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Dining

May17

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Heads or Tails Spot Prawn Kick-Off

Posted in: Craft Beer, Dining, Events, Vancouver, Wine

To help kick off our local spot prawn season, Coal Harbour’s Tableau Bar and Bistro threw a party last night, appropriately titled “Heads or Tails“.

The sampling of spot prawn items that were featured forms part of a summer platter that Chef Marc-André Choquette has created to marry with summer wines, craft beer, and La Strangiato, a signature cocktail prepared using gin, Dubonnet, Amaro Montenegro, lemon, Demerara sugar and soda.

[Tableau's Chef Marc-André Choquette]

The “goods”, those delightful, juicy, meaty BC spot prawn stars, were dressed to the nines, prepared as corn dogs on a stick, in a terrine, their heads deep fried, as a tartare, in a creamy bisque served cappuccino style, on a skewer seasoned with chili garlic and Niçoise style.

I’m personally a fan of the messy, off the table “whole beast” variety. Tableau chefs came out of the kitchen bearing heaping dishes of poached whole prawns, alongside saffron aioli, cocktail sauce, and lemon.

[Spot Prawn Bisque, with fennel, steamed milk, served cappuccino style]

[Tȇte-à-Tȇte (deep fried spot prawn heads)]

[Spot Prawn Corn Dog on a Stick (with frites)]

While I didn’t sample the cocktail mentioned above (I was in between two wine tastings that day and wanted to stick to that), I did enjoy the spot prawns with Joie Farms’ 2011 Rosé ($10/glass), with a blend of raspberries, candied fruit, and a light, refreshing mouth that married well with the dishes. Also on hand was Joie’s 2010 Muscat ($10), a bit sweet for my palate (though a good match for the prawn corn dogs on a stick), as well as Phillip’s Analogue 78 Kolsch craft beer ($6.75).

[Spot Prawn Tail Terrine]

[Spot Prawn Tartare Cup]

[Gougère Spot Prawn Tail Slider]

The platter ($25) features spot prawn head bisque, poached spot prawns, spot prawn tartare cup, spot prawn corn dog on a stick, and a Gougère spot prawn tail slider.

Tableau Bar and Bistro is located at 1181 Melville Street, next to the Loden Hotel in Vancouver. Visit the website for menu information, hours, and events.
May14

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Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen

Posted in: Books, Dining, Dining Reviews, Music, Okanagan Valley, Wine

Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen has become a fixture on the Okanagan dining scene. Chef Ricardo Scebba and wife Sue Miller have worked hard over the past 11 years to build and nurture their labour of love — a hearty, welcoming Italian restaurant that brings to mind a slice of Tuscan life in the Okanagan.

When we dined there on a recent Thursday evening, the 50 seat dining room was packed with families, couples, and food lovers enjoying a meal with live jazz music on the small stage near the entrance.

Born in Montreal to Italian parents, Ricardo Scebba learned to appreciate the traditions of food and family from an early age. At 16, Ricardo started as a cook and continued working at various Montreal restaurants throughout high school and college. Knowing early on that restaurants were his true calling, Ricardo earned a degree in Restaurant Management from St. Clair College.

In 1981, Ricardo relocated to Toronto and moved to the front-of-the-house working as a server and bartender. Ten years later he moved west to continue his career in Vancouver. Shortly after his move, he met the love of his life, Sue Miller, as they both worked together at the same Granville Island restaurant.

Leaving the big city behind, Ricardo and Sue moved to the Okanagan where they started a family and began to build their dream business. In 2001, they opened Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen. And the rest is history.

[Summerhill Pyramid Winery's Eric VonKrosigk, winemaker]

We were joined by Summerhill Pyramid Winery winemaker Eric VonKrosigk, as well as a childhood friend of Ricardo’s, who had some great tales to tell of their lives back in Windsor, Ontario. The wine and food naturally flowed in between conversation at our table, bringing the group closer by evening’s end.

