Posts Tagged ‘Gastown’

L’Abattoir Opening

July 15th, 2010 admin

On July 12th I attended the opening of L’Abattoir a new French Westcoast restaurant with a menu that is focused on clean, fresh, and seasonal flavours using traditional preperations. Everything from sauces to pastas, bread, and even fresh cheeses are made in-house by hand.

Barman Shaun Layton

The ‘Slaughterhouse Punch’ created by Barman Shaun Layton was a hit by all those who enjoyed it including me. Tasting bites were passed around from Chef Lee Cooper’s menu.

Serving Smoked Trout

Serving Mini Donuts filled with Lemon Creme

This is a room that is going to create a lot of buzz, the modern design elements fit in so well with historical Gastown, in a modern twist that meets the older neighborhood. Their is a front of house bar and lounge, an elevated dining room and a sun soaked atrium at the rear which is my favourite spot and will soon be my go to location for late night and Sunday Brunch.

L’Abattoir is located at 217 Carrall Street in Gastown.

By: Richard Wolak
Posted in Latest, Openings Tags: , , , , , No Comments »

Gastown: Eat and Drink during 2010 Olympics

January 27th, 2010 admin

For locals and visitors alike eating in Vancouver during the Olympics and Para-Olympics will have it’s challenges. Obviously being downtown or close to any of the Olympic venues will see lots of people and most of the restaurants, bars, lounges are going to be busy. Vancouver has wonderful neighborhoods and if you’re a local this is an ideal time to explore your neighborhood or other neighborhoods outside of the downtown core.

Here is a compilation of the best places to eat and drink in some of the neighborhoods outside of downtown.

Gastown Neighborhood

** All locations within 1 mile radius of Waterfront Skytrain station & Bus lines serving Gastown and area

Brioche

401 West Cordova

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-682-4037

– Tasty Sandwiches, Baked goods, Coffee and Desserts for breakfast and lunch daily.

The Greedy Pig

307 West Cordova

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-669-4991

– Sandwiches for lunch and dinner.

Bamboo Café

301 West Cordova Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-681-4323

– Espresso, Tea and baked goods all day long.

The Cambie General Store & Bakery Café

312 Cambie Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-688-9925

– Coffee, Tea, Sandwiches and baked goods all day long.

Boneta

1 West Cordova Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-684-1844

–A modern bistro that is a foodie lovers paradise, dinner nightly.

Incendio Pizza

103 Columbia Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-688-8694

– Pizza and Pasta for lunch and dinner.

Cobre

52 Powell Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-669-2396

– Latin American cuisine for dinner nightly.

The Diamond

6 Powell Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: n/a

– Asian tapas and inventive cocktails Wed – Sun nights

Chill Winston

3 Alexander Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-288-9575

– Hip spot serving American comfort food for lunch and dinner.

Six Acres

203 Carrall Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-488-0110

– Drinks, Sandwiches and Desserts.

Salt Tasting Room

45 Blood Alley

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-633-1912

– Extensive selection of Wines, Cheese, Charcuterie and Sandwiches for lunch, dinner and late night.

Vera’s Burger Shack

213 Carrall Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-568-5850

– Burgers for lunch and dinner daily.

The Irish Heather

210 Carrall Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-688-9779

– Fine pub food at bar and Long Table Series nightly.

Salty Tongue

212 Carrall Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-915-7258

– Coffee, Tea, Sandwiches and baked goods all day long.

Blarney Stone

216 Carrall Street

Eat-in | No reservations

Tel: 604-687-4322

– Pub food and drinks all night long.

Smart Mouth Café

117-131 Water Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-569-1480

– Serious spot for Espresso, Tea, Sandwiches and baked goods all day long.

Revel Room

238 Abbott Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604- 687-4088

– Comfort food and cocktail bar open for dinner and late night.

Pourhouse

162 Water Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-568-7022

– Delicious comfort food and one of the coolest bars in the neighborhood, lunch and dinner and weekend brunch.

Al Porto

321 Water Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-683-8376

– Italian cuisine for dinner nightly.

Guu

375 Water Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-685-8682

– Izakya Japanese Tapas for dinner nightly.

So.Cial

332 Water Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-669-4488

– American comfort food for dinner nightly.

Steamworks

375 Water Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-689-2739

– West coast cuisine and brew pub for lunch, dinner and late night.

