La Pentola has announced Christopher McFadden as its new wine director. McFadden, a native of Ontario, formerly worked at The Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, The Belvedere in Calgary, and Salt Tasting Room and Italian Kitchen here in Vancouver.
Rosewood Hotel Georgia has appointed Brad Simmons as director of sales and marketing, and David Stanton as director of food and beverage. Simmons has previously worked for Rosewood in London. Stanton previously worked with the Four Seasons group of hotels globally, including in Hong Kong, Macau and Seychelles.
Feel like a drive? On Sunday, Feb. 21, The Cellar at Araxi in Whistler will host its inaugural wine dinner with the famous wines of Barone Ricasoli. The Ricasoli family created the formula for Chianti Classico in 1872, and Francesco Ricasoli, the 32nd Barone of Brolio, will host the dinner. Tickets for the five-course wine dinner are $185 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
On Thursday, March 3, Hart House Restaurant will hold a five-course dinner with beer pairings from award-winning microbrewery, Powell Street Craft Brewery. PSCB’s brewer and co-owner David Bowkett will also be in attendance. Menu includes grilled, beer-infused flatbread with za’atar, yogurt cheese and wild mushrooms; housemade fried mortadella; Salt Spring Island mussels; stout-braised short rib; and chocolate porter cake. Tickets $78 per person. Reservations by phone, 604-298-4278.
Edible Canada is launching their Canadian Table dinner series this March. The theme for this year is multiculturalism and includes dinners with chefs such as Vikram Vij, Pino Posteraro, Angus An and Ricardo Valverde. Each four-course dinner will feature a guest chef, beverage pairings and a take-home gift from the Edible Canada retail store. The first dinner is on March 15 with chef Marc-Andre Choquette, featuring rustic French Canadian cuisine. Each dinner is $110 per person.
On March 13, Mission will host a collaborative chef dinner. Nick Cassetari from Alta Bistro, Caitlin Hall from Canyon Bistro, Derek Bothwell from Chill Winston and Curtis Luk from Mission will present a four-course dinner with wine pairings. The menu, which focuses on game, includes smoked duck ham with sidestripe prawns, rabbit pithivier, peppercorn-crusted venison, and buckwheat honey-glazed goose. Tickets $125 per person.
Every Sunday through Thursday, Joe Fortes will offer a three-course dinner for $40. Options include New England-style clam chowder, artichoke ravioli with prawns and peas, sirloin steak with sautéed mushrooms, and dessert.
