The Festival offers an assortment of the area’s best wines and ciders, unique farm-fresh delights from organic farms, live entertainment, green Earth seminars, and hand-blown glass ware. To spend your day at the festival simply follow the detailed map available on the official website, or pick up the festival brochure at local businesses and tourist info centers.

During the festival purple ‘wine route’ roadside signs will make it easy to find participating properties. All the exquisite festival locations will offer at least one complimentary activity or tasting.

“A tradition of the festival is to be as free as possible to encourage visitors to indulge in the full variety of bounties the festival has to offer. ” says Kellie Turner, Festival Chair.” In addition to exciting free opportunities, visitors can also choose to purchase tickets to premier events, including Winemaker’s dinners at some of our participating venues. “

This year’s Festival launch, a fun evening of sampling ‘what’s to come’, will take place Friday evening, September 17 information contact Cherry Point Estate Wines 250-743-1272.

For more information visit The Cowichan Wine and Culinary Festival Committee is pleased toth Cowichan Wine and Culinary Festival will take place Saturdayth, at Cherry Point Estate Wines For tickets and more www.wines.cowichan.net

If you love gathering your brood together for a family feast but are less enthusiastic about the preparation and heaps of dishes, we’ve got a plan for you.
Sunday Night Dinners at Fraîche are an opportunity for family and friends to sit down, relax and enjoy a hearty, healthy meal together. Skip the shopping, cooking and cleaning and get right to the good stuff – a delicious dinner and quality time with the family.

The family-style dinner features three courses with a traditional entrée such as roast beef and a dessert creation made with your family in mind. The menu alternates to feature a variety of family favourites throughout the month.

Every other weekend: Traditional roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, red wine jus, and house-made horseradish cream.

Alternating weekends: Chef de Cuisine Carl Wilks selects the best from the butcher. The 3 course family style menu varies to include organic roasted chicken, leg of lamb or pork with crackling.

Price:$40 per person for adults.

Renowned as one of West Vancouver’s most celebrated dining experiences Fraîche Restaurant offers food that celebrates the best of the west coast, steadfast service and inspiring panoramic views. The menu reflects Chef Dino Renaerts’ varied experience as one of Vancouver’s top chefs, while his sommelier training lends to an evolving wine selection paired to the menu and to great “by the glass” choices. Fraîche recently received Gold for Best North Shore dining in the 20th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards and was named one of Canada’s Top Ten Best New Restaurants of 2008 by enRoute magazine.  

Fraîche Restaurant
2240 Chippendale Road
West Vancouver
t: 604.925.7595
www.fraicherestaurant.ca

Food. Service. View. Wow!

The dinner began with some tasty bread and the service was spot on.  Chef Earnshaw has has cooked for the Queen on ENgland and Prince Charls and has 25 years experience cooking around the world.  He is the brain behind the execution of the food for the entire PNE.  I hope to interview him to get the details on how he built the kitchens that operate around the PNE site. 

If you’ve been through the fairgrounds and had your fill of corn dogs and mini donuts (don’t miss the Roaming Dragon Food Truck) and want to enjoy a concert in the bleachers, this is an experience worth booking.

Includes:

• 3 course meal, including soft drinks, coffee and tea
• Ability to listen to the artist sound check before the show begins
• Exclusive reserved seating for the Summer Night Concert at 8pm

Seating times are at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm. Guests are welcome to have dinner, go and enjoy the Fair and then return for the concert (wristbands will be provided and are required to enter the reserved seating).

Menu

Starter
Your choice of:
BC Salmon Cakes
Italian Flat Bread
Marinated Beef Carpaccio
 
Main Course
Your choice of:
Wild Mushroom Pie
Grilled Swordfish
Pepper Strip Loin
 
Dessert
Your choice of:
Berry Crumble
Stuffed Profiteroles
Panna Cotta
    
Menu items are subject to availability and may change without notice.

