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

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.

Seasoned, acclaimed restaurateurs Chris Stewart and Andrey Durbach (interview), owners of La Buca, Pied-a-Terre and Cafeteria, have just opened Commissary, a rather cool-looking little shop selling “prepared foods to take home.”

It’s located at 4027 Macdonald St. – right beside La Buca. They’re selling stocks, terrines, patés, soups, sauces, stuffed pastas and basically any of the ingredients that they employ in the recipes articulated in each of their restaurant kitchens. In addition to these staples, they also table proteins (we picked up some sweet sockeye for dinner) and gastro-esoterics like truffle paste and Callebaut baking chocolate. Cuteness aside, it’s cunningly utilitarian in its functionality for both them and us, serving not just as a space and means to make and sell what they’re already doing for themselves, but also to allow us in on the action with their surplus. Clever.

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS

Andrey Durbach and Chris Stewart's three restaurants prepare for New Year's Eve decadence.

News from Scout supporters Pied-a-Terre, La Buca, and Cafeteria

Vancouver, BC | Diners seeking decadence this New Years Eve will be able to celebrate in award-winning style at Andrey Durbach and Chris Stewart’s neighbourhood restaurants, Cafeteria, Pied-à-Terre, and La Buca. Matching the value-driven line-up of dishes will be an array of bubbles and boutique wines to fit any budget. Get all the details after the jump…

Guests at Main Street’s comfort food haven Cafeteria can expect to try dishes such as Mussel Bisque Mouclade finished with Curry Oil and grilled Sourdough; Grilled Veal Chop served with Vegetable and Potato Gnocchi Ragu, Celeriac puree, and whipped Gorgonzola; Fillet of Arctic Char, alongside Dungeness Crab mash, Spinach, and Bouillabaisse Jus; and Dulce de Leche mousse. Durbach’s three-course menu offers plenty of choice and is priced at $45 per person. Reservations will be taken for the evening; please visit http://www.cafeteriavancouver.ca/ for more information.

Over on Cambie street, French fortified Pied-à-Terre will be offering two seatings offering four and six course menus of dishes such as roasted Quail with Foie Gras and Raisin Brioche stuffing finished with Port Wine sauce; Salad of Endive and Watercress served with Apple Puree, crisp Ham, Hazelnut vinaigrette and aged Gouda shavings; Fillet Mignon with Oxtail Raviolo, Garlic and Celeriac puree and Burgundy sauce; and Yogurt Sorbet with Pink Grapefruit and Riesling syrup. Pied-à-Terre’s first seating features a menu of four courses priced at $60 per person, with the second seating featuring six courses priced at $80 per person. For full menus visit: http://www.pied-a-terre-bistro.ca/

Fans of Durbach’s Italian focused La Buca will have the option of two seatings featuring four and six course menus of dishes like Prosciutto di san Daniele served with Melon and cured Foie Gras shavings; Grilled Lamb Chops served with warm Panzanella, Red Wine, and Endiva Rosso; Wild Striped Bass with Spinach, roasted Tomato and Garlic-Lemon vinaigrette; Torta di Cioccolato with Praline and Pistachio sauce. La Buca’s first seating features a menu of four courses priced at $60 per person, with the second seating featuring six courses priced at $80 per person. For full menus visit: http://www.labuca.ca/

Cafeteria will be taking reservations for December 31st by phone at 778.317.3783. For reservations at Pied-à-Terre phone 604.873.3131. For reservations at La Buca phone 604.730.6988.

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.