Pastis – La Cuisine D’Ete Bon Marche
June 25, 2010 by cassandra
Filed under Restaurant News+
In France, summer is a time for languid dinners with friends – enjoying tasty food, flowing wine and easy conversation. Even with the drop in the Euro, not everyone can afford the expense and time for a trip to France. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to enjoy summer à la Francaise. Au contraire, at Bistro Pastis, Vancouver’s own authentic French bistro, you can enjoy French regional summer dinners – a traditional three-course table d’hôte for only $35.
(photo courtesy of VanFoodster – Richard Wolak www.vancouverfoodster.com)
“There are certain dishes that are typical to each region of France – especially in summer when all the ingredients are at their peak. I want to take people on a culinary meander through some of my favourite regions,” says proprietor (and French Chevalier) John Blakeley. Each of the four regional menus will be offered for three weeks starting with Brittany and Normandy (June 22 – July 13).
Located on France’s northwest coast, this area’s specialties include shellfish, apples, apple cider, thick cream and of course crêpes. On this menu, look for Bistro Pastis’ famed Sole Normande (with shrimp, clams, mussels in white wine sauce) or Poulet au Cidre (sautéed chicken, roasted apple, cider and cream sauce). Enjoy decadent desserts such as Beignet de Pomme Normande (with Calvados ice cream) or Crêpes au Citron (filled with lemon mousse napped with blueberry compote).
On July 14, Bistro Pastis takes a break from the tour to host its annual Bastille Day celebration with its own special menu (more about that in another release).
The tour resumes on July 15th through August 5th when Bistro Pastis features the cuisine of the southwest – the Basque country (at the foot of the Pyrenees) and neighbouring Languedoc. Here, there is a Spanish influence in dishes such as Soupe à l’Ail (roasted garlic and potato soup), Paella or Poulet Basquaise (chicken breast cooked ‘en cocotte’ with tomatoes, peppers and proscuitto). Tuna is also typical of the region and it is beautifully presented in Le Thon aux Oignons en Papillote (Albacore tuna and onions baked in a parchment packet). Finish the meal with Crème Catalane, an orange and lemon crème brûlée that is the French version of the Spanish flan.
From the Languedoc it is only a short hop east to Provence in France’s south and facing the Mediterranean (August 6 – 26). Provençale cuisine epitomizes summer dining. With the Mediterranean at its doorstep and Italy just a stone’s throw away, this cuisine embraces the fruits of the sea as well as incorporating a wide-range of vegetables such as artichokes, zucchini, beans and mushrooms.
For starters, there is a choice of Sardine en Escabêche (sautéed sardine with spiced, red pepper coulis) or Soupe au Pistou (white navy beans, assorted vegetables and basil soup) or Tartare de Legumes de Manosque (artichokes, fennel bulb, zucchini, asparagus and tomato tartar with Dijon Balsamic Vinaigrette). Mains include: Filet de Rouget et Calamare à la Méditerranéenne (stuffed quid and red snapper, ratatouille and shell fish reduction), classic Daube de Boeuf and Blanc de Volaille à la Goudalière (chicken breast with pine nuts, porcini mushrooms and red wine jus). One of the desserts on offer is the traditional Provençale specialty Clafoutis aux Cerises served with refreshing Orange Zest Ice Cream.
The tour finishes in Gascony and the Auvergne (August 27 – September 19). The Massif Central, the rugged terrain of central France, informs the flavours of this region. Here are fast flowing streams fed by the Alps and sparse hills where sheep graze. The flavours are big, bold and rustic. Mains include Truite Comme en Sare (sautéed trout, leek and bacon ragoût and warm red wine vinaigrette), Roulade d’Agneau à la Gasconnaise (lamb sirloin stuffed with anchovy, garlic and thyme served with Gratin Dauphinois, lamb jus) and Ragoût de Confit de Canard (duck leg confit, green olive and eggplant ragoût with thyme and tomato jus). Les Fraises aux Vins Rouges (fresh strawberries marinated in peppercorns and red wine served with lemon and thyme sorbet) is just one of the wonderful ways to end the evening.
Known for its extensive wine cellar, Bistro Pastis will also offer special wine pairings to complement each menu.
From June 22 to September 19, join John Blakeley as he leads you on a culinary ramble through France in the summer. At only $35 per person, it’s a très bon marché and more economical than a plane ticket.
Reservations are always a good idea and can be made by calling 604-731-5020 or on-line at www.bistropastis.com Full menus for each region will also be available on-line.
