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What is your favorite martini?

Raul — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:30:09 +0000

Despite the fact that when I did a Flickr search on my stream for “martini” I found that I have a few very blurry photos of martinis I’ve had in the past, the truth is, I am an absolute lover of the drink. I find that other drinks may or may not be as enjoyable, but I have gone from being a “gin and tonic” kind of guy to being a “sweet, ‘girly’ martini” kind of guy. One of my absolute favorites was the one we had a few weeks ago at Prestons, the Toblerone Martini. Sweet and chocolate-infused. Another restaurant that has martinis that I totally love is The Crime Lab. And one more that has really good martinis is Haro’s Restaurant at the Sidney Pier hotel in Sidney, BC.

So, I ask you, my dear reader – what is your favorite martini, and where do you usually get it?

Drink Urban Lounge (New Westminster)

Raul — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:14:33 +0000

Favorite new chic drinks lounge, for sure, the lovely Drink Urban Lounge. I recently took my 2 lovely interns, Anabelle and Jessica, out to New Westminster. We are working on a project for The Network Hub New Westminster campus, so we went to check out what is around Columbia Street. We actually calculated the time it takes from the New Westminster Skytrain station to the new campus of The Network Hub in River Market (by the Quay): 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Walking. WHOA.

Anyways, I digress. We went to Drink Urban Lounge on the recommendation of lots of friends from Twitter: Briana Tomkinson, Pamela Findling, Brigette Mayer and Rob Jones. And I’m glad we did. Inexpensive drinks made exactly the way I like them.

Drink Urban Lounge is the newest member of The Arbuthnot Group of pubs and liquor stores. We are a Yaletown bar in your backyard. We are located at 609 Columbia Street in New Westminster, just steps away from New Westminster Quay Market and Boardwalk.

I should probably tell them it’s not anymore the New Westminster Quay Market but River Market. Anyways…I ordered a Chocolate Goddess, made to perfection with Van Gogh Double Espresso, Creme De Cacao, Cream and Chocolate Shavings (at a very reasonable $ 7.25). Delicious. And the waitress was amazing (Julia was her name, I think?!).

I think that in the future, The Network Hub New Westminster campus will probably partner with Drink Urban Lounge to offer specials to our Passholders. Which would make for amazing Friday Liquor O’Clock. I will definitely be coming back to Drink Urban Lounge in New Westminster with frequency. Great service, great drinks, extremely comfortable and chic atmosphere (my photo doesn’t do it justice)

Disclosure: I paid for my drink and those of Anabelle and Jessica. All views on this post are mine, and I retain full editorial control on anything I post here.

First Annual Local Libations Cocktail Competition at Old House Restaurant

Raul — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:51:49 +0000

I know it’s hard for people to categorize my blog. I laughed the other day when somebody called me a food blogger. Others call me a theatre blogger. Others, a lifestyle blogger, and a few others a travel blogger. Truth be told, I try to do it all, with varying degrees of success (simply because I don’t have time to do everything). But if there’s something I *LOVE* writing about is cocktails, wine and food. So when the Old House Restaurant invited me to their First Annual Local Libations Cocktail Competition invited me to be a guest judge alongside my good friend Cassandra Anderton (Good Life Vancouver) I couldn’t resist.

This wonderful event is part of the Comox Valley 30 Day Local Food Challenge.

Ten of the hottest restaurants in the Comox Valley are working hard behind closed doors to perfect their entries to the first ever Local Libations Cocktail Competition. Hosted on the Patio of The Old House Restaurant, the Local Libations Cocktail Competition is a new event added in 2011 as part of the 3rd annual Comox Valley 30 Day Local Food Challenge. Taking place on Sunday July 17 from 4-6 pm, this ticketed event invites people to sit back and watch as Comox Valley bartenders prepare their best cocktail recipe made with local ingredients. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place by a panel of judges, including Eli Blake of EAT Magazine/Tofino Food & Wine Festival, Cassandra Anderton of Good Life Vancouver, Raul Pacheco of Hummingbird 604, Michelle LeSage of The Westerly Hotel, and Sandra Viney of Atlas Café/Avenue Bistro. Judges will review entries for best use of local ingredients, creativity and taste.

Tickets are on sale now for $15 each and include a complimentary feature beverage and appetizer. Event guests will also be able to order from the diverse menu of cocktails, and vote for their favourite beverage on the People’s Choice ballot. Tickets are available for purchase on site at the Old House Restaurant, 1760 Riverside Lane, Courtenay BC or call 250-338-5406. Seating is limited and advance purchase is required. The Old House Restaurant as a sponsor of the 30 Day Local Food Challenge is also offering a month long Fresh Sheet of local food, available through August 2nd. Reservations are recommended, so you should probably call in advance, 250-338-5406.

For more information, about the Local Libations Cocktail Competition event, you can check out their website.

More about the Comox Valley 30-Day Local Food Challenge

The Comox Valley 30-Day Local Food Challenge is an immersive community experience each July that connects people from around the Comox Valley to the agricultural traditions and potential of this region. Each year, local residents and visitors alike are challenged to spend 30 days experiencing local food through farm and food producer tours, restaurant events, educational activities, workshops and demonstrations that showcase the work and bounty of the nearly 500 farms, dozens of food producers and food-related organizations in the Comox Valley.

For more information, you can contact Jeff Lucas at The Old House Restaurant, jeff@oldhouserestaurant.ca, 250-338-5406 or by phone at 250-703-6331. The Facebook Page for the 30 Day Comox Valley Local Food Challenge is located here.

