Happy birthday, Parker
To celebrate its first anniversary on Union Street, the Parker is offering a new $29 degustation option by Top Chef Canadas chef Curtis Luk. Hes preparing vegetarian dishes such as house-made tofu quenelles in black bean sauce with braised beans, hand-made carrot vaatelli with seared broccolini, beluga lentils and kobocha squash purée with rice pudding with sorbet and candied autumn applies. For $29 two people can expect four plates and a shared dessert. The Parker is also a sponsor of the Vancouver International Film Festival. Go to TheParkerVancouver.com for details.
The next top chefs
The Fairmont Waterfronts team of culinary apprentices are ready to show their stuff. On November 13, theyll be presenting a six-course forage-to-table dinner for some very discerning guests. Top Chef Canada winner Matthew Stowe, culinary activist and author Anita Stewart and the hotels chef Robert LeCrom will be there as a panel of celebrity experts as the apprentices explore this years theme of preservation. Tickets are $129 per person and include a cocktail reception and wine pairings. Go to Fairmont.com/waterfront-vancouver for tickets.
Hester Creeks new releases
At a media launch at Gastowns Cork and Fin restaurant, Hester Creeks winemaker Rob Summers and general manager Mark Sheridan (pictured) celebrated the release of four new wines from the Golden Mile Bench vineyard. The 2012 food-friendly Chardonnay is Hester Creeks first vintage of this style (aged in a combination of French and American oak for eight months.) The 2010 Judge, cleverly named because you approach the bench, is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The 2011 Reserve Cabernet Franc comes on the heels of the 2010 vintage, which won a Lieutenant Governors Award for Excellence. Last but not least is the 2011 Reserve Merlot from some of its oldest vines. The trick, says a nimble-footed Sheridan, is to dance with Mother Nature.
Vivre, La Table
Journey to Alsace without having to go any farther than Denman Street. On Oct. 1, Le Parisien presents the first in a series of communal dinners designed to evoke Frances love of sharing conversation and a sense of community around the dinner table. The nights theme is Alsace, known for its choucroute and strudel. The dinner includes wine pairings from Hugel Gentil. Tickets are $65 each and are available at LeParisienChoucrouteNight.eventbrite.com.
Vote for Victory
Victory Gardens is the running for a healthy cash prize as a finalist in the National Co-op Challenge. Anyone with a Facebook account can vote between September 18 and October 18 to determine which two finalists in each of four regions take home $25,000. (Be sure to vote for three videos to ensure your vote is valid.) Go to VictoryGardensVancouver.ca for details.
Making rumpus
The Rumpus Room at 2689 Main was transformed by film crews into a colourful juice bar for one scene from the movie Step Up 5 (pictured below).
