GOODS: Top Table Rooms Win Accolades At The 23rd Annual Van Mag Restaurant Awards
April 24, 2012
Every one of Top Table's restaurants were recognised for their contributions to the Vancouver restaurant scene this year
The GOODS from CinCin, Araxi, West, & Blue Water Café
Vancouver & Whistler, BC | If cherry blossoms herald spring across the province, in British Columbia’s culinary industry, the change of seasons is marked by the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. Now in their 23rd year, and unique in Canada, the awards were convened on a fitting spring day – Monday, April 23rd – at the Sheraton Wall Centre. A panel of 18 judges acknowledged industry excellence as Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin, West and Thierry were honoured before an audience of leading restaurateurs, chefs, and service professionals. Details after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Top Table’s Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin And West Shine At The Wine Festival
March 2, 2012
To learn more about Top Table
The GOODS from CinCin, Araxi, West, Blue Water Café
Vancouver & Whistler, BC | Top Table Group’s restaurant wine lists were once again saluted at the 9th Annual Wine List Awards Luncheon convened earlier this afternoon during the 34th annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. In attendance at the Luncheon were Top Table wine directors Samantha Rahn (Araxi), as well as Andrea Vescovi (Blue Water Cafe) and Owen Knowlton (West), each of whom has previously been awarded ‘Sommelier of the Year’, in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Blue Water Cafe and West were two of only six restaurants awarded with the highest Platinum Wine List Award, while Araxi and CinCin Araxi and CinCin were among a distinguished group to win the Gold designation. Read more
GOODS: Chef Frank Pabst Reveals 2012 “Unsung Heroes” Menu At Blue Water Cafe
January 26, 2012
Blue Water Cafe is located at 1095 Hamilton Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-688-8078 | www.bluewatercafe.net
The GOODS from Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
Vancouver, BC | Executive Chef Frank Pabst’s eighth annual Unsung Heroes Festival takes pride of place at Vancouver’s multiple award-winning Blue Water Cafe throughout the month of February. Chef Pabst, who has won many culinary distinctions, has long been a champion of the sustainable fisheries movement. He created the Unsung Heroes Festival specifically to draw attention to the diversity of formerly under-utilized species. His concept is simple: Avoid species that are over-fished, or fished in ways that damage ocean beds or cause unnecessary by-catch, by introducing diners to new experiences and flavours using species found in abundance.
Since then, the Festival has become ‘wildly popular’ at Blue Water Cafe, as avid diners seek out new dishes, as well as returning favourites from Unsung Heroes past.
“Eight years ago, this was quite a radical concept,” Pabst says. “But now our guests are well-informed as to just how delicious and nutritional some of these lesser-known seafoods can be. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to introduce them in the mainstream.” Again this year, 10% of proceeds will be donated to the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise sustainable seafood program, of which Blue Water Cafe is a founding member. Take a look at the menu after the jump… Read more
DINER: A Repository Of Kitchen Memories In Exchange For Anthony Bourdain VIP Passes
October 29, 2011
As noted in an earlier post, Blue Water Cafe kindly supplied us with a pair of VIP passes to give away to a lucky Scout reader keen to see Anthony Bourdain speak tonight (Saturday, October) at the The Center In Vancouver For The Performing Arts. Many dozens have expressed their interest in the comment thread, some of whom are now writing down their fondest kitchen memories to win. They (and you) have between now and 8am to jot down between 100 and 500 words detailing a moment around food that really stood out. Maybe we’ll read of sorts similar to those which may have steered Anthony Bourdain toward a life of knives, late nights and finger condoms. Who knows? But please do them the honour of “liking” your favourites on our Facebook page up until noon, at which time with the memory with the most “likes” wins, and will land at the show later that night in premium seats with his/her presumably very pleased date. Afterwards, the winner + 1 will be invited to a post-performance meet and greet with Mr. Bourdain himself, which – fuck it – is pretty damn rad. So dig deep for all those memories, pick your fave, write it down and tell your friends to “like” what they may or may not remember of you. In any event, good luck to all. Happy writing. Happier reading.
UPDATE: Congrats to Darin Wall, the 1st Cook at Horizon’s Restaurant. You and a friend are going to the show!
SWAG: Who Wants To Win A VIP Package To Go See Anthony Bourdain Tomorrow Night?
October 28, 2011
The good folks at Yaletown’s award-winning Blue Water Cafe have given us two VIP passes to go see culinary polymath Anthony Bourdain speak at the Center In Vancouver For Performing Arts tomorrow (Saturday) night at 8pm.
