The evening’s menu, prepared by LURE Chef Mike Weaver, will feature an abundance of local, seasonal ingredients including, among other things: Qualicum Bay Scallops, Fanny Bay Oysters, Galloping Goose Sausage and Salt Spring Island cheese.  Each of the six courses will be paired with a different Salt Spring Ale including some rare and unusual offerings, such as their ‘Heather Ale’ (made with heather flowers from Metchosin), ‘Whale Tail Ale’ (a North American style Alt), ‘Salt Spring Porter’ (a dry, ‘roasty’ Porter) and the ever popular, seasonal ‘Fireside Winter Ale’.  Also featured will be Salt Spring’s multiple national medal winning ‘Golden Ale’ and ‘Pale Ale’.  The six course dinner and Salt Spring Island Ales beer pairings can be booked by calling LURE at 250- 360-5873.  The price is $55 per person.

Salt Spring Ales’ resident brewmaster Murray Hunter and brewery co-owners will be in attendance to celebrate local beer and food and the farm-to-cup connection.

LURE Restaurant is located at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa, at 45 Songhees Road, in Victoria, BC.

For more information visit: www.lurevictoria.com or  www.saltspringislandales.com.

About Salt Spring Island Ales

Gulf Islands Brewing, makers of Salt Spring Island Ales, is located in a barn in The Fulford Valley on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia.  This small brewery creates some of the most unique and delicious brews around with a local focus that works with island farmers to source and grow seasonal ingredients.  Their beers are fresh, unfiltered and unpasteurized and brewed using their own mountain spring water.  From farm to cup, they aspire to create beers that embody the flavor and character of the islands.  This small-but-mighty island operation just won its second National Gold at the Canadian Brewing awards. www.saltspringislandales.com

About LURE

Located at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa, LURE is a local favourite for fresh seafood, regional cuisine and mouthwatering cocktails.  Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner created from the Island’s finest local ingredients in a casual, but elegant setting.  Their supernatural setting with floor to ceiling windows offers an unsurpassed view of the city’s beautiful Inner Harbour.

Gifts For the Kitchen

Red Chambord Bodum 8 Cup Press ($44.95)

Starbucks preferred brewing method, the coffee press, is now available in a festive red color for the holiday season.  Brew the perfect cup of coffee for your guests and make this press the centerpiece of your holiday entertaining!

6 Pack Coffee Sampler ($14.95 Canada)

A perfect gift for the coffee connoisseur or an adventurous friend, this sampler features six samples of some of our very best coffees,  pre-measured and ground for an 8-cup press. Curl up next to the fireplace and try different flavors!

Holiday Boxed Mug ($11.45 Canada)

This season, good things come in pretty boxes!  This 14oz decorative mug comes with a lovely matching box – and it’s the perfect gift for your friendly neighbour, a carpool buddy or your child’s favourite teacher.  Simple, beautiful and festive, it’s just right for everyone on your list.

Gifts From Around The World

Reactive Red Mug from Italy ($9.95 Canada)

Handmade by artisans from the Umbria region of Italy, this beautiful red mug is the perfect gift for your friends and family that need a little bit of holiday evviva!

Modern Rustic Mug from Japan ($9.95 Canada)

This modern rustic mug features a reactive interior glaze, a design made by a technique that is the result of centuries of traditional Japanese craftsmanship.  Marvel at this beautiful mug this holiday season.

Gifts For Fun

Stainless Steel Kids Water Bottle 12 oz. ($14.45 Canada)

This is a great stocking stuffer for the little ones, with a convenient flip-up spout and leak-resistant lid for easy sipping and no mess!  This water bottle is BPA-free and boasts a reusable and sturdy design, making it not only a great gift but handy all year long.

Wish Kit ($16.95 Canada)

Surprise a teacher, friend or co-worker with a special treat with this easy to use wish kit!  With six individual packets of Holland Mints, enclosure cards to write a sweet note, and folding gift boxes, each gift costs about $2.50.

Block Pile ($19.95 Canada)

This unique gift for children inspires creativity and fun. Make your own rock monster or stack the blocks sky high – whatever you choose, this is no ordinary pile of blocks!  This gift is also eco-friendly, as it is made from alder trees sourced from an Forest Stewardship Counsel-certified forest and has packaging with high post consumer content that is also recyclable.

16 oz Cold Cup with Candy Cane Striped Straw ($14.95 Canada) & 20 oz Cold Cup with Candy Cane Striped Straw ($16.95 Canada)

Show off your “green” side with these reusable alternative cups this holiday season!  Decorated with a festive candy cane striped straw, these double walled insulated cups look like the iconic Starbucks cold cups and will keep your favourite beverage cold and your hands dry this holiday season.

