kissmekate

Mini Donuts!!!

Thanks for some awesome posts on this subject. I am working with the Tea Association of Canada and I will let you know what we set up for events in Victoria, hopefully some of you Islanders can come by. Do any of you know who in Victoria does a more healthy approach to tea, maybe a vegetarian or organic place? And Michael, you stick to your guns, none of those IPA fakes, I'm with you!

Hello, I am looking for the top tea rooms in Victoria please? It can be a modern tea lounge or a classic afternoon tea shop. I am also looking for the oldest tea room in Victoria (The Empress has been serving tea for 100 years, is there anywhere older then that? I would appreciate your help! Thanks Cate

My earliest recollection of the RARE location was first as Massimo’s, an Italian restaurant, which was followed by a restaurant with a wine name (Zinfandels maybe?) After that E’Toile, owned by Andre Durbach of Parkside, then Bis Moreno. I think they all had their own reasons for closing. In the early days there were very few residences around there so they had to rely on destination diners and visitors to the city but without a view, or stunning architecture and a courtyard (like Il Giardino). The area now seems to have more businesses and certainly more residences. The area around Rare is actually one of the more established restaurant areas in Vancouver. Although not a restaurant row like Robson Street or South Granville, the streets around the north side of False Creek on the outside edge of downtown Vancouver have been the home to some of Vancouver’s top restaurants, and longest running! The old guards - Umberto’s empire – Il Giardino, The Yellow House, La Cantina. La Bodega is still there, as is A Kettle of Fish. There was Victoria Station and Dem Bones (now Tony Roma’s). On the waterfront was a floating seafood restaurant, and under the bridge Bandies. There was Café Splash and Starfish (now C), Andersons and the Riley Café (now NU). That first block of Hornby had a dozen small restaurants, and scattered along the bottom of Howe, Pacific and Beach, a few dozen more; long gone in some case, some replaced by new restaurants, others by condos. At Pacific and Hornby there was Chez Daniel, L’escargot, La Cuisine and La Cuisine International, then Baz Lee’s 819 and finally a curry restaurant. Now word is that it will be a new restaurant called Intuition. On a busy Saturday nights you could watch waiters scuttling back and forth from their back doors and alleyways to neighbouring restaurants; Il Giordino borrowing a few loaves of bread from 819; Kettle of Fish lending out a few lobsters to the Victoria Station; cigars from La Cantina to Massimo’s; napkins from Dem Bones to 819; glasses from the Yellow House to… Then along came C Restaurant, Fiddlehead Joe’s, Bin 941, the Chilli House and that Hot Rock place…..Now there is Nu, Marmalade and of course, RARE. Umberto is building a hotel right over top of Il Giardino, and what used to be landfill and industrial along the waterfront and lower Beatty is now high end condo’s.

Can you describe it? Thanks. ← Hi Shelora, it was nice and tangy, clearly had some fresh lime or lemon - I liked how fresh tasting it was. Chunky, but not so much that it was hard to eat on a chip. It was a traditional salsa with fresh tomatoes, onion, a bit of cilantro but I didn't examine it as I was walking away from the table when I ate it. It was not “hot” with garlic, as I have found some of the fresh made salsa in the plastic tubs and it didn't have corn or black beans in it, which many jarred brands seem to. I also like that it was a locally made product, similarly to a pasta sauce line that I pick up when I am in Oliver at the Golden Mile Fruit stand - made in Oliver by a woman. Again I like to make my own pasta sauce from scratch but this one (which name momentarily escapes me) (darn, I can picture the label too, brain fart!) is so good that I usually buy a case when I am up there. The pomodoro sauce is particularly fabulous. Cate

