by Andrew Morrison | Chef Andrey Durbach and Chris Stewart officially (if softly) opened The Sardine Can yesterday after a hectic Monday night dry run that saw three full turns of tables. I’ll go a few more times before I get into lengthy dish descriptions and broad analysis, but suffice it to say here and now that the little 20 seater at 26 Powell Street focuses on simple, unassuming Spanish tapas and pretty much nails both the requisite casual ambiance and bold flavour hooks. Durbach’s albondigas, patatas bravas (with soft fingerlings!), fish toasts, and so on are each represented well and are wholly pairable with Stewart’s select list of wines, beers and sherries. The prices are a little higher than I thought they’d be, but rents in Gastown ain’t cheap anymore, and I left feeling more sated than depleted (having torn through half the menu – doubling down on some items – and finding not a dud in the bunch). They’re open from 3pm until late and don’t accept reservations. If you go this week, and you should, be sure to bring cash. While they do accept credit cards and Interac, customers paying cash get 10% off of everything. Take a look at the before and after…

BEFORE

AFTER

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ALL ANTICIPATED RESTAURANTS

Pied-a-Terre is located at 3369 Cambie Street in Vancouver BC | 604-873-3131 | www.pied-a-terre-bistro.ca

The GOODS from Pied-a-Terre

Vancouver, BC | Pied-a-Terre restaurant has brought back it’s keenly-priced table d’hôte menu. To relaunch the much heralded menu, Pied-a-Terre is offering what is surely the best value dining experience in Vancouver. Order dinner for two from the 3-course table d’hôte menu and the restaurant will throw in a bottle of wine, mineral water, and coffee.

“I designed the table d’hôte menu to offer classic bistro favourites at a great price,” said Chef Andrey Durbach. “After all, a neighbourhood bistro is supposed to be the kind of place you can afford to go to any night of the week.”

The table d’hôte, or fixed price menu, offers a choice of modern French classics: heirloom tomato salad with basil and goat’s cheese; duck confit with walnuts, grapes and Sarladaise potato; and crêpes with warm berries and crème fraîche. At $38 per person, with 3 choices for each of the 3 courses, the menu delivers great options and great value. At $99 for 2 people including a choice of a bottle of house red, white, or rosé wine, the value is even better. These prices make it easy to finish the meal with an after dinner drink from Pied-a-Terre’s extensive list of cognac, calvados, and eaux-de-vie.

“My top priority as a restaurateur is to give my customers the best possible balance of high quality and good value,” said Durbach.

About Pied-a-Terre

Opened in 2007 in Vancouver’s Cambie Village, the restaurant is a quick taxi ride from downtown hotels or easily accessible via the Canada Line Skytrain.  Pied-a-Terre offers an intimate and charming dining room, knowledgeable and warm service, and well-priced, delicious food. Pied-a-Terre is open 7 nights a week for dinner and for lunch on Fridays.

For more information, contact Pied-a-Terre at (604) 873-3131 or eat@pied-a-terre-bistro.ca.

I swung by the location of The Sardine Can in Gastown (26 Powell St.) over the weekend to have a closer look. A refresher…

The concept sounds like a proper Spanish tapas bar; the hole in the wall kind that Vancouver’s most hopeful food lovers have long been waiting for. Durbach and Stewart want to make it the most casual and accessible restaurant in their stable. That means no molecular gastronomy, no El Bullish artistry, no high falutin’ anything. Instead, Durbach tells us that we can expect some 12 raciones (small plates) alongside Spanish wines served in tumblers, a decent selection of sherries and Spanish beers, as well as a couple of Cavas.

There wil be 10 seats at the bar (which will double as a kitchen), plus three tables that can be configured to fit groups both small (4) and large (10). As befitting the casual, no nonsense intent of the concept, they will only be serving walk-ins. They’re also toying with the idea of opening as early as 3pm, which is pretty damn awesome, as Gastown is pretty dry before 5:30pm. Expect midnight as their nightly close, perhaps later on weekends.