Gifts Under $10

Holiday Red Cup Ornament ($5.45 Canada)

Our customers have grown accustomed to the arrival of Starbucks red cups in stores which signals that the holiday season is officially here!  Bring the iconic Starbucks red cup into your home and make it part of your holiday traditions by giving it a special spot on your Christmas tree, or wherever you need a glimpse of holiday cheer.   

Starbucks Holiday Cold Cup Ornament ($5.45 Canada)

Are you a Christmas tree ornament collector?  If so, Starbucks has a new addition for you!  Our classic Starbucks cup ornament now comes in the Starbucks cold cup—the perfect sentiment for those who love Starbucks holiday beverages—as long as they can get their Peppermint Twist Mocha over ice!

Gifts For a Sweet Tooth

Coffee and Treats ($14.95 Canada)

Who doesn’t love coffee and treats?  A simple gift that will please anyone on your list, this silver box contains an 8oz bag of the beloved Starbucks Christmas Blend paired with rich burnt caramel candies, made from real cream and butter.

Holiday Cookie Tin ($14.95 Canada)

The traditional holiday cookie tin receives a makeover with original art created by one of Starbucks very own artists. The festive tin contains a Starbucks customer favourite, Walker’s Shortbread Highlander Cookies, which pair deliciously with Starbucks Christmas Blend.

Cocoa Trio ($10.95 Canada)

This trio of beautiful red tins is filled with three different flavours of all natural cocoa: Classic Hot Cocoa, Peppermint Cocoa and Salted Caramel Cocoa. With all natural ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup, this cocoa trio is a sweet treat that anyone can enjoy!

Edible BC will be filming segments for a CTV and Canadian Tourism Commission production to be aired worldwide during the 2010 Games. For the piece, we will be filming one of our Chef Guided Granville Island Market Tours, led by EBC president Eric Pateman, as well as a specialized culinary tour of Vancouver’s Little India neighborhood led by EBC Chef Gurj Dhaliwal.

We are looking for 4 people who don’t mind being on camera to join each tour. You may be asked some questions by the filming crew, and would need to be flexible as our typically 2-hour tour may take some extra time due to the set up and shooting.

If you are interested in joining us for one of these tours which will be filmed in early August 2009, please send us an email, indicating which tour you are interested in. We will make a draw on July 10, and will contact the 8 lucky people (4 for each tour) to make the necessary arrangements.

Edible British Columbia

“It has been a very hectic couple of weeks” states Colin Jack, the festival coordinator. “We had four events last week including a Pub Crawl on Friday” Jack continued “the week also featured the popular Media Night that traditionally kicks off the festival”.

“The idea of the festival is to make it a two week celebration of beer in Vancouver and Canada” claims Rick Mohabir, the festival’s director of operations. “We hope the festival will grow to be as popular as the Vancouver International Wine Festival”. This is a lofty goal for sure, but the tandem of Mohabir and Jack work extremely hard to promote unique beer events throughout the Lower Mainland.

This year’s festival also features several satellite events; the aforementioned Pub Crawl, a Beer & BBQ pairing event on June 26th at Granville Island Brewery, a Beer & Food Pairing event at Jake’s Steakhouse on June 29th, Beer & A Movie on July 2nd and the After Party on July 4th at The Cellar.

The featured Beer & BBQ event on June 26th features The House of Q – local BBQ Experts who will be presenting some exquisite flavours at the Taproom at Granville Island Brewery. “This is not your typical BBQ” according to Brian Misko from The House of Q “how about bacon wrapped Italian sausage and slow cooked pulled pork”.

Tickets are available online and through ticket outlets including Granville Island Brewery retail store and The Compass Point Inn. Information and festival details can be found here: www.CanadaCupOfBeer.com

Don’t miss the opportunity to join the best of the Valley’s locally produced wine and food while surrounded by expansive parkland that makes up Campbell Valley Regional Park. You’ll also be able to take in a spectacular view of the Gold Ears Mountain while regaling in the endless fresh air. Winner of the 2008 Red Robinson’s Talent Show, BC’s Jesse Burch Band will further set the tone for an afternoon of fine wines and farm-fresh food with their acoustic-guitar driven country-rock sound. High Point Equestrian Estate Community is located on the south edge of the Langley Township and is a community concentrated around riding paddocks, trails and wetlands. This is a natural tie for FVWA’s continuing support of the Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities (PRDA). PRDA was established in 1973 to provide therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. For more information on this exceptional local charity visit www.prda.ca.