Just got back from the Juvenile Diabetes Walk for the Cure fundraiser and among the many generous sponsors offering free samples and food items there was a new Salsa from a company in Kamloops called "Fresh is Best Salsa & Company" I was just about to walk by them, as I really don't care for store bought salsa finding it's often too sweet and preferring to make my own, but this stuff was fabulous! Give it a try and support a small local company - their info sheet said it’s available at Overwaitea, Save On Foods, Coopers Foods and Safeway. And no, they are not my client... Cate

Nyala Afrian Restauarnt is opening a second location in mid March at 26th and Main. I will post more in openings thread when I have more info. Cate

Looks like El Patio at 225 Smith Street is no longer. They shut it down for a few weeks to "renovate" then opened for a few days (during Super Bowl) and shut again. Asking around, it would seem that they have shut their doors forever. It was bought by a new owner about a year and a half ago...

Tojo is working on his book as we speak, and it will be beautiful! Cate

Hi there, a great web site you can look at is foodvancouver.com. This site lists restaurants that have been reviewed for their ability to handle dietary restrictions and special food related needs. It is endorsed by the celiac association and is well researched. I have used it as a resource many times for enquiries that have come to me. Web site is www.foodvancouver.comthen click on special diets. Cate

Funny, we called it that in Toronto, there was one right next to my place of employment. The new one will be a rather frightening 6 blocks from my place of residence. ← Jasmine, I too live in Fairview, where is the new Whole Foods going? Cate

I was at the Four Seasons this morning for a breakfast meeting and it suddenly occurred to me to ask if Chartwell was in Dineout (yes I know I probably skimmed by their name 100 times on Tourism Vancouver’s site, but for some reason they were under my radar. I just looked at the menu and it's fabulous! I don't know why it has been so under the radar but as one of the best hotel dining rooms and one of the more expensive restaurants in Dineout it must be one of the best deals out there. I always have amazing service and great food ther. Their chef is excellent and the staff wonderful! I wonder if they are offering complimentary valet parking at Dineout like they do for their regular dinners? The other great deal I have seen is Savory Coast. They are opening up their entire menu for Dineout so you can choose from any of the starters, mains and desserts. They have some wonderful entrees' (and cheap parking underground with an elevator right up to the restaurant) No idea what either still has available but they are both still taking reservations.

I was invited to a friend’s birthday party at the Cannery. Hadn't been there for years and it was fabulous!

I have been doing some very preliminary work with a new concept restaurant in the heart of the downtown eastside called Butirmoth. Owner Terri Storey was part of the opening team of Wild Rice. The other owner is from California originally. They are a ways away from being ready and/or for me to actually start working for them but in the mean time they have a good blog! Had a great read over Christmas. Looks like they are frustrated with money issues, but have gone ahead and bought the building, now they just have to come up with the financing for the restaurant. Very early days yet but fun to follow their adventures. http://www.butirmoth.com/blog/

Yup, Gotham (no S by the way) is always the first to sell out which is amazing as it's a lot bigger then a lot of the other restaurants.

THe Gnocci at Amarcord is to die for as is the Strozzapret bolognese La Terrazza!

I saw them at a shop on Arbutus and 11th in Vancouver last week. West side of the street, across from Tile and carpet place. Also saw them in a shop near Victoria on the weekend. Maddicks Farm (sp?) in Cordova Bay. Cate

Oh dear, sadly (for you) Chambar is not open on December 24th. They are closed for Christmas the 24th, 25th and 26th and fyi are also closing for some renovations (refinishing floors and woodwork, etc) Jan 8th - 17th, 2006 Brix on Homer Street is open on Christmas Eve. Cate

