Ancora arrives Recently opened (on January 8th), Ancora is already a going concern. That should come as no surprise. ‘Mainland’ Vancouverites have already embraced chef Ricardo Valverde’s Nikkei cuisine. A marriage of Peruvian and Japanese styles, the origins of Nikkei date from the late 19th century. Around this time several thousand Japanese people came to [...]
Dine Out—as most people know—is built around a whole lot of special, three course menus. Some 300 or so Vancouver area restaurants offer varying degrees of deals and experiences. Yet what many don't realize is that Dine Out has grown into the Dine Out Vancouver Festival. The two week long extravaganza includes culinary experiences of [...]
A sure sign this year’s Vancouver International Wine Festival is right around the corner is the media preview. Last week's tasting of wines to be featured at various events was the perfect warm-up for the Feb 23 to March 3 festival. The 37 globe trotting offerings, poured in Blue Water Cafe’s beautifully appointed cellar room, [...]
Buy BC: Eat Drink Local? Sounds like a plan! Although, hard to believe now but there was a time when the last thing anyone wanted was to ‘eat local.’ And don’t even get me started on the wine thing. Or maybe you should. I’m truly pleased to see the return of Buy BC, especially with [...]
VIP Tours: Are they worth it? At the height of summer, wine touring in the Okanagan can get pretty busy. But as the region evolves, so does the range of tasting options. A nominal tasting fee is now the norm—almost always refunded with a purchase. Yet, at a few wineries you can escape the crowds by spending [...]
In honour of Canada's 150th! My good friend Rick Van Sickle (winesinniagara.com) asked me to contribute to his #CanadaWINE150 project. I was happy to oblige ... When I first arrived in Montreal, I was amazed to see how liquor was sold. Going to the SAQ in those days was more like going to an [...]
D'Oro Gelato: A moment in the sun Vintners Brunch is a bit like that favourite item on a restaurant menu. It might feel a little bit dated. Maybe it needs a freshen up now and again. However, tweak it too much and you’ll be in trouble. What's more, for the lucky few (well, 450 or [...]
Provence Marinaside epitomizes the blossoming of Vancouver’s food and wine culture —especially in matters of wine. As anyone who travels knows, especially when it comes to wine by the glass, this city is well ahead of most. This popular restaurant on Vancouver's False Creek north shore draws on a combination of storage techniques. They [...]
Cabrito Tapas & Bebidas is a refreshing newcomer on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive. Laid-back and lively, it offers some different, more local twists on tapas.
Any menu that leaves you wishing you could just order the whole thing is a sign that something good’s afoot.
