Van Mag Telling The Story Of The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe

Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe co-owners Andre McGillivray and Steve Da Cruz at rest in their new digs | PHOTO - AM

The highly anticipated restaurant is still under construction (the Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe won’t launch until July), but that doesn’t mean it won’t be interesting until after its doors are opened… Read more

Anticipation Poll: The Diamond, Corner Suite Or The Pourhouse

This is a tough one. I’m looking forward to all three of the following options, and have the utmost confidence in their individual abilities and relative likelihood of success, even in a shit poor economy. But if I had to pick just one…gosh…I just couldn’t do it. Here, you do it.

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For those requiring some background…

The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe

Propreitors Steve Da Cruz and Andre McGillivray with executive chef Anthony Sedlak,

Opening day: early July

From the Anticipated Openings list (LINKAGE):

Former Boneta co-owner and Le Crocodile/Lumiere/Chambar managerial alumnus Andre McGillivray has partnered up with barman Steve Da Cruz (Boneta and most recently on the wood at Gastropod). Together they’ve secured the old Piccolo Mondo location (most recently Saveur) at 850 Thurlow, just off the Robson drag. They’re releasing no details on the concept or the plan just yet, but with the players involved I think it’s safe to assume that we might be looking at a cocktail-forward and service driven joint with very good food. I’m imagining a downtown cousin of Chambar and Boneta. The bigger news is that the executive chef is going to be none other than Anthony Sedlak, local boy and star of the Food Network show, The Main. This is Anthony’s first executive role, which means this is likely just as exciting for him as it is for his legions of fans.

The Diamond

Josh Pape and Mark Brand, co-owners of The Diamon (not pictured is their partner, Sophie Taverner )

Opening day: May 2009

From the Anticipated Openings list (LINKAGE):

With principals that are among the city’s top bartenders – Mark Brand, the 2006 Van Mag Bartender of the Year and co-owner of Boneta; ex-Chambar bar manager Josh Pape; and Sophie Taverner, formerly of The Cascade – they could have called themselves The Ghengis Khan Soda Shack & Swizzle Bar and they’d still likely open to a sustained packed house. Located upstairs at 6 Powell St overlooking Gassy Jack Square, the sixty seat bar and restaurant is called The Diamond. They’ve picked up Christie Peters (ex-Feenies, Chow) and Pierre Natarani (ex-Feenies, Boneta, Medina) to run the small, easy Asian-themed kitchen (gyozas, ramen, etc), and Chambar’s Charles Ainsbury is on his way down to join the bar team as well (the world’s youngest Bartender of the Year, from Australia). The business is a two fronted thing, with days seeing it run as a bartending school, something that will hopefully help elevate the bar scene from its rye and coke doldrums. They’ll also be offering spirit seminars to folks who want to sip and learn prior to heading out on the town, not unlike the many wine tasters you might see at Salt just around the corner. But it’s from 5:30pm until midnight (Thurs-Sun) that The Diamond will likely shine brightest.

The Pourhouse

Opening day: late summer 2009

From the Anticipated Openings list (LINKAGE):

It’s about time the journeyman settled down! He’s worked a lot of places over the years (and has accrued a great many of fans and regulars), so this has the reassuring ring of permanence to it. I just spent a week with him in Kentucky on the Bourbon Trail, so I’ve seen first hand how much he appreciates his spirits (it’s terrifying).

So where’s the new place going to be? According to an email from Jay, it’s “the old Flux location in Gastown, just southeast of the Steam clock.” There’ll be 160 seats in total, with 25 at the bar. The concept? “Spirit focused, back to basics drinking and eating.” Huzzah!

Regular readers will recall the flame out of Flux, the concept-less joint at 162 Water St. that tried (if I recall correctly) to mix chocolate with sushi. I always thought it was a prime location, and ripe for folks with either solid name recognition and talent or people with lots of money to buy both. Jay will knock it out of the park here.

Jones’ partner is executive chef Chris Irving, who worked at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino and West before moving to the UK to toil under the direction of Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsay at Restaurant Petrus in London.

All Anticipated Openings

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3 Stars Combine For 1 Joint, The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe

The cast and crew of The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe: Steve Da Cruz, Andre McGillivray, and chef Anthony Sedlak.

This one is being played pretty tight to the chest, but I’ve been on it for awhile and now have at least some of the details confirmed (and others denied).

Former Boneta co-owner and Le Crocodile/Lumiere/Chambar managerial alumnus Andre McGillivray has partnered up with barman Steve Da Cruz (Boneta and most recently on the wood at Gastropod). Together they’ve secured the old Piccolo Mondo location (most recently Saveur) at 850 Thurlow, just off the Robson drag. They’re releasing no details on the concept or the plan just yet, but with the players involved I think it’s safe to assume that we might be looking at a cocktail-forward and service driven joint with very good food. I’m imagining a downtown cousin of Chambar and Boneta.

The bigger news is that the executive chef is going to be none other than Anthony Sedlak, local boy and star of the Food Network show, The Main. This is Anthony’s first executive role, which means this is likely just as exciting for him as it is for his legions of fans.