Here is what La Terrazza is doing....(one of my clients) From Russia with Love A Black Tie New Years Eve at La Terrazza This year La Terrazza take's a 007 theme of civilized decadence, great music and wonderful food and wine. Without giving all the secrets away...guests arrive on the red carpet, handing their car over to the valet or having their taxi door opened by a doorman. The courtyard has a special white tent full of surprises for later and a finely polished Astin Martin pulled up to the restaurants entrance. Already a feeling of mystique envelops you. Through the double French doors of the La Terrazza entrance, coats are swept away and a perfect martini (shaken, not stirred) or glass of champagne is handed to you. Twinkling lights, stunning decorations and live music great you as the great Geoff Peters classical jazz trio strikes up a romantic tune. Your table awaits you with personalized menus, elegant New Years Eve Party flavours, a roaring fireplace and a wine list that holds one of the finest collections of wine in the city. Perhaps to start, a bottle of champagne and our very special "glass" iced caviar bowls created just for this evening. After dinner step outside to our warm cigar tent with ports, liquors and wine service or move your feet as one of the cities best DJ's comes on to start you dancing and helps countdown to the stroke of midnight as we welcome in 2006. $125.00 per person includes A four course dinner, live dinner music, professional DJ and dancing, cocktail on arrival, admittance into the cigar tent and New Years Eve party favors Add-ons Russian Beluga Caviar Served in a hand sculpted "glass" ice bowl $110.00 After party Having a nice dinner party at home? Then join the La Terrazza party at 11:00 pm for dancing to a DJ, the Cigar tent and party favors Tables reserved in the lounge or dining room as available $45.00 per person Cigars and cocktails Various prices Surprises Priceless (and no charge!) Happy New Year! Gennaro Iorio - Executive Chef/ Managing Partner Giulio Miceli - Sommelier/Managing Partner Iqbal Grewal - General Manager/Managing Partner La Terrazza Restaurant 1088 Cambie St. Vancouver, BC V6B 6J5 Ph: 604-899-4449 Fax: 604-899-9179 info@laterrazza.ca www.laterrazza.ca

