French

Michel Jacob’s Le Crocodile Celebrates 30 Years

Le Crocodile 30th anniversary menu

It’s a fact of life. People just have to ask me: “What’s your favourite restaurant?” It’s always tough to answer because, as a rule, I don’t play favourites. “It depends,” I’ll say … Chances are it might be the ‘flavour of the month:’ the place that’s just left a ‘lasting’ impression. Or, there may be […]

Read more December 7, 2014 Dining

Left Bank Vancouver: Modern French Trumps Classic Bistro

Left Bank tuna cone

After much soul-searching, John Blakeley has decided it’s time to shift gears. He’s shuttered Le Parisien (the latest name in a series descended from old stalwart Café de Paris). In its place he’s opened much edgier and more updated—less obviously French, he says—Left Bank. It wasn’t an easy decision: Blakeley purchased the onetime landmark bistro […]

Read more July 21, 2014 Belly's Best Bites

No Time Like the Present to Jump on Wagon Rouge

Bistro Wagon Rouge steak frite

  Wagon Rouge is one of those places where, if I lived in the ‘hood, I’d be every day. And, apparently, it’s where a lot of people already are. My intro to the unfettered Gallic offshoot of Brad Miller’s popular Red Wagon diner (Powell at Victoria) was to to walk into a near capacity room. […]

Read more February 20, 2014 Dining

Reconnecting with La Regalade, West Vancouver’s Authentic French Bistro

La Régalade lamb sirloin with beef bourguignon tureen and potato side dish

Vancouverites are notorious for not crossing bridges, which may be one reason why I don’t get to West Vancouver’s La Regalade more often. Four of us made it there the other night, to be rewarded by a wealth of rustic flavours, ample portions, good service and overall great conviviality. Our table was right across from […]

Read more December 1, 2013 Belly's Best Bites

Fat Bastard Revisited and Gabrielle Meffre at Le Crocodile (Video)

Best selling Fat Bastard Chardonnay

I’m not sure why but I always figured that cheekily named “Fat Bastard” had to have something to do either with the guy who might drink it (me) or the guys who made it—Thierry Boudinaud and Guy Anderson. But here’s the real story, as told by Fat Bastard co-owner (and Gabrielle Meffre globe-trotting sommelier) Anthony Taylor.   […]

Read more April 20, 2013 Belly's Best Bites

Fighting Winter’s Ills with Pot au Feu at Vancouver’s Bistro Pastis

The Hired Belly is a push-over for hearty, winter dishes, such as the pot au feu at Bistro Pastis, (2153 West 4th Ave., 604-731-5020) which we more than did justice to last week, when the winter rains were sluicing through Vancouver; and flu was threatening to force us to the sidelines. We can’t say, for sure, […]

Read more December 13, 2012 Hired Belly's Best Wines

Vancouver’s Le Parisien: a Worthy Tribute to the Original Café de Paris – Fall Menu update

Updated Oct 23, 2012. It’s not unusual for new restos to tweak things as they go along but we’re more than intrigued by Le Parisien’s just launched “petits plats”—a definite nod to Spanish tapas, with some excellent tastes from chef Tobias Grignon and team. No fiddling with the stalwarts —such as French onion fondue or […]

Read more October 27, 2012 Belly's Best Bites

Cozy and Tasty on The Drive: Tunisian Treats at Carthage Café

Carthage Café cous-cous and mussels, Tim Pawsey photo

Updated, March 31, 2014.  I committed The inexcusable sin the other night, by arriving late for a reservation which in itself allowed too little time to dine properly before heading off to the York Theatre. In my mind I had thought it would be easy to order a few bowls of moules frîtes before heading […]

Read more October 9, 2012 Belly's Best Bites

WHERE Vancouver Announces 15th Annual Where to Dine Awards

WHERE Vancouver (to whom the Hired Belly supplies considerable calorific content) yesterday unveiled the 15TH Annual Where to Dine Awards. The well attended (and well-run) event was hosted in superb fashion by Blue Water Café, who, as usual, catered to their industry peers with an array of seafood towers, sushi and more, not to mention […]

Read more April 28, 2011 Belly's Best Bites

Hermitage on Robson Moving On: To Make Way for More Bling

We reckon Hermitage—Robson’s romantic little Burgundian backwater—should be pretty busy over the next couple of weeks… After they’ve poured the last glass of Château de Chamilly Pinot Noir, and finished serving the profiteroles and chocolate sauce on Valentine’s Day, Hervé Martin and his long-serving crew will hang up the closed sign for the last time—at least […]

Read more January 26, 2011 Belly's Best Bites

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