Lift Bar and Grill (Coal Harbour)

Raul — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:45:15 +0000

Nothing says “summer” like heading on a walk around the Coal Harbour seawall with my Mom and having martinis in a good patio. Lift Bar and Grill in Coal Harbour is a restaurant/bar that I’ve enjoyed several times (with my brother HZ, with Cisco Grajales and this past weekend with my Mom). I *adore* the martinis and the patios at Lift Bar and Grill, and I clearly I don’t come visit frequently enough.

We arrived and literally within seconds of our arrival (I think it helped when I mentioned “my Mom is visiting from Mexico and we’d love to have martinis on a patio while watching the sunset”). Our server was very friendly and prompt. We were seated in the patio around a communal area that they call The Fire Pit. And from the photo you can see why. The folks around us were very friendly.

I ordered “a girly martini” (amaretto with vodka and a dash of cranberry, extremely nice, $11) and my Mom requested a 007 (vodka, gin shaken not stirred with olives, $11). I wanted to share a dessert and ordered the special, strawberry shortcake ($ 9). That was my biggest (and only, in fact) disappointment. Excellent service, amazing view and wonderful company which was minorly marred by a very dry, strawberry shortcake.

The top layer (with chocolate), I’m pretty sure had the Lift logo on top (I couldn’t remember, and I ate it a bit fast). But otherwise, the service and drinks at Lift Bar and Grill were stellar and Mom and I had a wonderful time. You can also check the sunset we caught!

Disclosure: I paid for our drinks and shortcake on my own dime. I just enjoyed my time at Lift Bar and Grill and thought to share it with my readers.

Where is Metro Vancouver’s best martini?

Raul — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:36:56 +0000

Back in the day, I would be all about the gin-and-tonic (I still love G&T, even though my alcohol consumption has come to an almost absolute halt these days). The above said, I’m looking forward to summer season and hopefully ONE martini. If you were to choose a bar that offered martinis in Metro Vancouver (anywhere in the area, be it North Vancouver or New Westminster), where would you recommend? Drop all your suggestions on this post! I have had the cheapest martinis at Café Crepe, and some of the best at Delilah’s (formerly Conviction Kitchen and right now I think under renovation).

In the rest of British Columbia like the Modern Café in Nanaimo for Nanaimo Bar martinis, and obviously Clive’s and Veneto Lounge for amazing martinis in Victoria (both Shawn and Simon know my taste well). In North Vancouver, I’m a fan of Arms Reach Bistro‘s mango martinis.

But, tell me – where is YOUR favorite martini being served at?

The Modern Cafe (Nanaimo, BC)

Raul — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:15:18 +0000

The Modern Café (in Nanaimo, British Columbia) is funky, its decor is eclectic, and the service is great. But the one thing I did notice was that they had a Nanaimo Bar Martini. And that sold me. I recently visited The Modern Café when I stayed in Nanaimo for Stop 2 of my Vancouver Island writing getaway. I finished a solid draft of what the structure of my water governance book would be looking like.

So I gave myself the evening free and went for dinner at The Diner’s Rendezvous (invited by Chelsea) and then we had a drink at The Modern Café, which was very close to the hotel I was staying at (The Coast Bastion Hotel, you can read my post about it here).

The Modern Cafe has been a landmark in the downtown of Nanaimo since 1946. Originally a Chinese Restaurant, the former owner transformed it into what Nanaimo knows it as of today, a truly Modern Cafe with an international style menu and fantastic brick wall interior. Many residents of Nanaimo know us for our great Modern Cafe sign, which many come down to photograph. When the new Owners took over in May they immediately set out to further enhance the style of the Restaurant and improve the menu and the service that customers receive.

The new owners of the Modern Cafe in Nanaimo, Scott Cooper and Bryan Rodier, have an ambitious goal for the restaurant. Their mission is to provide “fine dining at cafe prices” for every customer that enters the Modern Cafe, from foodies, to tourists, to local citizens.

We had already had dinner at The Diner’s Rendezvous so we only came for ONE drink, the Nanaimo Bar Martini. But I absolutely loved it! I will have to stop at The Modern Café next time I’m in Nanaimo enroute to Parksville Uncorked.

Disclosure: My drink was paid for by Chelsea Barr (Destination Nanaimo). I wasn’t paid to write this blog post, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this post just to describe my experience at the restaurant/bar. As with any review or complimentary post I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

The Embassy Bar (Toronto)

Raul — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:00:43 +0000

Rarely do I trust anyone with my life when it comes to bars and restaurants. But my good friend Meghan Warby is one of those few people who I do trust. And so this past September when I went to the Canadian National Water Strategy, I put myself in the capable hands of Meghan and her friends Karim and Ryan, so we headed to The Embassy Bar (on Augusta Avenue, in Kensington Market).

I can tell you that the music was fantastic, the cocktails were superb, but the company was what made The Embassy for me. I would definitely come back.

The Beagle Pub (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:00:09 +0000

I went to The Beagle Pub with my friend Chris and his girlfriend for a pint before we went for dinner to Prima Strada Pizzeria, and we had a great time. We ordered a Strongbow ($7.75) and 2 pints of Race Rocks ($5.25 each), which was not very expensive. My friend Chris tells me that they’ve been there for food and they’ve had a good time.

To me, The Beagle Pub looked very much like The Regal Beagle in Vancouver, a bar/pub with bar/pub fare and atmosphere. Not bad, to be quite honest. I might come back next time I’m in Victoria!

