hired belly’s best restaurants and dining
Taas, a tasty starter plate of grilled lamb with puffed rice, garnished with fresh cilantro, Tim Pawsey photo (Updated May 8, 2014) Upstairs restaurants (i.e. those without any significant street level presence) can be notoriously challenging. In a business where 'location, location, location' is everything, you can count one hand those in downtown [...]
Yak & Yeti Momos and Lamb Kebab I’m intrigued when restaurateurs open a second location. Often as not the reasons are pretty straightforward: As in “If it works here, why not there?” However, the thinking behind Yak & Yeti Bistro (2958 West 4th. Ave., 604-428-4422) is a bit different. It’s the other half [...]
Fairmont Pacific Rim Rawbar dragon and motoyaki rolls I’m always annoyed intrigued by people who scoff at the idea of Vancouver becoming a truly “green city.” Maybe it’s just so much an entrenched part of the Canadian psyche: a feeling that progress and innovation always have to come from outside. Much in the [...]
Landmark Restaurant's Geoduck hotpot (CRA supplied) Just announced: the winners of the 2014 Chinese Restaurant Awards, Diners’ Choice, as tabulated from 19,612 ballots. The Chinese Restaurant Awards have grown from small beginnings into a hotly contested process that focuses a much needed spotlight on the top Chinese tastes in Metro Vancouver. The awards [...]
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 [...]
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 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 [...]
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, 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 [...]
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 [...]
