L'Abattoir is located at 217 Carrall St in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood | 604-568-1701 | www.labattoir.ca

The GOODS from L’Abattoir

Vancouver, BC | Gastown’s L’Abattoir restaurant is looking for a competent food runner to work 3 to 5 shifts a week on a flexible schedule. The restaurant will prove to be a great training ground for those looking to move up in the trade. Minimum restaurant experience unnecessary, but desired. The lucky candidate will really only need to be intelligent with a great attitude, a driven sensibility, and a yen for learning from some of the best in town. Only the brave need apply to paul [at] labattoir [dot ca]. Learn more about the restaurant after the jump…

About L’Abattoir

L’Abattoir is located in the center of Gastown between historic Gaoler’s Mews and Blood Alley. The restaurant was built in the 19th century and is the site of Vancouver’s first jail. Originally buttressed to the city’s main butchery and meat packing district, the name L’Abattoir pays homage to the neighbourhood’s colourful past.

Set in a refurbished brick and beam building that combines classic French tile work with industrial fixtures, natural wood, and glass and steel finishes, the restaurant offers a bar and lounge setting, elevated dining room and plush, sun soaked atrium.

Chef Lee Cooper and General Manager Paul Grunberg are dedicated to highlighting the finer points of eating and drinking in L’Abattoir’s informed but informal setting. French-influenced West Coast fare is paired with Sommelier Jake Skakun’s eclectic wine program and Head Barman Shaun Layton’s innovative cocktail list to offer a truly unique dining experience.

Campagnolo Roma is located at 2297 East Hastings Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-569-0456 | www.campagnoloroma.com

The GOODS from Refuel, Campagnolo, and Campagnolo Roma

Vancouver, BC | Valentine’s Day is fast approaching! This may be an exciting night out with someone special in your life or you may just want to have a quick bite and avoid it all together. Either way, we at Refuel, Campagnolo, Campagnolo Roma want to make sure your dining experience is delicious and memorable, so we have a few options for you. Get all the details after the jump…

Campagnolo ROMA Encourages You Not to Commit

Join the team at ROMA on February 14th. They are taking reservations for one day only but also encourage the more spontaneous types to drop in. ROMA is offering their regular menu so you don’t have to commit to more than you can chew and will also be running a few features if you are looking for something a little special. Call 604-569-0456 if you would like to book a table in advance.

Campagnolo is Taking Reservations

In celebration of “la festa di San Valentino” – the festival of Saint Valentine, guests are encouraged to show their affection over a 4 course dinner designed for two, priced at $40 per person. Campagnolo’s first come first served policy remains intact but for one day only, Tuesday February 14, they are accepting reservations. You are invited to make your dinner reservations, for the Valentine Menu, in advance by calling 604-484-6018. A credit card number is required to book.

Refuel Designed Menus for Individuals & Couples

Refuel Restaurant & Bar, specializing in local, seasonal, comfort food, reveals a three-course prix fixe menu for individuals and a romantic five-course menu designed for couples to share, available on Tuesday February 14. You are invited to relax at the open kitchen bar (1st come, 1st served) with one of our dirty burgers or savour one of these charming menus in the dining room. Menus are priced at 3 courses for $40 and 5 courses for $60 per person. Reservations are encouraged (flexible seating times available to accommodate pre and post movie times at Fifth Avenue Theatre), please call 604-288-7905 to book your table.

Fraîche is located at 2240 Chippendale Road in West Vancouver, BC | 604-925-7595 | fraicherestaurant.ca

The GOODS from Fraîche

West Vancouver, BC | Does it get any more romantic than a floor to ceiling vista of Vancouver’s sparkling cityscape? Well, hopefully the view of your love inspires romance even more – but what a perfect pairing. Add Chef Jefferson Alvarez’s critically-acclaimed cuisine and our smartly selected wine cellar for a fun and delicious evening. Fraîche is offering a special 7 course Valentine’s menu for $65 or $95 with paired wines. Learn more after the jump…

See the full menu here. Call 604-925-7595 or visit us online.

DETAILS

Fraîche Restaurant | 2240 Chippendale Road | West Vancouver, BC | MAP
Telephone: 604-925-7595
Email: info@fraicherestaurant.ca
Website: www.fraicherestaurant.ca

Driving Instructions: Exit off Highway 1 at 21st Street exit. Make a left turn onto Skilift Road, which turns into Folkstone Way. Follow Folkstone Way (a road with a double yellow line) which will turn into Chippendale Road.

Hours: Lunch: Monday – Friday – 11:30am to 2:30pm | Dinner: Monday through Sunday – 5pm to 10pm | Brunch: Saturday and Sunday – 10am to 3pm

Lounge & Bar Menu – All Day

GALLERY

THE TEAM

Executive Chef: Jefferson Alvarez
General Manager: Phillip Reigh

The Food Alone Is Worth The Drive – The View Makes It Remarkable

Renowned as one of West Vancouver’s most celebrated dining experiences , Fraîche is a feast for the senses. The bright and elegant dining room provides a sophisticated and comfortable framework to showcase the spectacular, panoramic view, while the top notch service team similarly supports the talented kitchen brigade.

Led by rising culinary talent Executive Chef, Jefferson Alvarez, Fraîche offers delicious and diverse menus for lunch, dinner, bar and brunch that incorporate west coast sensibilities and ingredients with global flare and flavours.