Menu Bretagne / Normandy
Artichaut Vinaigrette – Artichoke Vinagrette
Crème Dubarry – Cauliflower Soup and Bacon or
Moules au Cidre du Pays d’Auge – Mussels in Cider du Pays d’Auge
***********
La Cotriade d’Armor Mussels, Clams and Lingcod Stew, Tomato Apple and Brandy Broth or
Sole Normande Sole Normande, Riz Pilaf, Shrimp, Clams, Mussels,
Mushroom Fricassée, White Wine Sauce or
Poulet au Cidre Sauteed Chicken, Roasted Apple Cider and Cream Sauce
Beignets de Pomme Normande – Apple Dumpling, Calvados Ice Cream or
Crêpes au Citron – Crêpes Filled with Lemon Mousse, Blueberry Compote
Bistro Pastis
2153 W 4th Ave. Vancouver, BC V6K 1N7 | Tel: (604) 731.5020 | Fax: (604) 731.5039
www.bistropastis.com
Pastis Celebrates Summer
June 13, 2010 by cassandra
Filed under Restaurant News+
In France, summer is a time for languid dinners with friends – enjoying tasty food, flowing wine and easy conversation. Even with the drop in the Euro, not everyone can afford the expense and time for a trip to France. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to enjoy summer à la Francaise. Au contraire, at Bistro Pastis, Vancouver’s own authentic French bistro, you can enjoy French regional summer dinners – a traditional three-course table d’hôte for only $35.
“There are certain dishes that are typical to each region of France – especially in summer when all the ingredients are at their peak. I want to take people on a culinary meander through some of my favourite regions,” says proprietor (and French Chevalier) John Blakeley. Each of the four regional menus will be offered for three weeks starting with Brittany and Normandy (June 22 – July 13).
Located on France’s northwest coast, this area’s specialties include shellfish, apples, apple cider, thick cream and of course crêpes. On this menu, look for Bistro Pastis’ famed Sole Normande (with shrimp, clams, mussels in white wine sauce) or Poulet au Cidre (sautéed chicken, roasted apple, cider and cream sauce). Enjoy decadent desserts such as Beignet de Pomme Normande (with Calvados ice cream) or Crêpes au Citron (filled with lemon mousse napped with blueberry compote).
On July 14, Bistro Pastis takes a break from the tour to host its annual Bastille Day celebration with its own special menu (more about that in another release).
The tour resumes on July 15th through August 5th when Bistro Pastis features the cuisine of the southwest – the Basque country (at the foot of the Pyrenees) and neighbouring Languedoc. Here, there is a Spanish influence in dishes such as Soupe à l’Ail (roasted garlic and potato soup), Paella or Poulet Basquaise (chicken breast cooked ‘en cocotte’ with tomatoes, peppers and proscuitto). Tuna is also typical of the region and it is beautifully presented in Le Thon aux Oignons en Papillote (Albacore tuna and onions baked in a parchment packet). Finish the meal with Crème Catalane, an orange and lemon crème brûlée that is the French version of the Spanish flan.
From the Languedoc it is only a short hop east to Provence in France’s south and facing the Mediterranean (August 6 – 26). Provençale cuisine epitomizes summer dining. With the Mediterranean at its doorstep and Italy just a stone’s throw away, this cuisine embraces the fruits of the sea as well as incorporating a wide-range of vegetables such as artichokes, zucchini, beans and mushrooms.
For starters, there is a choice of Sardine en Escabêche (sautéed sardine with spiced, red pepper coulis) or Soupe au Pistou (white navy beans, assorted vegetables and basil soup) or Tartare de Legumes de Manosque (artichokes, fennel bulb, zucchini, asparagus and tomato tartar with Dijon Balsamic Vinaigrette). Mains include: Filet de Rouget et Calamare à la Méditerranéenne (stuffed quid and red snapper, ratatouille and shell fish reduction), classic Daube de Boeuf and Blanc de Volaille à la Goudalière (chicken breast with pine nuts, porcini mushrooms and red wine jus). One of the desserts on offer is the traditional Provençale specialty Clafoutis aux Cerises served with refreshing Orange Zest Ice Cream.
The tour finishes in Gascony and the Auvergne (August 27 – September 19). The Massif Central, the rugged terrain of central France, informs the flavours of this region. Here are fast flowing streams fed by the Alps and sparse hills where sheep graze. The flavours are big, bold and rustic. Mains include Truite Comme en Sare (sautéed trout, leek and bacon ragoût and warm red wine vinaigrette), Roulade d’Agneau à la Gasconnaise (lamb sirloin stuffed with anchovy, garlic and thyme served with Gratin Dauphinois, lamb jus) and Ragoût de Confit de Canard (duck leg confit, green olive and eggplant ragoût with thyme and tomato jus). Les Fraises aux Vins Rouges (fresh strawberries marinated in peppercorns and red wine served with lemon and thyme sorbet) is just one of the wonderful ways to end the evening.
