Inside The Highly Anticipated Restoration Of “Save On Meats”
April 12, 2011
After much cajoling over many months, Mark Brand finally gave me a tour of the much anticipated Save On Meats renovation/restoration yesterday. It was well worth the wait.
Way back in May of last year, Scout broke the news that the space – for over 50 years the pride and joy of proprietor Al DesLauriers – had been picked up by restaurateur Mark Brand (see also Boneta, The Diamond, Sea Monstr Sushi, Catalog Gallery and Sharks + Hammers). Not only did Mark get the digs – lock, stock and sausage maker – he was able to sign a 20 year lease on the whole building. That’s a basement and four floors, not to mention a pretty cool roof (which we’ll get to later).
When Brand took possession that July, word came that the name would not be changed and that the landmark neon sign depicting happy pigs and dollar signs in hot pink/red would be remaining as well. Beyond that, very little has been leaked about the project except a bit of rumour here and conjecture there. The veracity of all I could gather from snippets, hints and dozens of conversations with him and others over the intervening months was proven on the tour. Yes, there will be fish in addition to meat. Yes, there is a vintage jukebox. Yes, there is a foosball table (in the commissary). Yes, pretty much everything is being custom made, and so on. And yes, it’s all pretty damn stunning. Read more
GOODS: Join The Ladies Of “House Wine” At Boneta For Argentine Tour Plans
February 21, 2011
House Wine is a wine consultancy company from trade vets Michaela Morris & Michelle Bouffard | www.housewine.ca
The GOODS from House Wine
Vancouver, BC | Join house wine’s Michelle Bouffard and Michaela Morris as well as Indus Travels’ Raju Banerjee on Saturday, March 5th from 2-3pm at Boneta Restaurant (1 West Cordova) for an info session about our upcoming wine tour to Argentina. Michelle and Michaela will share their experiences and give you the scoop about the places you will visit (and why you can expect some very special treatment). The afternoon will be full of stories, pictures and laughter. The session is free but space is limited. Please RSVP by Monday, February 28th to info@housewine.ca. Check after the jump for further details… Read more
A Night Of Classic Napa Valley Wine At Gastown’s “Boneta”
September 24, 2010
Boneta Restaurant is located in the heart of Gastown at 1 West Cordova St. | 604-684-1844 | www.boneta.ca
News from Scout supporter Boneta
Vancouver, BC | On Tuesday October 5th celebrate over 4 decades of estate wine making with Napa Valley’s famed Trefethen Vineyard and Boneta Restaurant. As one of Napa Valley’s few remaining family wine estates, Trefethen Vineyards has never purchased a single outside grape. Located in the Oak Knoll District, the estate vineyard is nestled in a verdant landscape of vines at the cooler, southern end of Napa Valley.
Diners will have the opportunity to sample some of the winery’s special library selections, including their signature wine, HaLo, and a gorgeous Chardonnay celebrating their 35th anniversary vintage of this wine. To highlight these exceptional wines Chef Jeremie Bastien has created a four-course menu of hearty fall dishes including Wild Mushroom Arancini and Parsley Root Ravioli with Brown Butter and Fried Capers.
Expert sommelier and Napa enthusiast Neil Ingram will also be on hand to walk guests through this wonderful glimpse of classic Southern California wine making at it’s finest. Read more
“Boneta” Playing Host To Dinner Paired With Similkameen Wines…
August 13, 2010
Boneta Restaurant is located in the heart of Gastown at 1 West Cordova St. | 604-684-1844 | www.boneta.ca
News from Scout supporter Boneta
Vancouver, BC | From sun-drenched orchards to lazy rivers, the Similkammen Valley in BC’s beautiful southern interior is known as the organic farming capital of Canada. Now enjoy the height of the harvest at Boneta Restaurant for the Similkameen Wineries Association’s special Wine Maker’s Dinner on Tuesday, August 24th beginning at 6:30 PM. Details after the jump… Read more
Andre McGillivray Done At The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe…
August 10, 2010
The following release from CSBDL will be making the media rounds shortly…
The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe would like to announce the amicable departure of André Mcgillivray from the day-to-day operations and directorship of the company. We will forever be in his debt and would like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best as he focuses on the joys of family, fatherhood and a new direction. Steve Da Cruz, chef Jason Liezert and everyone on the team at The Corner Suite look forward to serving you soon.
Farewell, André. Good luck to you and Steve both.
