INTERVIEW: Bud Kanke On The Sale Of Joe Fortes And 40 Years In The Restaurant Trade
March 1, 2012
Bud Kanke is a legend in Vancouver’s restaurant business. In his 40 year career, he founded 11 restaurants, among them The Cannery, Fish House in Stanley Park, Mulvaneys and the venerable Joe Fortes. In those four decades, the always smartly dressed father of three (and grandfather of six) saw his rooms rake in over half a billion dollars in sales, allowing for 20,000 man years of employment. A graduate of Magee High and UBC (Accounting), he has been active in 20 other businesses ranging from real estate development and gold mining to the manufacture of products for Boeing, General Motors, and the Hi-Tech sector. Bud has received a Lifetime Culinary Achievement Award, has twice been nominated for BC Entrepreneur of the Year, and has been inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.
In the next 48 hours, a little over a month after his sale of Goldfish in Yaletown, Vancouver’s media outlets will receive a press release announcing his sale of Joe Fortes, Bud’s last remaining restaurant property, to David Aisenstat of The Keg (it will remain as Joe Fortes). The legend is retiring, but the show goes on. We’d like to take this opportunity – on behalf of all our readers – to thank Bud for advancing our restaurat scene along and for setting a high standard of leadership in the trade. We wish him and his wife Dotty all the best. What follows, then, is his last interview as an active restaurateur… Read more
GOODS: An Afternoon Gathering Of Bearded Gentlemen At Gastown’s “Pourhouse”
February 10, 2012
Pourhouse is located at 162 Water St. in Vancouver, BC | 604-568-7022 | www.pourhousevancouver.com
The GOODS from Pourhouse
Vancouver, BC | Beard appreciation has become a passion for a few of us at Pourhouse. Though few in numbers, our in?uence is strong. I can?t help but wonder if perhaps the beard has something to do with that? In any case, on the last Monday of every month we have decided to invite our bearded comrades to gather with us and just ?be?. Starting February 27, from 4pm – 7pm, Pourhouse will host An Afternoon Gathering of Bearded Gentlemen. Our Chef will prepare delicious beard friendly snacks (on the house) and our sophisticated bearded bartender will be at your command. Enjoy the company of other bewhiskered chaps. There will be discussions on the bene?ts of beards, beard maintenance, bearded ladies, as well as other beard and non-beard related gentlemanly topics of conversation. Come enjoy an afternoon of nosh and libations with other men that share your values…men that just want to be men. Read more
GOODS: Fire & Flame Menu At C Restaurant Runs From February 10th Through The 14th
February 9, 2012
C is located at 2-1600 Howe St on the False Creek seawall in Vancouver BC | 604-681-1164 | www.crestaurant.com
The GOODS from “C” Restaurant
Vancouver, BC | C Restaurant has designed a Valentine’s menu perfect for passion. Beginning February 10th the restaurant will be offering a nine-course “Fire & Flame” tasting menu with dishes inspired by fire. And the flames won’t just be heating up the kitchen: performances with fire will also be on display on the patio in an outdoor lounge that will be created specifically for the evening of February 14th. The Fire & Flame menu will be offered beginning February 10th, giving lovebirds ample time to enjoy an early Valentine’s Day treat. Reservations can be made by phoning the restaurant directly at 604-681-1164. To view menus or learn more visit www.crestaurant.com. Menu after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Gastown’s “L’Abattoir” On The Hunt For An Expediter To Join Its Service Team
February 8, 2012
L'Abattoir is located at 217 Carrall St in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood | 604-568-1701 | www.labattoir.ca
The GOODS from L’Abattoir
Vancouver, BC | Gastown’s L’Abattoir restaurant is looking for a competent food runner to work 3 to 5 shifts a week on a flexible schedule. The restaurant will prove to be a great training ground for those looking to move up in the trade. Minimum restaurant experience unnecessary, but desired. The lucky candidate will really only need to be intelligent with a great attitude, a driven sensibility, and a yen for learning from some of the best in town. Only the brave need apply to paul [at] labattoir [dot ca]. Learn more about the restaurant after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Both Of East Van’s Campagnolos & Kitsilano’s Refuel Taking Resos For V-Day
February 8, 2012
Campagnolo Roma is located at 2297 East Hastings Street in Vancouver, BC | 604-569-0456 | www.campagnoloroma.com
The GOODS from Refuel, Campagnolo, and Campagnolo Roma
Vancouver, BC | Valentine’s Day is fast approaching! This may be an exciting night out with someone special in your life or you may just want to have a quick bite and avoid it all together. Either way, we at Refuel, Campagnolo, Campagnolo Roma want to make sure your dining experience is delicious and memorable, so we have a few options for you. Get all the details after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Valentine’s Day At Pourhouse Will See Romantic Menu Designed For Sharing
February 7, 2012
Pourhouse is located at 162 Water St. in Vancouver, BC | 604-568-7022 | www.pourhousevancouver.com
The GOODS from Pourhouse
Vancouver, BC | This Valentine’s Day (February 14th), enjoy a night of deliciousness with someone you love. Pourhouse has created a sumptuous menu of romantic dishes that have been designed for two people to share. Reservations are being accepted, but spots are already filling up fast! Take a look at the menu and learn more about the restaurant after the jump… Read more
Smoke Break #922: A Beautiful Love Story About Working In The Restaurant Business
February 1, 2012
by Andrew Morrison | This is for all the restaurant industry folks coming off shift tonight. Dine Out Vancouver and Feast Van are both nearing their respective ends (Feb. 5th), and having worked the former for many years, I know you must be dog tired and dreaming of a trip far, far away in order to recharge your batteries and blow some of the cash that you’ve toiled so long and hard for. Might I suggest Midtown Manhattan? There, you can pay a visit to Prime Burger, where some of the staff have been on hand for 50 years, and where you just might find the inspiration to look forward to your first night back, whether it be at Hapa or Hawksworth. Of course, if you’d sooner go to Maui, knock yourself out. Maybe just enjoy the film above on the flight between well-earned beers.
