Good Wolfe Kitchen & Bar has officially opened their doors and started lunch, dinner and brunch service. The exciting collaboration between chef Josh Wolfe and partner Richard Goodine has resulted in an eclectic and comfortable menu of tasty dishes like salmon shawarma, coq au vin with housemade späetzle, steelhead pastrami and some of the best hummus in town. Cocktails, thanks to Goodines passion for muddled beverages, are food-friendly and fantastic, like the Coronation cup with coronation grapes, gin and elderflower. GoodWolfe.ca
West Restaurant is continuing their Guest Chef series with another installment on October 21, this time with chef Martin Juneau of Pastaga Restaurant in Montreal. Pastaga was named one of enRoute Magazines Top New Restaurants in Canada in 2012. He will be collaborating with West executive chef Quang Dang to create the five-course tasting menu. Cost is $100 per person, plus tax and gratuity (beverages not included). WestRestaurant.com
The Earthwise Society is holding their annual Hundred Mile Banquet fundraiser at the Red Barn in Southlands on November 2. Five courses from chef Derek Bothwell are paired with wines by Chill Winston. There will also be live entertainment and a silent auction. Early bird tickets for $100 must be purchased by October 12. EarthwiseSociety.bc.ca
Inniskillin has released the 2012 Sparkling Cabernet Franc Ice Wine, the newest addition to their ice wine series. This is a limited edition collection, with only 1,300 cases, available at local wine stores for $120/375 mL. Iniskillin.com
Emad Yacoub, proprietor of The Glowbal Collection group of restaurants, has been named Restaurateur of the Year at the 2013 Pinnacle Awards, which recognize top Canadian culinary and hospitality professionals. GlowbalGroup.com
West Oak in Yaletown is launching a monthly Social Brunch series. Based on New Yorks famed party brunches, and taking place on the last Sunday of each month, guests can enjoy classic brunch favourites served family-style, with champagne and DJ, for $25 per person. WestOakRestaurant.com
Beta 5 Chocolates has won Gold at the Canadian National Finals of the International Chocolate Awards for both their Fishermans Friend dark chocolate-mint truffle and their Black Olive Bar, consisting of candied black olive pieces suspended in white chocolate. They will be going on to compete at the world finals in London later this month. Beta5Chocolates.com
Q4 Al Centro at 700 Richards Street has been reimagined as Tappo Restobar (tappo means cork in Italian), a casual wine bar focusing on small plates. Look for Mediterranean- and Pacific Northwest-inspired plates, pizza from the Forno oven, and revolving list of just under 40 labels available by bottle or glass. TapRestobar.com.
Anya Levykh has been writing about food, wine and restaurants for more than a decade for various media outlets. Hear her weekly food segment every Monday at 5:50pm on CBC Radio Ones On the Coast, follow her on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and catch up at FoodGirlFriday.com.
