organizations to help promote positive environmental practices such as waste reduction, curbside composting, energy efficiency, and more. There will be information about community gardening, or how you can grow your own food at home.

The Steveston Salmon Festival is organized by volunteers to honour Canada Day. Last year, nearly 100,000 people attended. This year will feature all the main favourites including the pancake breakfast, parade and our famous salmon bake, which last year served over 2,300 plates of fresh wild sockeye salmon expertly cooked over open alder wood fire pits. It is a fun filled day of live entertainment, complete with dance and musical acts, trade and craft shows, activities for children, and a variety of inflatable slides, bouncers and a variety of adventurous attractions.

The day begins at 6:30 a.m. with the pancake breakfast. The Children’s Bike Parade takes off at 9:30 a.m. and is followed by the Canada Day Parade at 10 a.m., which starts at Garry Point Park and ends along Moncton Street at Railway Avenue.

For complete details including a schedule of events, parade map, road closure notice and parking information, or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit the Steveston Salmon Festival website at www.stevestonsalmonfest.ca.

Mothers Day Dining on May 9

Celebrate and treat your mom, your friends mom, your mom’s mom or any other mom to Brunch or Dinner on Sunday May 9th. Here are some of the dining options of places that have sent in their details.

Bacchus at Wedgewood Hotel & Spa

With live soft piano music and a selection of Bacchus menus designed by

Executive Chef Lee Parsons, the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa provides the

perfect setting to celebrate with your Mum on her special day.

Reservations are essential – please reserve through OpenTable

for the perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Mother’s Day Brunch

Begin your Mother’s Day by enjoying an exclusive selection of delicious brunch dishes.

Brunch available Sunday May 9th, 2010

10 am – 2 pm

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea

Sample a decadent selection of pastries, finger sandwiches and tarts accompanied by your choice of teas.

Tea will be served Saturday, May 8th and Sunday, May 9th, 2010

2 pm – 4 pm

Mother’s Day Dinner

Enjoy a special Mother’s Day three course set menu featuring fresh Spring fare.

Dinner available Sunday May 9th, 2010

6 pm – 10 pm

Spa Treats & Gift Certificates

A Mother’s delight – Whether it is a Wedgewood Classic Facial or a visit to the Roman Eucalyptus Steam Room followed by a Chocolàt Vanilla Decadent Body Treatment, we’re sure Mum will enjoy a luxurious escape to the award-winning Spa at the Wedgewood.

Can’t decide on a specific treatment? Let Mum choose! Our gift certificates make the perfect Mother’s Day gift and can be used on any spa service up to your chosen value.

For Spa appointments please contact 604-608-5340

For Gift Certificates please contact 604-608-5304

C Restaurant

To celebrate the day, Executive Chef Robert Clark has created a menu with moms in mind, describing his entrees as having the “freshest local ingredients available to create a fusion of the seafood dishes that C is famous for and breakfast foods everyone will love”. Some of the delectable dishes are: Fresh from the Boat Spot Prawn Salad, Oyama Charcuterie, Okanagan Cherry French Toast and Lobster Benedict. The menu is priced at $44.00 per person and includes appetizer, entrée and coffee or tea.

The “MOM!” brunch menu will be available for one day only at C Restaurant, located at 2-1600 Howe Street in Downtown Vancouver.

For more information about menu items or to book your reservation at C Restaurant please visit www.crestaurant.com or call 604-681-1164.

CRU restaurant

will serve up a special crowd-pleasing Mother’s Day menu in a relaxed atmosphere.  The three-course menu will be $29 per person, with children under 12 half price.

Mother’s Day Brunch

Sunday, May 9 – 10:00am – 2:00pm

CRU Restaurant – 1459 West Broadway, Vancouver

$29 per person (Half price for children under 12)

Reservations available by phone at 604-677-4111 or online at www.cru.ca

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

If she’s more of a traditionalist, her style may be more The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s take on Mother’s Day Brunch. Executive Chef, Robert LeCrom and his brigade do it up right from all-time classics like slow roasted Prime Rib, omelette and crepe stations, rotisserie selections and house baked desserts. Full menu details can be found at www.fairmont.com/hotelvancouver/Griffins. Advance reservations can be made by calling Griffins Restaurant at 604.662.1900 or online at www.opentable.com for seatings between 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. $69 per person, $34.50 per child, 12 years and under and complimentary for toddlers.

For those Moms and Grandmothers with a penchant for tea, The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s famed afternoon tea is the perfect celebration for family and friends. The Princess and the Tea promotion welcomes the ladies of the day to 900 West for an enchanting afternoon of savoury petit sandwiches, sweet pastries and scones with Devonshire clotted cream and berry preserves. For those wee ladies and gents-in-waiting, our Little Angel Bubblegum Tea will delight and charm from beginning to end. $36 per adult and $16 per child, 12 years and under.

