Malbec is on a roll. Still. And Malbec World Day (April 17th) is again almost here. Argentina founded its reputation on Malbec, which has become immensely popular. Yet that love affair is actually quite a recent phenomenon. Historically, in France, Malbec was used mainly as a blending wine. The exception is in Cahors, where it’s [...]
Quebec, even though you may leave, never leaves you. Excuse me for being a tad sentimental. But yesterday I indulged in a small slice of my past. Quebec came to town—at least a select few artisan Quebec producers did, along with their wares. The venue was Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts— PICA, which is also hosting [...]
Curry Cup 2019 is a wrap! I’ve judged at a few competitions over the years. But I’d have to say that the Curry Cup is one of the coolest. Maybe it has something to do with my U.K. upbringing. But I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for a good curry—which is still [...]
Vintners Brunch is for many still their VanWineFest highlight. It's easy to see why. The setting is dazzling, especially on a day like this past Sunday, when the North Shore Mountains and harbour seem almost on the edge of the room. It's also a great party, one of few events that comes with live music. And while [...]
I’ve been following the adventures of Sooke’s Sheringham Gin almost since Day One. So I’m beyond thrilled to hear their Seaside Gin won ‘Best Contemporary Gin in the World’ at the World Gin Awards. I’m especially delighted for Sheringham, in that they embody so much of what it takes to succeed as a small, remote [...]
Why would over 200 people patiently line up outside the Vancouver Aquarium on a near freezing winter's night? To taste chowder. That's why. And not just any chowder but 14, truly unique, BC recipes. And all OceanWise at that. Thursday night's 2019 Chowder Chowdown, as usual, was an unqualified success. Fourteen leading restaurants, resorts and [...]
Quails’ Gate is celebrating 30 years. Time flies. It seems like only yesterday that Ben Stewart poured us a taste of the first Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir. We were sitting on a picnic table outside a then much smaller winery. And we almost fell off when Ben told us the price. “You’re going to [...]
Ancora arrives Recently opened (on January 8th), Ancora is already a going concern. That should come as no surprise. ‘Mainland’ Vancouverites have already embraced chef Ricardo Valverde’s Nikkei cuisine. A marriage of Peruvian and Japanese styles, the origins of Nikkei date from the late 19th century. Around this time several thousand Japanese people came to [...]
At Verre the glass is more than half full. Liam Breen is chef-owner of Verre, a refreshing newcomer at the north foot of Denman. Right on the seawall, near the Bayshore, this space had became a bit of a revolving door. But that should change with the latest incarnation. The design team behind Verre has [...]
Burgoo is comfort food central. Yesterday a few of us dropped by Burgoo on Burrard for lunch. It turned out to be the perfect choice for a warming bowl of French onion soup and a good salad. The soup was wickedly good, topped with lashings of broiled cheese and packed with croutons in a tasty [...]