Trees Organic Coffee

321 Water Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-783-6024

– Coffee, Tea, Sandwiches and baked goods all day long.

Jules French Bistro

216 Abbott Street

Eat-in | Takes reservations

Tel: 604-669-0033

– French bistro for lunch and dinner.

JJ Bean Coffee Roasters

146 West Cordova Street

Eat-in | Takeout

Tel: 604-408-9663

– Coffee, Tea, and baked goods all day long.

Compiled by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Olympic Celebration, Stories Tags: , , , No Comments »

Long Table Series at Irish Heather Jan 11th to Feb 11th

January 11th, 2010 admin

This period of The Irish Heather’s Long Table Series (LTS) will probably be our best ever! From January 11th to February 11th we will be serving 11 new entrees and 3 new beverages, including a first time pairing with red wine.

Long Table suppers are priced at $15 or $17 (plus tax and tip) and that includes a meal and a beverage.  Only two of the suppers are $17 and that is a reflection of the cost involved with a different cut of meat. For those who don’t wish to have an alcoholic beverage, Coca Cola have stepped in to offer a classic bottle of Coke, Diet Coke & Sprite.

The LTS will continue to offer a vegetarian meal for those who would prefer it (just make sure you let us know you’ll be having a vegetarian meal in advance).  We have revamped the entire menu and will be offering completely different options throughout January and February.

The LTS will continue during the Olympics and if the demand is there we will be hosting two LTS sittings each night. Keep your eyes open for the next menu!

LTS reservations can be made by emailing sean@irishheather.com and visit the blog for photos, menus, dates and prices at www.ltsmenu.blogspot.com.

Posted in Events Tags: , , , , No Comments »

Behind The Scenes at Pourhouse

October 19th, 2009 admin

Bartender and Co-Proprietor Jay Jones takes me behind the bar and into the kitchen on a tour of their Gastown restaurant. My ‘Behind The Scenes” tour began a month before opening over an Espresso with Jay at Smartmouth Café in Gastown. We talked about design, food, coffee, restaurants, bars and history and moved on to the vision that Jay and his other 4 partners had for Pourhouse. These guys had well thought out plans, each of the partners were playing a significant but very different role in creation of Pourhouse. Fast tracking to now, after a few weeks since opening, thus the tour begins.

Jay Jones at the Bar

Jay Jones at the Bar

Talking with Jay is inspiring, he is a great story teller and you will want to sit at his bar and talk about everything under the sun, well maybe not everything, I am sure their will be some great conversation.

On Tap - The Beer Tap Lineup

On Tap - The Beer Tap Lineup

The Bar - Going Behind The Bar

The Bar - Going Behind The Bar

Part of this great story of creating the long wooden topped bar, begins here in the outskirts of Vancouver at a local farm, not just any farm, Vista D’oro Farms in Langley where Jay found a huge piece of wood in their barn, and that was the basis for this beautiful long wooden bar top.

Bartender Jay Jones (left) & Chef Chris Irving (right)

Bartender Jay Jones (left) & Chef Chris Irving (right)

Jay Jones

His career really took off 10 years ago in Whistler, when he had a great opportunity to be the Bar Manager at Araxi – his wine knowledge soared, and he was soon offered a role in opening West (originally Ouest) back in hometown Vancouver. He was given the Bar Manager & Wine Director role, and held that position for 5 years. He then left West to assist in opening Nu Restaurant as Bar Director. This then followed by becoming the General Manager of Salt Tasting Room. A year later he left to join Donnelly Hospitality Management and take on a corporate position as Bar & Beverage Manager – overseeing a variety of development throughout the company’s several pubs and nightclubs – involved in the launch of The Modern as well as Pop Opera, and working intimately with the cocktail program at Granville Room. Last year Jay moved to Loden Vancouver, to take the role of Head Bartender at Voya. Which brings him to this year – where Jay and his Pourhouse partners found their beloved location in Gastown.

Chris Irving

Born and raised in Whitehorse, Chris got his start at The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino. He then worked as a chef at West in Vancouver (this is where he met Jay Jones), followed by 2 years in London, UK at Petruse (under Gordon Ramsay). Throughout his culinary travels, he keeps coming back and calling this place home. Nowhere else he has lived, boasts such a brilliant diversity of culture, geography, gastronomy and the incredible social element of our hospitality industry. Chris is honoured to call Vancouver home.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen

Crispy Cheese with Roasted Tomato Soup

Crispy Cheese with Roasted Tomato Soup

One of the feature selections on the menu is this grilled cheese sandwich with a bowl of house roasted tomato soup.

