News

5 Very Good Reasons to Dine Out for Life on March 25th, 2014

Lisa Martella, Executive Director, A Loving Spoonful and Sheena Sargeant, Executive Director, Friends For Life

  It’s quite a milestone: Dining Out for Life turns 20 this year. One thing I’ve learned covering food and wine over the years: No other industry is as generous as the hospitality sector. If there was a way to tally up volunteer hours and value of labour and goods donated, I’m sure the restaurant […]

Read more March 18, 2014 Belly's Best Bites

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

BYO = Brew Your Own: Moonshine Beer in Bag Home Brewing Unveiled in U.K.

Moonshine Drinks UK unveils bag in box brewing

Never at a loss to navigate their way around high liquor taxes, the Brits are at it again. This time with the seemingly ingenious and cleverly named Moonshine home brewing bag. Just add water and wait! I wonder if and when (or if ever) this will show up on our shelves … Even at 50 […]

Read more November 27, 2013 Beer

Vancouver’s Loss is Saskatoon’s Gain: Dale MacKay Opens Ayden Kitchen & Bar

Ayden Kitchen & Bar boasts a talented team

This hard-hitting, exposé of a blog is mainly about Vancouver and BC’s scene but occasionally addresses topics “beyond”—in this case Saskatoon. But there’s still a very definite Vancouver connection. One of Canada’s brightest culinary stars, Chef Dale MacKay officially pulled the wraps off his new restaurant, Ayden Kitchen & Bar (265 3rd Avenue South) in Saskatoon […]

Read more November 19, 2013 Uncategorized

1789 Restaurant & Lounge Now Open

Sometimes the address is the smartest way to go ...

1789 It’s official! The space formerly known as Samson’s Squeeze is now open, as 1789 Restaurant & Lounge. When it comes to naming your restaurant,  just picking the right number can be the simplest solution. After all the kerfuffle surrounding the choice of name, owners Daryle Nagata and Paul Puratich opted for the obvious, calling […]

Read more August 18, 2013 Belly's Best Bites

West End’s Celebrated Delilah’s (almost) Re-emerges as Café Delilah. But Now Will Not.

"Unforeseen and challenging circumstances" mean that "Delilah

UPDATE: This from the restaurant’s Facebook page… Due to unforeseen and challenging circumstances, the owners of this restaurant’s Facebook page, Daryle Nagata and Paul Puratich, will be shutting down this account and its associated Twitter and Instagram feeds as of 8pm on August 1. The business partners will open their restaurant in the same location, […]

Read more August 5, 2013 Belly's Best Bites

Quails’ Gate Welcomes Nikki Callaway as New Winemaker

New Quails Gate winemaker Nikki Callaway and her dog, Olli

Nikki Callaway and “Olli” Quails Gate has announced that Nikki Callaway will take over the reins from Grant Stanley as winemaker. (Stanley left Quails Gate this spring to join 50th Parallel.) Callaway is no stranger to Quails Gate. For the last five years she’s worked up the way at Mission Hill. This marks the the […]

Read more July 24, 2013 Wine

R.I.P. Peter Lehmann, “Baron of Barossa,” 1930-2013

Margaret and Peter Lehmann, around the time of their 2011 Vancouver

When the French (and others) talk about “terroir” they’re generally referring to geography, soil type, grapes—but also the human element. Wine, after all—above all—is very much about people. It’s a fact of which we’re constantly reminded, especially when a legend in the business passes on. On June 28th, Australia and the wine world at large […]

Read more July 23, 2013

Chef Hamid Salimian bids farewell to Diva at the Met

Chaf Hamid Salimian: on the move TP photo

It’s been only a matter of weeks since we were raving about Chef Hamid Salimian and his remarkable Persian inspired tasting menu at Diva at the Met. But Chef Hamid is on the move.  June 4th, 2013, will be his last day at Diva before he leaves to take up teaching in Culinary Arts at Vancouver Community College. When […]

Read more May 17, 2013 Belly's Best Bites

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

← Previous Entries