Valentine’s Day at Elixir Bistro

On February 14th, Elixir Bistro and OPUS Bar welcome guests with sweets, seduction—and that signature OPUS luxury.

On Valentine’s Day, casual French bistro Elixir invites guests to savour a decadent four-course menu and amuse bouche. After sampling kushi oysters on the half shell with champagne jelly and caviar, guests will relish a sunchoke and truffle veloute, roasted candy cane beets or Qualicum Bay scallops. Perfect for a romantic evening a deux, the lobster paella, beef Wellington and rack of lamb mains are designed for sharing. And because February 14 is incomplete without something sweet, the meal is capped with a bittersweet chocolate mille-feuille with black cherry sorbet and Valentines petit fours. The four-course menu with amuse bouche is $85.00 per person.

At OPUS Bar, guests will sip a bold, sweet or seductive cocktail then dive into a savoury shared platter of s&b tempura oysters, red curry prawn skewer and Mediterranean lamb popsicle. For dessert? A tier of seductive Valentine’s sweets, including chocolate pistachio éclairs, milk chocolate chai truffles, chocolate macaroons with cherry-chocolate ganache and a hot chocolate shot with passion fruit marshmallow. The savoury and sweet platters and choice of cocktail are $55.00 per person.

Reservations for Elixir Bistro and OPUS Bar can be made at Open Table (www.opentable.com) and through Elixir Bistro at 604.642.0557.

Elixir Bistro
French Bistro meets affordable Yaletown glamour in Elixir. Recognized as the bronze recipient for casual French cuisine at the coveted Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards; Elixir is also a founding member of the Ocean Wise Program and Green Table Network. Chef Don Letendre specializes in classic French cuisine, crafting innovative dishes from the freshest regional and seasonal ingredients. Choose a room to suit your mood: bustling Bistro, airy Garden Room or plush Velvet Room. Elixir provides warm, attentive service in a vibrant atmosphere popular with style savvy travelers and discerning locals alike. Valet parking is available. www.elixirvancouver.ca

OPUS Bar
At chic ‘see-and-be-seen’ OPUS Bar in Vancouver’s world-renowned OPUS Hotel, a playful blend of iridescent lighting, designer furniture and shimmer screens set the mood for its sophisticated and style-savvy crowd. Innovative cocktails are complemented by modern-world “O-Bites”, with live music from some of the city’s best local DJs and musicians. Glass-walled restrooms and live video feeds allow you to always keep an eye on the action. Located in fashionable Yaletown, OPUS Bar was voted “Vancouver’s Most Popular Nightspot” by Zagat. www.opusbar.ca

Maker’s Mark with Ron Oliver at Elixir

RON OLIVER, MAKER’S MARK AMBASSADOR LEADS TASTING WITH CREATIVE FOOD PAIRINGS BY CELEBRATED CHEF DON LETENDRE

Wednesday, January 13 2010, at 6:00pm
Elixir Bistro – 350 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC

Ticket price is $35.00 per person, plus applicable tax and gratuity.

Elixir’s Whisky Wednesday led by Maker’s Mark Ambassador Ron Oliver – a stylish bourbon tasting, showcasing Maker’s Mark,
Jim Bean and Knobs Creek will be held in Elixir’s plush Velvet Room. Novices and aficionados will explore the world renowned brands with nuanced tasting plates crafted by celebrated Chef Don Letendre to highlight the unique characteristics.

Reservations are required by contacting: Jessica Dunn at jdunn@opushotel.com or 604.694.2137.

Opus and Elixir for the Holidays

CREATING HOLIDAY TRADITIONS WITH OPUS AND ELIXIR
Luxurious, Memorable Meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

This holiday season, treat your loved ones to a new tradition with OPUS Vancouver or Elixir Bistro. Whether you’re dining out, or want the celebration brought to you, OPUS and Elixir will make your gathering chic, decadent and memorable.

At Elixir Bistro, Executive Chef Don Letendre uses his expertise and passion to craft the finest traditional holiday ingredients into luxuriously festive meals. Letendre’s Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus include dishes such as sunchoke and winter mushroom soup with Pierre Robert and goats cheese croquette; roasted free range turkey with Hennessey, red currant and orange stuffing, silky mash and roasted root vegetables; and bittersweet chocolate praline tart with mandarin ice cream. The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus are $80 per person and $40 for children 12 and under, plus gratuity and applicable taxes.

When hosting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feasts at home, let Chef Letendre and his brigade take care of kitchen duty. Elixir’s to-go menu includes a custom two-day brined deboned turkey breast stuffed with red currant, orange and pork stuffing, served with roasted root vegetables, pommes purée and gravy. The meal is capped off with a decadent pumpkin tart with Chantilly cream and toffee pecans. The Elixir Turkey To-Go Christmas Eve & Day menu is $40.00 per person (plus applicable taxes) and must be ordered by 4:00 pm on Monday, December 21st.

Whether you’re treating clients to a festive lunch or feasting with friends in the evening, Elixir Bistro will make it glam. Lunch and dinner group holiday menus offer five choices of five-course meals, including a vegetarian and buffet menu ($45-$70 per person). Savoury and sweet treats include roasted beet salad with toasted walnuts, arugula and blue cheese; butter roasted sable fish with smoked pommes purée and spiced lentils; lobster thermidor with roasted salsify and potato gnocchi; and eggnog and rum parfait with winter fruit compote and toasted muesli.