The Chefs Table

The Chefs Table

This is the star of the restaurant, with only one seating each night, serves up to 6 people and must be booked at least 48 hours in advance. You will enjoy a selection of the Chefs creations that aren’t on the menu.

Seating at the Bar

Seating at the Bar

Dining

Dining

Dining under the Edison lightbulbs

Dining under the Edison lightbulbs

Pourhouse is a late 19th century inspiration with most of their furniture and antique pieces having been inspired by the mid 1800’s to early 20th century says Jay. Everything from  the walls, tables, chairs, upholstery, crown molding, chandeliers and even the bathrooms have a history behind them. Welcome back to Gastown to where Vancouver’s history began and to Pourhouse where great food, drink and ambiance begins.

Pourhouse is located at 162 Water Street in Gastown at http://www.pourhousevancouver.com/

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Behind The Scenes, Stories Tags: , , , No Comments »

Long Table Series at the Irish Heather

September 16th, 2009 admin
Chef Lee Humphries

Chef Lee Humphries

The Long Table Dinner series was created by Sean Heather the owner of the Irish Heather, Sean had what has turned out to be a truly great idea. This idea has turned into one of the most successful dinner events in Vancouver in quite sometime and the series has been extended well into the fall.

Dr. Michael Kiraly with Steam Whistle Beer

Dr. Michael Kiraly with Steam Whistle Beer

The evening began with everyone meeting at Shabeen (the Whisky House in the rear of the restaurant), when the bell rang you knew it was time to find your seats at the 40 foot wooden communal table in the next room. From their Chef Lee Humphries came out and introduced the evening and the food that we were about to eat, then Dr. Michael Kiraly spoke about Steam Whistle Beer which was the beverage paired with the meal.

LongTable9.15.09 015LongTable9.15.09 016

The night I visited I had the Beef Stroganoff With Sour Cream And House Made Pasta with a Bottle Of Steam Whistle Pilsner (this meal was $12).

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff

Steam Whistle Beer

Steam Whistle Beer

I also shared a couple of their desserts and enjoyed the Honey Lemon Crème Brulee the best.

Honey Lemon Crème Brulee

Honey Lemon Crème Brulee

They always have a vegetarian option available to those folks who prefer it and Coca-Cola are supplying a Coke, Sprite or Diet Coke, in the classic bottle, for anybody who desires a non-alcoholic choice.

If you are interested in attending one or more of their future dinners, make sure that you make a reservation well in advance, you can see the line-up here http://ltsmenu.blogspot.com/

Irish Heather 210 Carall Street, Vancouver

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Great Ideas Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

SALT TASTING ROOM

August 1st, 2009 admin

Salt

45 Blood Alley,  Vancouver

Tel: 604-633 – 1912
Web: www.salttastingroom.com

Twitter: @SaltTastingRoom

Advice: Look up Google maps to find the location.

Living in Vancouver all my life, I thought that I knew where everything was until I tried to locate Salt Tasting Room, after stopping to ask a couple of people in the Gastown area, I finally found the destination that I was searching. Enter Salt, a cool, out of the way, charcuterie, wine bar, and chill space in Blood Alley. I was by for lunch and had the Grilled Cheese ($12) which came with a fennel salad and black bean soup. This grilled cheese was like none other that I have ever had, a selection of artisan cheeses, Guinness grainy mustard and some other secret sauce and grilled to perfection, my tastebuds went wild. Salt

The space is exposed brick and concrete floors, and adorned with steel designer stools, an 18-foot-long communal table, simple hanging lighting, and heavy wood tables. Being located in historic Gastown, the feel of this room fits in well in the neighborhood.

It is charcuterie and wine bar that is a destination in the city, Salt Tasting Room has a great artisanal cheese selection, thin sheets of cured meats and an array of condiments. You simply create your own tasting plate by choosing three items from the daily blackboard. For $15, your little meal – chosen from a rotating roundup of specialty meats and artisan cheeses – is full of condiments. There is an extensive wine list with wines by the glass or bottle.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , No Comments »
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