The interior is dimly lit by candles of all sorts; outdoor patio seating is certain to fill up in the warmer months.

We started our dinner with a selection of antipasto, including house made artisan breads, Italian olives, Cavolfiori Fritti (delicious batter-fried cauliflower florets), cheeses and salumi. The chosen wine was Summerhill’s Cipes Brut ($52/bottle). After a round of clinking glasses, we dove into some fantastic homemade focaccia as it was brought to the table fresh from the oven.

A big heaping bowl filled with Porcini mushroom risotto was brought out next, paired with Ex Nihilo’s Pinot Noir. The excellent richness of the risotto went very well with the deep pinot notes of dried cherries and plum.

[Nonna's turkey polpette]

Not enough can be said about down to earth Italian cooking, but when Nonna’s turkey polpette (meatballs, made purely from ground turkey, though normally mixed with pork at the restaurant) arrived with that gorgeous rich tomato sauce, everyone’s eyes gravitated towards the dish.

[Wild salmon caponata]

[Rack of lamb chops]

Wild salmon caponata, rack of lamb chops, polenta, and arugula salad were also brought over. Out of all the beautiful bites I was enjoying, the polpette was my hands-down favourite. These secondi dishes were paired with Cedar Creek Pinot Gris and La Frenz Total Reserve glasses of wine.

[Coconut panna cotta, amaretti cookies, raspberry granita]

A trio of coconut panna cotta, amaretti cookies made by Ricardo’s Mom Concetta, and a raspberry granita to cool the palate formed our dessert trio. I loved the creamy goodness of the panna cotta, and although I’m not a huge coconut fan, this was hardly a reason to put down the spoon. Its joyful aroma and taste together with the almond amaretti bites were superb. We saved a few amaretti cookies to dip into coffee later. With the desserts, our group enjoyed a glass of sweet Arrowleaf Vidal.

[Ricardo Scebba and me]

This restaurant is worth seeking out for its ambiance, attention to fresh ingredients, as well as a friendly vibe. There’s nothing pretentious about Ricardo’s, and their seatings book quickly from Thursday through the weekend. The live music roster changes up weekly.

The counter is loaded with various dining accolades, and Ricardo’s currently sits at number three in BC’s top Italian restaurants, according to Open Table’s website. Last year, Ricardo and Sue put together a collection of their favourite recipes. That’s Amore ($24.95; available online) has become a great resource for fans wanting to try Ricardo’s dishes at home. It pays homage to Ricardo’s Italian roots. Many of his family recipes are in there.

Ricardo’s is located at 415 Commonwealth Road between Vernon and Kelowna, at Holiday Park Resort. They’re open seven nights year-round from 5 pm. My dinner was compliments of Ricardo’s (Grazie, Ricardo!).
May14

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Okanagan Wineries, Part Two

Posted in: Dining, Okanagan Valley, Travel, Wine

Last week, I posted the first part of my feature covering a few of the half dozen Okanagan vineyards that our media group had recently toured. Here’s part two of the feature.

Tantalus Winery is dedicated to sustainably grown vines. We found ourselves stepping foot on the first LEED certified winery building in BC. The winery also keeps bees.

With an imposing view over the Okanagan hillside, Tantalus produces Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. The winery is fierce proud of its three varietals; its philosophy is to keep things simple. We tasted all three.

The 2011 Riesling ($22.90) has a drier finish than a typical Riesling. It has a high natural acidity with sweetness to balance it out. It’s aged two years before release. Through the aging process, the primary fruit is able to show the riesling’s secondary characteristics.

Tantalus’ 2011 Rosé ($21.90) has a higher level of CO2 in order to lift the wine’s aromatics. I found a perfumey nose on this one. Their rosé is made with both Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes.

At $29.90, the Pinot Noir is nice and jammy. The more this wine breathes, the fuller it gets. We tasted a recent release of this varietal, one that spends a year in barrel and another six months in the bottle to complete the aging process.

