Chill Winston, a popular Gastown gastropub and patio stop, has announced it will close at the end of September after more than 10 years in business. The space at 3 Alexander Street has been bought by the BC-based Joey Restaurant Group, which operates the Joey Restaurant chain, as well as Kitsilano's Local Public Eatery. Guilt and Co, which shared the same owners as Chill Winston and is located on the lower floor of the same building, will remain open.
A new cocktail pop-up bar has opened at 1219 Granville Street (back alley entrance). Black Bamboo is the brainchild of Carissa Campeotto, owner of Commodity Juicery, and restaurateur Peter Girges. Cocktails will feature infusions of cold-pressed juices, as well as custom small-batch bitters and extracts made in partnership with Bittered Sling Bitters, Aperol, and Hendricks Gin. Black Bamboo is open every Friday and Saturday until Sept. 30, from 8pm to 11pm. blackbambooexperience.com
Mamie Taylor’s is once again holding its Canada Day RibFest on July 1. From 2pm until late in the evening, the eighth annual barbecue battle will pit top Vancouver rib masters against each other for the RibFest Cup. Returning champions Dixie’s BBQ will compete against Railtown Café, Merchant’s Workshop, and others. The $10 ticket gives you the right to cast your vote for best ribs. In addition, Mamie Taylor’s will also be serving a $15 ribs platter featuring slow-cooked Southern ribs with a side of coleslaw, macaroni salad, and corn on the cob. There will also be specials on Mount Gay rum punch, as well as pints of Strange Fellows and Parkside beer. mamietaylors.ca
Chef Ned Bell of the Vancouver Aquarium was awarded the Seafood Champion for Advocacy Awardby SeaWeb at the Seafood Summitin Seattle on June 5. The award is shared with the International Pole and Line Foundation. Chef Bell’s next project is a cookbook, due to be released October 2017, titled Lure. The book will feature 80 simple recipes based on seafood found off the West Coast of Canada.
Tuc Craft Kitchen has launched a new summer menu that includes dishes such as vegan rarebit, a plant-based take on a classic Welsh rarebit, where roasted vegetables, caramelized onions and a smoked onion sauce are poured over rye bread. For more carnivorous tastes, try the lamb dukkah, boudin noir, a seafood tamarind bisque, cured pork and more. tuccraftkitchen.com
Natalie and Paul Rivas, owners of Bodega on Main, have launched Bodega Foods. The line-up includes brava and romesco sauces, as well as a piquillo relish, all based on the long-time restaurant recipes. For sale at the restaurant, as well as at the Eastside Flea Market June 17-18. bodegafoods.ca
The Westin Bayshore has announced Kamal Silva as its new executive chef. Silva was previously food and beverage director at the Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa in Singapore, with earlier stints at Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Fairmont Empress, and other positions in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Alberta. westinbayshore.com
Uva Wine and Cocktail Bar has a new happy hour menu available daily from 2pm to 5pm, and a new à la carte menu available until midnight. Look for $10 (or less) cocktails at happy hour, along with $5 sleeves of beer and $6 glasses of wine. Dishes include $5 albacore tuna crudo, black pepper orzo with cheddar, parmesan potatoes, pizzetta, and crispy chicken wings. cibotrattoria.com
Jules Bistro is offering a Sunday brunch menu on Father’s Day, June 18, with a special free Negroni for dads. Brunch menu includes breakfast cassoulet, ribeye steak, roasted waffles, and more. julesbistro.ca
Joe Fortes will be offering brunch starting from 10am on Sunday, June 18, for Father’s Day and dinner from 4pm. Brunch menu includes chicken and waffles, sirloin steak and eggs, French toast with bananas and salted caramel. Dinner features a porterhouse finished with garlic, butter and rosemary. joefortes.ca
Tickets are still available for The Joy of Feeding at UBC Farm on June 24 from 5pm to 8pm. The annual fundraising event will feature family recipes from 13 home cooks representing cuisines and regions around the world, including Brazil, Cameroon, Chinese-Jamaican, Indonesian, Russian-Korean, Syrian, and more. Funds from the event go toward UBC Farm to support its various programs and research. Tickets $55 (students $30). Children 12 and under are free. joyoffeeding.com
The Pemberton Slow Food Cycle Sunday is coming up on August 20. This self-guided tour will introduce you to local farms and producers, and sample tasty food along the way. slowfoodcyclesunday.com