• Pricing includes applicable taxes.
• Does not include gate admission. Gate admission must be purchased at on-site ticket booths, online or at retailers.
• Alcoholic beverages are an additional charge.
• Gratuities are not included. For groups of 8 or more, an automatic 18% gratuity will be applied.
• Outside food and beverages are not allowed in restaurant.
• Reserved seating for concert is bleacher-style seating.

 Pricing (per person, includes taxes):

Groups of 20 or more save 10%!

 Call 604-251-7739 or email backstagebistro@pne.ca  

For further information about BC Liquor Stores’ special events, new products and more visit our website: www.bcliquorstores.com/event

house wine joins MyChef for a series of themed wine tastings. Catering to the gourmet appetite, owner and Chef François Samson has served well known celebrities Beyonce, Tom Hanks and top BC businessman Jim Pattison. Chef François will prepare sumptuous dishes with the house wine girls providing the ideal wine match.

Asian Feast

The series kicks off with an Asian Feast. From vibrant Japanese and assertive Thai fare to pungent Chinese and spicy Indian cooking, these cuisines have a reputation for being hard to pair with wine. house wine takes on the challenge finding wines that will stand up to the intense flavours and spices. Chef François Samson has created a menu combining Asian flavourings with our own local bounty.

On the menu:

- Oyster shot with lime, shiso and sesame slurpy

- Seared garlic chilli scallop on a bed of pad thai noodles

- Halibut in miso, sake, kafir leaf and galangal broth

- Braised pork with apple cardamom chutney on thin polenta cake

Expect equally intense and flavourful wines that will refresh you between bites.

Date: Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Venue: MyChef Café, 39 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC

Cost: $75 (plus HST)

For more information visit www.housewine.ca or call 604-569-1300

• Not sure what you are in the mood for or have questions about a product? Let Legacy Liquor Store’s knowledgeable and friendly staff help answer all your questions.
• Try before you buy at our tasting bar, where Legacy offers food pairing options, fun cocktail recipes, and an opportunity to discover new wines.
• Expand your alcohol knowledge and join us for special events such as Brew Master visits, Wine Maker tastings, and Charity Tasting Events. Visit our website for a calendar of events.
• Take advantage of our web delivery service. We always hope you’ll come visit us at the store, but we know sometimes it’s just not possible. Simply pop over to our website, select from real time inventory, submit your order, and we will deliver it right over to you. Pre-order pickup is also available for when you’re in a hurry.
• Our On-Staff Event Planners can help take all the guess work out of what to order for that garden party or family wedding.  Just call to set up an appointment.
• Gift-giving made easy. We offer personalized gift baskets, glassware, a selection of food and alcohol related books that are sure to please.  We also offer a corporate gift program for your clients and complimentary gift wrapping on bottles of wine.

We are truly excited to be a part of the newest waterfront neighbourhood in Vancouver and will work hard to ensure your visit to Legacy Liquor Store is an opportunity to learn about new products and participate in fun events. We hope to have you visit us often for first-rate product selection and friendly, personalized service!

September 4-6, 2010 // Crossover Culinary Stage

Taiwan, an island which has embraced influences from the world for the past 400 years, Taiwanese cuisines are the tasty way to understanding the culture. Hakka, aboriginal and local derivatives of Chinese cuisines such as the famous beef noodle soup, often can be seen alongside Taiwanese dishes as the local specialties. Due to the influences of the Buddhism, Vegetarian dishes are also among world’s best with its innovative uses of spices that makes the dish simple yet packs with flavors.

Echoing the theme “crossover,” the chefs this year are challenged to prepare signature Taiwanese dishes using local ingredients from Canada. Using the recipes these chefs provided, audience will be able to recreate dishes that are uniquely Taiwan just by going to the supermarket in the neighborhood.

