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Posts Tagged ‘Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver’

Interview with Hans Pirhofer

February 1st, 2012 admin

Hans Pirhofer | 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.

I grew up in Insbruk, Austria where my family had a pastry shop for 35 years. I started helping out when I was 12 years old, at 15 I started an apprentiship at Konditorie Peintner for 3 years and made everything in house. I then worked as a pastry chef for the Corso Restaurant in Seefeld, a ski resort in Austria for 2 years. I then worked doing pastries in the family business for 5 years. I then moved to Marco Island in Florida and worked at the Marriott Hotel for 2 years as the pastry chef. I then came to Vancouver in 2000 and joined the Pan Pacific Hotel as the Chef de Partie for 8 years, was then promoted to Assistant Pastry Chef and in 2009 to head Pastry Chef.

Did you always want to be a pastry chef?

Yes it just happened, that’s all I have wanted to do until when I was older when I thought about being an architect.

Do you follow or apply a specific food design?

Keep it contemporary and trendy, from fashionable colours etc.

Where do you get inspiration?

Walking down Robson Street, cookbooks, magazines, anywhere and everywhere.

The 1st Dessert:

Caramelized Pineapple Tartin

Caramelized Pineapple Tartin

What is in the dessert?

Caramelized pineapple on top of eggnog parfait, caramelized chestnuts, crème anglaise and crème caramel and twill on top (bottom is a sweet dough cookie).

What was your inspiration behind this dessert?

Like a Tarte Tatin, I wanted to make it more exotic and put in pineapple instead of apple and be cold not hot, and added eggnog for the Christmas flavour.

Is there a pastry chef or two that inspire you?

  • Jean Philippe – at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas
  • Thomas Peintner – in Austria

How would you describe your style of pastries at the Pan Pacific Vancouver?

  • Modern and classic.
  • Café Pacifica – more modern and trendy
  • Banquet desserts – are different with new flavours

The 2nd Dessert:

Chocolate Trilogy

Chocolate Trilogy

What is in the dessert?

1)    In photo –on left – Chocolate sour cherry tart with whipped cream baked black forest style

2)    In photo –middle – Sacher petit with apricot confit

3)    In photo –on right – Chocolate sorbet with orange foam and chocolate crumbs

What was your inspiration behind this dessert?

Get traditional with modern, combined such as the Blackforest Cake and the Sacher.

Describe the most elaborate wedding cake you have ever made?

It was a 7 tier wedding cake, each tier had a different flavour and we had 2 people working on it.

  • Bottom layer – cassis chocolate
  • 2nd layer – chocolate layer
  • 3rd layer – lemon cream
  • 4th layer – cherry champagne
  • 5th layer – coffee opera cake
  • 6th layer –passionfruit layer cake
  • 7th layer – raspberry chocolate mousse

Outside of the whole cake was fondant covered and pastiche flowers and ornaments. The cake served 300 people and we made it in Austria.

What was the most recent competition that you took part in?

I was part of Team Canada competing in the World Gelato Competition in Italy in January 2012.

What is your favourite Pastry Shop in Vancouver?

Thomas Haas

What is your favourite city in the world for pastries?

Paris

The 3rd Dessert:

Lemon Brioche

Lemon Brioche

What is in the dessert?

Brioche filled with lemon cream, lemon almond crust on top, crème Anglais around.

What was your inspiration behind this dessert?

I like to work with making bread, and wanted to make something with crunch.

How many people are in your pastry kitchen?

8

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

Architect

How do you make Caramelized Chestnuts?

Peel the chestnuts, caramelize the sugar, add brandy then add in the chestnuts, sits overnight to cook.

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

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Latest, Star Pastry Chefs Tags: , , , , No Comments »

Pan Pacific Christmas Wish Breakfast Dec 7

November 22nd, 2011 admin

The 24th Annual Pan Pacific Vancouver Christmas Wish Breakfast epic toy drive benefiting the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau is being held on Wednesday, December 7, from 6am-9am.