The Fairmont Waterfront

City slick Moms who love a scene will be front and center guests at The Fairmont Waterfront’s Mother’s Day Brunch. Executive Chef, Patrick Dore steps up to the global plate with an elegant spread of charcuterie, seafood, Dim Sum selections, maple glazed smoked ham, Salmon Wellington, Eggs Florentine and Eggs Benedict, an endless dessert buffet and even a kids-only section with all the fixings. Full menu details can be found at www.fairmont.com/waterfront. Advance reservations are highly recommended by calling Herons Restaurant at 604.691.1818 or online at www.opentable.com for a choice of seatings at 11:30 am or 1:30 pm. $62 per person, $52 for seniors and $25 per child, 12 years and under and complimentary for toddlers.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport

If the Mom in your crowd is more the jet set type, The Fairmont Vancouver Airport is the place to celebrate this Mother’s Day. Executive Chef, Kamal Silva brings the tastes of the world home to Globe @ YVR with an outstanding brunch menu. Tuck into an Ocean Wise Seafood Bar, Chef’s carvery of slow roasted sour cherry stuffed chicken, sushi and dim sum, Coast to Coast delicacies and a luscious strawberry themed dessert buffet. Full menu details can be found atwww.fairmont.com/vancouverairport/GuestServices/Restaurants/Globeyvr.htm. Reservations can be made by calling Globe @ YVR at 604.248.3281 or online at www.opentable.com for seatings between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. $49 per person, $24.50 per child, 12 years and under and complimentary for toddlers.

The Sutton Place Hotel

Restaurant Chef, Robert Uy, has created two special dinner options that are available throughout the entire weekend. For $80.00 per person ($40.00 for children 4 – 12 years) enjoy a delectable 5-course dinner that has been prepared using local and regional ingredients, including fresh Kusshi Oysters and Dungeness crab from the West Coast of Vancouver Island; in-season Fraser Valley fruits and vegetables, and world-famous Pemberton potatoes. Or, if it’s “comfort food” you’re seeking, try our Family Style Dinner for four with all the fixings for a meal that will satisfy everybody’s taste buds for only $120.00. And if you’re bringing your little one along, not to worry as we have a special menu created just for babies and tots!

Of course, for the more traditional family affair, there is always the ever popular Mother’s Day Brunch, one of Fleuri Restaurant’s signature events. With only two seating times available, 11:00am and 1:30pm, reservations are required as this event sells out every year. Enjoy a wide array of fresh salads, hot dishes, gourmet omelettes, sumptuous desserts and much, much more, while listening to the pleasant sounds of our Jazz Trio.

And why not make a night of it? Treat mom to a luxurious evening away from home and take advantage of our special Mother’s Day overnight room rate. All you have to do is reserve one of the above events and we will extend to you a discounted room rate of $150.00 (plus taxes) which includes overnight parking.

Raincity Grill and Nu restaurant + lounge

Serving brunch on a regular basis but are kicking it up a notch for this year’s Mother’s Day. Look forward to a three-course brunch at nu for $29.50 per person and a two-course menu at Raincity Grill for $29.00 per person. For information about menus and reservations at Raincity Grill visit www.raincitygrill.com or call 604-685-7337. For information about menus and reservations at nu restaurant + lounge visit www.whatisnu.com or call 604-646-4668

Note: Above restaurants are in alphabetical order.

Hamantaschen, Tasty Treats

Hamantaschen, the triangle shaped cookies that are traditionally eaten during the Jewish holiday of Purim, are made with many different fillings including poppy, prune, date, walnut, and chocolate. This year the holiday is celebrated on February 27 & 28, these tasty cookies are now available at Jewish bakeries around the city, here are some of the best places that are selling them.

Solly’s (3 locations)

1) 368 West 7th Avenue

2) 2873 West Broadway

3) 189 East 28th Avenue

Sabra’s

3844 Oak Street

Siegel’s (2 locations)

1) 1883 Cornwall Avenue

2) Granville Island Market

Garden City Bakery

9100 Blundell Road, Richmond

Kaplans

5775 Oak Street

Omnitsky’s

5866 Cambie Street

Valentine’s Day Treats

Cupcakes by Tracycakes

Speciality Cupcakes

Now through to Valentine’s Day, Tracycakes will be preparing freshly made Valentine’s Day cupcakes daily in a variety of flavours like For My Valentine, Hot Lips, Neopolitan, Girlicious and A Moment On Your Lips. All cupcakes are available in store or made-to-order by calling either of the cafes.

Cupcakes prices:

Cupcakes – $2.95 each or $14.00 per half dozen

Babycakes – $1.25 each or 10.95 per dozen

Specialty Cakes and Cookies

Heart Shaped Mini Cakes come in two varieties – chocolate or vanilla, iced with either chocolate or vanilla icing and covered with flakes of chocolate and decorated with a special candy or those three magic words! - $10.95.

Tracycakes Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies come in beautifully wrapped packaging and decorated to your heart’s desire. 2 pack boxed sugar cookies for $5.95 or individually wrapped in cellophane for $2.00.

Cupcake Bouquets

“Cup of Love” Bouquet – A unique floral arrangement perfect for the sweetheart with a sweet tooth. The “Cup of Love” is a pretty tea cup filled with colourful flowers and babycakes – $25.95

“Bunches of Love” Bouquet – This lovely floral arrangement is good enough to eat and is a colourful display of gerber daisies mixed with seven scrumptious babycakes – $50

Tracycakes White Rock

15015 Marine Drive

Tracycakes Abbotsford

101 2636 Montrose Avenue

For more information and ordering:  www.tracycakesonline.com

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