We sat down for lunch in the barrel room, enjoying these wines with gourmet fixings, later being indulged by BC Wine Institute consultant Rhys Pender MW in a blind tasting session. The lunch was compliments of both the BC Wine Institute and Thompson Okanagan Tourism. It was hosted by Tantalus Operations Manager Jane Hatch and Winemaker David Paterson.

Tantalus Vineyards is located at 1670 DeHart Road in Kelowna.

[Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Rosé made with 100% organic Pinot Noir cuvée]

Our final winery visit was to Summerhill Pyramid Winery. Another pioneering Okanagan winery, Summerhill was the first organic winery in BC. This year, the winery hopes to receive Demeter certification. This worldwide standard means absolutely no chemicals will be used in the growing, production, and manufacturing of the grapes.

The terroir is exceptional for Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. All three are grown here.

65 acres of organic vines, an awesome view of the lake and mountains, plus the famous pyramid all add up to the most visited winery in Canada. We met with CEO Ezra Cipes, who also mentioned that the first VQA meetings took place on this property. The original name of the winery was Pyramid Cellars, part of Stephen Cipes’ (Ezra’s dad) original vision for the winery to be a champagne house. Winemaker Eric VonKrosigk and Vineyard Manager Harold Gaudy round out the Summerhill team.

The Summerhill Pyramid, though significantly smaller than the Great Pyramid of Egypt (upon which it’s modeled after) matches its larger Egyptian cousin in both structure and shape. It’s aligned to absolute True North and contains no ferrous materials in it, meaning that it won’t risk being reoriented to magnetic north anytime soon.

What’s it like being inside that pyramid? We did climb up the stairs and sat down on a few seats, formed in a circle. Though the pyramid has been used for weddings and other special events, I felt relaxed inside, gazing up at the large crystal that’s wired at the top. I’d definitely recommend a visit to experience it for yourself. It’s also larger than it appears from the outside.

Another part of our visit included a wine paired dinner at the Sunset Organic Bistro.

[Sunset Organic Bistro Chef Jesse Croy]

[Arugula Salad with red quinoa, Cawston pear vinaigrette, paired with Ehrenfelser]

We all ordered from Chef Jesse Croy’s Sip Into Sunset four course dinner with wine ($73; $48 without wine pairing).

[Sunset Organic Bistro sablefish]

My sablefish was delicious and flaky, with a dark crust and an assortment of fresh raw and perfectly cooked organic vegetables. Dessert was a generous slice of cheesecake served with warm plum preserves, together with a Zweigelt Icewine.

[Santa Rosa plum cheesecake with warm plum preserves, paired with Zweigelt Icewine.]

Summerhill Pyramid Winery is located at 4870 Chute Lake Road in Kelowna. Our dinner was compliments of both Summerhill Winery and Thompson Okanagan Tourism.
May11

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Kelowna’s Boutique Hotel Eldorado

Posted in: Architecture, Dining, History, Interior Design, Lodging, Okanagan Valley, Resorts, Travel, Weddings, Wine

The Hotel Eldorado has an interesting history. “Having originally been built for Countess Bubna Litite of Austria, the Eldorado Arms was a place where the Countess’ weary European visitors could relax and enjoy some of the luxuries they had grown accustomed to in their homeland”.

Originally located one mile south of its current location, the 1926 hotel was moved in the early 80′s by barge to where it now stands. You may wonder why an entire hotel was relocated just one mile away. The heritage building was slated for demolition at the old location, and this was the only way to save it. And once the move was finally complete, the hotel was burned to the ground by an arsonist. So much for preserving the Eldorado!

The current owners decided to rebuild “The El” using original blueprints and photographs. In 2006, an additional 39 rooms were added to the property, following the style of a 1940′s Hampton beach house.

If this is enough to perk your curiosity, it should. The Eldorado is a wonderful hark back to the 20′s, complete with wainscoting, old style lamps and furniture, and an imposing location on the lake. I stayed in the new Eldorado Arms wing of the hotel, containing 30 guest rooms.

My room had cork flooring, duvets, a flat screen TV, and a higher-end bathroom, as opposed to the “older” part of the hotel. I slept very well in the comfortable king bed. No iPhone dock in the room, but a desk lamp with several outlets on top made charging easy enough with the cable I’d packed.

The hotel offers 19 heritage guest rooms and 36 boutique-style guest rooms and suites. My room was bright and airy, with every amenity necessary for my comfort. Terry robes are provided for the spa and pool, both located indoors on the property.

I had a 4th floor tree top view, which gave me the chance to pull out my zoom lens and try to capture some local bird life.

There’s also a steam room and exercise equipment for guests. In-room high speed internet as well as wireless internet are both available.

The small but well-varied daily breakfast menu offers dishes using local ingredients in a beautiful room to greet the morning stillness of the Eldorado Marina.

The El’s Sunday brunch has been voted Best Brunch in the Okanagan for several years straight.

I didn’t have the opportunity to try the Bar at the El nor the hotel’s lakeside restaurant, but both are welcome additions to the relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant’s wine list alone offers over 150 different labels.

Other hotel amenities include meeting rooms perfect for business, receptions, and private parties, as well as a wedding venue.

There’s even the Kelowna Liquor Store at The El conveniently located next door, great for both local and imported wines not available at government liquor stores. The store is also proud to stock the coldest beer in Kelowna. A Wall of Spirits allows access to a wide variety of brands.

The Hotel Eldorado is located at 500 Cook Road in Kelowna. My accommodation and breakfasts were compliments of both The Hotel Eldorado and Thompson Okanagan Tourism.
May11

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Sip into Spring With BC VQA

Posted in: Dining, Events, Vancouver, Wine

[Cedar Creek Winery]

Spring is in the air and BC wineries have a vibrant bouquet of freshly picked BC VQA wines on offer. Renew your affection for BC’s homegrown gems as you sample the latest releases and connect with the winemakers behind the labels.

house wine is thrilled to be celebrating BC wines at the newest hot spot in the city, Vancouver Urban Winery. I’ve already attended several events here and it’s a great venue for hosting wine and food pairing events such as this one.

In addition to wines from all five of BC’s wine growing regions, Sip Into Spring With BC VQA will also cover BC’s wine subregions: Kelowna, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Golden Mile and Black Sage/Osoyoos. What better way to enjoy these exciting newcomers than by shooting fresh oysters at the BC Shellfish Growers Association raw bar, indulging in elegant hors d’oeuvres from Chef Marta Pan, and savouring delicious Canadian cheeses?

This event will feature over 100 wines from 35 wineries, including:
- 2011 Cedar Creek Estate Winery, Riesling, Okanagan Valley ($18)
- 2010 Clos Du Soleil Winery, ‘Célestiale‘ Similkameen Valley ($25)
- 2008 Gray Monk Estate Winery, Odyssey Rosé Brut, Okanagan Valley ($20)
- 2010 Lake Breeze Vineyards, Seven Poplars Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley ($25)
- 2009 Laughing Stock Vineyards, ‘Portfolio‘ Okanagan Valley ($42)
- 2010 Meyer Family Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley ($25)
- 2010 Moon Curser Vineyards, ‘Afraid of the Dark‘ Okanagan Valley ($22)
- 2009 Painted Rock Estate Winery, Estate ‘Red Icon’ Okanagan Valley ($55)
- 2007 Poplar Grove Winery, ‘Legacy‘ Okanagan Valley ($50)
- 2011 Quails’ Gate, Chenin Blanc, Okanagan Valley ($19)
- 2008 Quinta Ferreira Winery, ‘Obra – Prima‘ Okanagan Valley ($35)
- 2010 Sperling Vineyards, Old Vines Riesling, Okanagan Valley ($32)

Purchase tickets now and save $10! Only a few tickets remain at this special price.