The 12 wineries of the Fraser Valley Wineries Association are located just outside of Vancouver, making for a short drive to enjoy a taste of the Valley. With great local wines, farm-fresh food, and the musical stylings of Jesse Burch and his band, the FVWA Wine & Culinary Extravaganza is your opportunity to celebrate country life in BC. Formed in 2006, The Fraser Valley Wineries Association includes: Domaine de Chaberton Estate Winery, The Fort Wine Company, Lotusland, Lulu Island Winery, Mt. Lehman Winery, Pacific Breeze Winery, Real Estate Vineyards & Winery, River’s Bend Winery, Sanduz Estate Winery, St. Urban Winery Ltd., Wellbrook Winery, and Westham Island Estate Winery. For more information, visit their website at www.fvwa.ca.

The second annual Wild BC Seafood Fest will take place on Saturday, August 29th between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm at the Steveston Harbour Authority Fisherman’s Park (in front of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site • 12138 Fourth Avenue) in the fishing community of Steveston, Richmond, BC.  This is a free outdoor public event to celebrate and enjoy wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardines!

Join members of BC’s commercial fishing industry and some of BC’s most acclaimed chefs and seafood experts as they demonstrate a variety of amazing wild BC seafood recipes and provide tips on buying, storing and preparing some of our favourite wild BC seafood.  Plus sample their amazing creations and receive copies of the featured recipes to savour them at home!  Award-winning fishmonger from The Salmon Shop and Screaming Mimi’s in North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay Market, Kosta Zogaris will add much information and enthusiasm as the cooking stage MC.  And special guest, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie will also be present to participate on stage with Quang Dang, Chef De Cuisine of C Restaurant.

11:30 am: Stephen Wong (Vancouver journalist, food and beverage consultant and cookbook author) will feature Asian inspired ideas for wild BC seafood creations and provide samples of his demonstrated recipe:

Kasu Miso Wild BC Sablefish with Oyster Mushrooms Stir-Fry.

1:00 pm:     Quang Dang (Chef De Cuisine of C Restaurant, Vancouver, BC) will feature contemporary west coast ideas for wild BC seafood creations and provide samples of his demonstrated recipe: Pan Fried Wild BC Sardines with Heirloom Tomato & Watercress Salad and Birch Syrup Mayonnaise.

2:30 pm: Alessandra and Jean-Francis Quaglia (Proprietor-Chefs of Provence Marinaside Restaurant and Provence Mediterranean Grill Restaurant, Vancouver, BC) will feature Mediterranean inspired ideas for wild BC seafood creations and provide samples of their demonstrated recipe: Fennel Pollen-Dusted Wild BC Salmon with Lemon Aioli.

Other event activities will guarantee fabulous fun and feasting for all:

• Buy wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardines directly from the fishermen at the Steveston dock;
• Buy wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardine products from seafood vendors in the park such as Seaside Marketing and Seven Seas;
• Sample and purchase smoked wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardine products as prepared by award-winning Classic Smokehouse (2003) Inc. of Vancouver, BC;
• Enjoy special wild BC pink salmon soft tacos on-site as prepared by Robert Clark of C Restaurant;
• Enjoy a special wild BC sablefish creation with a fig vinaigrette and fine herbs, served on a fig leaf as prepared on site by the Quaglias of the Provence Restaurants;
• Enjoy wild BC salmon and albacore tuna burgers as prepared on-site by Julie Bell of Seaside Marketing;
• Visit the newly expanded market to purchase fresh local products from vendors such as European Breads, Glenwood Preserves Ltd., Guichan Farms and Lemon Heaven Beverages;
• Receive a special reduced admission price to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site with every purchase during the event and tour the museum;
• Learn all about wild BC salmon, sablefish and sardines from industry members as well as Ocean Wise and SeaChoice;
• Partake in the kids’ activities and meet “Salty” as featured by Port Metro Vancouver; and,
• Listen to the live entertainment provided by Richmond’s popular Darren Specht and the Blues-Hawks.

Wild BC Seafood Fest is presented by the Canadian Pacific Sardine Association, Wild Canadian Sablefish Association and BC Salmon Marketing Council and proudly sponsored by Classic Smokehouse (2003) Inc., Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, Parks Canada, Lions Gate Fisheries Ltd., Albion Fisheries and Rhino Print Solutions.

The Canadian Pacific Sardine Association, Wild Canadian Sablefish Association and BC Salmon Marketing Council are non-profit, legally constituted organizations representing permit holders in the management and marketing of their respective wild BC seafood fisheries.

Bon Appetit!

Tom Doughty, Proprietor & Sommelier
Rob Belcham, Proprietor & Executive Chef Ted Anderson, Chef de Cuisine Katharine Manson, Restaurant Manager
& the WINNER is …
Fuel Restaurant is so very proud of the number of accolades it has recently been awarded. Thank you to our guests, who motivate us to reach new heights everyday.

