CONTEST CLOSED – CONGRATS @DAINTYSECRET (Anna) on the win.

Care to win a $100 Gift Certificate to Rogue Wet Bar?  MUST DO BOTH!

1) Follow and RT

2) Comment on this post as to what item you’d order if you won the cert.

My review of Rogue below…..

Also note a great gift cert deal on now at Rogue. 

Last summer, Rogue Wet Bar moved into Waterfront station replacing Transcontinental.  Rogue offers a more casual menu; Transcontinental’s hipper, younger cousin.  The interior is spacious with two dining levels and large windows, and the patio provides views of passersby in the summer.  It’s just out of Gastown, on a main transit route, dictating the crowd is a varied one.

Owned by Eli Gershkovitch, who also owns Steamworks and the liquor store there, the original menu featured a pay what you want feature, but although the special is over, prices remain quite reasonable.

The drink list here is what first drew me in with plenty of local craft beers such as Tree Brewing, R and B, Driftwood and Central City and most wines under $10 a glass; many of them also local.  Cocktail fans could traipse through the past and present menu and enjoy anything from an old school Sidecar (remy martin vs, cointreau, fresh lemon juice) to the Cougar Juice (smirnoff red label vodka, peach schnapps, triple sec, fresh orange juice, raspberry), by the glass or pitcher, a risky choice for any female around my age.  There’s a drink special every day such as $4.50 mojito’s and $14 jugs of 1516 lager Monday and everyday $2.50 makes any highball a double.

I’d eaten there last summer for lunch and enjoyed the Baja fish tacos and a crispy chicken sandwich, and recently we returned for dinner on a cool fall night.

Rogue - Vietnamese Tacos

Rogue - Albacore Tuna Tataki

Feeling rather starved, we order some wine and got to menu decisions rather quickly.  Vietnamese tacos ($10.99) and Albacore tuna tataki ($13.49) were easily agreed upon. The “tacos” were actually pillowy soft steam buns filled with flavourful pork, and tasted authentic and fresh.  The tuna was seared with a mango miso coulis and a citrus soy marinade and was fresh and flavourful; an edamame salad made a nice textural contrast.

Rogue - Macadamia Nut Halibut

Rogue - Steak with peppercorn sauce

Onto mains, the macadamia-crusted halibut ($23.99) was a generous and tasty portion served alongside some steamed seasonal veggies and our steak was cooked medium rare as per order and was a flavourful example of what beef should taste like.  The peppercorn sauce was almost, but not quite, superfluous.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion

My dining companions have to be dessert eaters, because I usually end it a dinner, or continue on with perhaps one more drink, but the Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion ($7.49) had me begging for another bite.  This decadent layering of espresso chocolate cake, chocolate peanut butter ganache, peanut butter mousse, and peanut praline, was too tantalizing to resist.

Owned by Eli Gershkovitch, who also owns Steamworks and the liquor store there, the original menu featured a pay what you want feature, but although the special is over, prices remain quite reasonable.

The drink list here is what first drew me in with plenty of local craft beers such as Tree Brewing, R and B, Driftwood and Central City and most wines under $10 a glass; many of them also local.  Cocktail fans could traipse through the past and present menu and enjoy anything from an old school Sidecar (remy martin vs, cointreau, fresh lemon juice) to the Cougar Juice (smirnoff red label vodka, peach schnapps, triple sec, fresh orange juice, raspberry), by the glass or pitcher, a risky choice for any female around my age.  There’s a drink special every day such as $4.50 mojito’s and $14 jugs of 1516 lager Monday and everyday $2.50 makes any highball a double.

I’d eaten there last summer for lunch and enjoyed the Baja fish tacos and a crispy chicken sandwich, and recently we returned for dinner on a cool fall night.

Rogue - Vietnamese Tacos

Rogue - Albacore Tuna Tataki

Feeling rather starved, we order some wine and got to menu decisions rather quickly.  Vietnamese tacos ($10.99) and Albacore tuna tataki ($13.49) were easily agreed upon. The “tacos” were actually pillowy soft steam buns filled with flavourful pork, and tasted authentic and fresh.  The tuna was seared with a mango miso coulis and a citrus soy marinade and was fresh and flavourful; an edamame salad made a nice textural contrast.

Rogue - Macadamia Nut Halibut

Rogue - Steak with peppercorn sauce

Onto mains, the macadamia-crusted halibut ($23.99) was a generous and tasty portion served alongside some steamed seasonal veggies and our steak was cooked medium rare as per order and was a flavourful example of what beef should taste like.  The peppercorn sauce was almost, but not quite, superfluous.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion

My dining companions have to be dessert eaters, because I usually end it a dinner, or continue on with perhaps one more drink, but the Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion ($7.49) had me begging for another bite.  This decadent layering of espresso chocolate cake, chocolate peanut butter ganache, peanut butter mousse, and peanut praline, was too tantalizing to resist.

Speaking of pie … due to popular demand, whole homemade pies are now available to go! With 24 hours notice, customers can order a freshly baked Acme Cafe pie. Custom orders are available (depending on availability for fruit pies) and prices start at $25. Whole to-go pie orders are only available by calling the restaurant at 604.569.1022.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Acme Cafe features a menu of old-school diner classics and “simple food done well.” Hearty breakfasts; freshly made soups, salads, and sandwiches; and hot mains like meatloaf and mac & cheese are served alongside Pop Shoppe sodas, ice cream floats, milkshakes and the best damn pie in town.