Veneto Dining and Tapas Lounge (Rialto Hotel, Victoria BC)

Raul — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:05:11 +0000

There are two bartenders on whose hands I always hang my drinking life: Shawn Soole (of Clive’s Classic Lounge fame) and Simon Ogden (head bartender at Veneto Dining and Tapas Lounge). Every time I visit either of these two fine gentlemen’s establishments, I say “do your magic – I don’t want to know what’s in my drink, just make me happy”. And they do. Without so much as a blink, both Simon and Shawn deliver fantastic cocktails in my hands. I surprised Simon (whom I consider a very good friend) this past weekend as I dropped by Veneto Dining and Tapas Lounge completely and entirely unannounced.

I had been trying to visit Veneto, but for the past few months, my life has been crazy and hectic. So when I got invited to visit Victoria “at my own leisure and pace”, I took the opportunity to show up at Veneto and surprise Simon and get to enjoy first-hand what my friends in Victoria have been telling me all the time: that Veneto is one happening place. And hell, is it ever!

I dropped by Veneto twice. The first time I had a couple of cocktails, although I would lie if I said I remember. But they were amazing. The second time I only had one cocktail, but it was amazing. And I feel like I need to ask Simon what I had. All I can tell you is that ANYTHING that man concocts, is special and totally worth it. Cocktails are priced within the reasonable $10 price tag, and Simon is excellent in what he makes.

Veneto’s atmosphere is incredibly elegant and classy, and having visited independently twice, I can tell you that there are good reasons why Veneto is so popular: Clive’s and Veneto are the two places where I would most certainly run to and have a fantastic cocktail at the end of a stressful evening. Highly recommended, if you are in Victoria (British Columbia).

Disclosure: While I visited Victoria invited on a media trip, and Simon generously provided me with a complimentary drink on my first visit, on my second visit I paid for my drinks on my own dime. I just wanted to share my experience having cocktails at a place that was heavily recommended online and on my media kit. I wasn’t paid to write this post, nor was I required to do so either. In anything I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Brasserie L’Ecole (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:00:46 +0000

I arrived at Brasserie L’Ecole around 8pm on Thursday evening to see for myself whether the place lived up to its hype. I had seen on my media kit that Brasserie L’Ecole had been suggested as a great venue for dinner. And I am, as you know, a sucker for all things French. I spent A LOT of time in Paris, so I am used to (and love) French cuisine. Yes, even though it includes cheese, for the most part.

From their website:

Brasserie is defined as “an unpretentious restaurant that serves drinks, esp. beer, and simple or hearty food”. This definition parallels the restaurant design and menu. The name “l’école” (French for The Schoolhouse) is a nod to the history of the building, which once was a Chinese Schoolhouse

Brasserie “l’école” opened in late 2001 and has been nominated for awards provincially and nationally.

“L’école” features fourteen-foot high ceilings and a long space making it a comfortable size with seating for thirty – plus a slate topped bar with eight dining seats. The décor has borrowed from classic French bistro/brasserie style with red walls, rich chocolate brown wainscoting and ceiling, dark stained hardwood floors and white linen tablecloths. Chalkboards above the bar highlight the extensive selection of French wines as well as dinner features and the day’s choices of oysters. “It is a cozy space, striking a balance between a place to relax with friends in an unstuffy environment and to also enjoy great food and impeccable, but not formal service” says Sommelier/Owner Marc Morrison.

The menu reflects Chef/Owner Sean Brennan’s approach to using seasonal, locally available products cooked in a classic French country style. Menu items include Brennan’s well-loved duck confit, beet & goat cheese terrine and braised beef short ribs.

Upon arrival, I was promptly seated at the bar, as I was arriving alone. I ordered a Monkey Gland (gin, orange juice, absinthe & pomegranate syrup, $7) which was sweet, fresh, tastes of citrus and rather alcohol-charged (i.e. strong). As far as the ambiance and customers, I noticed that folks from all ages patronize L’ecole. I saw people who ranged in age anywhere from 23 to 67. Definitely this place is for fine dining.

For dinner, I ordered Creamed Chanterelles on toast, bacon, herbs ($12). At first I thought I would feel still hungry when I saw the size of the dish. But after I tried the first bite I realized I was in for a treat. The combined flavors of creamy tomato an the Chanterelle mushrooms, cooked to perfection, were simply to-die-for. While the dish contains bacon, the creamy herbs sauce doesn’t let the bacon overpower the dish.

I was a bit concerned about drinking the Monkey Gland paired with the Chanterelles but my concerns were assuaged as I didn’t find that the drink overpowered my dinner plate. The service at L’Ecole was, as so many people touted it, absolutely outstanding. The bartender made sure I was entertained, and gave me great tips on where to eat and drink in Victoria.

I ordered a Soupe a l’Ognion Gratinee, bacon, Gruyere crouton (aka a French onion soup — very traditionally French), for $8. My French onion soup was a bit of a sacrilege request on my part. I hate cheese so I asked for my soup so have the cheese removed. I felt very guilty but the fact of the matter is – it’s in the small requests that you really see the level of service. The soup was absolutely delicious even I’d ask for it without cheese. Extremely hot when served, I did love having it so warm when I knew I was going to go walk around Victoria in the cold.

Even though the place was packed on a Thursday night (no less), the servic was outstanding and very prompt. I wad in and out in a hour! Overall my dinner at Brasserie L’Ecole was simply superb. I will definitely come back again for a good meal.

Disclosure: While I was in Victoria on a media trip, I had dinner on my own dime at Brasserie L’Ecole. I just wanted to share my experience having dinner at a place that was heavily recommended online and on my media kit. I wasn’t paid to write this post, nor was I required to do so either. In anything I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Margaritas (Toronto)

Raul — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:45:01 +0000

I love Mexican food, and the funny thing is, there are PLENTY of Mexican restaurants in Toronto. And good ones to boot. And staffed by Mexicans! So, when my good friend Meghan Warby asked her friend Pamela and me to join her for a margarita at (fittingly) Margaritas (near Cabbagetown), I absolutely loved the idea.

