This week on The Good Life we cover DB Moderne Bistro, talk with DB’s head barkeep, Cameron Bogue and look at all that’s good this week.
Saturday April 18 – Bike the Blossoms
www.slowfoodvancouver.com/index.php/BikeBlossoms/category/join_us
April 13-26 Flavours of Spring at Joe Fortes
www.joefortes.ca
Taste of BC menu at Lumiere
www.lumiere.ca
April 15th to May 2nd Capones Wine and Jazz Festival
www.caponesrestaurant.net
Restaurant Pick – DB Moderne Bistro
www.dbbistro.ca
Chef Daniel Boulud teamed up with restaurant owners Manjy and David Sidoo to bring the New York DB Moderne Bistro theme to Vancouver. In the location that once housed Feenie’s. Chef Stephane Istel runs the day to day operations in the kitchen, as Chef Boulud overseas his worldwide restaurant empire. The food here French bistro style, with respect to local ingredients. I’ve not been disappointed yet. Highlights include roasted sablefish with a flavourful herb crust, accompanied by a sweet pepper stew, and the Berkshire pork duo of tenderloin and crispy belly served with horseradish coleslaw and bacon jus. They’re also famous for the original DB burger. Boulud’s signature creation is prime sirloin meat, braised short ribs, foie gras and black truffle on a parmesan bun with pomme frites. Service is attentive and don’t miss bar star Cameron Bogue’s signature cocktails.
More at:
http://www.martiniboys.com/Vancouver/DB-Bistro-Moderne-Vancouver-review.html
Drink of the week from DB’s Head Bartender Cameron Bogue
Events
Saturday April 18 – Bike the Blossoms
www.slowfoodvancouver.com/index.php/BikeBlossoms/category/join_us
The inaugural Bike the Blossoms, held on April 19th, 2008, saw over 1,000 participants in this unique food-focused cycling tour in the heart of Vancouver, where farmers came in from the Metro Vancouver area and the Fraser Valley to showcase their food and artisanal products. Come visit and support farmers who are not normally part of the city’s farmers markets.
This self-guided tour is fun for the whole family! Enjoy a leisurely ride along boulevards of spring cherry blossoms, traveling through a diversity of neighbourhoods from the eastside to the westside, stopping at local community centres to meet local farmers, to sample local foods and refuel at slow food designated eateries, restaurants and cafes along the way.
This year Slow Food Vancouver in partnership with The Commercial Drive Business Society, has created the Slow Taste of the Drive. As part of our aim to increase the food element and the level of engagement between local farmers and city folk, we have invited selected eateries & restaurants on Commercial Drive to offer a Slow Taste. So, after visiting the farmers at Britannia Community Centre, take a stroll along “the Drive”. Find the slow food snail in the windows of participating eateries and enjoy their slow taste creations. Eateries and restaurants will offer one (or more) of their current food items (or create one specific for the event) to be designated a Slow Taste. The intent is that their Slow Taste will embody and represent Slow Food which is good, clean and fair. Slow Tastes will feature ingredients: that are organic, local and fresh; or from our food partner BOSA Fine Foods; or from participating farmers in Bike the Blossoms. Go to featured links for more information!
Date: Saturday, April 18th . . . rain or shine . . . it sprinkled a little snow the night before last year’s event and everyone still had a wonderful time!
Time: 10am – 4pm (arrive and leave when you want)
Place: OFFICIAL START – VanDusen Botanical Gardens (37th Avenue and Oak Street). Additional start locations are: Kitsilano Community Centre
2690 Larch Street (between 10th and 12th Avenue) and Britannia Community Centre 1661 Napier Street (at Commercial Drive).
Cycle Tour Distance: ~ 23 km circular route and fairly easy
Cost: $10.00 per person (children 12 and under are free) Participants are required to register.
A free Bicycle Valet Service will be available at Britannia and Kitsilano Community Centres to allow you to visit with the farmers and to enjoy the Slow Taste of the Drive.
