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Yaletown’s Blue Water Cafe Gets Set To Celebrate Annual ‘Unsung Heroes’ Festival

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The GOODS from Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar

Vancouver, BC | Since 2004, Blue Water Cafe’s Executive Chef Frank Pabst has been spearheading tides of change during his Unsung Heroes Festival by showcasing unique and sustainable seafood. Throughout the month of February, we invite you to get schooled on delights from the deep – presented by Chef Frank and his brigade, who are longtime champions of ocean conservation practices.

Stellar dishes such as stir-fried jellyfish, red sea urchin trifle, sturgeon liver pate, and poached periwinkles have graced Chef Frank’s impressive Unsung Heroes menu during the last 12 years. British Columbia’s giant red sea cucumber – which has just been listed as sustainable by the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise conservation program – will take pride of place on Chef Frank’s 2017 menu. These pink-hued invertebrates are hand-picked by divers and can be enjoyed fresh or dried. Guests can look forward to tasting the newest gem of the Ocean Wise family in Chef Frank’s black Himalayan risotto that’s deliciously studded with giant red sea cucumber, pig’s trotter, butternut squash and basil. Unsung Heroes favourites from previous festivals include:

Slipper Limpets
tonkotsu shoyu ramen with water chestnut, green onion, enoki mushrooms, nori

Sea Urchin
sea urchin mousse in a crispy shell with ponzu jelly and avocado sauce

Jellyfish
stir fried jellyfish with pork belly, wood ear mushrooms,
snow peas, cabbage, hoisin sauce

Octopus
charred octopus, morcilla sausage, picquillo peppers, arugula,
white bean puree, chorizo oil

“It is so rewarding to introduce new sources of seafood to our discerning audience and encourage them to choose sustainable options which ultimately relieves pressure on overused stocks from our oceans,” says Chef Frank. “These formerly ‘unsung’ species are now heroes in their own right and have tipped the scales allowing us to embrace more options with better returns – for both the sea and our guests.”

Best known for leading British Columbia’s sustainable seafood movement, Blue Water Cafe strives to educate guests on seafood sustainability while providing an exceptional dining experience. Blue Water Cafe is a founding member of the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program and annually donates 10% of the proceeds from Unsung Heroes to this essential program.

“Unsung Heroes is an event we look forward to every year. Not only does Chef Frank create a remarkable and innovative menu, but he and his culinary team have been true ambassadors for our oceans,” said Ann-Marie Copping, Ocean Wise Program Manager. “Turning our thoughts – and our taste buds – to the unsung heroes of sustainable seafood will make a lasting impact on our oceans, lakes, and rivers for generations to come. It is mindful dining, served deliciously.”

The Unsung Heroes Festival starts Wednesday, February 1st and ends on Tuesday, February 28th, 2017. For further information or reservations, please contact Blue Water Cafe by telephone at 604 688 8078 or online at www.bluewatercafe.net.

DETAILS

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1095 Hamilton St. | Vancouver, BC | V6B 5T4 | MAP
Valet Service
Voice: 604-688-8078
Web: bluewatercafe.net
Email: [email protected]

Gallery

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Hours

Dinner 5pm – 11pm
Bar 4:30pm – 1am

 

Our Team

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Frank Pabst, Executive Chef
Sushi Chef, Masaaki Kudo
Jean-Pierre Sanchez, Pastry Chef
Stephan Cachard, Restaurant Director
William Mulholland, Wine Director
Adrien Boutet, Restaurant Manager
Benjamin Wristen, Restaurant Manager
Luke McInnes, Bar Manager

About Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar

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Celebrating Our Ocean’s Harvest

An anchor in Vancouver’s culinary landscape, Blue Water Cafe is lauded as the City’s definitive destination for seafood.

Executive Chef Frank Pabst is known for his innovative and brilliantly executed West Coast plates, insisting on using seafood from wild and sustainable harvest.

Enhanced by the intuitive service from Stephan Cachard’s dedicated team, the dynamic dining room provides action views of the opposing ‘East meets West’ kitchen and raw bar. The sweeping main bar leads out to the heated patio and the private wine room holds the extensive award-winning wine and bubble selection.