Margaritas is a good Mexican restaurant, with the decor and the food to hold to their reputation as a decent Mexican food restaurant. I had a chance to both order in Spanish AND chat with the chef and the staff.

We ordered a Camarones al Ajillo platter (shrimp in a garlic sauce) and a couple of margaritas. We loved both the food AND the drinks. I will definitely come back to Margaritas next time I am in Toronto. I’m slightly torn between Margaritas and El Trompo, but I hope to have enough time to compare more Mexican restaurants next time I visit Toronto.

Sanafir Restaurant and Lounge (@Glowbal_Group)

Raul — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:45:51 +0000

I thought I had written about all of the Glowbal Group restaurants (after all, I have eaten at pretty much all of them), but as it turns out no, I hadn’t done a write up for Sanafir. Even though Glowbal Group partnered with me to give away dinner gift certificates as part of my Happy Father’s Day promotional campaign. So, I was thrilled to be at Sanafir the other night for a few drinks with a small group of great friends of mine Peter and Marilyn Andersen, John Biehler, John and Rebecca Bollwitt, Tanya and Barry Desrosiers, Keira Anne Mellis and Duane Storey (our friends Ianiv and Arieanna had already left as they had to get home to see their little one).

Drinks at Sanafir (and eats) are pretty good. I ordered 2 Nile’s (a pineapple and vodka drink that tasted glorious at $9.00) and a Dahab (at $7, not overpriced). All these cocktails were great. We shared a few appetizers, but the better part of the evening was just spending time with friends. I’ll definitely come back to Sanafir for dinner. I’m sold just by the drinks!

The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe (Downtown, Robson Street)

Raul — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:00:31 +0000

Well, actually The Corner Suite Bistro is not exactly on Robson Street, but it’s close enough. Located at Smithe and Thurlow (and exactly at a corner!), I have grown to love this restaurant/bar. I first got wind of The Corner Suite Bistro from my friend Chris Walts, who is a frequent customer. I then attended a farewell party for the Wilcox PR company at the same location. The trademark drink I have had here (the Journalist, $9.00) is a great concoction that, while a bit on the tart side, might leave you feeling like a truck hit you. The day after, of course. On the night of, you’ll see how these drinks go down so easily. I haven’t tried the food yet.

But as far as cocktails is concerned, this is the place to go. I will definitely come back for dinner at The Corner Suite Bistro the next time I am downtown.

The Academic Public House (Kitsilano)

Raul — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:00:05 +0000

It is somewhat ironic that I, an academic, had never been to The Academic Public House. Well, until last night. I had been to other Donnelly Group pubs, in particular The Lamplighter. But not to The Academic. I pondered what the place would look like and whether I would like the food. Last night my good friend Erin McConnell took me there for drinks and dinner, and she said it had been good.

Admittedly, I also was the one who suggested going to The Academic simply because I had never been there. I’m glad Erin and I went there for dinner and drinks, as both were good. I ordered a turkey sandwich with salad that was big, filling and with good flavors. I wasn’t that impressed with the side salad, but I think that’s because I mostly couldn’t really taste the dressing (I added some lime and it went down really well).

For drinks, I ordered a “The Bees Knees” (Tanqueray, honey syrup, lemon juice, orange juice), which was on special but is normally $9.40. If I were to make a quick assessment of what I think about The Academic, I’m quite pleasantly surprised. The service was really good, the server was absolutely friendly, the food was pretty solid and more importantly, the music was excellent and it wasn’t super loud. We did sit on the patio, which was an added bonus. I’ll be back to The Academic Public House, for sure. Thanks Erin for taking me here!

Speakeasy Bar and Grill (West End, Davie Street)

Raul — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:24:20 +0000

I am absolutely, totally, completely enthralled with Speakeasy. After never having entered this bar/restaurant/establishment simply because it looked a bit hidden (it’s right by Cafe Luxy and SuperValu), I now have to admit that the folks at Speakeasy completely blew my mind. The service when my friends Alisha Mann, Don, Minna Van and Jay Catalan joined me for drinks and dinner after the Vancouver Pride Parade 2010 was simply extraordinary.

Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart and I am in absolute awe of her and the whole team. The bartender did the drinks I wanted him to make me the way I wanted them, the food was great, and the bartender even allowed me to recharge my iPhone (I always carry my charger that can be connected directly to the power outlet). Overall, it was a great experience. Big ups, particularly considering that it was Pride weekend and that they were overwhelmed. I’ll definitely come back and recommend it.

Six Acres (Gastown)

Raul — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:05:47 +0000

I have been to Six Acres in Gastown more times than I can recount. But how many times have I blogged about it? None. So I figured it was time I put my time to good use and recognize one of the bars where I feel most comfortable. Six Acres, located right across from the Gassy Jack statue. I first had a Pimms at Six Acres and it remains my favorite drink to have on their patio. Six Acres is open Monday through Saturday from 5:00pm to 1:00am, and there have been many a time when I have come here after a long week of work (my office is downtown) and grabbed a drink on their patio. My two most recent visits included Chris Walts one time.

Another time I came here with Maura Rodgers, Danny Robinson, Paul Rickett and Cinci Csere. Always fun and relaxing. What I find most attractive about Six Acres is not so much the drinks or the patio but the very relaxed atmosphere. Moreover, the service is always really good. Even when I request a drink that is not the way it’s publicized in their menus, they happily oblige.

