It's been a while

February 2008 - more coming soon - maybe

Promises Promises

I am in the process on redesigning my site, so will blog again soon. In the meantime, happy Spring!

Busy Busy

I have been too busy to post. More in 2007!

Referred to as `the Mozart of mushrooms' and `the diamond of the kitchen', the white truffle is a highly prized delicacy of Northern Italy. COAST Restaurant celebrates all the elegance and tradition of the Piedmont region with its White Truffle Dinner, November 20 - 24.
Award-winning Executive Chef Sean Riley has prepared an exquisite menu that features the finest, most sophisticated ingredients, with wine-pairing recommendations to perfectly complement each course.
White Truffle Dinner at COAST RestaurantNovember 20 - 24
~ House Made Taglettelli Pasta French Buttershaved parmesan, white truffleRoero Arneis, Bruno Giacosa
~ Pan Seared Baja Scallopwhite asparagus, fried quails egg, aged balsamicChardonnay Sicilia, Planeta
~ Proscuitto wrapped Icelandic Scampibraised tomato, fried artichokeBarbera D'Alba, Batasiolo Sovrana
~ Smoked Trout Risotto with Blue Marlin Brasolagreen pea's, mascarpone cheeseBarbaresco, Fontanafredda
~ Truffle Braised Provimi Veal Cheeksporcini mushrooms, buttered spinachBarolo, Stefano Farina
~ Bostrengo of Appechiotoasted chestnuts, dried figsMoscato D'Asti, Michelle Chiarlo Nivole
Dinner menu $120 plus applicable taxes.Wine-pairing $50 (3 ounce pour).
COAST Restaurant is located at 1257 Hamilton Street in Yaletown. Seating is limited for these special dinners - please call 604.685.5010 for reservations.

AQUARIUM'S OCEAN WISE PROGRAM CELEBRATES SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD

Vancouver, BC: The Vancouver Aquarium invites you to celebrate sustainable seafood during Seafood for Thought from November 20 - 22 at some of your favourite Ocean Wise restaurants. This 3-day celebration asks Vancouver restaurant-goers to consider the seafood they eat and the consequences those choices may have on the ocean environment.

Recent research published in Science magazine suggests that the seafood we enjoy could all but disappear by 2048 unless we change our ways.

Information like this can certainly be overwhelming. The Ocean Wise program is working closely with chefs and restaurants to make it easier for consumers to choose sustainable, ocean friendly seafood options in an effort to reverse these negative trends. Ocean Wise would like to invite Lower Mainland residents to support sustainable seafood by visiting restaurants participating in Seafood for Thought from November 20 - 22.

Participating restaurants will feature ocean-friendly seafood options on their menus during the Seafood for Thought event, and make a donation to the Aquarium's Ocean Wise program. Going out for dinner can make a world of difference. Dine out and enjoy seafood that is not only good to eat, but good for the oceans as well. Customers who order an Ocean Wise menu item will also be entered into a draw for an Aquarium membership and a beluga encounter for two.

The following Ocean Wise restaurants are participating in Seafood for Thought:

C Restaurant Le Gavroche
A Kettle of Fish O'Doul's Restaurant & Bar
Altitudes Bistro on Grouse Mountain Observatory Restaurant on Grouse Mountain
Aqua Riva The Ocean Club
Araxi Restaurant Ouisi Bistro
Bin 941 Nu
Bin 942 Provence Marinaside
Blue Water Café and Raw Bar Raincity Grill
The Boathouse Restaurants Restaurant 62
Cactus Club Restaurants The Salmon House on the Hill
The Cannery Seafood Restaurant Sip Resto-Lounge
Chambar Belgian Restaurant Trafalgars Bistro
Cin Cin Ristorante The Fish House in Stanley Park
Globe @ YVR West
Go Fish Whineo's Wine Bar & Tapas
Herons Restaurant Wild Rice
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

SHIFT CHANGE AT SALT

Salt Tasting Room in Gastown is saying goodbye to general manager
Chris Stearns, who has completed his six-month contract with the
restaurant.
Stearns was an integral part of Salt's development, and was
responsible for guiding the restaurant through it's opening,
designing Salt's innovative wine program, and assembling a "dream
team" staff, including Jay Jones (ex-West and Nu, who will assume
general manager duties), and Kurtis Kolt (ex-Aurora Bistro, who will
step into the assistant manager role). Stearns's hard work and talent
have given Salt the edge that helped it win Where Magazine's "Best
New Restaurant 2006".
"It's been a great experience, and a great challenge, to help build
something like Salt from the ground up," says Stearns. "I hope this
little room is the shape of things to come in Vancouver dining -- we
need more small rooms with big personalities."
Stearns will turn his attention full-time to his work as a writer and
photographer. His photos can be seen in the upcoming "Menus from an
Orchard Table" by chef Heidi Noble, due Spring 2007 from Whitecap Books.
Salt will build on its success when it opens the "Salt Cellar," a 44
seat cheese and charcuterie cave in Salt's basement in early 2007.
The restaurant recently opened for weekend lunches.
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SALT TASTING ROOM in Vancouver's Gastown serves great cheese,
charcuteire, and wine 7 days a week. Hours: Monday to Thursday 4:30pm
till midnight, Friday to Sunday noon to midnight. For more
information, please call (604) 633-1912 or visit
http://www.blogger.com/www.salttastingroom.com.

Four Wineries Raise Funds for the BC/Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer

For the second year, Goundrey, Hogue, Kumala and R.H. Phillips wineries are joining forces to help generate awareness about breast cancer and raise funds for breast cancer research and education. During the Think Pink – Making a Difference promotion in the month of November, $1.00 from every bottle of Goundrey, Hogue, Kumala and R.H. Phillips wine sold in British Columbia will be donated to the BC Chapter of the Canadian

Four special wines will be featured on display at select BC Liquor Stores during November: Goundrey Unwooded Chardonnay 2005 ($12.99 CSPC # 60889), Hogue Pinot Grigio 2004 ($12.79 CSPC # 624486), Kumala Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2005 ($9.69 CSPC# 606657) and R.H. Phillips Shiraz 2002 ($12.99 CSPC# 576272).

The public are invited to the 39th and Cambie Signature Liquor Store on Sunday November 5th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm to learn more from a Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation representative, and to sample a free taste of the four feature wines.