Posted by janelle | March 23rd, 2012 | 1 Comment »
A few months ago, my husband and I had an amazing dining experience at La Quercia (4th/Alma). The tasting menu included a mouth-watering ‘made to order’ mushroom risotto that I just haven’t been able to stop thinking about. I tried to recreate the dish at home but the flavours were flat and the rice overly gummy. Then, the fates aligned.
Vancouver Olive Oil Company (2571 West Broadway) received a batch of new oils including Spanish Manzanillo Olive Oil, Roasted Sesame Oil and Mushroom and Sage Olive Oil. I received a dash of inspiration from my neighbour who adores VOOC and has been cooking with their oils and vinegars for weeks on end (thanks Melanie).
And here we have this wonderful dish that – while it can’t compete with La Quercia’s chefs Adam Pegg and Lucais Syme – is a smashing home rendition for the novice chef.
Mushroom and Sage Risotto
Ingredients
6 cups chicken broth, divided
¼ cup VOOC’s Mushroom and Sage Olive Oil, divided (plus extra to finish the dish)
2 pound assorted mushrooms, thinly sliced read more »
Posted by Taraneh | March 23rd, 2012 | Leave a comment »
Here’s a fun weekend homework assignment. A new contest, ‘Kits me – Love the ‘hood you’re in’ is calling for story submissions from Kitsilano residents past and present.
The contest is a joint effort by Kits House, Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce, West 4th BIA and the West Broadway BIA. The idea was conceived when Kits House fund developer Julie Rieter saw an old T-shirt with ‘I Heart My Hood’ on the front of it, for sale at one of the stalls during last year’s Khatsalano! Music and Art Festival.
‘Kits me’ aims to celebrate Kitsilano’s past and present. Community members are asked to submit stories explaining why they love their neighbourhood/home. 90 of these stories will be chosen by judges to adorn banners lining West 4th Avenue between Burrard and Balsam. The banners will go up in June. Story submissions are due April 5.
Submit your story online or in person at the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House office at 3683 West 4th at Alma.
Posted by Rob | March 21st, 2012 | 3 Comments »
It’s official. The restaurant space previously occupied by Lumière and db Bistro Moderne will be the new home of Q4 Ristorante.
Patrick Corsi, managing partner of Q4 Ristorante, and his partner Alex B. Tsakumis announced today that Q4 Ristorante by Quattro on West 4th Avenue will relocate to 2563 West Broadway in May.
The new space will give Q4 – which was originally known as Quattro on Fourth when it opened in 1994 – more seating as well as an opportunity to try something new.
The east side of the restaurant will be transformed into a wine bar and cocktail lounge, and the larger kitchen will service Q4 Catering and a new packaged foods division the company is launching. The new dining room will include 200 seats, a large bar, and a private room for up to 25 diners.
Posted by Taraneh | March 20th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Vancouver has 120,000 Iranians and today is their day. March 20 is Nowruz, Persian New Year, vernal equinox and the first day of spring.
About the Vernal Equinox
On the equinox, night and day are exactly the same length (12 hours) all over the world. When the sun crosses the celestial equator, Iranians welcome longer days – aka the start of sunny spring – with festivities.
Iranians are not the only culture in the Northern Hemisphere who prefer spring. Nowruz is celebrated by more than 300 million people worldwide as the beginning of the new year. It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia and other regions.
How to Celebrate Persian New Year
Like all good bashes, Nowruz is spread throughout the month of March. Although the new year starts on March 20, Iranians continue the festivities for 13 days after.
Because the equinox symbolizes a fresh start – nature’s rebirth after winter – many Iranians subject their houses to a serious spring cleaning. Families also germinate seeds in a pot; the new green shoots (sabzeh) symbolize rebirth and go on the Haft Sin table: a spread of items starting with “s” that represent the new year. Other Haft Sin symbols include hyacinths, coins, garlic, vinegar, intricately painted eggs and goldfish.
On the New Year’s Day, families dress fancy and start the 12-day celebrations by visiting their family and friends, starting with elders. On the 13th day families leave their homes for an all-day picnic: Sizdah Bidar.
Finding Iranian Culture in Kitsilano
One way to join the cultural festivities is to check out contemporary Iranian cinema like the Academy Award-winning, Iranian film A Separation by writer-director Asghar Farhadi. The film depicts the conflicts and contradictions at the heart of Iranian society using a tale of a couple going through a messy divorce.
A Separation is showing daily at Fifth Avenue Cinemas until March 22.
Posted by Taraneh | March 20th, 2012 | Leave a comment »
You probably associate Icebreaker TouchLab (West 4th and Arbutus) with warm winter layers, or perhaps those scantily clad, attractive, ram-headed individuals that sometimes roam the neighbourhood in pairs, sporting Icebreaker separates. But Icebreaker makes more than sporty winter wear; they have several spring clothing options that are well worth checking out.
Icebreaker just debuted their ultra-soft, luxurious spring/summer Black Sheep collection as a part of the New Zealand-based company’s Journeys range. Although you can’t go wrong with Icebreaker’s breathable merino workout wear, BlackSheep offers a chance to wear exceptionally fine, natural materials as chic daywear.
The Journeys range includes light tees, boatneck sweaters, minimalist dresses and simple cover-ups. Fun fact: The wool is 100% natural and biodegradable; if you bury it, it will simply disappear.