The Veranda at the @FairmontEmpress Hotel

Raul — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:30:25 +0000

When I spoke at WordCamp Victoria 2010 a few weeks ago I stayed at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. I had heard a lot about the afternoon tea, and Lorraine mentioned that there was a lovely bar at the Empress that we should totally try: The Veranda. The weather wasn’t cooperating so we ended up staying indoors (Lorraine can get away with A LOT… she requested that the bar opened the indoor portion even though they were closed, because she had been sick lately and didn’t want to risk being in cold weather in the Veranda’s patio). We had Katharine Holmes join us as well. We all ordered different versions of martinis, with me ordering a couple of Manhattan’s ($12).

I will fully admit that I loved The Veranda, for many reasons – the decor is so 1950s, the drinks were amazing (thank you Lorraine for buying us drinks that night!) and the service was absolutely, completely impeccable. I will definitely come back with my Mom this summer (probably at the end of the month).

May 27th is World Tequila Day

Raul — Thu, 27 May 2010 22:56:49 +0000

photo credit: Serge Melki

Or at least, so do some people in Mexico say. If that’s the case, and if they need me to help spread the word, so be it. I am not a heavy tequila drinker (heck, I’m not even a heavy drinker at all!) but I do enjoy a shooter here and there every so often. I’m a fan of margaritas and I can appreciate good tequila. I am, after all, Mexican. My Mom knows her tequilas and she often brings me gourmet versions of them.

Tequila, a spirit originally derived from the nectar obtained from Agave-Tequilana, a Mexican cactus that grows in the geographical proximity of the Mexican city of Tequila, in the state of Jalisco, is one of the most popular spirits worldwide. I found it slightly funny that the English version of the Wikipedia entry for Tequila (the spirit) is almost more detailed than the Spanish version, which I would assume is written by a Mexican.

I ran out of tequila this past year but I’m hoping that since my Mom is coming this summer I will be able to score some gourmet tequila. I know that Jose Cuervo has held a few events here in Vancouver, but for one reason or another, I never seem to be able to make it to those. But hopefully one day I will. It’d be even much more fun if Corralejo or Don Julio organized events in Vancouver!

#BombaySapphire Summer Soiree

Raul — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:25:56 +0000

Summer of 2007 marked a really important time in my life, as I spent Pride Day (August 1st) with some of my closest friends, mostly hanging out on English Bay, watching the Pride Parade and drinking gin-and-tonics. These are three things I love separately, but in combination it’s just amazing: a bunch of good friends, awesome hors d’oeuvres AND gin. Yes, gin as in the spirit that comes in all of the James Bond’s cocktails. I have been a gin-and-tonic lover since I started dating my now ex (yeah, about 6 years ago – wow, how time flies). And yes, I kept the taste for the spirit. When in doubt, gin is the answer (always, of course, with moderation).

This week, along with a number of friends from a variety of local media outlets, I joined Merlin Griffiths (the Brand Ambassador and Master Mixologist for Bombay Sapphire) and Canada’s Grilling Guru Rob Rainford. I had already had the pleasure of meeting Merlin last year and I loved every single concoction he prepared. This Bombay Sapphire is very useful, actually, because both Merlin and Rob offered the latest tips and tricks.

While I do not entertain as much because my apartment is small, it is always nice when I do some house-sitting to be able to offer my guests a good lunch or dinner experience, associated with the season. They suggested ways in which we could enhance the summer entertaining and make it an unforgettable experience. The actual event itself was for me unforgettable. Minna Van, dearest friend of mine and co-founder of The Network Hub was my Plus One for the evening. I also was also very appreciative of the fact that I was given a complimentary Bombay Sapphire gift set. I love me some sweet swag. Overall, a great event, in my opinion.

And I did learn a lot about how to use gin in drinks AND in food! The only problem I have with these delicious drinks (including the fantastic lavender cocktail) is that they go down SO fast and SO easy. I’ll say it now again, drink with moderation! Thanks to Bombay Sapphire and all the PR team behind the summer BBQ loft event. It was very nice to see some new faces (including Dawn Chubai) and some old good friends (Vanessa, Emme, Raj, Peter, April, Lorraine, Marnie, amongst others!).

Where is the best bellini in town?

Raul — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:12:16 +0000

I had an opportunity to hang out with my friend Nathan Tippe at the Backstage Lounge as we recently saw “Billy Bishop Goes To War” (he was my Plus One that evening). We had a drink just before and I ordered a bellini. I’ve always had a soft spot for bellinis, but recently when I went to Market at Shangri-La, I ordered one and I really didn’t enjoy it. My favorite spots so far for bellinis are Earls and Milestones. Which other places have nice bellinis? If you have a suggestion for a place/bar/restaurant that has good bellinis, please drop it on the comment box. Much appreciated!

Beer before liquor, never sicker and liquor before beer, you are in the clear

Raul — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:21:12 +0000

Whoever said that “beer before liquor, never sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear” clearly hadn’t had two Amaretto Sours and then one beer. I didn’t really drink that much last night at Media Leaders and the F5 Expo Tweetup, at all. I drank a lot of water in between. But I woke up to a splitting headache, and while not hangover (hell, 3 drinks in 5 hours is nothing!), I still had to have Tylenol 3Extra Strength in the morning (my very best friend) in order to be able to function properly for my teaching. In the future, I’m sticking with *only* beer, wine or cocktails, but just one of the same. No switching around!

Those sayings are total and utter rubbish.