They’ve only just taken possession, but you can see the potential…

Pied-a-Terre at www.pied-a-terre-bistro.ca | Cafeteria at www.cafeteriavancouver.ca | La Buca at www.labuca.ca

The GOODS from Pied-a-Terre, La Buca, and Cafeteria

Vancouver, BC | As he does each year as cooler temperatures set in, Andrey Durbach will be offering diners at cozy neighbourhood rooms Pied-à-Terre, La Buca and Cafeteria the chance to taste the earthy flavours of in-season mushrooms and wild game. Running from Oct. 11th to 23rd, the Game & Wild Mushroom Festival is a must for food lovers who are particularly drawn to freshly picked wild mushrooms, hearty cuts of rarely featured game and the rich reductions that Durbach is known for. Get all the details after the jump

Over on Main Street, comfort food focused Cafeteria will be featuring dishes such as salad of endive, apples, croutons, crispy boar sausage, nuts, blue cheese; grilled lemongrass game hen, Hainanese mushroom rice, chili-soy sauce; and osso buco, wild mushroom and spinach risotto. The full menu may be viewed at www.cafeteriavancouver.ca.

Intense Italian flavours take centre-stage on Durbach’s menu at La Buca with items such as wild mushroom crostini, smoked ham, and melted taleggio; tagliolini with truffles and pine mushrooms; and veal with chanterelle mushrooms, sage. The full La Buca festival menu can be viewed at www.labuca.ca.

Fans of Durbach’s French focused fare at Pied-à-Terre will have a chance to sample dishes such as wild mushroom consommé with sherry and pheasant quenelles; grilled squab, honey, lime and soy glaze, shiitake, fondants yams; and Arctic char, braised lettuce, French peas, chanterelles, and beurre blanc. For the full Pied-à-Terre menu please visit www.pied-a-terre-bistro.ca.

Cafeteria is open for dinner service nightly from 5pm until late. Walk-ins welcome, reservations recommended. Phone: 778.317.3783.

La Buca is open for dinner Sunday to Thursday from 5 to 9:30pm and from 5 to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, for reservations please call 604.730.6988.

Pied-à-Terre is open for lunch on Friday from noon to 2:30pm and dinner seven nights a week from 5pm to 10:30pm Monday to Saturday and 5pm to 9:30pm Sunday, for reservations please call 604.873.3131.

ABOUT CAFETERIA, LA BUCA, AND PIED-À-TERRE

Chef Andrey Durbach and business partner Chris Stewart opened their first venue together more than seven years ago. Today, they own and operate three very distinct neighbourhood restaurants in Vancouver: La Buca, Pied-à-Terre and Cafeteria. Guided by the belief that every community deserves a perfect little place to dine, their restaurants offer inviting atmospheres paired with quality fresh ingredients and exceptional service.

La Buca is located at 4025 MacDonald Street in Vancouver BC | 604-730-6988 | www.labuca.ca

The GOODS from La Buca

Vancouver, BC | On Sunday, September 4th, westside trattoria La Buca will play host to the wines and maker behind Italian powerhouse Marchesi di Grésy. Known for producing some of Piedmont’s most elegant and graceful wines, owner and winemaker Alberto di Grésy will join chef Andrey Durbach to present an evening of Italian focused fare. Seating is limited so guests are encouraged to reserve tickets early by phoning La Buca at (604) 730-6988. Tickets are priced at $175 per person which includes taxes and gratuity. Reception begins at 6:00pm, with dinner to follow at 7:00pm. Menu after the jump…

MARCHESI DI GRÉSY AT LA BUCA
Sunday, September 4th, 2011

Reception

Aperol spritz + passed canapés

Dinner

2010 Langhe Sauvignon Blanc:
Carpaccio of scallops finished with tomato, lemon and bacon vinaigrette

2005 Langhe Grésy Chardonnay DOC:
Fillet of halibut served with fresh corn, chanterelles, cauliflower, crab, and chives

2008 Barbera D’Asti:
Agnolotti del plin filled with duck, celery, orange and black olive

2000 Martinenga Camp Gros Barbaresco DOCG & 2005 Martinenga Gaiun Barbaresco DOCG:
Barbaresco braised beef cheek, with potato and gorgonzola croquette

1995 Martinenga Camp Gros Barbaresco & 1990 Martinenga Gaiun Barbaresco DOCG:
Grana Padano with crostini, pears and truffle honey

2010 La Serra Moscato d’asti DOCG:
Pannacotta with moscato poached blueberries

And perhaps a touch of Marchesi di Gresy Grappa for those who are inclined…

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