Sip Into Spring with BC VQA
Date: Friday, May 25, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
 Venue: Vancouver Urban Winery, 55 Dunlevy Ave, Vancouver 
Tickets: $60 + HST ($50 until May 18)
May10

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The Vanilla Pod at Poplar Grove

Posted in: Dining, Okanagan Valley, Travel, Wine

Poplar Grove Winery is one of the Naramata Bench wine region’s first five wineries. It started in 1993 when Ian Sutherland planted 2.5 acres of Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. In 1995, Poplar Grove released its first vintage release, a Cabernet Franc that won top honours at the Okanagan International Wine Festival.

In 2007, Tony Holler became the winery’s majority owner and president, together with Ian and Barrie Sali rounding out the team. Poplar Grove’s acreage increased when the Holler family brought their Holler Estate Vineyards to the mix, adding 110 acres of vineyard sites throughout the Southern Okanagan.

Our small group of writers met with Ian Sutherland and General Manager Jacquie Carlson last week, to enjoy a dinner at the onsite yet-to-be-opened Vanilla Pod at Poplar Grove. It recently moved from its former location in downtown Summerland to Poplar Grove.

Once the restaurant is complete, it will enjoy the same commanding views as does the winery showroom. It will also showcase the award winning wines of both Poplar Grove and Monster Vineyards.

[Vanilla Pod's Executive Chef Bruno Terroso]

Executive Chef Bruno Terroso introduced each of his dishes as we were fortunate to dine in the winery library, amongst the barrels, seated at a long table together. At the time of our visit, the restaurant was still under construction, but from what we saw, well under way to becoming a fabulous winery destination restaurant when it opens in June.

Our meal started with a lobster and prawn bisque, paired with a 2009 Chardonnay ($22). Poplar Grove ferments its chardonnay in stainless steel, at a temperature as cold as possible. It’s then finished for nine months in French oak, imparting that nutty, cashew flavour. The slight heat of the bisque allowed the Chardonnay to cut in nicely throughout the course.

A simply prepared organic green salad followed, with red onions and strawberries mixed into the greens. Poplar’s 2010 Monster Rosé ($18) was paired here.

We tasted a Legacy 2007 ($50), with New Zealand rack of lamb, grilled eggplant roll, romano bean mash, nugget potatoes, and rosemary aioli. Legacy is Poplar’s flagship wine, a combination of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. These particular grape combinations change depending on the vintage produced. The wine spends 21 months in French oak, then 14 months in bottle. Each release takes three to four years to produce. This wine has a cayenne/spicy aroma, together with cassis, and a deep colour. Great combination chosen.

With a name like Vanilla Pod, our hopes of being served crème brûlée were realized when the pots were brought out with a pour of 2010 Late Harvest Riesling. Together with the crème brûlée, it was delicious, containing enough acid balance without going too heavy on residual sugar. Polar Grove’s riesling comes from their Osoyoos block of vines. It’s normally not sold, so we were fortunate to be served this great after-dinner wine with our dessert. The crème brûlée did not disappoint either. Shiny, light, and not too sweet, with a nice golden coloured crackle on top.

Vanilla Pod Restaurant at Poplar Grove Winery is located at 425 Middle Bench Road in North Penticton. Our wine-paired meal was compliments of both Vanilla Pod Restaurant and Poplar Grove Winery.
May9

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Van Aqua’s Night at the Aquarium

Posted in: Dining, Events, Fundraising, Vancouver, Wine

Vancouver Aquarium’s iconic Night at the Aquarium gala fundraiser is back for its sixth annual signature fundraising event. Proceeds raised from this event are a critical source of funding for the Aquarium’s conservation, research, and education programs.

