Hapa Umi becomes Hapa Izakaya
Evolutions top prizes always go to those who are able to adapt. Lea and Justin Ault of Vancouvers restaurant group are becoming masters of economic Darwinism. Last March, they opened Coal Harbours Hapa Umi, a higher-end sister restaurant to their popular Hapa Izakaya restaurants. Although the Japanese menu earned rave reviews, it turns out that patrons were yearning for the more informal izakaya-style restaurant. The Aults listened. Hapa Umi will have its final dinner service on March 3. The location will reopen as Hapa Izakaya Coal Harbour for dinner at 5pm on March 7, with lunch service beginning on Monday, March 12.The menu will offer all of the Hapa favourites as well as Ocean Wise seafood-forward dishes inspired by kaiseki-trained executive chef Nobu Watanabe. (909 W. Cordova, 604-420-4272, HapaIzakaya.com)
Hawksworth chefs travel to Hong Kong
As lucky as we are to have so close at hand, it will almost be worth a trip to Hong Kong to be able to experience the confluence of tastes and cultures when the team of chefs presents a Canadian culinary showcase at the esteemed restaurant. At SEVVA the cuisine is inspired by the cultural diversity of Hong Kong itself exploring authentic tastes typical of those created in everyday Chinese regional kitchens alongside myriad influences from the colonial days, says a press release from Hawksworth. Hawksworths contemporary Canadian cuisine embraces the very best of local land and sea while similarly drawing on the citys melting pot of cultural diversity to include Asian, Indian and European influences. The culinary adventure is March 21 to 30.
Wedding Bells at Salt
Sean and Heather are getting married and they're asking everyone to their wedding. You can even tweet @hthr4ptharmony with your advice about love, food, marriage, sexiness and happiness. It's all part of the concluding episode of FourPlay, a play in four parts that's been taking place at in Gastown. Brought to you by , tickets are $65 each and must be purchased in advance. Email [email protected] or call 604-874-9325 for booking options. The price includes four-course dinner, theatre and dancing, of course, but you have to pay for your drinks. Wonder what will be the first dance...
W. Georgia White Spot
The restaurant at 580 W. Georgia served its last meal on Feb. 25.The closure is in preparation for the construction of the new Telus Garden development.
Phnom Penh reno
Phnom Penh (244 E. Georgia in Chinatown) is closed for renovations until Mar. 6 from BC Clefs DOr.
at Healthy Chef event
Whats your favourite fruit or vegetable? Email your response to [email protected] by midnight March 1 and you could win tickets to the Healthy Chef competition on March 7. Chefs from 10 culinary establishments will gather at the Hyatt Regency to impress the team of judges headed up by Mike Pinter while weatherman MC Marke Driesschen will forecast the next course. The British Columbia Produce Marketing Association will also present a $7,000 BC Chefs junior scholarship. Tickets still available at EventBrite.com.
Mission Hill part of Spring Wine Festival
The plush grounds of the Okanagans award-winning Mission Hill Family Estate Winery will play host to two very special wine suppers during the Spring Wine Festival this May. The first takes place on May 5, and pairs winery chef Matt Batey with Top Chef Canada finalist Connie DeSousa and chef John Jackson, the co-owners/co-chefs behind Calgarys celebrated Charcut Roast House.Tickets are $149 for five courses paired with Mission Hill wines. The second supper is a more interactive affair on May 9 that will see Batey in Mission Hills state-of-the-art culinary theatre. Guests will have front row seats as he and his team unveil new dishes for the season. The cost for five courses with wine pairings is $139. (, 250-768-6483)
Tacofino the restaurant
Vancouvers love affair with the Tofino-imported food truck will enter a new relationship stage when owners Kaeli Robinsong and Jason Susman launch a brick and mortar restaurant of the same name at 2327 East Hastings (formerly Seri Malaysia, and just a few doors down from Campagnolo Roma and Red Wagon). The 1,350 sqft location will provide them with seats for 50 and crossed fingers a liquor licence so they can share their affections for tequila. We can expect to see their famous fish tacos and other items from the trucks menu on offer when it opens this May, but Susman tells us that hes looking forward to playing around with Asian and Californian flavours as well.
Lobster Festival
Le Gavroches Lobster Festival is back for the month of March. The venerable Alberni Street restaurant, with its views of Coal Harbour, is offering a three-course dinner for $39. Options include warm lobster salad, lobster bisque, cavaletti royal and a lobster and shrimp cake. Provençal wine pairings for an additional $25. (604-685-3924, )
Donut delight
The new pop-up Cartems Donuterie in Gastown, which was featured in last weeks WE, is raking it in on the southeast corner of Carrall and Hastings. Demand has forced them to increase their production from 60 delicious rings to nearly 500 in their first week alone. (Thats what happens when you add maple icing and sliced bacon to a donut). Its too bad that theyll only be at this location for the next six months. Heres hoping they find a permanent location! If you cant make it down on your lunch hour, dont fret: they deliver by bicycle all around the downtown core. Order online at .
