Jack Evrensal, founder of the Toptable Group of restaurants, has announced he has left the organization. Evrensal sold the restaurant group – which includes West, Blue Water Café, Cin Cin, and Thierry in Vancouver, as well as Araxi in Whistler – to the Aquilini Group last year and stayed on in a consultant capacity to oversee a smooth transition.
In other Toptable news, the group has announced a new restaurant to the line-up, coming this summer. The restaurant will be in Whistler, and under the direction of Araxi executive chef James Walt
BC Tree Fruits has announced the launch of BC Tree Fruits Cider Co. The first offering, labelled “Broken Ladder,” is a six-apple blend that will be on BCLS store shelves April 1, as well as at private store and restaurants/pubs.
Chilliwack has a new barbecue competition. On March 22, come out for the first annual Barn Burner BBQ Competition at The Farm Store in Yarrow (4540 Simmons Rd.). This free family event will feature cooking demos, entertainment and samples from top barbecue chefs.
Earls Kitchen has announced the addition of two more chefs to its collective, now comprising David Wong, Ryan Stone, Brian Skinner, Hamid Salimian, Jeff McInnis. Look for new items like bibimbap, Ocean Wise seafood, brunch items, vegetarian salads, dessert and a new burger.
Tractor Everyday Healthy Foods has opened a second location in the Marine Building downtown at 355 Burrard. The new 60-seat space is fully licensed and will be open daily for lunch and dinner.
Cartem's Donuterie is opening a second location at Main Street and East 6th. Baking operations will remain at the West Pender location, but expect more seating and likely similar lunch specials. Hopefully, being neighbours with Brassneck Brewery will lead to some interesting partnerships. Doughnuts and beer? Hells yeah…
On Thursday, March 19, Gastown’s Blacktail will be hosting a special collaborative dinner. Chef Geoff Rogers of Blacktail will be joined by chef Nick Nutting of Wolf in the Fog (Tofino), chef Cam Dobranski of Brasserie and Wine Bar Kensington (Calgary), chef Murray McDonald of Fogo Island Inn (Newfoundland) and chef Scott Vivian of Beast Restaurant (Toronto). These chefs will join forces to create a six-course menu with an exclusive focus on game meats, matched with cocktails, craft beer and local wine pairings. Tickets $175 per person and include dinner, taxes, gratuity, reception cocktail and canapés.
On Saturday, March 28, the third annual #dinnerpartyYVR, the charitable cooking event where hobby chefs open their doors to local diners for a home cooked meal, all to benefit the charity of their choice, is back. More than 50 hobby chefs are participating this year, with special dinner events all over the city. Check out available seatings online.
ICYMI…Dining Out for Life is back March 26 to make a difference, one bite at a time. On this day, dine out for breakfast, lunch and dinner and support people living with HIV/AIDS in our community. From Whistler to White Rock, participating restaurants will donate 25 per cent of the day’s food sales in support of Friends for Life and A Loving Spoonful.
BC Distilled, the second annual festival celebrating local BC’s micro-distilleries, is back on April 18 at the CBC studios. Two public tastings are available, at 4pm-6pm and again 7pm-9:30pm. Come and taste small-batch spirits from 23 of the province’s leading artisan distilleries, as well as complementary beverages from Bittered Sling Extracts, Walter All-Natural Craft Caesar Mix, SIP Soda and Dickie’s Ginger. Food bites from Koko Monk Chocolates, Forage Restaurant, the Donnelly Group and more.
Joe Fortes has launched a late-night menu with happy hour pricing, available nightly 9:30-11pm. Menu items include fried oysters, shrimp ceviche, truffle parmesan fries, beef carpaccio and desserts. Also on offer are $5 drink specials.
