GOODS: “Adesso Bistro” Serving Romance In The West End Over Valentine’s Weekend
February 8, 2011
Adesso Bistro is located at 1906 Haro Street, Vancouver, BC. | 604.568.9975 | www.adessobistro.net
The GOODS from Adesso Bistro
Vancouver, BC | A romantic oasis nestled in Vancouver’s West End with a cozy garden-level dining room, Adesso Bistro is the natural lovey-dovey destination for Valentines. Its Italian-inspired dishes speak the language of love every day. But this Friday, February 11 to February 13 (along with the regular menu) and exclusively on Monday, February 14, a new three-course menu pulls out all the stops to let love flow. Full details after the jump… Read more
Um, The Reason Why Sales Are Down Is Because BC Restaurant Patrons Are Bored?
February 1, 2011
A little bit of morning WTF from the Vancouver Sun…
“It would appear the restaurant consumer in B.C. is much more sophisticated than restaurant consumers across Canada,” Carter said citing a theory that B.C. consumer expectations are so high that consumers are now bored. Although B.C. is the culinary apex of the country, most full service dining restaurants (think Cactus Club and Earl’s) are now serving very similar menus — menus which are successfully expanding across the country, but no longer appealing to B.C. consumers who seek ever greater innovation and variety.
I get the sophisticated part, but bored? It’s a nice idea – that the BC public has grown weary of the culinary ubiquity found in the Fuller family’s yawn-worthy boob palaces chain restaurants – but it seems entirely far-fetched. Perhaps I read it incorrectly…
B.C. diners are eating out less and spending less, but not because of the economy, the HST or even strict liquor laws — the problem is they are bored.
Cough-cough, sputter-sputter…
…while the introduction of the HST and strict liquor laws do have an impact on the marketplace, B.C.’s unemployment rate is lower than the national rate, and consumer confidence is higher than the rest of the country, Carter said. So while economic impacts play a role, they are not a key driver to full service restaurant traffic declines. [my italics]
Is that so? Well then allow me to posit that an elephant can hang off a cliff with its tail wrapped around a daisy and that newspaper circulation will recover when they stop printing dumb stuff.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the “international consumer and retail market research firm” that is making the point – the NPD Group – is just plain wrong on this one. Economic factors are the key cause of these receipt declines. The HST and strict liquor laws have done more damage to the industry’s bottom line than the public’s inability to stay enthralled by chicken wings served by high-heeled robots. To me, it sounds as if the NPD Group either landed some major outlier results in their research or that they’re actually from planet Dorkfrap and this is just a ploy to confuse us prior to invasion. Either way, I’d take it with a grain of salt and a bourbon chaser.
PS. Typical of any Sun/Province story, the real gold is in the reader comments, where you’d think a wasp’s nest has been power-washed with vinegar and repeatedly poked with sharp sticks.
GOODS: Denman’s Popular Nook Restaurant Has Joined The Growing Scout Community
January 27, 2011
We have invited Nook restaurant on Robson to join our Goods section. They are now proud members of Scout, and as such we will be publishing their news on our front page and hosting a page for them in our list of local and independent goodness. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support of our little website. If you think yours would be a good fit for Scout, we want to know.
GOODS: The Moda’s “Red Card” Readies Its 18 High Def Screens For Superbowl Sunday
January 26, 2011
Red Card is located at 900 Seymour Street (at Smithe) | Vancouver | 604-689-4460 | www.redcardsportsbar.ca
News from Scout supporter Red Card
Vancouver, BC | Super Bowl is just around the corner and Red Card is ramped up to showcase the biggest football event of the year. With eighteen high-def screens, a glowing cocktail bar, delicious Italian-style pizzas and an impressive beer list, the stylish downtown eatery is the place to catch all the Super Bowl action.
On Sunday February 6th, the party starts at 1pm and the game kicks off at 3:30pm. Red Card will feature pints of Kronenbourgh 1664 lager at $5 each and drink specials for $6. Guests have the chance to win NFL football jerseys, while noshing on Chef Andreas Wechselberger’s Super Bowl food features: American style chicken wings, dredged in seasoned flour and deep-fried & served with Frank’s red hot and ranch dip, and Super Bowl Chili made with beef, kidney beans and exotic spicing, served with tasty cornbread. For details about Red Card, click after the jump… Read more
Chef Neil Taylor Plating Special Three Course Taste Of Tuscany At Cibo Trattoria
January 25, 2011
Cibo Trattoria is located in the Moda Hotel at 900 Seymour Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-602-9570 | CiboTrattoria.ca
News from Scout supporter Cibo Trattoria
Vancouver, BC | Cibo Trattoria, the award-winning Italian eatery in downtown Vancouver’s chic Moda Hotel, is serving a taste of Tuscany. Executive Chef Neil Taylor and his talented kitchen brigade have used fine, fresh ingredients to craft a three-course menu that promises to transport guests to the idyllic Italian region.
Available until February 6 in addition to the regular a la carte menu, guests will savour three courses beginning with a choice of ribolita – soup of cannellini beans, bread, kale and extra-virgin olive oil — or chicken-liver Toscana served with house-made pickles and bruschetta. The main course features include: cacciucco, a Tuscan fish stew of rock cod, mussels, clams, octopus, tomato and chilli; tagliata di manzo, a marriage of skirt steak, cannellini beans, rosemary and green peppercorns; and pici, hand-rolled Tuscan spaghetti with pork ragu and pecorino. The grand finale is panforte – spiced fruit and nut cake — or chocolate nemesis river café.
Cibo Trattoria’s three-course Tuscan menu is $35 + tax per person, available in addition to the regular a la carte menu until February 6, 2011. Learn more about Cibo after the jump… Read more
Rosewood Hotel Georgia & “Hawksworth” Announce Opening Date Of May 7th, 2011
January 24, 2011
"Hawksworth" will open in the newly renovated Rosewood Hotel Georgia at 801 West Georgia in early May of 2011
News from Scout supporter Hawksworth:
Vancouver, BC | In honour of its vibrant history deeply intertwined with that of Vancouver itself, Rosewood Hotel Georgia will officially open its doors on Saturday May 7th 2011, exactly 84 years to the day that the hotel first opened its doors in 1927. Read more
Once Mighty Voya At The Loden Closes Its Doors For Good
January 20, 2011
A few months ago I made note of the fact that Voya in the Loden Hotel had quickly gone from one of the city’s most promising restaurants to one that was in big trouble (read the whole thing here). Well, they’re finished. Voya has closed and won’t re-open again, at least not as Voya. If all goes according to plan, a new restaurant will be taking its place in the Spring of this year (which probably means next Fall). I’m told it’ll be a re-imagining of a French bistro, and that Marc-Andre Choquette will be at the helm, and that hotel guests are now being given vouchers to dine at the Glowbal Group’s restaurants.
“The Cascade Room” On Main St. Gets Ready For Robbie Burns Day
January 19, 2011
The Cascade Room is located at 2616 Main Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-709-8650 | www.thecascade.ca
News from Scout supporter The Cascade Room
On Tuesday, January 25th, celebrate Robert Burns Day with an evening of Scottish food, drink and music at The Cascade Room. Head down for a little whisky education and free tasters of the Bruichladdich Single Malt range from their Islay distillery. Chef Travis Williams will be serving a traditional Burn’s Supper from the Cascade kitchen of Cock-A-Leekie Soup and Traditional Haggis. Not to be outdone, the bar will have features on all single measures of scotch selections, as well as the concoction of such classic Scotch cocktails as the “Bobbie Burns”, the “Rob Roy” and the “Rusty Nail”. Live music from the fantastic Celtic duo ROOLYA BOOLYA from 8pm on… Read more
Chinatown’s Award-Winning “Bao Bei” Seeking Experienced Cook
January 19, 2011
Bai Bei Chinese Brasserie is located at 163 Keefer St. in Vancouver, BC | 604-688-0876 | www.bao-bei.ca
Job posting from Scout supporter Bao Bei
Vancouver, BC | Bao Bei is looking for an organised, hard working cook to run the garde manger station full-time at our busy, award-winning modern Chinese restaurant. 5 years cooking experience desired (Chinese food knowledge a plus but not necessary). Must also be adept on saute section. Committed professionals without attitude need only apply to joelwatanabe2000 [at] yahoo [dot ca]. Find out more about the restaurant after the jump… Read more
Scout List: Film At The Waldorf And Crazy Good Hot Chocolate
January 19, 2011
The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit.
The Scout List is our carefully considered, first rate agenda of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours… Read more