Pictured right: Icebreaker TouchLab’s fine, merino s/s 2012 Bliss Wrap from the Journeys Range. Image credit: Icebreaker Touchlab
Icebreaker Touchlab, 2089 West 4th Avenue, Icebreaker.com
Posted by janelle | March 19th, 2012 | Leave a comment »
Sweet Obsession, the neighbour and sister café to Trafalgars Bistro, now offers a made-to-order sandwich menu in addition to their usual case of irresistible cakes and sweets. Trafalgars has been serving Sweet Obsession cakes by the slice for years. This is the next natural iteration of the long-term relationship.
The Sweet Obsession sandwich board features a changing selection of seasonal and sustainable deli sandwiches.
The chicken and brie ciabata with pear cranberry compote may just be my new favourite midday bite,accompanied by a sweet treat like house-made dulce de leche of course!
Sweet Obsession Cakes and Pastries, 2611 West 16th, 604-739-0555, Sweetobsession.ca
Posted by Anthony | March 19th, 2012 | Leave a comment »
Daylight Saving Time has imposed itself upon us and spring is right around the corner. It’s a perfect time of year to give your bike some TLC. Unless you’re obsessive about keeping your bike in perfect working order, riding through the winter has resulted in dirt and grime building up on your bike. Grit from the wet roads has worn down the brakes. Your cables are stretched and worn. Generally speaking, the bike has seen better days.
read more »
Posted by janelle | March 17th, 2012 | 1 Comment »
My husband is Irish so St. Patrick’s Day has always been a fun holiday for us to celebrate. With my brother and sister in law in town visiting from Saskatchewan this St. Patty’s day weekend, I decided to make a big Irish themed family meal.
A few weeks ago I had stopped into The Honest Butcher (West Broadway/Trutch) for “Freezer Friday” – everything in the freezer is 50% off. I picked up a package of stewing beef and tucked it into my freezer. The local beef, which was perfectly frozen and of excellent quality, ended up being the star of our meal.
We enjoyed soda bread, peas, braised cabbage and Jamie Oliver’s Steak and Guinness Pie. Maybe it is the luck of the Irish, but I have made this pie at least a dozen times and it always gets rave reviews.
The recipe calls for the best quality all-butter puff pastry you can find. After trying a few different kinds, I think the pastry in the freezer at La Baguette & l’Echalote at Granville Island is probably your best bet.
Jamie’s recipe also calls for the addition of cheddar cheese but our family prefers to leave it out. That noted, I have left the original recipe in tact below. Recipe after the jump: read more »
Posted by Taraneh | March 16th, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Whether you’re the green beer and rowdy, late-night sort, or a quiet Guinness with corned beef and cabbage type, we’ve got you covered with this event line up for Saturday, March 17.
Join the crowd at Hell’s Kitchen to cheer on the boys as they destroy the Columbus Blue Jackets. Good ole Irish drinkin’ tunes playing all day as you enjoy a pint of Guinness, Bowen Irish Cream Ale or Jameson Irish Whiskey, all on special. Also, $20 gets you into a bowl of Chef’s famous Irish lamb stew + 20oz Pint of Bowen Island Irish Cream Ale + a shot of Jameson.
Take your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to Kitsilano’s favourite Oakwood Canadian Bistro, welcomes guests to their cozy neighourhood room with pints of Guinness on special for $5.50 all day long. Guests will also enjoy a pint of Guinness paired with the Oakwood’s acclaimed ‘All Canadian Poutine’ served with house smoked brisket, cheese curds and gravy for just $13.50.
Start off your St. Patrick’s Day bright and early this year at Kitsilano’s favourite Bimini Public House at 11am. Guests can expect a vibrant lively atmosphere and tasty elevated pub fare. At the bar is an extensive selection of local craft beers and worldly brands, as well as a unique list of house-crafted cocktails by the talented Bar & Beverage Director Trevor Kallies. To celebrate the luck of the Irish The Bimini will also offer Bushmills Irish Whiskey on special for $5 all day long.
On St. Paddy’s Day, The Grill will feature Garry O’Brien & Michael Veins playing classic Irish music. The menu will feature Irish favourites like mulligatawny soup and corned beef and cabbage. All whiskey will be on special, with a list of St. Patrick’s Day inspired whiskey cocktails.
Comment on this Facebook photo answering: How many pints of Guinness are consumed on St. Patrick’s Day worldwide? By doing so, you’ll enter a draw for a chance to WIN 1 of 4 $25 gift cards to LOCAL KITS & LOCAL SOCO. Draw takes place Friday at 11:45 (PST)
6) Ceili’s: St Patrick’s Day Party
You can start your St. Patrick’s Day rumpus today at Ceili’s with drink specials, bag pipes, dancers, live music and more. Kits residents can also drop by from 11am tomorrow for more of the same rowdy, green fun.
Posted by Taraneh | March 15th, 2012 | Leave a comment »
One of Kitsilano’s oldest and most beloved bars, Sunset Grill Tap House & Whiskey Bar, just joined Kitsilano.ca’s Local Profiles. In addition to a having a new web page in our EAT section, we’ll be keeping you updated with the latest on The Grill’s social events, Cask Nights and menu.
The Grill has been a Kits hangout since 1989, when it was launched by high school buddies Gary Reilly and Fred Wilson. After 23 years in business, this new world Irish pub really is the kind of place where everybody knows your name.
What’s new at The Grill
So what’s new at The Grill? Exciting stuff has happened.
When The Grill was forced to close due to water damage in late January, they turned a potential setback into a coup. The team polished The Grill’s look and menu, relaunching as Sunset Grill Whiskey Bar & Tap House in February.
The result is a sleek, new, logo, sign, interior, updated food menu and expanded whiskey list. If you haven’t seen the changes, head on over. read more »
