Beach Bay Café and Patio has officially opened its doors. The restaurant has taken over the old Raincity Grill space at Denman off Davie. Chef Scott Korzack (formerly at L’Abbatoir) heads up the kitchen, with Adrian Lindner leading the bar program. Front of house will be run by restaurant director Luc Trottier, along with restaurant manager Adrea Vescovi. BeachBayCafe.com
In related news, Viaggio Goup, the hospitality conglomerate that includes Beach Bay Café, Uva, Cibo, and Red Card, among others, has also taken over the former C Restaurant location on False Creek, and will be opening Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio there soon.
Finalists have been announced for this year’s Gold Medal Plates competition, which will take place in Victoria on November 19, 2015. This year’s competitors include Vancouver chefs Ned Bell (Yew Seafood), Alex Chen (Boulevard), Jonathan Chovancek (Café Medina) and Chris Whittaker (Forage), as well as chefs from Victoria and the Okanagan. See the full list at GoldMedalPlates.com.
Chef David Gunawan, owner of Farmer’s Apprentice and Grapes & Soda, is partnering with Donnelly Group to open Royal Dinette under The Blackbird Public House & Oyster Bar. Gunawan’s trademark farm-to-table ethos will inform the menu, albeit with more approachable diner-influenced tweaks. Look for opening in July. RoyalDinette.ca
Sabrine Dhaliwal, newly-appointed bar manager at West Restaurant, has been announced as the grand winner of “The Challenge,” Belvedere Vodka’s international contest to create a legendary martini cocktail. Dhaliwal competed against bartenders from the US, France, the UK, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia, and was the only woman to qualify for the final round. Her award-winning cocktail, Pink Skies at Night, will be available at West over the summer months.
Local healthy-foods startup Kitskitchen has added to their line of gluten-free and dairy-free soups and broths with a line of healthy, no-sugar-added jams, chutneys and spreads made from BC fruits and honey, and organic apples and lemons. Find them at The Juicery, Edible Canada, Greens Organics, and the online kitskitchen store. KitsKitchen.ca
Bubbles, Beats and Brunch is back at Market by Jean-Georges. Shared plates, strong drinks and a live DJ help kick up brunch a notch every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am to 3pm until Labour Day. Favourites like the Korean fried chicken and quail eggs benedict are back, along with new shared punch bowls, like the Market Punch, with Bulleit bourbon, pomegranate and blueberry tea, orange, pineapple, lemon, honey and ginger beer. MarketByJGVancouver.com
Tickets are still available for Four Season Hotel’s Summer of Riesling dinner on the hotel pool deck on June 23. The five-course dinner, plus reception, will be paired with Rieslings from Tantalus Vineyards. Tickets are $175 each. Picatic.com/FSSummerOfRiesling
On June 28, La Pentola’s next installment of their Famiglia Supper Series will take place, this time focusing on the cuisine of Naples. The 10+ course menu will feature buffalo mozzarella, whole local fried anchovies, octopus, and branzino. Also, local ‘za expert Graham Marceau of Corduroy Pie Co. will be joining La Pentol chef Travis McCord for one special course during the evening. Tickets $55 per person. LaPentola.ca
On Tuesday, June 30, Wildebeest will host specialty beer importer Westbier for a multi-course dinner paired with rare Danish and Belgian character beers. The five-course menu includes seared pork medallions with potato pavé, roasted pheasant, braised short rib with gnocchi, and desserts. Tickets $75 plus tax and gratuity. Wildebeest.ca/Events
Wines of South Africa will be holding a free consumer tasting on July 10 from 2:30-6:30pm at the 39th and Cambie Signature Liquor Store. Bites from BonVivant Group will also be offered. This is one of 40 free tastings that will be held throughout the province during the month of July. Get more details at your local wine store.
Looking for a reason to get out of town? The annual Taste! Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine is back July 16-19. Events this year include a whole pig roast, a seafood boil, a champagne brunch, and more. VictoriaTaste.com
Or you could head north to Whistler…Grill & Vine restaurant at The Westin Whistler Resort and Spa has announced a summer series of longtable dinners on their patio for July 3, July 31 and Sept. 19. Themes include orchard fruit and estate wines, yoga and red wine, and craft beer. Each five-course dinner is $110 including tax and gratuity. WestinWhistler.com/SummerSeries
