Sean Heather and Scott Hawthorn, owners of Gastowns Salt Tasting Room and Judas Goat restaurants, have just opened their long anticipated Bitter Tasting Room nearby at 18 W. Hastings (off Carrall). While their previous establishments focused on pairing food with wine, Bitter is all about beer. From the eight beers on tap to the 60 sold by the bottle, theres something for every beer lover here, including beer cocktails. All of it is anchored by a beer-inspired menu of comfort foods designed by chef Alvin Pillay. Bonus: a small sliver of a secluded room in the back will air Canuck games.
The Bimini Public House first opened in 1974 withB.C.s first neighbourhood pub licence. It was alocal hang out for the post Summer of Love-era hippies of Kitsilano, whereGreenpeace activists would meet to hatch their radical plots over drinks (their head office was located across the street).Jeff Donnelly bought it in 1999 and on Oct. 4 2007, the day before the bar was set to reopen after a $250,000 renovation, Biminis was decimated by fire. Four years later, reconstruction is finally complete. The pub is set to reopen on Dec. 9. (2010 W. 4th, DonnellyGroup.ca)
Financial advisor and self-described barbecue master Robert Lufts pulled pork is right on the money. The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»man won $25,000 after his recipe was chosen as one of the weekly winners of the Recipes to Riches reality show on Food Network Canada. Not only is he eligible to win the grand prize of $250,000 but his southern-style pulled pork has been picked up by Presidents Choice. Lufts Slow and Low Pulled Pork is cooked slowly for about 12 hours and at a low temperature over natural hardwood smoke. A tangy-sweet tomato-based sauce is then added to complete the creation. Online voting for the overall winner continues until 9pm on Dec. 9 (RecipeToRiches.ca)
While Richmonds Chinese restaurants once again dominated the Diners Choice Awards, several Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»establishments won voters hearts as well. In the fine dining category, the nod went to Kirin Restaurants (1172 Alberni and 555 W. 12); Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot (5108 Victoria Drive) won the hot pot category; Congee Noodle House (141 E. Broadway) won best congee and noodle restaurant; and the Maxims at 5613 Victoria Drive was one of the bakery category winners. For details of how the record-setting 12,521 votes sorted themselves out, go to ChineseRestaurantAwards.com.
Have you ever wanted to learn the art of making dim sum? Wild Rice chef Todd Bright is leading classes on how to make har gow, dumplings and chari sui bao at the restaurants just opened New Westminster location (810 Quayside Drive in the River Market). Classes begin at 6pm sharp and cost $30, which includes a four-course dinner at the end of the lesson ($15 more gets you wine pairings). Seats for these classes are very limited and pre-registration is required. To sign up, call Wild Rice New Westminster at 778-397-0028 or contact Caroline Levy at [email protected].
If you want to add a French twist to your Christmas tradition, Ganache Patisserie has two new varieties of its buche de Noel. One has a central core of griottine cherry gelée and milk chocolate macadamia nut cremeux with an amaretto-scented dark chocolate mousse resting on a foundation of chocolate financier sponge and caramel crunch. Another introduces a touch of the holidays with gingerbread chocolate ganache layered with moist red velvet cake and coconut cream cheese mousseline with an exterior masking of cream cheese buttercream sprayed in a red chocolate velvet. Both Chocolat Amande Croquant 2011 and Bûche Coco Velours Rouge are available in a 6 size (feeding 6-8 people) for $29.95 and a 12 size (feeding 12-15 people) for $49.95.(GanacheYaletown.com, 1262 Homer, 604-899-1098)
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»is known for its foodie culture so why not a foodie gift? The Dirty Apron offers gift boxes with 13 options to choose from, including the Foodie Starter Kit ($75) and The Don Draper ($275). The Tanenbaum Family ($100) is designed for the family that follows the motto that a family who cooks together, stays together. Delivery available. (604-879-8588 ext. 4, DirtyApron.com)
For those who want a traditional roast turkey dinner but dont want to have to devote all of Christmas day to cooking it, Culinary Capers offers the a full menu for $35 per serving plus $8.50 per serving for dessert. You can also order a large chocolate mousse cake for $65 or a large sticky toffee pudding for $57. Orders must be placed by Dec. 21 for pick up or delivery on Dec. 24. (604-875-0123, CulinaryCapers.com)
