Rickards ode to Fall
It was an assignment that brewmeister Gary Matthews (pictured) couldnt resist: come up with the first seasonal brew for Rickards beer. The season? Autumn. The emotional touchpoints? All the delicious smells of baking coming from Moms kitchen. The result: a beer with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and brown sugar dressed neatly in a Cardigan. Matthews was on hand at The Charles Bar to launch Cardigan onto Vancouvers food scene. He also helped come up with a list of suggested food pairings: sweet potato fries, braised ribs and warm apple crisp. Rickards.ca
Shangri-Las Five Diamonds
Vancouver has its only AAA Five Diamond Award. Vito Romeo, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, says, It is tremendous recognition of our hotel facilities and amenities, but more importantly of our staff, who are dedicated and passionate ambassadors for the Shangri-La brand, the city of Vancouver and our hospitality profession. The award recognizes delivery of exceptional guest service, luxurious accommodation, superior facilities and personalized amenities, according to AAA. For 2012, only 126 lodgings and 53 restaurants received the Five Diamond Rating just 0.3 per cent of the 59,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings. What an incredible and well-deserved accomplishment, said Rick Antonson, CEO of Tourism Vancouver. The return of the AAA Five Diamond status to Vancouver is significant not only for the hotel, but for the city. It underscores Vancouver as a luxury destination and shows that the city can command occupancy and rate at the five-star level.
Kale & Nori
Event planner Kelsey Boudreau has joined Chef Jonathan Chovancek and Lauren Mote of Kale & Nori Culinary Arts. She brings 15 years of international hospitality experience to the role, including stints in the French Riviera, the Mediterranean, the Baltic region, and the southern United States. The Cannes Film Festival saw her planning high-profile events, dinners and receptions on private yachts. Kelsey has a wonderful ability to adapt and manage clients and their important engagements without missing a beat, says a Kale & Nori press release. Here in Vancouver she worked with the Rosewood Hotel Georgia and Japanese Aburi Restaurant Group.KaleAndNori.com
Honouring Babz Chula
Kale & Nori's Chef Jonathan C has created a four-course meal, inspired by foods in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Dinner With Friends", for a Sept. 18 fundraiser. Each course will be prepared in true, slow-cooked, old-world, Italian spirit andwill be accompanied by Lauren Motes innovative cocktails, paired with various elements of the meal. Funds go towards the Babz Chula Lifeline for Artists Society and The Dirty Manhattan Equity Co-op's November 2012 theatre production of "Dinner With Friends". It's at at the harvest table surrounded by walls of wine, in the beautiful environment at the Olympic Village Legacy Liquor store.Tickets available here.
Good garlic
September is a busy month for Victory Gardens. Upcoming workshops include Growing Garlic ($17) on Sept. 15 from 10 to 11am and Grow and Preserve Your Own Sugo Sauce ($20) on Sept. 24 at Harvest Community Foods from 6:30 to 8pm. Meanwhile, if you want help mapping out bed space for your own garden next year, Victory Gardens offers to help. VictoryGardensVancouver.ca
Restaurant changes
After 27 years in business, the Brave Bulls House of Steaks closed its doors for good. The owners Linda and Frank are finally retiring, reports BC Les Clefs dOr. The restaurant had real character and the owners were great people.
Earls at the corner of Smithe and Hornby is scheduled to reopen on September 11 after a million-dollar facelift.The restaurant will have more booth seating and an open kitchen concept.