There is no other location in Vancouver where you can mingle with more than 50,000 wonderful sea creatures. Guests at the gala will enjoy a selection of wines from around the world paired with delicious Ocean Wise™ dishes prepared by some of Vancouver’s top chefs, including Rob Clarke of C Restaurant, Frank Pabst of Blue Water Café, David Hawksworth of Hawksworth Restaurant (recently named Vancouver Magazine’s Restaurant of the Year) and Ned Bell of YEW restaurant at Four Seasons Vancouver.

In addition, gala attendees will enjoy live music and entertainment, and have a chance to bid on dream vacations in the live and silent auctions. This year’s live auction will feature an exclusive vacation package from Sonora Resort. Journey of the Salmon: From the Stream to the Plate will include a two night stay, round-trip helicopter flight for two, a one hour eco adventure tour on the inflatable Polaris vessel, a “raft and snorkel with the salmon” session, a cooking class, a four hour fishing session plus a signed copy of the Tastes of Sonora Cookbook (valued in total at $6,800).

“There’s no other event like it. Night at the Aquarium is a magical gala where our guests enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring some of B.C.’s top chefs and fine wines,” according to Dr. John Nightingale, president and CEO of the Vancouver Aquarium. “The funds raised at this event directly support our conservation, research and education programs that help to conserve aquatic life.”

Last year, Night at the Aquarium raised over $350,000; the proceeds were used to support the Aquarium’s many programs including Ocean Wise, a national sustainable seafood program, and its frog propagation program to help preserve the Oregon spotted frog (an endangered species in BC).

Tickets are $250 and include an amazing array of Ocean Wise dishes paired with a selection of exquisite wines. This year’s gala features a special VIP reception highlighting BC spot prawns, caviar, and exclusive wines. ‘Virtual tables’ of eight are available for $2,500.

The Vancouver Aquarium is a self-sustaining, non-profit organization.

Night at the Aquarium
Date: Thursday, June 21, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Venue: Vancouver Aquarium, Stanley Park
Tickets: $250; available either online or by phoning 604.659.3527 (partial tax receipt given)

Photos courtesy of John Heil Photography.
May9

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The Rotten Grape Wine & Espresso Bar

Posted in: Dining, Dining Reviews, Fine Art, Okanagan Valley, Wine

The Rotten Grape Wine & Espresso Bar is perfectly situated in the heart of Kelowna, close to the beach on Bernard Avenue.

This lovely restaurant offers a great selection of food and 200 eclectic wines, offering an “upbeat metropolitan style”. We sat at a high table near the window, meeting with owner Rita Meyers last week as part of our Okanagan Tourism experience.

The art on the walls is by local Kelowna artist Alex Fong. I admired the rock wall showcasing this lively, colourful collection of art. Rotten Grape’s wines are available either by the glass, flight, or bottle. An Enomatic machine offers red wines by the glass. In fact, Rotten Grape was the first BC establishment to use the Italian wine preservation system.

Their West Coast inspired dishes utilize organic ingredients, an Ocean Wise seafood menu, and small plates including local artisan cheese and gourmet thin crust pizzas.

We started lunch with a selection of Upper Bench Winery cheeses, from their brand new winery in the Naramata Bench. Cheese maker Shana Miller’s Washed Rind, Provence style, and Blue cheeses were brought out along with Upper Bench’s 2011 Riesling, Terravista Vineyards’ newly released 2010 Figaro White (Rousanne, Viognier, Marsanne), and a Dunham Froese 2008 Amicitia (red).

[Curried broccoli and Asagio cheese cakes]

The Figaro White also married well with our salad, as well as with the curried broccoli and Asagio cheese cakes (2 for $10). Dishes containing Armstrong Farm asparagus, Fraser Valley (Two Rivers Meats) pork cheeks ($17), with cabbage purée and Sweetlife Farm Sieglinde potatoes, and a thin crust whole wheat pizza with prosciutto, Parmesan reggiano, caramelized onion, figs and arugula followed.

