A Peck of Press Releases

Aurora Bistro brings Your Lunch; Sanafir travels the Silk Route to Beijing; Italian Kitchen captures Tuscany; West Coast at Coast; and more after the jump...

Aurora Bistro Brings Your Food, Your Wine to Lunch

Vancouver, BC – Due to the overwhelming popularity of their mid-week summer tasting series at Aurora Bistro, "Your Food, Your Wine @ Aurora” is now available for lunch as well! Alongside of the regular lunch menu, "Your Food, Your Wine @ lunch” brings you a fresh monthly tasting menu available Monday - Thursday 11:00am – 2:30pm from now until October 2, 2008. For $18 per person, guests will enjoy two regional dishes prepared by celebrated Chef Jeff Van Geest, with suggested BC wine pairings for an additional $12.

Aurora's Your Food Your Wine menus change monthly and are available for lunch Monday - Thursday from 11:00am - 2:30pm, and for dinner Monday - Thursday from 5:30pm – 7:00pm until October 2, 2008.

The following menus are in effect until August 28.

Your Food, Your Wine LUNCH
2 courses for $18, wine pairings are an additional $12

Albacore Tuna Tataki Sandwich
On a baguette, local daikon and organic melon salad, Oyama Prosciutto and a ponzu aioli (served with a cup of salsify soup)
Granville Island Osake Junmai Nama

Chevre Cheesecake
with local cherries
Granville Island Osake Junmai Nama Nigori

Your Food, Your Wine DINNER
3 savory courses includes wine pairings for $49 per person plus tax & gratuity

Albacore Tuna Tataki
with local daikon and Oyama Prosciutto with organic melon in ponzu sauce
Granville Island Osake Junmai Nama
~
Salsify Soup
with Oyster Tempura and Shiso
Little Straw Vineyards 2007 Sauvignon Blanc
~
Sakekasu Braised Pork Belly
Pemberton potato salad and garlic scape relish
Philips Phoenix Gold Lager

(Indulge in dessert for an additional $11)
Chevre Cheesecake with local cherries
Granville Island Osake Junmai Nama Nigori

Aurora Bistro makes regional cuisine fun and delectable for casual diners and food lovers alike. Hailed as Vancouver’s Best Regional Restaurant in the 2007 and 2008 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, Aurora is open for dinner nightly at 5:30pm, lunch Monday - Friday from 11:00am – 2:30pm, and brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am - 2:00pm. Aurora Bistro is located at 2420 Main St., Vancouver, B.C. For more information please call 604-873-9944, or visit www.aurorabistro.ca

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Coast Showcases West Coast Cuisine
August 13-24
West Coast cuisine - fresh, from the ocean and the land - is featured at COAST Restaurant, August 13-24. Sourced to represent the best of the west, the menu is the panacea for classic West Coast cuisine cravings.

"We've created dishes and a menu that not only reflect COAST's commitment to quality, but also represent true West Coast delights," explains Executive Chef Josh Wolfe.
On the menu are Seafood and Corn Chowder with shrimp, scallops, lobster and mussels; King Crab Cakes with asparagus and fennel salad drizzled with orange vinaigrette; Seared Sablefish with oven-cured heirloom tomatoes and goat cheese brûlée; Roasted Alaskan Halibut with cauliflower puree and corn fritters, and BC Peach Cobbler for dessert.

Appetizer
Seafood and Corn Chowder $11
shrimp, scallops, lobster, mussels and corn
Suggested wine pairing:
Burrowing owl ~ Pinot Gris 2006, Okanagan Valley, BC $11.50/gl
or
King Crab Cakes $18
asparagus and fennel salad, orange vinaigrette
Suggested wine pairing:
Joie ~ "Noble blend" 2006, Naramata Bench, BC $12.50/gl

Main Course
Seared Sablefish $34
oven-cured heirloom tomatoes and goat cheese brûlée
Suggested wine pairing:
McMannis ~ Pinot Noir 2005, Central Coast, CA $11.00/gl
or
Roasted Alaskan Halibut $32
cauliflower puree and corn fritters
Suggested wine pairing:
Benziger ~ Chardonnay 2005, Sonoma County, CA $10.75/gl

Dessert
BC Peach Cobbler $9
lavender crème fraîche
Suggested wine pairing:
Essencia ~ Orange Muscat 2005, CA $9.75/gl

COAST Restaurant is located at 1257 Hamilton Street in Yaletown. For a special evening, book your seat - and up to fourteen seats - at the Chef's Community Table. Or enjoy the heated outdoor patio for a Vancouver al fresco experience, year-round. Please call 604.685.5010 for reservations.