Housed in a handsome brick and beam heritage warehouse conversion, Blue Water Cafe is in the heart of historic Yaletown, the city’s vibrant and hip neighborhood.

The Cookbook

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Blue Water Cafe Seafood Cookbook | by Frank Pabst $45.00

One of Canada’s leading culinary talents, chef Frank Pabst has made enormous contributions to Vancouver’s culinary landscape. Tenures in Michelin-starred restaurants in Germany and the south of France led Pabst to Blue Water Cafe, Canada’s quintessential seafood restaurant. In Blue Water Cafe Seafood Cookbook, Frank’s signature brand of ‘Unsung Heroes’ sings of the sea, and formerly under-recognized coastal species. Wine pairings from Andrea Vescovi and Chris van Nus, both Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival Sommeliers of the Year.

For more details, click here

Best Seafood & Fish Book in Canada, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, 2009

Best Fish & Seafood Cookbook, Cordon d’ Or – Gold Ribbon, International Culinary Academy Awards, 2010

Accolades

“As one of the first restaurants in Vancouver to partner with Ocean Wise, Yaletown’s Blue Water Cafe is at the helm of this movement.”
Air Canada’s enRoute Magazine, 2013

“The most admired seafood room in the city.”
Macleans Magazine, Canada’s Best Restaurants, 2012

“This elegant and sustainably conscious restaurant is a must try.”
CBS Seattle, 2012

“Frank Pabst is one of Canada’s most accomplished chefs.”
Food Network Canada, 2012

“Blue Water Café is a great place for fresh and innovative seafood.”
Savvy Insider, 2012

“In the kitchen, executive chef Frank Pabst runs the show like the culinary master that he is.”
24 Hours, 2012

Best Seafood, Gold
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2008-2016

Les Clefs D’or Canada, Silver
WHERE Magazine ‘To Dine’ Award, 2016

Best Seafood
Georgia Straight Golden Plate Awards, 2010-2016

Top 100 Best Restaurants in Canada
OpenTable, 2015-2016

Wine List Award, Platinum
Recognized for ‘Consistent Excellence’
Vancouver International Wine Festival, 2013-2015

Best Seafood
WHERE Magazine ‘To Dine’ Awards, 2011-2015

Best Seafood, Gold
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2008-2015

Best Upscale Restaurant, Silver
Best Yaletown, Bronze
Best Japanese Upscale, Honourable Mention
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2015

Best Seafood
Georgia Straight Golden Plate Awards, 2010-2015

Best Yaletown, Gold
Best Upscale Restaurant, Bronze
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2014

Best Restaurant Wine List (BC), Bronze
Georgia Straight ‘Best of Vancouver’, 2014

‘Best of’ Award of Excellence
Wine Spectator, 2001-2014

Best Upscale Restaurant, Silver
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2013

Best Restaurant
BC Living’s BC’s Best People’s Choice Awards, 2013

Certificate of Excellence
Trip Advisor, 2013

Achievement of Distinction in Dining
DiRoNA, 2013

Top 50, Canada’s Best Restaurants
Maclean’s Magazine, 2012

Best Seafood
Westender ‘Best of the City’, 2012

Best Formal Japanese, Honourable Mention
Best Formal Restaurant, Gold
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2011

Four Diamond Award
AAA, 2010

Restaurant of the Year, Gold
Chef of the Year, Frank Pabst
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2010

Best Bar (Formal)
Westender Reader’s Choice Awards, 2010

Blue Water Cafe Seafood Cookbook – Best Fish & Seafood Cuisine Cookbook
Cordon d’ Or – Gold Ribbon, International Culinary Academy Awards, 2010

Blue Water Cafe Seafood Cookbook – Best Seafood & Fish Book in Canada
Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, 2009

Restaurant of the Year, Silver
Best Formal Japanese, Silver
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2009

Restaurant of the Year, Bronze
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2007-2008

Best Japanese Fine Dining, Silver
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2005-2006

Best Seafood, Silver
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2002-2007

Best New Restaurant in 2000, Bronze
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2001

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