For many of the guys that work here, the restaurant is like a second home – some of them have been slinging burgers, making shakes, and waiting on customers at this location for decades. Opened in 1938, the place hasn’t been altered since the early ’60s, and it looks all the better for it.
TAKE ANOTHER BREAK
DINER: Meat & Bread To Open New Spot In The Heart Of Vancouver’s Financial District
February 1, 2012
by Andrew Morrison | The triumvirate that brought us the original Meat & Bread on Cambie off Hastings are opening a second location in the heart of Vancouver’s financial district. Owners Cord Jarvie and Frankie Harrington, together with chef Joseph Sartor, have just signed for a small space at the foot of Oceanic Plaza (1033 West Hastings). That’s a lob wedge west of Burrard, right on the periphery of the casual chain lunch domain (see Joeys, Cactus Club, Elephant & Castle), and totally dwarfed on all sides by skyscrapers.
As you can see from the shots below, the new digs are cloaked in plywood. That’s because an entrance and an exit are being constructed concurrently with the interior build. When it’s finished, it should have a similar look and feel to the original, only with less seats (10) and an L-shaped counter set-up rather than a straight line. I imagine it’ll be a noticeably more modern, too, considering its concrete, glass and steel shell (as opposed to the aged bones of the Cambie location).
Craig Stanghetta is on the design job again, with Glasfurd & Walker doing the branding (expect plenty of white tile and herringbone wood pattern). Menu-wise, it won’t be an exact carbon copy of the original. The sandwich that they’re most famous for, the Porchetta, will be on the steel wall menu for sure, but beyond that it’s up in the air. The coolest thing? The new exit will open out into the massive, sunken plaza with hundreds of places to sit in the fresh air, making it the largest, unofficial, unstaffed patio in the city. Opening day should come at some point during April.
ALL ANTICIPATED RESTAURANTS
DINER: Yaletown’s “Goldfish” To Close This Sunday (“Miku” To Take Over The Location)
January 31, 2012
The rumours have been swirling for a spell, but it’s official: Yaletown’s Goldfish will close for good this Sunday. The following note will be released shortly…
We would like to say a sincere thank you for your loyal patronage over the years. Goldfish will officially say farewell to Yaletown as of Sunday, February 5, 2012. We are making way for an exciting new concept at the 1118 Mainland St location in Summer with a new operator. We hope you’ll come down and join us in celebrating our restaurant during its last week before our famed bacon fried rice, short ribs, an seafood dishes are gone forever. We encourage guests with a valid gift certificates to visit Goldfish before February 5th. Thank you once again for making these a memorable five years!
Sincerely,
Thomas, Shon, and the entire Goldfish team.
Go well, everyone. We hope you all land on your feet running. The “new operator” is the same company that brought us the under-sung sushi joint, Miku.
GOODS: Alberni’s “Pink Elephant Thai” To Extend Dine Out Offerings For Extra Week
January 30, 2012
Pink Elephant Thai is located at 1152 Alberni Street in Vancouver, BC | 604.646.8899 | www.pinkelephantthai.com
The Goods from Pink Elephant
Vancouver, BC | Can’t get enough Dine Out? Neither can Pink. Desmond Chen, president of Thai House Restaurant Group, is pleased to announce that his newest restaurant, Pink Elephant Thai, is extending its popular $18 Dine Out Vancouver menu until February 29. The three-course, $18 menu offers incredible value and several favourite Thai dishes. Take a look at the options after the jump… Read more