Always intent on providing the best service, Elixir Bistro is open during the following hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:
Breakfast 6:30 am – 11:00 am
Brunch 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Dinner 5:00 – 11:00 pm

The ideal locale for holiday gatherings, OPUS and Elixir Bistro offer options to match the mood of any group: the bustling bistro, elegant private rooms, dramatic lounge or second floor board rooms. After the festivities, the first instinct is often to simply sit back and continue to savour the evening. Many guests love to stay overnight in a chic OPUS guestroom and avoid having to go back into the wintery night.

In the mood for a magical holiday event at your location? The team at OPUS and Elixir has become Vancouver’s most sought after event caterers. Tailoring their events to any theme, they’re creative, versatile and service-oriented. Clients including Holt Renfrew, Tiffany & Co., BMW, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana and Michael Kors have all asked OPUS Catering to cater their exclusive events. OPUS is pleased to announce that they were awarded the catering contract for the Province of Ontario Pavilion during Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. OPUS Catering will supply themed food, beverage and staff, as the prestigious pavilion plays host to VIP events and nightly concerts.

Elixir Bistro
French Bistro meets affordable Yaletown glamour in Elixir. Recognized as the bronze recipient for casual French cuisine at the coveted Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards; Elixir is also a founding member of the Ocean Wise Program and Green Table Network. Chef Don Letendre specializes in classic French cuisine, crafting innovative dishes from the freshest regional and seasonal ingredients. Choose a room to suit your mood: bustling Bistro, airy Garden Room or plush Velvet Room. Elixir provides warm, attentive service in a vibrant atmosphere popular with style savvy travelers and discerning locals alike. Valet parking is available. www.elixirvancouver.ca

OPUS Hotel Vancouver
Uniquely stylish and always fresh, OPUS Hotel Vancouver redefines the boutique experience, blending contemporary design with warmth and intuitive service. Ninety-six guestrooms feature vibrant colours, spa bathrooms and five lifestyle-inspired décor schemes. Located in fashionable Yaletown, close to Vancouver’s best restaurants, spas and boutiques, the hotel is home to Elixir Bistro and the dramatic OPUS Bar. OPUS was voted one of the world’s top 100 hotels by readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine. www.opushotel.com

Morrison-Bowmore Whisky Pairing Dinner

The Hopscotch Festival is proud to co-produce “Whisky Wednesdays” with The Opus Hotel. This dinner, that will turn the novice into a true aficionado will be held at Elixir Bistro, in The Opus Hotel, in the heart of Yaletown. To start, guests will enjoy a full sized custom whisky cocktail made with the 12yo, then have their food, creatively paired by Executive Chef Don Letendre, with the Morrison-Bowmore 12yo, 15yo, and the 18yo. As a very special treat, guests will be able to sample Bowmore’s ‘Maltmans Selection’ – a 3000 bottle limited bottling that is only available from the distillery shop itself. You’ll learn how best to appreciate and serve whisky, while sampling some of Chef Letendre’s culinary talent in classic French cuisine. This dinner will be led by top whisky educator Bruce MacKenzie.

Elixir Bistro, Opus Hotel, 322 Davie St. $55

BC SPCA Fundraiser at Elixir

A Benefit to ‘End Animal Cruelty’
Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, fabulous silent auction and more…

Delicious VEGAN appetizers will be served:

• Grilled Asparagus with a lemongrass, ginger & tea vinaigrette
• Empanada, with corn, pablano chili & tofu ricotta
• Grilled Mochi, veganrella cheese
• Baked Green Baby Zucchini ‘cannelloni’ stuffed with mushroom duxelle

When:
Wednesday November 4th, 2009 – 7pm start (doors open at 6:30pm)

Where:
OPUS Hotel – 322 Davie Street, Vancouver

Parking:
There is ample street parking around OPUS Hotel; valet parking will also be available

Dress to the nines — lives depend on it.

That’s the motto for Animalia 2009, a black-tie benefit for the BC SPCA’s Vancouver and Burnaby branches. All proceeds from the event, set for Nov. 4 at Opus Hotel in Yaletown, will go toward the society’s efforts to end animal cruelty.

“We’re combining savvy sophistication with passionate playfulness for one memorable night,” says Rhonda Sherwood, a volunteer who chairs the local governance council for both branches.

A reception-style cocktail party, Animalia 2009 is complete with local wine, appetizers, a silent auction and sensational music. Guests can sip fine wines, nosh on mouth-watering culinary creations, bid on fantastic gifts or sway to the music.

“It’s always a great night,” says Sherwood. “For the ladies, it’s a chance to put on that little black dress, and for animal lovers in general it’s a chance to enjoy life’s finder things while helping among the most vulnerable members of our society: the animals.”

Animalia 2009 is Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Opus Hotel, 322 Davie St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and are available online from bcspcaevents.com or from the SPCA’s Vancouver shelter at 1205 E. 7^th Ave. For more information and general event enquiries, e-mail rsvp@spca.bc.ca.

Sherwood says animal lovers who can’t make it to the event, but who still want to help animals in their community, can donate online bcspcaevents.com.

In 2008, the Vancouver and Burnaby shelters provided care to  3,446 and 1,583 animals, respectively.

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