Following the release of his newest best-seller, Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook, Anthony Bourdain will visit The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts for one night only, Saturday, October 29, 2011. Chef, author of Kitchen Confidential, and host of Travel + Escape Channel’s No Reservations, Bourdain will spend the evening sharing candid, and often hard-hitting insights about his life’s work and travels, including an open question and answer session with the audience.
This is going to be a thousand kinds of awesome, as the package includes the following for two: premium seating; exclusive access to post-show reception meet and greet with Anthony Bourdain; hors d’oeuvres by Executive Chef Frank Pabst of Blue Water Cafe at reception; limited edition Anthony Bourdain poster (numbered exclusive to ticket packages); and goodness knows what else. To stand a chance at winning, express your interest in the comments below and keep an eye on our Twitter feed and our Facebook page for the giveaway late tonight!
GOODS: Yaletown’s “Blue Water Cafe” To Host Special Wine Dinners During October
September 21, 2011
Blue Water Cafe is located at 1095 Hamilton Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-688-8078 | www.bluewatercafe.net
The GOODS from Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
Vancouver, BC | Blue Water Cafe will welcome two leading wineries in two separate events during the month of October: Viña Errázuriz (Chile), as well as Maison Joseph Drouhin (Burgundy) and Domaine Drouhin (Oregon). Please join us for multi-course menus designed by executive chef Frank Pabst to complement each wine, and to hear from two legendary winemakers, who will provide expert commentary on their histories, and winemaking philosophies and techniques. Details after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Private Blends Launched By “Top Table” Wine Directors And “Laughing Stock”
September 14, 2011
Top Table's partnership with Laughing Stock Vineyards produces two uniquely blended wines
The GOODS from CinCin, Araxi, West, & Blue Water Café
Vancouver & Whistler, BC | Top Table’s four wine directors—Araxi’s Samantha Rahn, Blue Water Cafe’s Andrea Vescovi, CinCin’s Sarah McCauley, and West’s Owen Knowlton—are excited to debut their inaugural wine label, Director’s Blend, a duo of personally blended wines produced by Laughing Stock Vineyards in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.
Augmenting the extensive international wine cellars at each restaurant, the 2009 Director’s Blend Red and 2010 Director’s Blend White are now available exclusively at Top Table restaurants and represent the first vintages of an ongoing project. Learn more after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Top Table Rooms Shine At The 22nd Annual VanMag Restaurant Awards
April 13, 2011
Veteran Top Table restaurant staff have been recognised for their contributions to the Vancouver restaurant scene...
The GOODS from CinCin, Araxi, West, & Blue Water Café
Vancouver & Whistler, BC | In British Columbia’s culinary industry, nothing salutes the advent of spring quite like the annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. Unique in Canada, and now in its 22nd year, the awards were convened on Tuesday, April 12th at the Sheraton Wall Centre. A panel of 19 judges acknowledged industry excellence as Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin and West were honoured before a standing-room-only audience of leading restaurateurs, chefs and service professionals. Read more
GOODS: The Spring Line Up Of Events From CinCin, West, Araxi And Blue Water Cafe
March 24, 2011
Veteran Top Table restaurant staff have been recognised for their contributions to the Vancouver restaurant scene...
The GOODS from CinCin, Araxi, West, & Blue Water Café
Vancouver & Whistler, BC | Top Table restaurants and our chefs will be leading a number of exciting upcoming events that speak to our involvement with local farmers, ranchers, purveyors, wineries and breweries. And through other events, such as Dining Out For Life and the Red Cross Red Carpet Soiree, we’re also deeply engaged in our community. We invite you to join with us as we celebrate where we live. Browse the exciting line-up of Spring events after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Blue Water Cafe To Host Ultimate California Wine Dinner This March 10th
February 24, 2011
Blue Water Cafe is located at 1095 Hamilton Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-688-8078 | www.bluewatercafe.net
The GOODS from Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
Vancouver, BC | In 1976, Stephen Spurrier’s famous ‘Judgement of Paris’ shook the very firmament of the wine world. More than 30 years later, California wines have progressed through several iterations—from the over-oaked Chardonnay of the 90s, and the jammy, fruit-forward Cabernets of the last decade—to a place of nuance and inflection.
Together, Blue Water Cafe and Vintage Corks are delighted to present a selection of prestigious California wineries, whose style reflects that modern dialect of subtle craft, traditional methods, and sustainable growing practices.
Cast in Blue Water Cafe’s private wine room, executive chef Frank Pabst and his talented brigade have crafted an equally modern menu to marry with each of the wines carefully chosen for this evening.
“These producers have time and time again earned a place on our wine list,” says wine director Andrea Vescovi, Vancouver’s ‘2009 Sommelier of the Year’. “This is an unprecedented collection of premium estates coming together in one glorious evening.” Menu and details after the jump… Read more
