by Andrew Morrison | Rainier Provisions, the long anticipated new delicatessen from Gastown/DTES restaurateur Sean Heather (see also Salt Tasting Room, Bitter, Judas Goat, The Irish Heather, et cetera), is – as you can see from the shots below – inching closer to opening day. Stumptown Coffee’s Matt Pfaff was up from Seattle yesterday to help train the staff, and the finishing touches were being done to the decor. Very shortly we’ll see the retail shelves filled with all manner of foodstuffs and the display cases stocked with a selection of Spanish, French, Italian, and UK cheeses, several types of cured meat from East Hastings’ Moccia & Urbani, awesome D-Original sausages, eggs fresh from Rabbit River Farms, and other tasty bits besides. Service will also see daily bangers, a gluten free pasta, vegan chili, and a roast of sorts (eg. beef, porchetta). Rainier Provisions will be licensed, too, so expect bourbon to rule with 18 different types supplemented by six beers on tap (including growler size) and a couple of reds and whites by the glass. Opening day should be between the end of Dine Out and Valentine’s Day, which would put it almost 13 months behind its original January 2012 target date (shit happens). They’re aiming specifically for the 9th of February, with fingers crossed.

THEN (SEPTEMBER 2011)

NOW (JANUARY 2013)

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS