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V.I.A.’s Home Grown features only the most awesome companies in Vancouver. From tiny, single-person operations to the big players, we profile our favourite businesses and interview their owners and operators.

Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge Established 2006 www.glowbalgroup.com

One thing Vancouver isn’t short on is restaurants, This city has everything from Japanese to Indian to Pacific Northwest to Italian to even Burmese. Then there’s Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge, where Corporate Chef Darren Brown and Executive Milton Tanswell combine North African, Asian and Middle Eastern spices to create a whole new taste and flavour.

And not only is the menu awesome, so are the 25-foot ceilings and the Moroccan-style décor in both dining areas.

So we’re really stoked to profile Sanafir, which we can definitely say helps keep the restaurant bar high in this foodie town of ours.

We caught up with John-Paul Lamb, VP of Marketing for Glowbal Group Restaurants, for a few questions… …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

The Vancouver International Dance Festival (VIDF) is back, running from March 12 – March 21 at various venues around town.

Part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad this year, performances from Kokoro Dance, Kitt Johnson (from Denmark), Flamenco Rosario and Bill “Crutchmaster” Shannon — who incorporates house and hip hop dance forms with skateboard culture — are among the many you can take in during the festival. Click here to buy tickets.

And on another note, happy happy 10th anniversary, VIDF!

V.I.A.’s Home Grown features only the most awesome companies in Vancouver. From tiny, single-person operations to the big players, we profile our favourite businesses and interview their owners.

Charm Modern Thai Established 2008 www.charmmodernthai.com

Charm Modern Thai, a Yaletown Thai food joint, is big on keeping its dishes authentic to the homeland, meaning no ketchup Pad Thai is anywhere to be found.

The modern décor is cool, the staff is charming (naturally!) and the Crispy Prawn Wontons, Tom Kha Lobster Bisque and Coconut Cream Scallops are about the most awesome Thai bits of deliciousness to ever hit your mouth.

We sat down with Charm’s proprietor, Desmond, for a few questions…
…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

If you’re around Main Street on February 10th between 6pm and 9pm, be sure to stop by CSA Space to check out the opening of local artist and photographer Johann Groebner‘s “Fables of the Reconstruction” paintings.

Ladies (and gents) planning their upcoming nuptials better circle January 30 into their wedding agenda.

The Grassroots Wedding Fair runs that day from 10:30am – 6pm at Heritage Hall on Main and 15th, showing people how they can throw a dream — yet green — wedding using green businesses, local artisans and super cool, DIY concepts.

…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

It’s a given that us Vancouver folk are big time sushi fans. We all have our usual haunts, of course: Tanpopo, Alfa on Richards, Yuji’s, Sushi Bar on W.4th, Toshi on Main and 16th….

But have you tried Miku on West Hastings between Burrard and Thurlow? If not, you haven’t lived.

This restaurant — which has a killer outdoor patio for the summertime — is the first in Vancouver with its own signature style sushi called Aburi. So what is that exactly? Think fresh sushi made from local and organic ingredients infused with savory sauces and lightly seared with a blowtorch. Yep, you heard right: blowtorch. It blew my mind the first time I tried it. Soy sauce is M.I.A. at Miku, mainly because it messes with the Aburi sushi flavour (but if you really want your Kikkoman, the staff will give it to you). Plus the chefs greet you with a hearty “Irashaimase!” (translation: “Welcome!”) when you walk in, which is pretty fun, too.

Miku is celebrating its first anniversary with a special Omakase (which in Japanese means “it’s up to you”, meaning you leave the chef to create something innovative) menu running until November 22nd, created by owner and Executive Chef Seigo Nakamura.

I highly suggest getting some Aburi in your life!!

Vancouverite Geoff Vreeken, an expat from the marketing industry, recently founded Homeless Copywriter, a site that generously collects money for the Covenant House, an organization that serves as a street habilitation group for youth.

During the process, Geoff discovered young professionals like us – aged 25 to 40 – rarely donate to charity. Yet we’re so fortunate to have an education, resources, and support to fall back on when something bad does happen.

Come by Fortune Sound Club on November 19 at 6pm to support a great cause!

Driving back downtown this a.m. from an early morning Deep Cove hike, my litttle eye spied none other than The Mystery Machine, parked outside a Northshore home.

Has anyone seen The Mystery Machine around town before? And more importantly, Scooby-Doo, where are you?!