THE DISH
This weeks dish is both a tease and a memory, since, unfortunately, its no longer available but for a very good reason. Executive chef Jefferson Alvarez of Secret Location has launched his revolutionary 300 Dishes in 30 Days. Running through February 15, each day will see a new 10-course set menu available for dinner for $75, including alcoholic beverages. No dish will ever be repeated, and no menus will be posted in advance. Not for the gastronically faint of heart, but worth more than one visit, as its not just any chef who can have me raving about edible clay (among other things).
SCENE | HEARD
After more than 35 years of serving up fine French food to Vancouver diners, Le Gavroche has closed its doors. A bailiffs sign on the door of the converted heritage home where the restaurant was located indicates over $80,000 in rent is owed. The former owner and founder, Manuel Ferreira, sold the restaurant last year to his executive chef, Robert Guest, who converted the traditional French menu to one that was highly contemporary and experimentalperhaps too experimental for Vancouver, in hindsight.
David Hawksworth, celebrated chef and owner of the award-winning Hawksworth Restaurant, is planning to open a second restaurant (name TBA) in downtown Vancouver in 2015. Look for a more casual concept loosely designed around shared dishes, with local and Italian influences.
Oyama Sausage is holding their annual Choucroute Festival January 23 to 26. Their housemade Alsatian-style sauerkraut will be available ready to eat, along with all of the usual accoutrements. OyamaSausage.ca
Left Coast Naturals, a BC-based natural foods manufacturer and distributor, has announced that its entire catalogue of will be free of GMOs by December 31, 2015. Left Coast joins other BC companies such as Natures Path Foods, who have already eliminated GMOs from their product line-ups.
Davids Tea has launched the #CupOfWarmth campaign, running now through January 28. For every cup of tea sold, Davids Tea will donate one cup of tea to Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. Learn more at DavidsTea.com/CupOfWarmth.
DRINK | DINE
Its like foodie Jesus is comin to townFerran Adrià, owner and chef at elBulli (1964-2011) in Spain, named words best restaurant five years in a row, will be in Vancouver on March 8 for two events at The Vancouver Club, hosted by Barbara-Jos Books to Cooks. Tickets range from $700 to $1,000 and include Adriàs seven-volume cookbook, elBulli 2005-2011: A Journey Inside the Creative Process of the Worlds Greatest Chef. BooksToCooks.com/Events
Vancouver Urban Winery is kicking off another semester of their popular Sunday School wine seminar series this Sunday, January 26. Tickets are $40. Full schedule at VancouverUrbanWinery.com
Running now through Sunday, Street Food City, one of Dine Out Vancouvers signature events, will be offering a daily rotating selection of more than 20 food trucks and vendors at the North Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Line-up at DineOutVancouver.com.
Dine Out Vancouver is going strong, but if youre looking for something off the Dine Out track, Mamie Taylors is offering a Not Dine Out three-course menu for $30 per person. Items include chicken-fried steak, smoked pork terrine, stuffed poblano pepper with white cheddar grits, and cheese cake with persimmon-cherry compote. MamieTaylors.ca
The fourth annual Hot Chocolate Festival continues its sweet madness until Valentines Day. Look for more than 60 flavours of hot chocolate, including:
Curry: Festival newcomer, Koko Monk Chocolates will take chocolate lovers to Bollywood with The Brunette Bangle.
Potato Chips: Mink Chocolates takes a playful stab at the Food Network with Paula Deens White Trash Train Wreck a caloric spectacle of milk chocolate, condensed milk, salted Kettle Chips and whipped cream.
More flavours and info at CityFood.com.
Anya Levykh has been writing about all things ingestible for over a decade. Hear her every Monday on CBC Radio Ones On the Coast, follow her @foodgirlfriday and FoodGirlFriday.com.