Lucky me! I work with some of the finest restaurants in the city and because of my job as a publicist dine at the restaurants with media, for events and at various corporate dinner meetings. I have certainly had some of the best meals of my life here in Vancouver at these clients' restaurants, but to mention them would be shilling wouldn't it! I do so many events and dine out so often (yes I know, no sympathy from this group) that consequently I don't get the opportunity to dine out at places that are not my clients very often. I will however mention a couple of dining experiences I have had in the last few months at establishments that are not my clients, friends, or client of a friend… Gramercy Grill - I hadn’t been back there since last year even though the meal I had at that time was excellent. I had a roast chicken last time I was in, and chose chicken again this time. They are running a $35 3-course menu right now with some excellent choices and even though we didn't go in to have that it offered such a good selection that we did. Not only was the meal excellent, but the price incredibly good value. I had a mushroom and cheese phyllo appetizer, a superb spinach stuffed chicken and crème brulée. Our waiter suggested a Chilean Pinot Noir that we were a bit unsure about trying but it too turned out to be both excellent and at about $40 a bottle, great value as well. They had a stack of "Alive" Magazines at the counter, which had an article featuring the restaurant. Quite a good magazine, and a very good article by Jason McRobbie. Trevor the bartender who often gets mentioned in various top service awards is now a partner in the restaurant along with Susan and they are doing a great job. The place was packed! We have been into the new Earls at the Paramount Cinema building a couple of times now, the food and service always consistently good and a great looking room to be sure. It makes for a nice evening or afternoon combined with a film next door at the cinema. We have dined at Habit twice now and really enjoyed the food both times. First time I tried the buffalo with black beans. Very nicely prepared, perfectly seasoned and an excellent portion for the price. I was with a big group so got to see a lot of dishes and they all looked very good. The room is a bit Ikea/ 70's diner, not exactly beautiful but attractive and functional as well as comfortable (chair and booth backs you can lean against!) a nice background for the food and service rather then the main attraction. No problem ordering a little cheese plate, something not on the menu though you never would have known by both the ease in getting the request and the beautiful presentation. The service was very good despite being very busy (a Saturday night) and the food didn't seem to suffer a bit for being open just a couple of weeks. We dropped in quite late the following week following a meeting with the City of Vancouver's Food Policy Task Force. Had the chicken wings and a fabulous tofu dish. I finally got into Chopsticks on Hamilton, the food was very good although a bit "goopy" for me but I am truly spoiled as I have dined at Tojo's a numbers of times now and all other Japanese food really does pale by comparison. Was in Hon's on Robson this week for a quick meeting with a client and ordered their excellent Congee with sliced beef. I asked for some fresh ginger, which I love, to be added and took home some of their excellent frozen dim sum items for the freezer. You have to be in the mood for the noise level at Hon's but for a good noodle or congee fix, it's a great choice. Went to the "official" opening of Quince last week (3rd and Burrard - former site of Lesley Stowe who has moved up 2 blocks, and east 1 block to 5th Avenue) and I think this is going to be a very successful operation for Andrea Jefferson, the Chef/owner. She is offering catering, some dine in options, take away items that include ready to go, heat and serve and Sous Vide as well as some fabulous hard to find fresh food items like frangipane dough, sweet dough, sauces and piping bags full of chocolate mousse all ready to go. Andrea is also a culinary instructor and her classes are reputed to be excellent. She also has classes for children that are taught by a former elementary school teacher turned professional chef. Dined at Diva at the Met last week for our "staff" lunch, a group of us who often work together, consult and are self employed. None of us actually qualify as staff, nor do we really have staff, but it was a great group of food photographers, food stylists, contract assistants and food promotions folks. The meal was preordered and set. Karen Su, Exec Chef Ray Henry's right hand gal personally prepared our lunch and it was really outstanding. I haven't been in for some time and although we really didn't try a lot from the regular menu it was very enjoyable. I couldn’t read the nametag of our server, she was a young blond women and I want to say that she was a really excellent waiter. We were up at Whistler a few weeks ago for Cornucopia and dined in the restaurant at the new Four Seasons. Prices were not bad for a hotel but the Chef up there, Wow! Exec Chef Jason McLeod is an absolute culinary star, his cuisine if superb. Took in a very late meal at Lolita's, very much felt like one of the bin's, enjoyed the food - I think! (I was dog tired after doing an event for 9 hours without sitting down, eating or drinking a thing and my taste buds were in refueling mode at best) I will try it again when I can give it the attention it deserves. Dropped in for a quick bite at Lily Kate in Yaletown. Granted I was heading for Diner, which was full, but I don't know why LK seems to get such a bad rap because it's not deserved. The food was very, very good, service warm and friendly and I liked the room. The owner says she is very slow Sunday - Wednesday but busy the other 3 nights. A struggle to be sure but she seems very dedicated to making it work. That's it for me, I did have a few other dining experiences that I won't mention because as my Mother says, "if you can't find anything nice to say, don't say anything at all", a bit of a mantra among PR people, and all other meals were at clients so off limits due to shilling regulations. Places I have been hearing good things about from people in the "industry" and want to check out soon are the Rosemead in Victoria, Aurora on Main Street, Diner in Yaletown and Mistral. I am going to see if I can post a bit of a calendar of up-coming food events at my clients if Arni will let me but in the mean time here is a little gift of a list of some of my favourite sites, Merry Christmas to all, and happy holidays to the rest of you! www.epicurious.com www.ldei.org www.slowfood.com, www.slowfoodvancouver.com www.stainedapron.com www.bookstocooks.com www.bcliquorstores.com www.gourmetwarehouse.ca www.farmfolkcityfolk.ca www.eatlocal.org www.webtender.com www.nytimes.com/pages/dining/index.html www.pacificpalate.com www.thestoreforcooks.com www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/ socialplanning/initiatives/foodpolicy/