“Keep your fork, there’s pie!” is Acme Cafe’s mantra, as owners Alan and Peggy Hoffman believe that no meal is complete without a slice for dessert. Inspired by Peggy’s grandmother’s recipes, Acme Cafe features a rotating selection of homemade pies and cakes baked daily. Acme Cafe also features a coffee bar, with piping-hot Cuppa Joe coffee and espresso, as well as freshly baked cookies, muffins and pastries to-go.

With meals priced from $8 to $13, and with kids’ meals available for under $5, it’s both wallet-friendly and family-friendly.

The space, designed by Alan and Peggy themselves, houses 42 seats split between the coffee bar; booths and tables; and U-shaped counter surrounding the restaurant’s open kitchen. Underneath a swinging hand-painted sign, a custom-tiled entrance welcomes guests into a lofty room (with 17-foot ceilings) filled with natural light. A wall of exposed brick showcases the building’s heritage, while Formica countertops and naugahyde booths are a throwback to classic diner décor.

The kitchen is in the extremely capable hands of Chef Walter Messiah, co-founder of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience; and the front-of-house operations are managed by Alan and Peggy, who ensure a healthy dose of friendly old-school hospitality.

Acme Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week from 8 am to 9 pm (10 am to 9 pm on Sundays).

What’s in a name? Slaughterhouses all over the world, often have difficulties getting the animals to leave the truck after transportation. To combat this, most abattoirs, have a resident goat, whose job it is to make nice with the animals and then lead them off the truck to their inevitable conclusion. These goats are known as Judas Goats. Blood Alley allegedly got its name from the slaughterhouses that backed onto it. The Judas Goat in Blood Alley – for numerous reasons, well, we couldn’t resist!

The Spanish style tapas bar seats 28 and is located at 27 Blood Alley, beside Salt Tasting Room. Judas Goat is open Monday to Saturday from 5pm to midnight. For reservations you can email goat@judasgoat.ca or call the restaurant at 604-681-5090.

The team at Gastown’s award-winning Salt Tasting Room, renowned for artisan cheeses, handcrafted charcuterie and constant Golds for their wine program, will be open and accessible throughout the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, both in the main Tasting Room and underground in the 50 seat Salt Cellar. To accommodate thousands of locals and tourists, Salt has assembled it’s own Olympic team, beefing up their staff with an All-Star selection of Salt alumni and some of Vancouver’s favourite wine professionals. Alumni-wise, Jake Skakun (former Manager) and Miguel Quezada (former Server) are flying in from San Francisco and New York respectively, plus making Salt cameos during the Games will be AltoVin’s Mark McNeil (former Chambar Sommelier), The Province’s wine writer James Nevison (author of the bestselling Had A Glass series) and many more surprise appearances. Salt will be open from Noon through Past Midnight, seven days a week during the games, offering a fantastic one-stop opportunity for guests to try a variety of BC wine styles, matched with BC artisan cheeses, charcuterie and more. From Bubble through Whites, Pinks & Reds even a few splashes of Ice Wine, Salt’s highly-trained staff will proudly tour guests through our region and beyond. Featuring the most diverse selection of local charcuterie, cured meats and global artisan cheeses in the city plus Canada’s largest Sherry list, Salt has garnered both local and international recognition and acclaim. Featured on The Food Network’s ‘Giada’s Weekend Getaways’ and ‘100-Mile Challenge’, Salt has also been highlighted in print media around the world, from The New York Times and Food and Wine Magazine to The Sydney Morning Herald and Zagat. Salt Talting Room – Blood Alley, Gastown – Vancouver, BC – 604.633.1912 – SaltTastingRoom.com Salt Tasting Room Blood Alley, Gastown Vancouver, BC 604-633-1912 http://www.SaltTastingRoom.com Check Out Salt’s Upcoming Events! http://www.SaltTastingRoom.com/Cellar

Located on the slopes of the Naramata Bench, just outside Penticton, Poplar Grove Winery began as a quintessential garage winery in 1993. Over the last two years, Poplar Grove has entered an era of re-invention, moving from an artisan winery to a world-class winery with 150 acres of new vineyards under cultivation.

Paired with signature selections from Poplar Grove Winery and their second label Monster Vineyards, December’s menu will not only focus on fall flavours and local ingredients, such as Polderside Duck, but will include course which feature Poplar Grove Blue Cheese.

For this dinner in the Vancouver’s darkest, stormiest season, chefs Karl Gregg and Allan Bosomworth have created dishes that perfectly combine robust textures and traditional winter ingredients with subtle flavours and classic preparations to satisfy the soul and please the palate.

The Wine Drinker Dinner is $65 per person (tax and gratuity not included). As always, reservations are recommended. Email info@twochefsandatable.com or call 778-233-1303 to secure your table.

Menu

Amuse Bouche
Cold cured wild salmon w/radish, cucumber and micro greens, beet crème fraiche
Wine: Monster Vineyards Rose 08

First Course
Leek and Potato Soup: hand made with Yukon Gold potato, braised leeks, crisp prosciutto, chive oil
Wine: Monster Vineyards 08 Sauvignon Blanc

Second Course
Fall risotto w/caramelized onions, fresh sage, chickpeas
Wine: Poplar Grove Pinot Gris 08

Third Course
Poplar Blue Cheese Croquettes made w/Poplar blue cheese, basil aioli, fresh mustard micro greens
Wine: Poplar Grove Merlot 06

Entrée
Polderside duck breast:  pan seared, orange and bay leaf reduction, seasonal fall vegetables
or/
Double Braised Short Ribs: long braised with fire-roasted tomato, rosemary, shallots, accompanied by yam puree, heirloom carrots
Wine: Poplar Grove Cab Franc