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'Going Global' at glowbal grill & satay bar
Pacific Rim
August 14-20 
Take a culinary tour of the Pacific Rim! August 14-20, glowbal grill & satay bar offers dishes from the hot food spots circling the Pacific Ocean, featuring influences ranging from Asia to the Queen Charlottes.

Tuck into Rock Prawn and Lobster Croquette or Pacific fried Oysters to start. Dive into entree selections like Fire Grilled King Salmon, Grilled Lamb Chops or sample a bit of everything with the Pacific Rim Platter for Two. The featured sweet treat finishing the tour -- a delightful Raspberry and Blackberry Tart with lemon curd.

APPETIZER
Rock Prawn and Lobster Croquette, Grilled Black Tiger Prawn $12
smoked tomatoes, organic greens
lemon balm hollandaise

Crispy Pacific Fried Oysters $12
mango papaya salsa, spicy aioli

ENTREE
Fire Grilled King Salmon $32
dungeness crab crusted, baby shrimp
asparagus and spinach gnocchi, scampi butter sauce

Grilled Lamb Chops $36
Salt Spring Island goat cheese potatoes
sautéed greens, rosemary jus

Pacific Rim Platter for Two $36 per person
rock prawn and lobster croquette, grilled lamb chops
dungeness crab crusted salmon
asparagus and spinach gnocchi, grilled vegetables

DESSERT
Raspberry and Blackberry Tart $9
lemon curd

Located at 1079 Mainland Street in Yaletown, Vancouver's hot mecca for food and fashion, glowbal grill & satay bar's 100-seat room boasts sleek decor and an electric atmosphere. A 40-foot long bar, illuminated cubes and open kitchen and satay bar invite guests into a buzz of energy. Call 604.602.0835 for reservations.

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Italian Kitchen Captures Tuscany
August 14-24 
Tuscany, Italy - known for its bounty and beauty - takes centre stage at Italian Kitchen August 14 to 24. The harvest of the land takes diners straight to the heart of true Italian cuisine.

"We're bringing lovely Tuscan fare into our kitchen and to our guests," says Executive Chef Ryan Gauthier.

For evidence, look to the Gamberi alla Toscana: shrimp sautéed with cannelini beans and braised arugula; Gramugia: soup with fava beans, artichokes, peas and asparagus; and entrees Bistecca Florentina: grilled T-bone steak with panzanella salad; and Pappardelle alla Leper: braised rabbit in rich vegetable sauce. Finally, for dessert, savour Paneforte with vin santo.

APPETIZER
Gamberi alla Toscana $16
shrimp sautéed with cannelini beans and braised arugula

Gramugia $10
soup with fava beans, artichokes, peas and asparagus

Entrée
Bistecca Florentina $40
T-bone steak grilled with panzanella salad

Pappardelle alla Leper $21
braised rabbit in a rich vegetable sauce

Dessert
Paneforte $9
vin santo

Italian Kitchen is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver at 1037 Alberni Street. Reserve your seat on the ground floor or take a seat upstairs alongside the floor-to-ceiling windows. For reservations, please call 604.687.2858

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Sanafir:  Discovering the Silk Route
'City of Beijing'
August 13 to 23
From one city to the next, Arabian-inspired Sanafir is taking diners on a tour of the Silk Route. Beijing debuts August 13-23, featuring a delicious three-course menu.
Executive Chef Mark McEwan was inspired by the excitement surrounding the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. "To introduce our guests to another new destination, each dish was created to reflect the culinary influences found in the city," says McEwan.

