hired belly’s best restaurants and dining

No Time Like the Present to Jump on Wagon Rouge

By |2023-03-20T09:01:39-07:00February 20th, 2014|Dining|

  Bistro Wagon Rouge serves French classics in a cosy setting Wagon Rouge is one of those places where, if I lived in the ‘hood, I’d be every day. And, apparently, it's where a lot of people already are. My intro to the unfettered Gallic offshoot of Brad Miller’s popular Red Wagon diner [...]

Victoria’s Steamship Grill: a Tasty Nautical Nod

By |2018-01-21T15:05:18-08:00February 12th, 2014|Uncategorized, Dining|

I’m a bit of a history buff, especially where buildings, food and art intersect. That thought crossed my mind when I looked out of our window from Victoria’s Hotel Grand Pacific to see the stunningly refurbished and restored Steamship Terminal.  The majestic, Francis Rattenbury designed structure dates from 1924, when it was built to serve as [...]

The Roof at Hotel Vancouver Re-Opens as a Pop Up

By |2018-01-21T15:05:18-08:00February 4th, 2014|Belly's Best Bites, Travel|

The Roof is back! Martinis too, Tim Pawsey photo UPDATED, March 25th, 2014... From the announcement: "…It’s official – The Roof is now open!   After several unexpected delays, the doors swung open this morning.   Thank you for your patience and on behalf of the team at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, we look forward [...]

Wild Rice Closes Groundbreaking Original

By |2021-01-23T15:30:30-08:00February 2nd, 2014|Belly's Best Bites|

Andrew Wong & chef Stu Irving (who went on to open Cobre). Hmmm, sure took some awkward pics in those days! Wild Rice, Andrew Wong’s trend-setting downtown room at Vancouver’s Pender and Carrall streets, has closed. Wong has decided to focus his energies entirely on Wild Rice Bistro at River Market, in New Westminster. I’m [...]

Il Giardino to Re-Open: Umberto Menghi’s Iconic Room to Rise Again

By |2018-04-04T16:40:33-07:00January 30th, 2014|Belly's Best Bites, Dining|

Il Giardino, Umberto’s much lamented restaurant, which he closed last spring to make way for redevelopment, may well resurface just up the street. It appears that once Umberto realised just how much Il Giardino really meant to people he wasted little time in seeking out a new home for his flagship, long running room. I’ve [...]

Hail forage! Where Caesar Rules!

By |2018-01-21T15:05:19-08:00January 28th, 2014|Belly's Best Bites, Cocktails, Ocean Wise|

The well foraged Caesar, TP photo If you're a regular visitor here (and if you're not, why not subscribe?!) You'll know that I have a lot of time for what goes down at forage. (1300 Robson St., Vancouver, 604-661-1400) Right now they're in the midst of Dine Out madness—serving upwards of 200 customers [...]

Dazzled by the dumplings at Lin. Again!

By |2018-01-21T15:05:19-08:00January 23rd, 2014|Belly's Best Bites, Belly's Budget Best, Restaurant Reviews|

Six delicious little juicy packets You will no doubt be horrified to learn that the Hired Belly can be fickle, even, occasionally, weak-willed—especially when it comes to certain foods. Nevertheless, I’ve learned over the years that the path of least resistance is usually the most prudent course of action. The other day I [...]

Blue Water Café Unsung Heroes: the 10th Anniversary Edition

By |2021-01-23T15:36:46-08:00January 16th, 2014|Dining|

Unsung Heroes creator, and Blue Water executive chef, Frank Pabst It was a decade ago that Frank Pabst rolled out his first Unsung Heroes seafood festival. Interestingly, at the time, it was considered to be not only cutting edge but a risky proposition. Pabst served ingredients such as sea urchin, jellyfish and poached [...]

10 Sure Bets: The 2014 Dine Out Vancouver Short List

By |2023-11-03T09:32:03-07:00January 8th, 2014|Belly's Best Bites, Belly's Budget Best, Hired Belly's Best Wines, Uncategorized|

Dine Out Vancouver: It's about food and wine UPDATED, Jan 16, 2014. The Trouble with Dine Out Lists... Is that you're guaranteed to miss not only a few worthy restos but likely many. So be it. However, here, in random order (i.e. as I think about them or hear about them from reliable sources), is [...]

The Fish Counter: Vancouver’s Go-To Sustainable Seafood Store Opens on Main St.

By |2021-04-06T17:25:16-07:00December 9th, 2013|Belly's Best Bites, Ocean Wise, Sustainable|

The Fish Counter: warm and welcoming, and already popular The Fish Counter (3825 Main St., Vancouver, 604-876-FISH [3474]) is the latest endeavour from celebrated Canadian Chef Robert Clark, with business partner Mike McDermid, long time fisheries expert, marine biologist and former program manager at the Vancouver Aquarium. The Fish Counter's Mike McDermid [...]

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