[NOTE - I had to edit the Tylenol 3 comment as (a) it wasn't actually Tylenol 3 which is prescription medication but Tylenol Extra Strength, which is over-the-counter, and (b) I had Tylenol in the morning, after having spent 8 hours asleep, not mixing it as Sam was suggesting in the comments below - thus, you'll see the strike-through and inserted words on my post - all in the name of accuracy! ]

Timbre (Commercial Drive)

Raul — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:00:53 +0000

Both Emme Rogers and me have resolved this 2010 to do more exercise. As you may have noticed, I’ve mentioned on this blog before that I recently decided to start swimming again. I’m building my cardiovascular strength and resistance again and thus I really need to do as many walks as possible. Recently, Emme and I have been walking around the Commercial Drive neighbourhood and have found ourselves in the proximity of Timbre.

Located on Commercial Drive and about 5th Avenue, Timbre is a cool bar/restaurant. I was a bit disappointed with how loud it got. We arrived at 5pm, and it was ok, we didn’t have much of a problem to find a seat (it was not packed). The drinks were strong and well served, in fact Emme’s Caesars looked like lunch in a glass. Very tasty. I was quite impressed with the quality of the mojito they serve at Timbre.

We didn’t stay there for dinner, but for the drinks, it was good. I wasn’t impressed with how loud it got, but come to think about it, the whole bar seems to be sports bar/”come watch the hockey game” kind of place. So, if that’s the vibe they want to give it, good for them. I might swing by back sometime soon.

Pivo Public House

Raul — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:15:57 +0000

A few weeks back, Lorraine and I found ourselves walking back to our respective places by foot, and we walked right past Pivo Public House. We had been meaning to visit this bar for a while so we thought “heck, why not stop for a drink”. Frankly, I was very impressed with the place, until… I found out it had three big flat screens, like for hockey games. And while Pivo Public House is sophisticated and has great decor, and fantastic music, I was fully disappointed. It’s not that I don’t like hockey. It’s the fact that a posh bar is looking forward to become a sports bar. That’s what I can’t really stomach.

The place is gorgeous and the drinks are reasonably priced (the night we went there were beers at about 50% which also made me very happy). The ambient music is great, and the service is friendly. But … the flatscreen TVs. That’s what really does not excite me. I would come back to Pivo, but I’d make sure that there’s not a hockey game.

Mis Trucos Launch Party

Raul — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:57:30 +0000

Credit: Mark and Andrea Busse

A few weeks back, Ryan Bazeley invited me to the opening night of the Davie Street tapas bar Mis Trucos. Located at 1141 Davie Street, where the old Davie Street Cafe used to be, I found myself surrounded by lots of wonderful local foodie and liquor bloggers. I figured that, while some of my friends (including Mark Busse) had already sampled some of Mis Trucos’ wonderful tapas, I would give myself the opportunity to try them so I went down and tried a few, along with some tasty cocktails. As many of you may know, Madrid is pretty much second-home to me, and the Spanish cuisine and spirits are amongst my very favorites. Until we had Mis Trucos, I was basically a total slave to La Bodega for tapas and sangria. Now there’s an additional option.

In the words of the owners, Mis Trucos…

Mis Trucos is a modern Mediterranean tapas bar set in a character house in the heart of the Davie St. shopping district. Chef Kris Barnholden combines classic French, Spanish and Italian recipes with the freshest local ingredients and his own modern twists.

I would strongly recommend Mis Trucos for a quiet evening out, the atmosphere at this tapas bar is great. Thanks to Ryan for inviting me and to Mis Trucos for the warm welcome! I look forward to visiting again very soon.

Clive’s at the Chateau Victoria

Raul — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:52:59 +0000

After a very successful WordCamp Victoria (where I spoke about Integrated Social Media WordPress Site Building) we went for drinks to The Office, which disappointed me for its semi-watery drinks (though the bartender got it right after my second drink)

A few kind folks offered to continue the celebrations. Frankly, I was doubting that I would be able to continue simply because I had been working since 6:00am and the day had been hectic. But my body and mind were still energized from all the positive vibes we were surrounded by, so Scott Leslie, Janis LaCouveé, Chris Parsons, Lorraine Murphy, Janice Mansfield and myself went to get a night cap at Clive’s at the Chateau Victoria.

As soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the waitress. While she had to take care of the full clientele at the bar, along with excellent bartender Shawn Soole (who tweets as LiquidRev), neither me nor my companions felt neglected. The service was excellent, the drinks were strong and very well made, and not really expensive (normal 2 oz drinks were around $ 8). I hadn’t had dinner so I ordered a burger ($ 11) which was really tasty.

In my opinion, Clive’s is an elegant, classy, cozy and sophisticated lounge. Two similar places that came to my mind when I was at Clive’s were The Refinery and Voya.

I would have stayed longer had I not been feeling guilty about arriving into Humboldt House so late. I think I speak for everyone in saying that we were delighted and impressed with the service AND the drinks.

I’ll definitely come back to Clive’s on my next visit to Victoria.

Latitude (Main Street)

Raul — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:00:35 +0000

I had the opportunity to go and try Latitude on Main last night with my good friend Jeremy Osborn, who just launched his new startup Good Energy. Jeremy didn’t get a chance to attend my birthday celebration so he took me out for drinks and some appetizers.

As for Latitude, I have to say that I really liked it, and I didn’t find the drinks extremely expensive (beers for $ 5, which is substantially cheaper than many other places). Latitude is a lounge, and I enjoyed just having a couple of Pisco sours and some chickpea fries with mayo. You can follow Latitude on Twitter here – I did actually encourage the owners to get on with the program and use social media!).