April 13-26 Flavours of Spring at Joe Fortes
www.joefortes.ca
While a Vancouver Spring sometimes feels like it begins just after Christmas, for the kitchen, it is only now starting. But like the crocuses, our Flavours of Spring menus vanish as quickly as they arrive.
Table d’hôte menu:
•Salt Spring Island mussels & frites – $13.95
•Marinated local sturgeon – $25.95
•Rhubarb & strawberry pie – $8.
Paired with just the right wine companions. See the full spring menu here.
Taste of BC menu at Lumiere
www.lumiere.ca
Chef Dale Mackay is pleased to invite you to sample the Taste of BC menu. Lumière and Mission Hill Wines have collaborated to bring you this exceptional spring offer. Nightly from 5:30pm until 7:00pm this $55 three course dinner focusing on local ingredients cannot be missed!
To make a reservation please call (604) 739 8185
April 15th to May 2nd Capones Wine and Jazz Festival
www.caponesrestaurant.net
The 1st Annual Wine & Jazz Festival of Vancouver, showcases food & wines from 5 different regions. We will offer for each region an incredible 4 course dinner menu + a flight of wine. Reservations are recommended and can be made on the Capone’s website.
Thursday April 16 Meet Hennessy’s Cyrill Gautier Auriol at the Cambie BCLDB
www.bcldb.com
Take advantage of this rare and exciting opportunity! Meet Cyrille Gautier Auriol, the global trade representative for the Hennessy house of Cognac, and taste a flight of the ultra-premium spirit as you learn more about this refined brand.
Thursday, April 16th, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
39th & Cambie Signature BC Liquor Store (5555 Cambie Street, Vancouver)
Please RSVP to Roberto Garcia (rgarcia@chartonhobbs.com) by Tuesday, April 14
** Seating is extremely limited **
Tasting will feature Hennessy VS, Hennessy VSOP, Hennessy XO
BIO
Mr. Gautier Auriol was born and raised in Cognac, France, and has represented Hennessy for nine years. He has a passion for sharing the history and pleasure of tasting Cognac with people around the world.
April 21 – Naramata Wineries Spring Release
www.naramatabench.com
Five wineries have come together this year and brought their top wine components to create what will be an annual event of “tasting and sharing knowledge” to produce an exceptional wine that expresses ‘The Taste of the Terroir of the Naramata Bench.’ This year a Bordeaux blend was produced and is composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The wines are from Hillside Estate Winery, La Frenz Winery, Lake Breeze Vineyards, Laughing Stock Vineyards and Soaring Eagle Winery.
In Vancouver, the restaurants serving food pairings with the spring release wines are Miku, Vij’s, Goldfish, Wild Rice, Pair Bistro, and So.cial at Le Magasin, and from the Bench – the Naramata Heritage Inn and Hillside Winery Barrel Room Bistro. In Victoria, the pairings will be prepared by Chef Brad Horen at the luxurious Inn at Laurel Point. (list of wines for both events attached
The Naramata Bench Spring Release events are more than just tastings. They are your only chance to pick up a 3L magnum of the Naramata Bench Red Blend as well as the only place to get a coveted “Best of the Bench” case of wine. In addition to these exclusives, the Spring Release events boast a plethora of auction items including: stays in Naramata at several winery accommodations, behind the scenes and meet the winemaker opportunities, a cooking class with Vij’s for 10 at Laughing Stock Winery complete with a personalized tour, sailing on Okanagan Lake, Okanagan art (including NBWA’s infamous Spring Release posters) and more.
The Vancouver NBWA Spring Release event will be held at the Roundhouse from 6:30 to 9:00 PM and the Victoria Spring Release event is from 6:00-8:30 PM at the Inn at Laurel Point. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.naramatabench.com or call 1-800-663-1900. The Naramata Bench Spring Release Events are sponsored by Kettle Ridge Estates (www.kettleridge.com).