Known for its extensive wine cellar, Bistro Pastis will also offer special wine pairings to complement each menu.
From June 22 to September 19, join John Blakeley as he leads you on a culinary ramble through France in the summer. At only $35 per person, it’s a très bon marché and more economical than a plane ticket.
Reservations are always a good idea and can be made by calling 604-731-5020 or on-line at www.bistropastis.com Full menus for each region will also be available on-line.
New/Old Chef at the Smoking Dog Bistro
June 12, 2010 by cassandra
Filed under Uncategorized
THE SMOKING DOG BISTRO A NEW CHEF TEACHES AN OLD DOG A FEW NEW TRICKS
The Smoking Dog Bistro proprietors’ Jean Séguin and Judith Andrews are delighted to be welcoming back Chef Pascal Georges to the stoves at Kitsilano’s favourite neighbourhood bistro, marking a return to the classic, casual French bistro food the restaurant is renowned for.
Chef Georges, now in his early 40’s, was the Executive Chef for Jean-Claude Ramond when the restaurant opened over 15 years ago. He remained with Jean-Claude for 5 years and returned for another 2 years, taking The Smoking Dog through the transition when it was sold to Jean and Jude. Pascal and his family recently returned to Vancouver from France and Asia, where he worked at some of those region’s top hotels and restaurants.
The Menu
French Bistro food is classic – A simple formula of impeccable ingredients and simple yet meticulous preparation. Even classics however have to move with the times, Canadian beef’s superior flavour deserves lighter sauces and guests now expect to taste the fish, not the butter sauce. The Smoking Dog, like any true bistro, offers good value and has kept prices at a level where neighbourhood guests can drop in a few times a week, not only once or twice a year.
Returning classics on The Smoking Dog menu include the signature Mimosa Salad, butter lettuce, garnished with tomatoes, diced egg and parsley, dressed with a Dijon sauce; Salade Niçoise, large enough for a light main course, uses a true recipe from Nice with local albacore tuna, roasted bell peppers, olives, quail eggs, green beans, anchovies, baby vine tomatoes, mini eggplant and squash. The menu offers three classic soups – a French Onion soup is gratinéed with Gruyere’s milder cousin Swiss, on a browned crouton, Lobster Bisque is rich with lobster stock and the Tomato and Gin soup is made from fresh tomatoes, still with the classic dollop of crème fraîche, but with a vegetable stock to keep it lighter. Grilled quail returns, now served with a generous topping of lightly tempura vegetables and new to the menu is a Potato Tarte with Smoked Salmon and Tuna Tartar.
The Smoking Dog’s Pepper Steak, an 8 oz well-aged tenderloin served with French green beans and pommes puree, remains on the menu. Fresh halibut, roast duck, prawns, two pastas and a risotto round out the well priced $14 to $29 entrée menu.
In homage to true bistro food, and a nod to the original Jean-Claude menu, a small $15 menu offers Steak Frites, Roast Chicken Frites or Grilled Salmon Frites throughout the day and evening. Served as a simple meal with just pommes frites and sauce, sides of French green beans, market vegetables and salads can be added for an additional charge.
The lunch menu offers the same selection of appetizers and desserts, with lunch time favourites and smaller entrée’s. A quiche changes daily and the much loved Smoking Dog Bistro Burger, using hand chopped top sirloin, remains.
Desserts, all made in house, also include the classics with Crème Brûlée and Crème Caramel, Chocolate Fondant and Profiteroles. An Apple Tart Tatin, rustic and somewhat chunkier than its fine dining cousin, is served with vanilla gelato.
The wine list is value priced, matching the style set by the restaurant, offering many French selections as well as local & international wines.
The Address
Kitsilano is the entrance to Vancouver’s West Side. Located just one block off Burrard at 1889 West 1st Avenue, The Smoking Dog resides in a residential neighbourhood. It’s pretty and quiet, the beach a block away and it’s on a bike path. It has a 70 seat dining room, a dozen high top bar seats and a large patio, heated in winter, which offers up an extraordinary corner view of people-watching opportunities, especially on sunny afternoons and evenings. Locals walk but it’s well worth the drive across one of the bridges.