Each year the Hotel hosts one of Canada’s largest toy drives where the public is asked to bring down a toy to donate to needy children around the Christmas Holiday season. As a thank you to everyone who makes a donation, the hotel will offer a hot buffet breakfast from the Cafe Pacifica Restaurant for free.

Last year the hotel saw over 5,000 visitors come through the hotel and received 27,000 toys and over $25,000 in cash donations. The Hotel served over 25,000 eggs, 20,000 sausages, 3,000 kilograms of potatoes and 5,000 croissants!

You’ll be treated to the sounds of the Good Noise Gospel Choir.

Come down this December 7th to contribute to the massive toy pile and join thousands in the spirit of Christmas!

Follow and contribute to the fun using this Twitter hashtag for the event #PanXmasWish

Posted in Great Ideas, Holiday Fare, Latest Tags: , , , , No Comments »

An Evening at the Italian Opera Buffet

September 18th, 2010 admin

Last Saturday evening I dined at Café Pacifica inside the Pan Pacific Hotel for their Italian Opera Buffet. I was invited by the Pan Pacific to come and experience their Italian Opera night, it was a discovery of sorts for me as I hadn’t heard about this unique dinner with live opera singers.

Every Saturday night, it is Italian Opera night in this restaurant, ideal for your date night, wedding anniversary, birthday or to treat yourself to a personal indulgence. Accomplished Opera singers accompanied by piano as the entertainment while you dine at this Italian themed buffet.

Began the meal with a selection of salads and antipasti from one of the stations, favourites here were the Tomato Caprese, white asparagus, grilled vegetables, shrimp salad, and olives. Next was a visit to the entrée station where I had Duck leg in Barolo with polenta rounds along with Vegetarian Canelloni both dishes were outstanding; from here I visited the Pasta station and the Chef prepared a dish of wholewheat rigatoni, with shrimp, scallops, vegetables, pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes, garlic and tomato sauce. The last station was the dessert station where I loved the Elize, chocolate hazelnut slice and the plum almond tart. While enjoying dinner and a great conversation, the two opera singers sang Italian opera for our listening pleasure.

Italian Opera Dinner happens every Saturday night from 6pm-9pm and is $49 per person at Cafe Pacifica.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Culinary Adventures, Latest, Restaurant Promotions Tags: , , , , No Comments »

Moon Cakes at Pan Pacific Vancouver Brunch Sept 19

September 11th, 2010 admin

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

Posted in Culinary Adventures, Great Ideas, Holiday Fare, Latest Tags: , , , , No Comments »

Year of the Tiger Brunch Feb 14 at Cafe Pacifica

January 30th, 2010 admin

Bring in the Year of the Tiger over gourmet brunch with the entire family:

Five spice barbeque pig * roast prime striploin of beef * sushi * wok fried snapper * Han Chinese dumplings * Manchurian congee bar * seafood * traditional eggs benedict * Peking duck rolls * sago & lotus seed pudding * classic decadent dessert bar

11:30am – 2:30pm

Live entertainment by the Goldenpearl Ensemble

Surprise gift to stay in Room 2010 for one lucky lai see winner, valued at $600

$59 adults. $54 seniors & teens. $29.50 children 6-12. 5 and under complimentary

Above rates subject to applicable tax.

Reservations: Café Pacifica at Pan Pacific Vancouver: 604 895 2480 | 604 662 8111

800 663-1515 CAN | 800 937-1515 USA | 800 514-9086 Mexico | panpacific.com

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Valentine’s Dinner Feb 13 at Café Pacifica

January 30th, 2010 admin

Join us for a romantic Valentine’s eve, featuring live Opera music, a serenading violinist, a sumptuous buffet dinner with made-to-order pasta bar and stunning harbour views.

6pm – 9pm

Antipasti * roast lamb and pork * Calabrian seafood cioppino * carpaccio of beef * shaved truffles * gnocchi * tiramisu * lemon tart * decadent dessert buffet

Win a Romance package valued at $495, compliments of the Pan Pacific and Spa Utopia

$55 adults. $50 seniors & teens. $27.50 children 6-12. 5 and under complimentary

Reservations: Café Pacifica at Pan Pacific Vancouver: 604 895 2480

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