Spend a Night with Rigour & Whimsy at Selene Aegean Bistro, June 29th

The Goods from Selene Aegean Bistro

Vancouver, BC | Selene Aegean Bistro invites guests to experience A Night with Rigour & Whimsy on Sunday, June 29, 2025. This intimate Winemaker’s Dinner will feature a four-course menu by chefs Adrian Nate and Arish Dastoor, each paired with a curated selection of back vintages from the celebrated Okanagan Valley winery. Guiding the exclusive experience is winemaker Costa Gavaris, the unconventional creative force behind the label. Tickets are available now online.

From a college summer job in New Brunswick to a quiet obsession pursued through night classes and wine shop shifts in Vancouver, Gavaris’s journey to winemaking was anything but conventional. In 2016, Rigour & Whimsy was born, fuelled by a relentless curiosity and a deep love for the land.

“We are excited to welcome Rigour & Whimsy to Selene Aegean Bistro for our first-ever Winemaker’s Dinner,” says Yianni Kerasiotis, who co-owns Selene Aegean Bistro and several other neighbourhood favourites, Nammos Estiatorio, Loula’s Taverna, and AMA, with his brother Petro Kerasiotis. “We are huge fans of Costa and his wines, and have had several listed on our menu before and can’t wait for guests to enjoy a few of their hard-to-find back vintages, alongside chefs Adrian and Arish’s special menu for the evening.”

Tickets to A Night with Rigour & Whimsy are $200++ per person, and can be purchased online via Selene’s OpenTable Experiences. Gavaris says the evening “is more than a dinner – it’s a toast to transformation, terroir, and the stories we uncork along the way,” adding, “we look forward to sharing this special evening with our friends at Selene.” The menu features:

Welcome Sparkling
Rigour & Whimsy 2019 Pinot Blanc Trad

Course 1
Kibbeh – lamb sirloin, freekeh, baharat, spiced walnuts, grilled pita
Rigour & Whimsy 2022 Bite of The Dragon – Riesling

Mackerel – citrus fennel cured, pickled daikon, sourdough
Rigour & Whimsy Retsina

Course 2
Squash Blossom – scallop & octopus mousse, burnt citrus emulsion, raisin XO sauce
Rigour & Whimsy 2016 Pinot Blanc

Course 3
Venison – pepper and juniper glaze, blackberry pomegranate gastrique
Lion’s Mane Souvlaki – tallow roasted, walnut skordalia
Sunchokes – crushed & fried, rosemary, sumac aioli
Rigour & Whimsy 2020 Into the Darkest Wood – Syrah

Course 4
Honey Olive Oil Semolina Cake – mascarpone, roasted stone fruit
Rigour & Whimsy 2022 Return to the Beginning – Chardonnay (Late Harvest)

“Every bottle Costa opens carries a story, and we’re honoured to pour them alongside dishes from our kitchen that speak to our Aegean cuisine at Selene,” says Anna Siradze, wine director, Selene Aegean Bistro.

Selene Aegean Bistro is located at 360 Penticton Street and is open seven days a week. Brunch service is available on Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner service is available from 5 p.m. to late. Walk-ins are always welcome.

For more information, please visit seleneagn.com.