[Fraser Valley pork cheeks, cabbage purée, Sweetlife Farm Sieglinde potatoes]

[Thin crust whole wheat pizza with prosciutto, Parmesan reggiano, caramelized onion, figs, arugula]

We simply enjoyed the abundant range and quality of the gorgeous dishes alongside the chosen wine pairings.

A dessert trio of fresh out of the oven cookies topped off a delightful meal. The chocolate chip, gingerbread, and cranberry oatmeal cookies were all divine. Together with an Americano prepared with Seattle’s Caffe Umbria, I was set to enjoy an afternoon of wine awards at the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival.

The Rotten Grape Wine & Espresso Bar is located at 231 Bernard Avenue in Kelowna. They’re open Monday to Friday from 11 am for lunch, and dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 5 pm. Our lunch was compliments of both the Rotten Grape and Thompson Okanagan Tourism.
May1

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Celebrity Chef Cooking Classes

Posted in: Dining, Events, Fundraising, Vancouver, Wine

The Arts Club Theatre Company announces its spring 2012 lineup of Celebrity Chef Cooking Classes, running from May 28 to July 18. These intimate four-course dinners held at private residences throughout Vancouver will provide guests the opportunity to discover the latest trends in food and wine, as well as ways of incorporating in-vogue ingredients into the home cook’s arsenal. Not only are these popular events fun and engaging, but they also raise funds for the Arts Club Theatre, a not-for-profit theatre company.

Each highly sociable evening starts with a glass of wine and an amuse bouche to whet the appetite. The chef then gets down to business: a three hour interactive master class demonstrating professional techniques from the simple to the ingenious. Guests have one-on-one access to some of the most skilled and innovative chefs in Vancouver, who will present dishes that highlight the best offerings of the season.

Each class will showcase the finest vintages from a BC winery with wines from the Mark Anthony Group portfolio, including Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery and Rigamarole Wines. This series features a special spotlight on Mission Hill Family Estate—named Winery of the Year in 2011 by InterVin International Wine Competition.

The spring lineup of classes welcomes new chef instructors: David Robertson, owner of The Dirty Apron Cooking School; TV personality Anthony Sedlak, who recently opened The American Cheesesteak Co. in Yaletown; Tim Evans at Siena Restaurant; and Tom Lee, chef de cuisine at Edible Canada at the Market. Chefs Ned Bell, Quang Dang, and Jefferson Alvarez will return this year.

Celebrity Chef Cooking Classes Lineup:
Wednesday, May 23
David Robertson, The Dirty Apron Cooking School; wine pairings from Rigamarole Wines

Monday, May 28
Ned Bell, YEW restaurant + bar; wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate

Monday, June 4
Tim Evans, Siena Restaurant; wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate

Monday, June 11
Quang Dang, West Restaurant; wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate

Tuesday, June 19
Jefferson Alvarez, Fraîche Restaurant; wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate

Tuesday, June 26
Anthony Sedlak, The American Cheesesteak Co., Food Network chef and host of The Main; wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate

Wednesday, July 18
Tom Lee, Edible Canada at the Market; wine pairings from Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery

Time: All classes begin at 6 pm.
Tickets: $125 (a $50 tax receipt included); phone The Arts Club Special Events line at 604.687.5315, extension 248.

All photos courtesy of The Arts Club Theatre.
Apr26

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Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria

Posted in: Dining, Dining Reviews, East Vancouver, Vancouver

Now that Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria’s been open just over a week, it was time to taste some of the deliciousness I’ve been hearing about as fellow foodies talked it up on Twitter during/after the restaurant’s media launch.

While on holiday in Naples, founder Justin Lussier fell in love with fire-roasted pizza at Naples’ well-loved Pizzeria Sorbillo. He immediately phoned two friends (and future partners) Jason Allard and Christian Bullock to turn them onto this divine culinary discovery. This led the three to train at the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN), an organization that preserves the standards of true Neapolitan pizza.