Enjoy an evolving and inspired selection of wines by the bottle and glass expertly paired for your meal or mood. Guests looking for a light lunch, indulgent weekend brunch, mouth- watering chef’s table experience or savoury bite after the game will find a welcoming place at the Fraîche table .

Dressed up or down, Fraîche is a warm, inviting place where the food, service and view always impress.

RauDZ Regional Table is located at 1560 Water Street, Kelowna, BC | 250-868-8805 | www.raudz.com

The GOODS from RauDZ Regional Table

Kelowna, BC | If your knight in shining armor has turned out to be a loser in tinfoil, then the team at RauDZ has the perfect twist for Valentine’s Day or for some, this “single awareness” holiday. While books are being written and studies conducted on the differences between men and women (“Mars and Venus”), RauDZ has put their own twist on the situation. Get all the details after the jump…

Like mad scientists behind the bar, the creative Liquid Chefs have put together a “Mars & Venus” drink menu that celebrates the differences, rather than trying to understand them, of men and women. Venus can start the evening with a “Meyer Beautiful” cocktail featuring Okanagan Spirits Gin and the sweet Meyer lemon or enjoy a glass of Road 13 Vineyards Sparkling Chenin Blanc.

For the testosterone filled Mars side of the menu, Liquid Chef Gerry Jobe has created “Guns & Roses” featuring Bulleit Bourbon or for the beer drinker, Phillips Blue Buck Ale which legend suggests brings good fortune which perhaps translates to a good relationship.

This special liquid menu is available exclusively from Friday, February 10th to Tuesday, February 14th and for each Mars or Venus drink ordered, you are entered to win a fabulous prize – one for Mars and one for Venus!

This Valentine’s Day, RauDZ Regional Table is cheering endless shoe collections, full control of the tv remote, toothpaste lids on the tube and the company of great friends and we promise…not a red rose or candle in sight.

About RauDZ Regional Table

RauDZ Regional Table is owned and operated by the award winning team of Chef Rod Butters and Audrey Surrao. Located in the Okanagan Valley, an area described by Chef Butters as the “ultimate chefs playground” the menu focuses on fresh, regional cuisine with fun presentation.

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by Andrew Morrison | I’m leaving early for Kelowna and the Canadian Culinary Championships (#CCC) this afternoon. It is Canada’s biggest cooking competition. It includes three bouts between the country’s best chefs over two gruelling days. We’ll of course be publishing during this time (and plenty), but I wanted to invite readers to follow along with the #CCC action on Scout’s social media accounts – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook – which I’ll be feeding quite a bit with photos and updates. For the past five years, wine guru Sid Cross and I have shared the honour of being the Senior Judges representing BC at the annual competition. I’ve also enjoyed being the National Referee (I don’t get a whip or a whistle, but they did give me a gold toothpick once, for real).

All told, we get to see and taste some pretty outstanding plates of superness, not to mention have quite a good time. If you’re really into food porn and fetishize the hell out of competitions, be sure to keep abreast so that you might salivate profusely over all the deliciousness that comes our way in relatively real time.

Here are the competitors. Remember that each of the following defeated 10 other regional heavyweights to get this far…

Winnipeg | Michael Dacquisto – WOW Hospitality
Montreal | Jean-Philippe St-Denis – Kitchen Galerie Poisson
Calgary | Michael Dekker – Rouge
Edmonton | Jan Trittenbach – Packrat Louie
Vancouver | Rob Feenie – Cactus Club
Saskatoon | Anthony McCarthy – Saskatoon Club
Toronto | Jonathan Gushue – Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa
Ottawa | Marc Lepine – Atelier
St. John’s | Mike Barsky – Bacalao

Past champions…

2011
GOLD: Martin Juneau of Newtown in Montreal
SILVER: Jeremy Charles of Raymonds in St. John’s
BRONZE: Robert Clark of C Restaurant in Vancouver

2009
GOLD Mathieu Cloutier – Kitchen Gallerie, Montréal
SILVER David Lee – Nota Bene
BRONZE Matthew Carmichael – Restaurant 18

2008
GOLD Hayato Okamitsu – Catch Restaurant, Calgary
SILVER Frank Pabst – Blue Water Café
BRONZE Deff Haupt – Le Renoir

2007
GOLD Melissa Craig – The Bearfoot Bistro, Whistler
SILVER Anthony Walsh – Canoe
BRONZE Roland Ménard – Manior Hovey

2006
GOLD Makoto Ono – Gluttons Bistro, Winnipeg
SILVER Michael Blackie – Perspectives Restaurant
BRONZE Mark McEwan – Bymark

The #CCC actually starts each autumn, as each major city across the nation puts their top toques through a local meat grinder called Gold Medal Plates. Net proceeds are given to the Canadian Olympic Foundation, which supports athletes and high performance programs such as Own the Podium. To date, over $5 million has been raised.

In Vancouver, beating out Ensemble’s Dale Mackay (again) and Bao Bei’s Joel Watanabe this year was the grand maestro, Rob Feenie of the Cactus Club. This is Feenie’s second time to the national dance, and I reckon he’s mighty keen to take home the elusive gold. For an explainer as to how the whole shebang works, here’s a video diary I shot from a few years back at the competition in Banff, when Vancouver was being represented by Frank Pabst of Yaletown’s Blue Water Cafe. As you can see, winning ain’t easy, and Montreal’s been on a roll…

Months of efforts end on Saturday night. If you haven’t purchased tickets, our Twitter is where you’ll hear which chef won bronze, silver and gold (in that order) first, so keep in touch.