The GOODS from Kale & Nori

Vancouver, BC | The concept of cocktail and food pairings has become extremely popular, and since 2010, Lauren Mote’s original “Cocktail Kitchen” competition at The Refinery produced energetic statistics: 168 original cocktails produced, 56 bartenders invited, 224 bottles of spirits poured, 14 different sponsors. This city’s brightest bartenders – a collaboration of seasoned veterans and young apprentices – took their place behind the wood and produced magic for 1680 total guests in 14 months. We are proud to re-introduce you to “Bittered Sling Bistro” – a bi-weekly food and cocktail pairing competition using a special featured spirit(s) that is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of cocktail craft presented at the beautiful Legacy Liquor Store in Olympic Village.

The evening starts in the gorgeous foyer of Legacy Liquor Store with a cocktail and paired hors d’oeuvres reception hosted by Kale & Nori’s Lauren Mote and Chef Jonathan Chovancek. The vaulted ceilings, spirit displays and living wall create a dynamic setting for this delicious affair. Guests are guided though an interactive tasting, led by the guest bartender, right at the harvest table. The rest of the evening is rather indulgent. Chovancek plates a seasonal three course menu that has been inspired by the feature spirit’s wide range of notes and character. Each course is accompanied by an expertly paired cocktail by the guest bartender. Following the dinner, guests will be invited to rate the bartender’s presentation and pairing skills. The two top scoring bartenders at the end of the program will compete for a grand prize. This six month program offers 6 veteran and 6 apprentice bartenders their chance to promote their style and character in an superbly interactive way. This is all about spirit – in both the bartender and the bottle. Get all the details (menu and competitors) of March after the jump…

March | HENDRICK’S GIN 

Competitors:

Wed March 14 – Grant Sceney, Fairmont Pacific Rim (apprentice) | Wed March 28 – Ben de Champlain, Boneta Restaurant

About Bittered Sling Bistro

Location – Legacy Liquor Store
Time – 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Date – Wednesdays, bi-weekly
Tickets – available online through Legacy Liquor Store for $60/person (this includes HST and Gratuity); tickets available here listed under “Bittered Sling Bistro”

Menu

Hors d’oeuvres, appetizer, principal, dessert, 4 cocktails + seminar tasting**.

Dungeness crab and bull kelp salad with gochujang and cucumber
Hendrik’s gin cured grilled daikon, umeboshi gelée and shiso

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Appetizer:
Carrot puree, shucked mussels, fried rye, cold pressed sunflower oil and horseradish

Main:
Brooks Peninsula lingcod, celery, potatoes, black garlic and grilled red cabbage kim chi

Dessert:
Preserved wild elderberry curd cake, smokey white chocolate

**Vegan option available, but must be booked at the time of ticket purchase

Schedule – Spirit and host bartender schedule will be online through Kale & Nori and the Legacy Liquor Store events page. This program runs from November – April 2012 twice monthly on Wednesdays

Prizes – each host bartender receives a prize to participate; each host bartender is eligible to win one of two spots in the finals (one night), May 2012. Grand prize for winning host bartender will be announced in April 2012.