The music wasn’t overwhelming and the service was actually delightful. I will definitely bring other friends to Latitude, although I foresee that this will be a hangout place where I’ll share drinks with them rather than dinner (not because I don’t think dinner is good – I haven’t tried their larger plates yet, but just because Latitude gives a nice lounge-y feel).

Watermark (Kitsilano)

Raul — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:11:23 +0000

Credit: Roland Tanglao

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending one of the last performances of Bard on the Beach’s production of Shakespeare’s Othello with my good friend Erica Hargreave. After the performance was over, we decided to go for a walk and we stumbled upon Watermark (on Kitsilano Beach). I had been curious to try Watermark for a while so we settled in the upper lounge of Watermark for a drink.

Watermark recently announced a super deal with dinner for two, 3 courses meal, and a bottle of wine for $80 – that’s a complete steal! Erica ordered a rose wine that wasn’t all that great, but my two martinis were excellent. Not a bad price, around $ 8.50 (which is standard right now in almost all places in Vancouver). Overall, I had a great time. Haven’t tried the food yet but I’ll definitely consider coming back.

Circa Restaurant Lounge (Granville Street, Downtown Vancouver)

Raul — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:41:50 +0000

So I went to Launch Party Vancouver 8 the other night. The party itself was fantastic, something that should not be a surprise to anyone. The folks at Strutta and the Bootup Labs Entrepreneurial Society really know how to throw a party. That said, I was faced with the most expensive martini I’ve received ($ 14). Admittedly, there are more than one lounge in Vancouver that serves martinis in the $10-15 range. However, the martinis I’ve drank at those lounges are WAY better than this one. And I *knew* from the get-go that I was going to pay $ 15.

Now, the thing that really irked me was that the bill was totally a surprise to me. I bought a drink for myself and I asked the bartender for a martini. She did a 1 oz gin and tonic for Chris, whereas she prepared a mixed drink with two shots in a martini glass without a stem. Sure, you can say that I could expect to pay a bit more for a 2oz, but to charge me $7 for the first shot and $7 for the second shot is really something that surprised me. A 2 oz martini usually will go from $7 (at Cafe Crepe) to $14 (at say, Voya). But … dude, Voya martinis are like, REAL martinis.

I don’t usually rant about how expensive a drink is, unless I think I was charged without my consent or without being informed or when the drinks is badly made. Really, if I want good, solid and well-made martinis, I have a HUGE selection of places to go (there’s for starters 1181 and Delilah’s). Circa Restaurant Lounge will definitely NOT be the place where I’ll get my next drink, that’s for sure.

The catering for LPV8 was really well done, so I won’t chide them on that. The food was fantastic. The service? Impeccable. But not having a drink menu where I can see how much I’m paying for a 1 shot and 2 shot drink and then be charged that way? Um, that’s a no no. This is not the first time that something like this (“hey you want me to make you a martini?” and then double-charge me) has happened, so I’ll be more careful next time I’m out drinking with friends.

The Keg in Yaletown

Raul — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:26:27 +0000

I hadn’t been to The Keg in a long while, primarily because the last time I went there was for dinner with my Auntie M, who passed away in August of last year, so it really doesn’t bring good memories to go back to any of The Kegs. But recently, Colleen called for a meeting at The Keg Yaletown and those of us who attended had a really good time. I’ll admit that I find this particular location incredibly pretentious and that I was substantially annoyed by the fact that it had a waiting time of about 45 mins to an hour for a table in the rooftop. Admittedly, it’s one of the best rooftops in Yaletown and I don’t blame them for the popularity. The Keg is a really good restaurant, I just think that the atmosphere is pretentious. But then again, I’m an East Vancouver boy (alright, marginally – I live on Main, so I’m sort of near Hipsterville).

Nadia ordered a martini while I ordered first a caipirinha and then a blended mango margarita. The margarita was sensational, although the caipirinha was middle-of-the-road. I had to return it because it was incredibly sour (caipirinhas are supposed to be somewhat sour but that was almost undrinkable). Our waitress was incredibly accommodating and quickly fixed my drink. The company and conversations were fantastic. I will probably go back to The Keg Yaletown sometime with this same group of friends. Hopefully the next time I show up there’ll be enough free space in the rooftop to seat us all.

Mekhong launch party

Raul — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:20:00 +0000

A few weeks back, my friends Minna Van and Christy Nguyen from Urban Bella Marketing Group invited me to the launch of a new alcoholic spirit, Thai Mekhong Whiskey. Busy as we all are (Minna is also the organizer of Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup and I’m the organizer of VBM), we found ourselves both having to juggle multiple events. This launch took place at Sanafir, one of the Glowbal Restaurant Group’s most famous locations. Several other local bloggers and twitterers were invited, and while I couldn’t attend all of the event, I was impressed with the organization and the liquor itself (I had a chance to grab a couple of drinks while I was there).

The two drinks I sampled were the Sabai Sabai (which I soon learned was considered the Mekhong signature cocktail) as well as the Typhoon. While both drinks are refreshing, I found one of them (the Typhoon) tasted somewhat spicy (a flavor that not everybody is used to). The great thing is that I love sweet drinks and the flavor of both of these is pretty darn sweet. Overall, I really enjoyed the event and I wish I had had more time to stay for the whole event, but as I said, I was shuffling with the Meetup of Meetups. I’ll definitely be at the next Mekhong event if I score an invite!

My signature drink – The Hummingbird

Raul — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:25:11 +0000

Today (Sunday) I spent the morning with JT (we switched things around and decided to go for brunch instead of doing dinner, movie, walk and stuff). We ended up at The Nice Cafe (as usual), drove around, went for a walk to Killarney Park and ended up at the Avalon Farm.

