GOODS: Local Icon “Diva At The Met” Has Joined The Growing Scout Community

We’ve invited longtime downtown fixture Diva At The Met to join our GOODS section as a recommended local restaurant that is well worth checking out. They’re now a proud member of Scout, and as such we’ll be publishing their tasty news front and center and hosting a page for them on our curated list of independent goodnesses. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support of Scout and for making Vancouver a more delicious place to live.

CHECK ALL THE “GOODS”

DINER: Award-Winning “West” Restaurant Hires Quang Dang As New Executive Chef

Today, the first day of NHL free agency, we’ve so far learned that Raffi Torres is off to the Coyotes and that the Canucks have re-signed Sami Salo and Chris Higgins. Not to be outdone, our local restaurant trade is making moves as well, beginning with the looming departure of first line center executive chef David Gunawan from South Granville’s venerable West to Belgium (in exchange for future considerations). To fill the captaincy, owner Jack Evrensel has booked the services of talented 1st round draft pick chef Quang Dang, who has successfully quarterbacked the powerplay at Diva in the Metropolitan Hotel for a little over a year now. No news as of yet on his replacement, but there’s no rush. Apparently, this deal doesn’t go through until the end of August. If that’s true, then there’s plenty of time for Diva to exploit free agency. There are several heavyweights currently available, and not many fine dining joints buying.

VANCOUVERITES: Thirty Eight Questions With New Diva At The Met Chef Quang Dang

We like Quang Dang. He is short and good tempered, owning a cool name that few know how to pronounce (we’ve been calling him “Wang” to his face for years). He’s also a terrific cook, currently masquerading as the executive chef at the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver and its posh little restaurant, Diva At The Met.

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Four things about Kitsilano that make you want to live there: Good restaurants, nice people, the beach, and the quiet. Even if I start disliking the ‘hood, I can’t stand moving.

The thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating: Chips with sour cream, and bacon…I’m addicted.

Default drink? Beer.

The thing that you really dig about working at Diva: Great kitchen with space to cook just about anything, and the crew.

The thing that you miss most about working at C Restaurant: Chef [Robert] Clark and Harry [Kambolis]. Ah, the adventures…

Bartender who could sell you anything? All of them.

What makes you angry? Cars that keep trying to run me over. Read more

“C” Chef De Cuisine Quang Dang Moves To Executive Role At Diva

“C” Restaurant chef de cuisine Quang Dang is on the move after being hired on as the new executive chef at Diva in the Metropolitan Hotel. The news, which should be made official any day now, comes shortly after it was announced that the downtown hotel’s chef of several years, Dino Renaerts, was on his way out to run West Van’s Fraiche and Crave Beachside.

Vancouver’s Best Bartenders Let Loose With Beer And Booze

Yesterday, local bartenders were asked to craft cocktails incorporating beers from Whistler Brewing Company in a timed competition. Held at The Refinery, the showdown included efforts from fifteen barkeeps in all, which meant my palate was in for something of a rude ride for over three hours (I was judging). Much fun was had, and some of the drinks were very impressive. Here’s what it looked like from my end, a recap of who made what with which ingredient and how it looked through a blender of tasting notes and photos. Thirsty? Giddy-up… Read more

Confirmed: Jeff Van Geest To Diva At The Met

We had this up as hearsay last week but it’s now confirmed. Former Aurora Bistro owner/chef Jeff Van Geest signed on the dotted line with Diva at the Met today to become Dino Renaerts’ executive sous/restaurant chef. His first day is tomorrow.

Congratulations to all involved. Win-win, et cetera.

Chef Jeff Van Geest Hired?

Word on the snowy streets is that former Aurora Bistro owner/chef Jeff Van Geest has been picked up by Diva at the Met as the restaurant chef under exec Dino Renaerts. Not sure if it’s a done deal yet, but when (and if) this becomes public I’d see it as a small coup for hotel.

Diva At The Met

Details

645 Howe Street, Vancouver BC | V6C 2Y9
Telephone: 604-602-7788
Email: reservations@divamet.com
Web: www.divamet.com | Facebook

Gallery

The People

Restaurant Manager: Corey Bauldrey
Hotel General Manager: Kari Koskela

About Diva At The Met

Diva at the Met, located in the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver, is an award-winning restaurant attracting guests both locally and from around the world with its innovative Cascadian cuisine, firmly rooted in the bounty of the region. The culinary team uses ingredients traceable to their origins, offering a path back to the restaurant’s strong relationships with farmers, fishermen and artisans. The food at Diva is about letting flavours speak for themselves, all the while ensuring the pure essence of the ingredient is the star of the dish.

Diva’s refined, contemporary setting reflects the company’s approach to redefining the standard in luxury hotel restaurants – Diva at the Met is a culinary force in its own right. Fittingly, the culinary team takes centre stage at the open Waldorf-style kitchen, which offers an additional six guest seats. Four distinct seating elevations in the restaurant offer a total of 120 seats and a range of dining experiences, beginning with a bar and lounge area at the street-front entry, and leading to the three separate dining levels.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2011, the restaurant continues its reputation for leading dining
trends in Vancouver through a commitment to elevating food to a true art form.

Accolades

“It is entirely appropriate that the food at the well-named Diva at the Met makes your tastebuds sing.” – Vancouver Sun, 2010

Sous Chef Jeff Kang wins both the Fetzer Great Beginnings Appetizer and Wine Challenge at the
2011 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

Georgia Straight Newspaper’s Golden Plates Awards (2011) Readers’ Choice, Best Hotel
Restaurant: Diva at the Met (Bronze)