Interview

The Wiki on Sedlak:

Anthony L. Sedlak is a Canadian chef, and the host of Food Network Canada’s The Main. He was born in Prince George, British Columbia and grew up in North Vancouver.

At age 13, Sedlak began bussing at the Grouse Mountain cafeteria. He was soon promoted to the resort’s main kitchen at 14, where he worked as production cook for what was then Bar 98. By 16 he was working at the Grouse Nest restaurant (now The Observatory). During this time he completed the Culinary Art Program at Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver, followed by a four-year apprenticeship program at Vancouver Community College.

Following the advice of Sylvain Cuerrier, the executive chef for Grouse Mountain, 20-year-old Sedlak joined the team at La Trompette restaurant in West London where he worked under Chef Olivier Couillaud. With the experience and knowledge gained at La Trompette Sedlak returned to Grouse Mountain Resorts where he was offered the position of sous-chef at The Observatory.

At 22, with the help of Chef Harold Bonkowski, head of the culinary arts department at VCC, Sedlak was selected as Canada’s representative for the 2006 Hans Bueschken World Junior Chef Challenge in Auckland. He came away with a silver medal.

A few months later Sedlak won Food Network’s Superstar Chef Challenge II. After the win he left The Observatory to shoot The Main which premiered on 1 October 2007.

And the rest is history. With The Main just wrapped their fourth year of filming, Sedlak – a cookbook author to boot – has now become a national brand.

The trio have only just taken possession, and they’re looking at a significant reconstruction. Opening day is ambitiously scheduled for July 1st, with 130 seats in total.

The name of their restaurant project? “The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe”.

All Anticipated Openings

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McGillivray And Boneta Amicably Part Ways

There have been some rumblings about this for some time, but now it’s official. Andre McGillivray is no longer an owner at the multiple award-winning Boneta restaurant in Gastown.

This is disappointing personally, as I felt he defined the place as much as his (now former) partners did (Mark Brand, Neil Ingram, and Jeremie Bastien). I’ll miss him there, as I’ve met few FOH personages who are anywhere near as entertaining. In my trade it’s uncool to have favourites, but then again I’ve never been very cool.

After a few minutes in the dark recesses of my archives, I was able to dig up the video above. It shows Andre, ridiculously bearded, ordering last minute essentials on the night before Boneta opened. The photo below shows Neil, Andre and chef Jeremie while the restaurant was under construction.

The copy of the press release will read as follows:

Happy New Year from Boneta!

First off, Boneta announces that partners Neil Ingram, Jeremie Bastien and Mark Brand have parted ways amicably in business with Andre McGillivray. All of us wish Andre the utmost success with his future endeavors.

Secondly, we would like to thank all of you for your extremely generous donations over the holidays. Your generosity helped us to raise over $1700 for the Food Bank. This translates to over $5000 worth of food for families who cannot feed themselves in these difficult times. Our sincere thanks to everyone who participated this year!

And thirdly Boneta would simply like to wish very happy New Year to all our friends and family out there; we can’t wait to see you in 2009 because, of course, Boneta loves you!

xoxo

Good luck with whatever comes next, Andre.

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Andrew Morrison is a west coast boy who studied history and classics at the Universities of Cape Town and Toronto after an adolescence spent riding skateboards and working in restaurants. He is the editor of Scout Magazine, the weekly food and restaurant columnist for the Westender newspaper, and a contributor to Vancouver and Western Living magazines.

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The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe

Details

850 Thurlow Street, Vancouver BC
Telephone: 604-569-3415
Website: www.thecornersuite.com
Twitter | Facebook

Gallery

The People

Owner: Steve Da Cruz
Executive Chef: Jason Leizert
Read the Scout interviews here.

About The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe

The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe is a decadently fun, yet accessible restaurant and bar just off Robson at 850 Thurlow in Vancouver. Open 7 days and nights featuring the locally sourced and seasonal menus of Jason Leizert, the bistro also has as many as 60 cheeses available. Every day, Jason and his team put together the 24/7. Two courses, $24.07. The noon ti midnite menu has many options from Petit Bijoux ( $5 – 8), Petits Plats ($15), Grand Plats ($15 – 25) and Sucreries ($6-12) with all cold dishes and cheeses available until 1am everyday and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The black leather and steel bar that hosts the Venus Century espresso machine seats 32 and is also home to Steve Da Cruz’s cocktail program The Genuine Article. The beautiful bar and tables make perfect landings for $5 Sleeves of R/B draughts and lovingly selected wines by sommelier Christopher McFadden. The dining room is adorned with hand-assembled chandeliers and custom made Louis chairs dipped in the corner suite blue rubber finish with hooks under every table for purses. With local artist’s works and music by DJ Sasha from Paris, the room is truly unique. We look forward to serving you.

From The Heart of Downtown,

The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe

Reviews & Accolades

“Best New Bar in Canada” – Kelly Snowden | Food & Wine Magazine

“It’s personal, and people can feel the passion.” – Mia Wedgebury | Report on Business

“Quality ingredients and technical know-how.” – Mia Stainsby | The Vancouver Sun

“Luxurious.” – Alexandra Gill | The Globe & Mail

“A lovely masterpiece.” – Bal Arneson | The National Post

“Value De Luxe” – Claudia Kwan | Global BC

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