What’s On at Crossover Culinary Stage
Crossover Kitchen: Tzu Chi 12:00 pm 12:45 pm
Crossover Kitchen: President’s Choice 2:00 pm 2:45 pm
Crossover Kitchen: Link 4:00 pm 4:45 pm

2010 TELUS TAIWANfest

Downtown Granville Street, Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza, and CBC Studio 700
September 4-6, 2010

Vancouver Public Library
Central Branch
September 4-7, 2010

Tuesday September 14, 2010, the Granville Room welcomes Unibroue’s Beer Sommelier Sylvain Bouchard to host a pairing dinner featuring Unibroue’s unique lineup of belgian-style beer. Tickets are $50 which includes a five-course dinner created by Granville Room Chef Kye Agrios, with beer pairings as well as a reception beer cocktail created by Trevor Kallies.

…The Night begins at 6pm with reception cocktails which will move into a dinner with beer notes explained by Sylvain Bouchard.

Tickets are available at Granville Room or RSVP th@dhmbars.ca

Expectations are high and rising as the doors of One Hundred Days prepare to open!  In a mere 24 hours, OPUS Hotel Vancouver will host a special media and VIP event before opening to the public for breakfast on Saturday morning.  The past week has seen the incredible transformation from traditional French bistro to raw, unpredictable and urbane pop-up eatery.

” The concept of a moment-in-time restaurant arose out of my decision to close Elixir Bistro and develop a fresh and innovative world class restaurant, featuring a new international cuisine, to open in the first quarter of 2011.  In true OPUS spirit, I decided to use the transition period between the old and new to do something completely unexpected and unique.  The richly experiential, stripped back raw structure of One Hundred Days is in perfect keeping with the creativity and unpredictability that defines the OPUS Brand ” said John deC. Evans, President and CEO, OPUS Hotels.

The talented chefs at One Hundred Days will dish up a tantalizing menu of urban diner meets Mediterranean cuisine, all inspired by the art surrounding them.  With choices such as Lobster and Prawn Popsicles and the Kick-Ass Burger, dinner at One Hundred Days is guaranteed to be a unique and adventurous experience!

The décor will be in a constant flux of change at the hands of local celebrity graffiti artist Vince Dumoulin.  With the walls at the mercy of his artistic whims, you may think you are in a different restaurant from one week to the next. 

One Hundred Days promises to be high energy and the most unexpected and thrilling dining experience to be found in Vancouver.  Join us on our journey of 100 exciting adventures.

Tonari Gumi’s 9th Annual Premium Sake Tasting Night (http://www.jcva.bc.ca/)

Location: Listel Hotel Vancouver (1300 Robson St., Vancouver)

Cost: Tickets are $50 each (You will also receive a $20 charitable donation receipt)

Sake Sponsors:
Blue Note Wine & Spirits, CMC Wine Merchants, Select Wine Merchants, Sunny Marketing and That’s Life Gourmet

Our Proud Restaurant Sponsors:
Kibune Sushi (http://www.kibune.com/), ShuRaku Sake Bar & Bistro (http://www.shuraku.net/index.php), Hapa Izakaya (http://hapaizakaya.com/), Zakkushi -Charcoal Grill Diner (http://www.zakkushi.com/)

Additional Details:
Together with the Listel Hotel Vancouver, this year’s Tonari Gumi Premium Sake Tasting Night will be our biggest ever. As in past years, we expect to have the largest selection sakes presented in Vancouver and the drinks will be accompanied by some exceptional appetizers from some top Japanese Greater Vancouver restaurants.

In addition, we will be holding our first silent auction which will include some extraordinary items donated in support of the Japanese-Canadian community. We expect tickets for this fundraising event to go fast and so purchase your tickets as soon as possible.

About TONARI GUMI
All proceeds from this event will go directly to Tonari Gumi. Tonari Gumi provides social services and active programs to the Japanese Canadian community of Greater Vancouver. Go to http://www.jcva.bc.ca/ for more information on Tonari Gumi.

To order tickets, please let me know or call Tonari Gumi at (604) 687-2172 or email (info@jcva.bc.ca).

Derek Iwanaka
604-928-2797