Thought I would share a few more private rooms in some of the restaurants I work with. Cate LA TERRAZZA has two stunning private rooms. The Enoteca (the word “Enoteca” in Italian means wine bar - at La Terrazza it means a relaxed wine room) and the Terrace Room. Whether you have 10, 20, 60 or 200 people, La Terrazza has space for your private function - larger groups can be seated in the dining room. The Enoteca room is a private wine room that can seat up to 25 people boardroom style. The room has a private entrance from outside, (a doorman can be provided) an entrance through the restaurant, or a door into the Terrace room. Seating is at a large hand carved table. The Enoteca is separately ventilated making it a perfect tasting room. The Terrace room is an elegant, private room seating up to 60 people at round tables. The room is spacious with fine linens, marble and mosiacs and is reminisent of an large enclosed outdoor Italian balcony. The dining room seats 100, a separate lounge that also serves food seats 40. La Terrazza Fine West Coast Italian cuisine and well-crafted wine. 1088 Cambie Street (at Pacific) Vancouver, BC V6B 6J5 604-899-4449 info@laterrazza.ca View private rooms at www.laterrazza.ca _______________________________________________ GOTHAM STEAKHOUSE AND COCKTAIL BAR has three lovely private rooms as well as a mezzanine level that, although open to the lower level of the restaurant by a balcony style wall, is still very private. Lower Floor - The Boardroom - Suitable for smaller groups of 8 to 18, guests can be seated at a boardroom table or at two round tables. Take the spiral staircase or elevator downstairs to this lovely private room. Complimented by a beautiful fireplace and lighted wine cabinets, the room has a quiet understated elegance. Lower Floor - The Club Room - Seating for up to 32 in a variety of table styles and comfortable for 50 reception style. The room features built in audiovisual systems with DVD and its own private bar. A reception lobby area between the Club room and the Boardroom can be utilized for a standup reception before dinner and the 2 rooms can be used together for presentations followed by dinner. Main level - Dining room and bar - Gotham Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar can be booked, in its entirety, by special arrangement. Groups of 150 can be seated throughout the dining room and complete restaurant private bookings include the use of the bar and urban patio featuring an outdoor fireplace and walled garden. The bar is comfortable for 150 guests reception style. Upper Floor - The Mezzanine - This room, comfortable for 60 is seated restaurant style at individual tables and banquettes. Upstairs on the floor above the main dining room the mezzanine has the feel of an open balcony with the seclusion of a private room. The jewel in the crown of this upper level floor is the small Romeo and Juliet style balcony just off the mezzanine that can seat as many as ten guests or used as a private room just for two. It has French doors and a small elevator directly off the room so you can travel back and forth to the main floor and restrooms Gotham Steakhouse and Cocktail Lounge 615 Seymour Street Vancouver, BC V6B 3K3 604-605-8282 View private rooms at www.gothamsteakhouse.com _______________________________________________ FEENIE'S is the more casual, younger, funky sibling to Lumière, Chef Rob Feenie's star restaurant. Open Lunch, brunch and dinner. The private room can seat 16-20 guests, has sliding pocket doors for complete privacy and has an audio visual system with a large flat screen, separate sound system and built in DVD and VCR. The dining room seats 40-50, bar and lounge seat 30 and patio seats 14 Feenie's 2563 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 2E9 604-739-7115 ______________________________________________ GYU TEPPANYAKI is a restaurant made up of many private rooms, all with your own private chef! Vancouver's only Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant. Exquisite ingredients from Japan with regional ingredient influences. A selection of rooms with private chefs offer set menus or sample many traditional Japanese foods. Chefs are discreet, service warm & professional, food & wine of the highest quality. Four separate private rooms seat 4 to 12, 12 to 24 and a larger room can seat up to 40 Gyu Japanese Teppanyaki 219-755 Burrard Street, (Across from the Hotel Vancouver) Vancouver, BC 604-688-7050 Wheelchair Accessible (by elevator) _______________________________________________ HAMILTON STREET GRILL has a private dining room, a side bar and an entire restaurant available to meet a lot of event needs. They can host parties as large as 400 and as small as 16. Private Room 18 (sit down) to 32 people (reception) with a private bar and optional pool table available. Main Dining Room seats 40 and the lower dining room seats 80. Entire restaurant can host 400 for a standup reception. Hamilton Street Grill 1009 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2R9 604-331-1511 hamiltonstreetgrill@telus.net www.diningoutguide.com _______________________________________________ GEORGE - This tiny private room, part of George Ultra Lounge is comfortable for 4, or maybe 6 if jsut for just drinks. The back area of the lounge can be booked separately as well and is comfortable for 12. Although not private, it does allow for a group booking. George 1137 Hamilton Street Yaletown, Vancouver, BC 604-628-5555 www.georgelounge.com