Nimby Burger Opens in Vancouver’s Backyard
May 10, 2010 by cassandra
Filed under Restaurant News+
Kits gets a modern take on the classic burger and shake joint
On May 21st, Kits Beach will have a walk-up burger stand where the food is as good as the view. Nimby Burger, located at the corner of Cornwall & Yew, is a fresh take on the beachside burger window, and will offer quality burgers, hand-cut French fries, and real ice cream milkshakes.
“Nimby Burger was inspired by countless road trips down the coast to California with my father, Bus Fuller,” says Jeff Fuller, President of the Joey Restaurant Group. “There is nothing quite like the taste of the burgers from those beachside joints in California. There’s just something about the surf and the sun, with a juicy burger and a shake.”
Though Nimby Burger at Kits Beach will be a casual, walk-up window, the focus is still on fresh, quality ingredients. The burgers and cheeseburgers are made from 100 per cent premium chuck beef and topped with crisp lettuce and red ripe tomatoes. Nimby’s French fries are made from hand-cut Yukon Gold potatoes, which are fried to order and sea-salted. A chocolate, strawberry or vanilla ice cream milkshake tops off the perfect seaside meal.
“My father and I have always talked about opening a classic burger shack in our own backyard,” says Fuller. “But we decided it would be even better to open it in Vancouver’s backyard…Kits Beach.”
Nimby Burger’s uncomplicated menu includes just five well-made items. Prices range from $2.99 for a basic burger, to $5.49 for a Dooblay (double burger with cheese). Milkshakes are $2.99, and French fries are $2.49.
During the summer, Nimby Burger will be open from 11am daily.
About Nimby Burger
Nimby Burger is a classic walk-up burger shack near Vancouver’s Kits Beach. Its burgers, hand-cut fries, and real ice cream milkshakes are made with fresh, quality ingredients. The restaurant is owned and managed by the Joey Restaurant Group. Nimby Burger is located at the corner of Cornwall & Yew and will be open daily throughout the summer
Trafalgars Early Dineout and Mother’s Day Brunch
April 20, 2010 by cassandra
Filed under Restaurant News+
Get ready to Dine Out Vancouver!
We’re launching the promotion early this year by starting this Friday April 23rd and
going straight through until Thursday May 6th. Our feature 3-course menu is only $28 (see below)
and as always highlights local, sustainable, and seasonal items. Space fills quickly every year, so
give us a shout at (604) 739-0555 ext 1 as soon as you get the gang organized.
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Prix Fixe & Pre-Theatre Menu & Weekend Brunch
Don’t let the Dine Out hype fool you – you can get tremendous value at Trafalgars Bistro all year long.
Our regular 3 course menu offers exceptional choice & quality, including any of
Sweet Obsession’s numerous desserts for $35. If you’ve got a movie or show to catch, you’ll
be thrilled that we’ve added a Pre-Theatre option to our regular fare. Join us before 6pm
Monday to Saturday for this $28 3-course feature menu. See website for menu details.
Leisurely weekends just got better with the introduction of our brunch menu.
On Saturdays & Sundays we’ve supplemented our classic daytime items with Challah French Toast,
Beef Brisket Hash, ‘The Continental’, 3 egg Omelette, and a Ham & Cheese Crepe with mornay sauce.
Come on down – we’ll have the mimosas ready!
Keep up to date with our seasonally changing items on our website trafalgars.com
or through our Facebook pages.
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Mother’s Day, Sunday May 9th
We’re ready to help you celebrate the special ladies in your life on Mother’s Day.
We’ll be opening for dinner at 5pm with feature items to supplement our regular menu.
Also, Chef Beltrano has prepared an incredible brunch menu with lots of options – it can be viewed on our site.
Since this brunch is the busiest day of the year, this is the one day that we do accept daytime reservations. Our books are open and we’re ready to help you secure a spot.
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Dine Out Vancouver
April 23-May 6
Cauliflower Puree
~truffle oil, chives~
Or
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
~chickpea puree, carrot slaw~
Or
Mixed Greens Salad
~dijon vinaigrette, sliced veg~
Or
Qualicum Scallops (add $3)
~english peas, tarragon cream~
* * *
Duck Confit
~citrus briased white beans, carrots, leeks~
Or
Squash Risotto
~truffle oil, grana padano, chives~
Or
Pan Roasted Pork Loin
~green lentils, mustard cream, braised cabbage~
Or
Rare Grilled Albacore Tuna (add $3)
~nugget potatoes, fennel, tomato, cilantro vinaigrette~
* * *
Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee Or Triple Chocolate Mousse Or Passion Fruit Flan
3 courses $28
excludes tax & gratuity
________________________________________
Trafalgars Bistro is located at:
2603 West 16th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6K 3C2
Phone: 604.739.0555
Fax: 604.739.0557
