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On Restaurants Wriggling Out of Bad Reviews and Gentrifying the Downtown Eastside

Intelligence Briefs is Scout’s weekly compendium of food and drink-related news stories gathered from a variety of sources in Canada and around the world. It is published first thing every Monday morning. Complete archive here.


Gentrifying forces on the Downtown Eastside intensify as tone deaf developers aim to turn Pigeon Park into a restaurant patio.

Should your food cost as much on Monday as it does on Saturday? A top London restaurant experiments with pricing models similar to that of the travel industry.

Don’t look now, but it appears as if Toronto Life magazine may have pulled a negative restaurant review of an advertiser. Why? “Toronto Life’s publisher Ken Hunt said it was ‘internal matter’ and that ‘no explanation is needed or will be provided.'”

From the folks behind Cinara comes the much-anticipated Autostrada, which hosted its first dinner services last week.

Chef Paul Natrall of The Squamish Nation will be opening Vancouver’s first Indigenous food truck in the coming months.

BC’s own Four Winds and Dageraad have been named finalists in the country’s first Gold Medal Pints beer competition.

Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, food photos are here to stay, so why not check out the pretty ones? Eater rounded up some pictures of the past year’s most photogenic dishes.

While the restaurant industry is booming across the province, the labour shortage continues to plague large and small establishments alike.

Find out how a $4.86 billion beer corporation is pissing off Stanley Park advocates.

Thanks but no thanks: the story of one Bangkok street food vendor that would like to give her recently awarded Michelin star back.

Vancouver Courier finds a few restaurants and cafes hiding out in retail stores that are worth the hunt.

The BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier are doubling their scholarship dollars for women in the culinary arts who are looking to further their education and training: Scout reports.

This week in bizarre food science: Gwyneth Paltrow recommends putting some coffee up your butt. Experts suggest maybe don’t…

Looking for a cure for cholera? Fernet’s got you covered! Munchies takes a deep dive into the history of Fernet Branca including its long list of medicinal properties.

A gummy bear-based investigation by NPR on how colour impacts our perception of taste.

Heading south of the border anytime soon? Thrillist rounds up the best sushi restaurants across America including Seattle’s Maneki and Sushi Kashiba and Portland’s Bamboo Sushi.

Eater shares their picks for the most anticipated restaurant openings of 2018. Closest to home we have Portland’s Yonder/Mae, a southern-inspired pop-up turned brick-and-mortar, and French-inspired Canard brought to you by the folks behind Le Pigeon and Little Bird.

Even more food predictions for 2018, this time from The Globe and Mail’s Gail Johnson — this time traceability is the name of the game.

When Mario Batali sends a sexual misconduct apology letter that finishes with a recipe for cinnamon rolls there’s nothing you can do except make the damn cinnamon rolls.

While Batali is busy issuing baked good apologies, his business empire will be changing its name amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

And if by chance you’ve been living under a rock over the past 2 months, here’s a full list of the chefs and restaurant owners that have been accused of sexual harassment.

Eating via Instagram honours this week go to @kalebnkrause, because it’s never to early in the year to start eating ice cream again!

Looking for work in the industry? Check out who’s hiring.

On Believing in Chef Nicolas Cage and Hospitality Workers Living Decently

In her latest read of the food and drink headlines, Talia finds salmon in trouble and patrons who should just stay home.

On Menu Prices Going Up and Customers Fighting Amongst Themselves

In her latest read of the food and drink headlines, Talia finds fewer cooks in the kitchen and Portland lauded for its pizza.

On Suddenly Taking More Tables and Toiling Away in Potentially Lethal Temperatures

In her latest read of the food and drink headlines, Talia finds another chef being a jerk and the labour shortage grinding on.

On No More Takeout Cocktails and Chefs Worrying About the Rising Cost of Food

In her latest read of the food and drink headlines, Talia finds food security woes and new spots getting good reviews.