2009 Vancouver Magazine Awards
Chef of the Year – Robert Belcham

2009 Urban Diner Awards
Chef of the Year – Robert Belcham
Best Formal Restaurant – Fuel
Best Kitchen Team – Fuel
Best Service Team – Fuel
Best Regional – Fuel

2009 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival Awards Gold Wine List – Fuel

The Fresh Sheet – a list of seasonal events

12 Months of BC
Each month Fuel will showcase a different seasonal ingredient & its local
producer!

June 2009 – Fuel Showcases Pasture-Raised Lamb
from Polderside Farms (2008 Vancouver Magazine Supplier of the year)
We are proud to receive Pasture Raised Lamb from Polderside Farms in the
majestic Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Join us at 7:00pm on Wednesday
June 24th, 2009. The cost of the meal is $79.00 per person with an optional
$42.00 wine pairing per person.

Fried Chicken Friday, 12pm – 2:30pm
Join us for lunch every Friday until the end of summer Fried Chicken,
Seasonal Sides & a beer from R&B Brewing Co. $19.50

Sandwich Series 12pm – 2:30pm Mon – Fri
Join us for lunch Mon – Fri and try our take on a classic sandwich, prepared
with premium ingredients & seasonal sides. Sandwiches change as soon as we
sell out. We are currently featuring the Slow Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwich on
a Portuguese Bun.

OUi CHEF!
Chocolate Sablé Cookie Recipe

233g butter
185g brown sugar
78g white sugar
4g maldon salt
270g flour
45g cocoa
7g baking soda
235g chopped milk chocolate
-Valrhona or other high quality brand

cream butter, brown sugar, white sugar & maldon salt. Add flour, cocoa,
baking soda & chopped chocolate. Mix until combined.

Roll dough into a log in diameter of a Loonie in parchment paper. Chill &
cut into 2cm rounds. Bake at 350° f on a greased cookie sheet for 5min.

FUEL Restaurant, 1944 West 4th Ave Vancouver BC,
www.fuelrestaurant.ca, 604 288 7905

Come out and support a good cause!

Tickets are ON SALE now at all Liberty locations.

Outstanding in the Field, a group of culinary vagabonds who stage white-tablecloth dinners in farm fields across North America, is coming once again to Vancouver’s UBC Farm. The group also will visit the Whistler area for a dinner at North Arm Farm in Pemberton Valley.

On Saturday, July 18, Outstanding in the Field sets its long table at North Arm Farm where farmer Jordan Sturdy, who also is Pemberton’s Mayor, will be the host for the evening. Working out of an al fresco kitchen, Chef James Walt of Whistler’s Araxi Restaurant will prepare the five-course feast.

On Sunday, July 19, Outstanding returns to UBC Farm in Vancouver for its fourth dinner there. Andrea Carlson of Bishop’s Restaurant is guest chef for the UBC dinner. “We love city farms, and UBC’s fields have been the site of some of our fondest memories,” said Outstanding founder Jim Denevan.”We are very excited about our newest event in Pemberton Valley and look forward to creating new memories there.”

2009 marks Outstanding in the Field’s 10th year of shining the spotlight on the people who work hard to produce our good food. “Even in the midst of economic difficulty, or perhaps because of it, people are more eager than ever to get out to the farm, see where their food comes from, and sit down at the table with the farmers and food artisans who cultivated it,” said Denevan.
Outstanding in the Field dinners begin with a tour of the host farm. Then guests sit down at Denevan’s signature table — a long, linen-draped expanse set between the soil and the sky. During dinner, the host farmer and other local food producers who provided ingredients for the meal share the table with the guests and talk about where the food on the plate came from and what it takes to get it there.

Back in the ’90s, Jim Denevan held “Farmers Nights” at Gabriela Cafe in Santa Cruz, Calif, where he was executive chef. One night he thought: instead of bringing farmers into the restaurant, why not take people out to the farm? The first Outstanding in the Field farm dinner was in 1999, and Denevan took the concept on the road in 2003.

Denevan views Outstanding dinners as art installations, taking great care in laying out the long table to complement each individual site. Not surprising, because Jim also is an artist of a different sort — check out his large-scale drawings in the sand here. Both the dinners and Jim’s beach art are transitory — the lines in the sand disappear as the tide rises and the waves sweep them away; the dinner at the farm becomes a wonderful sensory memory that makes a lingering imprint on the diner’s mind.

Cost for the July 18 and 19 Outstanding in the Field dinners are $200 CAD, which includes wine paired to each course throughout the meal. Start time for both dinners is 4pm.

For more information and to make reservations, please visit www.outstandinginthefield.com