News from Scout supporter The Refinery

Vancouver, BC | The Refinery, known for having one of the most innovative cocktail programs in Canada, is now proud to launch a six month interactive and educational competition called “The Cocktail Kitchen Series”. Due to launch on July 8th 2010, “The Cocktail Kitchen Series” aims to promote niche craft cocktail development, through the expertise of Vancouver’s best veteran and up and coming bartenders who have demonstrated creativity and leadership in their craft.

Here is the premise of the program: each month, a bartender is paired with a different spirit, and a different country – this will be repeated 4 times a month with a different bartender each Thursday. Guests are invited to come down and experience the interactive teachings of the featured bartender, who will attempt to effectively pair the featured country’s menu, with a set of three cocktails using the featured base spirit. Plus, there’s another spin: the bartenders will shop at The Refinery – it is mandatory that each cocktail include a Refinery house bitters. One week prior their Cocktail Kitchen, the bartender will be able to score 1 oz x 3 types of bitters/vermouths/tinctures available at the Refinery for cocktail testing. The Refinery’s Bitters Program inventory currently sits at 19 types.

Concept & Rules:

With at least one week’s notice, the featured bartender will learn of the menu and spirit to use. The cocktails should showcase the ultimate talent the bartender possesses, and as we all know, each bartender has a different style and niche. Their cocktails will be graded by each guest that participates, up to 30 people. The results are tallied at the end of the month, and the winning bartender will receive an additional money prize, and a chance to compete again the following month. At the end of the 6 month period, the bartender with the most wins gets a trip. Simple as that. This is the longest running competition this city’s ever seen!

COST:

$30 per guest (Includes tax and gratuity). 28 seats available each week. Tickets are available through the Refinery by calling 604-687-8001

The Refinery Market-Style-Eatery | 1115 Granville St. (Above SIP) | Vancouver, BC | V6Z 1M1 | 604-687-8001 | therefineryvancouver.com

TIME:

7:00p-9:00p each Thursday starting July 8

SCHEDULE:

* July 2010 – Region: CENTRAL AMERICA
* August 2010 – FRANCE
* September 2010 – Region: SOUTH EAST ASIA
* October 2010 – ITALY
* November 2010 – THE WEST INDIES
* December 2010 – INDIA
* January 2011 – Region: EASTERN EUROPE
* January – June 2011 – Countries and Spirits to be determined

JULY BARTENDERS:

July 08, Week 1: LAUREN MOTE (The Refinery)

July 15, Week 2: COLIN MACDOUGALL (Blue Water Cafe, The Pourhouse)

July 22, Week 3: DAVID BAIN (West Restaurant)

July 29, Week 4: BEN DE CHAMPLAIN (The Refinery, West Restaurant)

In the last year, we have had over 40 articles written about The Refinery and our specialties, above and beyond plain old business listings. We urge you to check out website under “Press” to see for yourself how representing your bar/restaurant with the Cocktail Kitchen Series at The Refinery is best for business. Each week we will have 2 different media personalities in attendance, as well as a film crew and photographer. The press releases we write are reaching more than the low-hanging fruit of Scout Magazine for local restaurant industry news. We also do radio segments, TV spots, and reach a broad range of national and international publications, not to mention the persuasive and domineering food and beverage blog industry here and across the globe. As a bartender, this is an excellent avenue to raise your profile in the
municipal and national community.

Additionally, if you are a bartender reading this, and wondering how you can get involved, please email Lauren Mote at [email protected]. Subject should read: “Cocktail Kitchen Series Bartender” – copy and paste the following into the body of the message, and fill out the questionnaire – we are booking in advance up until January 2011.

Full Name:
Which Bar(s)/Restaurant(s) are you representing?
How long have you been in the Industry?
Please include a short 250-400 word bio about yourself:
What’s your bartending style?
Do you have a preference of which country and spirit you’d like to be paired up
with in a perfect world?
Please include a picture of yourself!

About The Refinery

Granville’s newest hotspot, designed by Marilou and May of Vancouver based M-Studio is Vancouver’s best way to experience a new world eatery with an old world feel. The room designed with the environment in mind has used sustainable materials, led lighting and energy efficient equipment. Committing to a sustainable work environment, a dedicated bicycle storage area and public transit subsidy are examples of how they are trying to minimize their carbon footprint.

The Refinery is a food primary restaurant, with a strong focus on dynamic BC and worldly wines, eclectic beers and unique cocktails. With a 75-seat capacity, the Refinery will house Granville Streets only fresh, market-style-eatery. We take pride in introducing elements of charcuterie, cheese culture, cured and fresh seafood, fresh breads, antipasti and all things market fresh to the Granville scene. With the recent addition of General Manager and award-winning mixologist Lauren Mote, the Refinery remains a step ahead of the competition through exemplary service and great value. To commit to the establishment of a sustainable environment The Refinery will maintain a majority of local high quality products wherever possible.

We expect our guests to share. Share food, drink and celebrations but more importantly ideas, stories and laughs. A traditional, yet unique, menu and atmosphere will create a sense of ‘belonging’ for locals and tourists alike. At The Refinery we are providing an environment that allows our guests to feel carefree and full of life. Giving people the sense gathering in a small village in Europe, while being in their own backyard.

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In addition to providing daily editorial, Scout is dedicated to supporting and promoting cool, interesting, and independent British Columbian businesses through the publication of their press releases and event info. To learn how to get your news up on our front page, check out our supporter details page here.

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