An excerpt from the CCF Victoria Sponsored Chef of the Year Competition The Canadian Culinary Federation Victoria Branch is holding a cooking competition open to all Chefs of Vancouver Island to award them with the Chef of the Year Award. This event will take place Nov.6th at Camosun College Interurban Campus. We request that the applicant is a resident and is employed on Vancouver Island and that they incorporate island products into their menu. The menu has to be for a four-course dinner for ten persons, with no logos, no advertising, or identity on the menu. The format will be a blind numbered judging process. Menu will be judged by a panel of a select team of nationally acclaimed judges. The menus will be judged on composition, taste and presentation. What the competitors will receive is exposure for their establishment and them selves from the dinner guests as well as the media. Prizes will be awarded for: 1st Place: $1000 plus trophy for being Chef of Year 2nd Place: $ 700 plus medal 3rd Place: $ 300 plus medal The Chef must submit an application and $25 non-refundable application fee before August 12th 2005, a menu for 4 courses and if chosen supply all food required to serve 10 people. The Chef may bring any special equipment and one helper, apprentice or Sous chef. All chefs will use the Camosun College Cooking Facilities. The 10 finalists will be chosen and contacted in the second week of September with criteria and exact rules. Please submit application, menu and fee (cheques made payable to CCF Victoria) To: CCF Victoria Branch 1471 Finlayson Place Victoria BC V8T 2V8

Woopsie! By the way, I have taken the Liberty of putting a ticket aside for e-gullet so no need to give them a deposit. C.

Hi Jason, the draw will take place at Lumiere on November 10th. Young chefs from throughout BC are welcome to have their names submitted by their Executive Chef or perhaps it will be a pleasant surprise for someone! Please e-mail names to Lumière at Lumière@relaischateaux.com or fax to 604-739-8185, don't send it me please! (Gulp, I don't want the responsibility!) We expect to get students, apprentices and cooks. The young cooks/students etc. get exactly what the other guests get at $1,000 but they don't have to pay. Rob gives those seats away, and then takes the $6000 those seats would have earned and donates that to the Chefs Table scholarship fund for young chefs. Basically a value of $12,000 being donated, $6,000 in cash and $6,000 in kind. We sent an e-mail to all the restaurants we had addresses for, as well as culinary schools and some high schools asking for Exec Chefs to nominate a worthy young student or up and coming young chef. Those names (which I think they have about 40 right now) will be put into a "hat" and 7 names will be drawn. The 7th is a backup in case one of them can't make it. Someone unrelated to the whole event will do the draw. Lumiere is looking after accommodation for the student chef should they be coming in from the island, Okanagan etc. Rob is also hosting a party for suppliers, regulars, media, friends and family on Nov 7th and a winemaker's dinner for media, winery owners and senior winemakers on Nov 21 as well as a media reception on Nov 18th for Chef Trotter, all at no charge. If anyone reading this is a supplier and hasn't yet heard from Lumiere please PM me. The other dinners that require tickets are an alumni dinner on Nov 13th at $175 (Rob is subsidizing the cost of this dinner to keep the price down, it also includes dinner, wine, taxes, grat, parking) and a dinner with Michel Jacob on the 28th at $250 Sorry I haven't been able to post the menu yet, we are still waiting on confirmation of vintages. Cate