Italian

Amici Miei, a Flavour-packed Family Italian

Rigatoni alla salsiccia with wine glass

I love it when I discover new little places with a whole lot of heart. There’s no question that’s the case at Amici Miei Cucina Italiana (1114 Denman St. 604-563-6610), in Vancouver’s West End. Owners Manrico Serpente  and Marcella Gentile told me they came to Vancouver last year for the very first time, from Abruzzo, […]

Read more February 23, 2015 Dining

Umberto Readies Giardino for Spring Opening

Giardino owner Umberto Menghi

  Giardino—the reincarnation of Umberto Menghi’s celebrated Il Giardino restaurant—is getting ready to bloom sometime this spring. However, Umberto insists the new room will not be merely a revival but enjoy a distinct personality all of its own. The pioneering restaurateur says he can’t wait to welcome diners, as he brings his style of Tuscan cuisine […]

Read more February 7, 2015 Dining

Bufala: Local Boy Brings it Home

Bufala Margherita sm

Bufala has landed on the West Side with a bang! A few years back, when I referred to Kerrisdale as a ‘culinary backwater’ the comment was removed by a sensitive editor. But the fact is that, for many years, the explosion of culinary culture that’s engulfed the rest of Vancouver and environs has all but […]

Read more October 10, 2014 Dining

Nicli’s Next Door: Premium Pizza Place Propagates

sockeye salmon special at Nicli's Next Door

Nicli’s Next Door is one of those places that if you blink you could miss. But you’ll be sorry if you do, because it’s one more very tasty example of what’s driving Gastown’s dining renewal. No prizes for guessing, it’s right ‘next door’ to pizza emporium Antica Nicli, which effectively spearheaded Vancouver’s ongoing love affair […]

Read more September 11, 2014 Dining

Il Giardino to Re-Open: Umberto Menghi’s Iconic Room to Rise Again

Il Giardino

Il Giardino, Umberto’s much lamented restaurant, which he closed last spring to make way for redevelopment, may well resurface just up the street. It appears that once Umberto realised just how much Il Giardino really meant to people he wasted little time in seeking out a new home for his flagship, long running room. I’ve […]

Read more January 30, 2014 Belly's Best Bites

Siena: Vancouver’s South Granville Enjoys a New Rising Star

  UPDATED, NOV 26TH, 2013… Siena Offers Granville Shoppers 15% Off! (from the release) Siena Restaurant is getting in the holiday spirit by rewarding South Granville merchant shoppers with a 15% discount when they show a purchase receipt. Step outside the mall and take a walk down South Granville, home to some of the best […]

Read more November 26, 2013 Belly's Best Bites

Les Dames Bid Addio to Umberto Menghi at Star Studded Soirée

umberto_highres copy

The BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier announces An Evening in Tuscany to Celebrate Umberto Menghi  When: Friday, May 31, 2013 – 6pm Reception / 7pm Dinner Where: Hosted by Les Dames d’Escoffier, BC Chapter and Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver Tickets from Eventbrite Details from Les Dames d’Escoffier… Following the long table format, a beautifully decorated Italian inspired […]

Read more April 2, 2013 Dining

Umberto Menghi to Close Celebrated Il Giardino After 37 Years

Il Giardino

UPDATED, April 2: If you couldn’t get into Il Giardino before it closes (and even if you could), here’s a great way to say ‘Thank You’ to Umberto for all he’s done for Vancouver over the years. BC’s Les Dames d’Escoffier have truly put together an amazing line-up at Four Seasons. Plus, rumours are there’ll be a […]

Read more April 2, 2013 Dining

Great First Tastes at La Pentola della Quercia, in Vancouver’s Opus Hotel

We’re always intrigued when a leading hotel decides to work with a celebrated restaurant–as opposed to running its own in-house operation. We watched with interest over the last couple of years the machinations surrounding the pop-ups at Opus Hotel, which were often entertaining but never intended to remain as full-time concepts. Hence, we were pretty […]

Read more October 11, 2012 Belly's Best Bites

Pop! Goes Prosecco

From the ‘everything old is new again’ department comes this nifty little (200 ml.) bottle of Prosecco that has us thinking back a decade, to when Pommery Champagne launched Pop!—the cute mini-bottle that came complete with a straw, so you could look really trendy. (Of course the fact that sucking bubble through a straw was […]

Read more October 22, 2011 Wine