“The Famoso boys” opened their first fire-roasted pizzeria in Edmonton. Fast-forward to 2012, where the partners teamed up with Brian Goheen to bring the taste of Naples to The Drive.

[General Manager Ryan Chilibeck tasting the Campania tomatoes at the supplier's factory]

“Famoso is the perfect addition to Commercial Drive. It is true to the neighborhood’s roots but recognizes The Drive’s own transformation. I’m excited to be returning to the neighbourhood,” says owner, restauranteur, and native East Vancouverite Brian Goheen. “I grew up here so launching Famoso is like coming home for me.”

[Famoso Pizzeria Culinary Manager Alex Newton]

Famoso has taken over the now-defunct Alpha Video space at Commercial Drive and Kitchener Streets. This is the company’s first BC location. General Manager Ryan Chilibeck oversees operations while Culinary Manager Alex Newton looks after the kitchen chefs and menus.

The interior is modern; large windows allow a lot of natural light to pour through to the dining sections.

The very friendly staff greeted me as I chose a table near the open kitchen to get a view of the pizza-tossing action. The centerpiece of the kitchen is the beautifully tiled pizza oven. Once seated, I chose from the selection of menus on the table, ordered at the counter, and waited for the dishes to be brought to my table.

I began my lunch with an order of Prosciutto-Wrapped Mozzarella Balls (3 for $10; 6 for $18).

[Prosciutto-Wrapped Mozzarella Balls]

The wonderful scent of freshly-crushed, cooked tomatoes arrived at the table as well. I tasted the tomatoes brought in from the Campania region of Southern Italy. They’re grown in volcanic-rich soil in the Monte Vesuvio region. This terroir is responsible for their unique flavour. Famoso crushes the tomatoes in house and seasons them simply with a touch of sea salt. The meatballs had a slight char on top that also went very well with the richness of the tomato.

[Prosciutto Arugula Pizza, Prosciutto-Wrapped Mozzarella Balls with flatbread]

The accompanying flatbread was nicely seasoned; I tasted the oregano, garlic, and coarse flecks of sea salt. There’s just enough leftover sauce to dip the bread into. I didn’t want to waste any of that sauce!

I ordered a Prosciutto Arugula Pizza ($14.50) from Famoso’s “White Pizza” menu to sink my teeth into next.

[Prosciutto Arugula Pizza]

The pizza has generous slices of prosciutto with arugula and Pecorino romano cheese. The pizza is so simple, so purely flavourful, with a light brushing of olive oil, cured ham, and an arugula that’s not too heavy on the bite. The cheese is creamy smooth, and I was very impressed with the tastes that continued throughout my enjoyment of this winning pizza.

[Smoked Salmon Pizza from Famoso's New World selection]

Famoso’s pizza crusts are made using Caputo ’00′ flour, one that’s highly refined while low in gluten. This unique flour, characteristic of a true Neapolitan pizza, produces a soft, crispy, easily digestible crust. And like the tomatoes, it’s also imported from Naples.

[Margherita Pizza]

[Gorgonzola Walnut Salad]

A variety of antipasti, salads, fire-bread sandwiches, and half-size pizzetas help to round out the menu.

I didn’t have room for dessert, but will return for some of Famoso’s handcrafted, small batch-produced gelato. The current gelato menu includes Key Lime Graham Cracker, Cappuccino, Vanilla Bean, Fior-di-Latte, Burnt Sugar Banana Cioccolato, Salted Caramel, and Chocolate Flake. In addition to gelato, there’s Sorbetto and Tiramisu ($3.50 to $8).

Famoso offers both Italian and international red and white wines, sparkling wines (glasses start at $6.75; bottles at $30), Italian cocktails, liqueurs, sodas, speciality coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria is located at 1380 Commercial Drive and is open from Sunday to Thursday, 11 am to 11 pm; Friday and Saturday, 11 am to midnight. Visit the website for detailed information and menus.

Disclosure note: My lunch was compliments of Famoso Pizzeria cmply.2 .

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