Featured dishes include shredded BBQ Duck Mu Shu wraps in orange hoisin sauce, a Beijing Trio of Sichuan-style Chicken Kung Pow, Mapo Dofu minced pork and tofu, steamed Hargow Shrimp Dumplings, and dessert of Chinese 5-spiced Flourless Chocolate Cake with sweet red bean sauce.

Silk Route 'City of Beijing' menu is $30 per person exclusive of tax, beverage and gratuity.
Appetizer
Shredded BBQ Duck Mu Shu wraps in orange hoisin sauce

Beijing Trio

• Sichuan Style Chicken Kung Pow with peanuts and mixed vegetable
• Mapo Dofu minced pork and tofu in a spicy green onion sauce
• Steamed Har Gow Shrimp Dumplings with garlic chili sauce

Dessert
Chinese 5 spiced Flourless Chocolate Cake with sweet red bean sauce

Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge is Vancouver's most imaginative tapas restaurant and bar located at 1026 Granville Street. Lush décor reminiscent of an Arabian night creates a luxe and exotic atmosphere. The menu showcases innovative twists on Asian, Mediterranean and Indian flavours. Please call 604.678.1049 to reserve your table.

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Highlights from “ON THE WOOD”
FigMint Restaurant and Lounge – Executive Chef Lee Humphries
Never a Dull Moment!

Vancouver - On Thursday, August 7th, in honour of BC Day, Figmint Restaurant and Lounge presented a tasting of Crannóg Ales, Canada’s only Certified Organic farmhouse microbrewery, along with BC Cheeses from the Mount Pleasant Cheese Shop.

Along with these outstanding products Chef Lee Humphries added his own very unique touch making sure this wasn’t just your ordinary beer and cheese tasting.

He cooked up a fresh grapefruit pickle, (bitter marmalade); served “Pigs in a Blanket” in honour of those little Crannóg beer kegs that look like baby pigs; baked some hazelnut biscuits with the most devine espresso crumble and gave us a cherry float to finish - all that paired with beer!

Always making sure that you get not only the unexpected but a well thought out, unique pairing, Chef Lee Humphries ensures any event at FigMint is memorable.

Join us on September 4th for “On the Wood” as we present "A Taste of Spain" 6pm to 7:30pm - Sixteen seats at the bar - $25 per person. This month our beverages will be wine and sherry:

Martin Códax, Albariño, Rias Baixas Spain 06
Juan Gil Jumila, 03, Condado De Haza Ribera Del Duero, 04
Lustau Don Nuno, Dry Oloroso Solera.

Future “On the Wood” events:
Thursday, October 2nd - Food and Drink from French Canada
Thursday, November 6th - Gin and Olives

Here again, for your interest, is the detailed menu from the last tasting…

Crannóg Ales Beyond the Pale Ale
Extra Aged Gouda
Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm, (Certified Organic) from Salmon Arm, BC
served with Chef Lee Humphries house made grapefruit pickle

Crannóg Ales Hell’s Kitchen
Blossom’s Blue
Moonstruck Organic Cheese from Salt Spring Island, BC
served with “Pigs in a Blanket”- house made pork sausage
wrapped in tomato crepes with maple syrup

Crannóg Ales Back Hand of God
Farm House Brie
Brie from the Farm House Natural Cheeses in Agassiz, BC
with a chocolate rosemary biscuit and hazelnut espresso crumble

Crannóg Ales Pooka Cherry Ale
Farm House Chèvre
From Farm House Natural Cheeses, Agassiz, BC served with
fresh organic cherries with cherry soda and vanilla ice cream float


-end-

FigMint Restaurant & Lounge
Next door to Firefly Fine Wines and Ales
500 West 12th Avenue at Cambie Street
City Hall Heritage Area, Cambie Village
Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M2
604-875-3312
info@figmintrestaurant.com
figmintrestaurant.com
Complimentary valet parking


Firefly Fine Wines and Ales
Next door to FigMint Restaurant and Lounge
Plaza 500 Hotel
2857 Cambie Street at 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 3Y8
604-875-3325
info@fireflyfinewinesandales.com
www.fireflyfinewinesandales.com      
Complimentary parking at FigMint Restaurant
(Enter off 12th Avenue, Cambie and 13th or Ash)