The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe Joins The Scout Community…
August 6, 2010
The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe is now a proud member supporter of Scout. We will be publishing their news and press releases on our front page and hosting a page for them in our list of recommended places to check out. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support of our little website. Click ahead to read on or jump directly to their Scout page. Read more
“Boneta” Moving Into Cool New Gastown Digs This February…
July 28, 2010
As announced last night at Boneta’s birthday party, the popular Gastown eatery’s time at 1 West Cordova is coming to a close. That might have caused some furrowed brows and maybe even a tear, but fret not, as owners Jeremie, Mark and Neil aren’t finished just yet. As a wise old man once said, now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning…
Here’s the exclusive skinny.
In February of next year, Boneta will close and reopen in a new location just a lob wedge away in a new Gastown development known as The Garage. You know that mysterious courtyard spot (prone to a dozen rumours since completed last year) behind L’Abattoir and the original Shebeen, the one that’s all glassed in and brand spanking new? That’s it: 2,222 sqft of prime virgin space with entrances through Gaoler’s Mews, Water St., and Blood Alley.
I checked it out as a temporary “pop-up” gallery in the Spring and hoped against hope that it would be turned into a restaurant once it was finished. It’s one of those unique, totally killer spots that is set back from the street, away from the drifting weekend Red Bull yahoos and Old Spaghetti Factory tourists. If anyone could make it work, it’s these guys (kudos to Robert Fung of The Salient Group for getting that).
What does it give Boneta that it didn’t have before? An 800 sqft solarium equipped with five sliding doors; floor to ceiling glass and a roof that’s over 30% glass; a U-shaped bar with 12 seats; a year round heated and covered courtyard patio for 12 (think Brix); and brand new everything from electric to A/C.
They’re downsizing the seating capacity a little, from 100+ to 65-75, but I’ll be the last to complain about that as I think intimate is better for the concept than spread out. The artwork – something Boneta is known for – will be making the move, too, as will much of the original room’s motifs (they’re hoping to recycle/reclaim plenty).
As regular readers and diners might remember, they were only supposed to be in the Cordova location for one year, but one year turned to two, and now three is enough. They had a countdown clock on their website when they first opened back in 2007 (now long gone), and they hope to get it back up soon to let diner’s know how much time they have left to enjoy the original, which will be sorely missed.
For my part, I’ve had a lot of good times and made many friends in that room. I’m sure that’s the case with many of you as well. Join us in digging it while it lasts… Read more
Celebrating Three Years Since Boneta Arrived On The Scene…
July 26, 2010
One of my favourite joints in town, Boneta, turns 3 years old tomorrow, and you know they’re going to throw down with a party to celebrate. Three DJ sets will be spun, including one by co-owner Mark Brand and his Sharks+Hammers/Sea Monstr Sushi partner Alex Usow. They’re extending the invite to those Scout readers who are regulars. I wager it’ll be a rager. See you there.
Restaurateur Mark Brand Picks Up Landmark “Save On Meats”
May 8, 2010
Mark Brand, co-owner of Boneta, The Diamond, Sea Monstr Sushi and Shark + Hammers, has secured a lease on the building that has housed the iconic Save On Meats at 43 West Hastings for over half a century. Possession comes in July. Brand has food related plans for every floor, as well as a restaurant at street level. Will the glorious, towering neon sign stay with its smiling pigs and dollar signs? About 2 million people hope so…
Read more
Celebrate BC Craft Beer at Homegrown Heroes Cask Dinner
May 1, 2010
The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe Collaborates with Five Local BC Breweries this May 12th, 2010
News from Scout supporter R&B Brewing Co.
Vancouver BC | On Wednesday May 12th at 7:30pm, The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe and R&B Brewing Co. present the Homegrown Heroes Cask Dinner. Five local BC Craft Breweries, including R&B Brewing Co, Crannog Ales, Steamworks Brewing Co., Vancouver Island Brewery and Spinnakers Brew Pub, will each present a cask beer to pair with one of five courses prepared by Chef Jason Leizert of The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe. Homegrown Heroes diners will indulge in five courses including R&B Saison poached Foie Gras Terrine with pickled prune paired with R&B Psycho Saison Belgian Ale, Boudin Blanc with pomme puree & grainy mustard sauce paired with Crannog Gael’s Blood Potato Ale, Sablefish Collars, rhubarb galette, stinging nettle beurre blanc paired with Steamworks NXNW Pale Ale, braised Oxtail Pot Pie, flowering brussel sprouts, poached organic egg yolk, bacon jam paired with Vancouver Island ALT and Cocoa Nib chocolate truffles & 5 year aged cheddar from Quebec paired with Spinnaker’s Oatmeal Stout. Tickets for the dinner are $80 and will include a commemorative tee shirt exclusive to the Homegrown Heroes Cask Dinner. Full details after the jump… Read more