After mass, I came home with some groceries and as I’m making plans for dinner and lunches that I’ll be packing for the week, I figured I needed a drink that would taste summery. Since I think I ran out of tequila, I decided to go for a sangria. This is the concoction I ended up preparing:

1/2 bottle of Sauvignon Blanc white wine
8 organic strawberries (about 2 handfuls)
6 ice cubes, crushed
6 table spoonfuls of sugar (I like my drinks sweet)

Blend on high, serve in chilled glass, garnish with slice of nectarine. Salud!

HAT TIPS – To @vic_toria who named the drink – I’ll go with The Hummingbird!

Capones’ Tweetup

Raul — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 08:19:56 +0000

People know me very well by now. They know that, if it involves jazz, good friends, drinks, food and a flexible, fluid opportunity to spend time with my people, I will most likely say yes. So when my friend Jenn Lowther (from 6 S Marketing) said “hey I’d like to invite you over for a Tweetup”, and knowing I’d see Chris Breikss and the whole crew (Rebecca, Lorraine, Gus, Tris, Shane, Stephanie, Jay, Scott, etc.) I was like “ok, sure thing. I can hang out for a bit”. You know I’ve been sick and weak (energy-wise).

So, I headed up to Capone‘s. Daniela (the marketing manager of Capones) and everybody were fantastic. 100 kudos to the bartender. Those crantinis were, well… VERY good. She never complained. The music… perfect. The food, awesome. The conversations, fantastic. I already loved Capone’s. Gus took Russ and myself for dinner here after I completed Blogathon (remember?)

I had a chance to see Wanna and Shane at the same time (they make such a cute couple), hang out with Chris, John Biehler, John and Rebecca, Lorraine and Shahee, the Invoke crowd, etc. I like these tweetups. No pressure, no mega-networking. Just good times. Capone’s was definitely on their game. Kudos to them!

Martini’s delight at Delilah’s (West End, Denman and Comox)

Raul — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:39:20 +0000

Credit: Beth Snow on Flickr

[Disclaimer - These martinis weren't made at Delilah's - I just needed a photo of a martini to go with it ]

There is, admittedly, a certain degree of correlation between hanging out with awesome friends and wonderful places. Or maybe it is that I have great taste in friends. And I think I have the same great taste in restaurants and bars. This is the case with Delilah’s. What a wonderful place to hang out and have a strong martini (or two, or three) with a good friend. In this case, said great friend was Erica Hargreave.

Erica and I had been planning for a while to get together and enjoy a couple of drinks and as we were driving into the downtown core of Vancouver, Erica suggested Delilah’s. Her suggestion was met with my enthusiastic “ABSOLUTELY! I *LOVE* DELILAH’S“. We headed into the West End and were warmly greeted by D.J. (whom, we learned, is the bartender – he just happened to see us coming in and decided to take it upon himself to greet us, take our coats and lead us into the bar area).

Delilah’s has (as some other writers have indicated) a sort of Victorian decor. The lighting is warm, the carpets and furniture are sophisticated, but more than anything, the dining room is inviting and cozy. It does make one feel at home. We sat at the bar and ordered a couple of martinis. Full disclosure – I love sweet martinis. I know – some people would say I’m not drinking real martinis.

I chose a Clockwork Orange (vodka infused with orange with a second or two of Orancio Cinzano) and Erica started with an Impaired (Absolute Pear with pineapple and apple juice). My opinion of the Clockwork Orange in four words = VERY STRONG, VERY GOOD. For my second and third martinis, I chose a Pearl Necklace (a creamy concoction of vanilla vodka, crème de cacao and Godiva liqueur) and Erica decided (since she was driving) to just have a Caramel Apple (vodka with Sour Puss Apple, caramel toffee liqueur & cranberry juice) and then a Shirley Temple (with no alcohol).

I frankly enjoyed the Caramel Apple and the Pearl Necklace much better than the Clockwork Orange. But the best part of the evening, in addition to having a chance to spend time with Erica catching up, was that we got to meet the original owner, Fran. She told us the story of her vision of Delilah’s (a homey, welcoming environment with class and sophistication) and how she is now back to help the owner a few nights every week. It’s awesome to see that that she is back to strengthen what she built initially (because let’s face it, almost everyone recognizes that Delilah’s has some of the best martinis in town).

Both Erica and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Fran, and we definitely will come back to Delilah’s at some point. More importantly, it was a wonderful opportunity to just spend time and talk about stuff. We shut down Delilah’s! We did! I had not shut down a place in a long time. You can imagine how much fun I had chatting with Erica over a few drinks at Delilah’s. As Larry puts it, I always manage to have a wonderful time everywhere I go, but I can’t take full credit for this. I LOVE spending time with my friends, and Erica is someone I am very grateful that the Vancouver tech community has given me the chance to get to know and become good friends.

I’d recommend Delilah’s for a great martini, for sure!

Bar review – Maxine’s Hideaway (West End, Davie Street)

Raul — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:55:16 +0000

One of the things I have to be grateful to the world of social media for is getting to know Erica Hargreave and having a chance to become friends with her. Erica and I met at one of the Third Tuesdays, and since then, we’ve had a few opportunities to hang out in social settings outside of just the social media world (I have a review of Alpha Izakaya coming in a few days – I went to Alpha for dinner with Travis and Erica after Mhairi Petrovic’s Third Tuesday talk – which I live-blogged).

Erica has a wonderful sense of humor, is very sweet and shares many of my own values in regards to how we both view friendships and our role in the social media world. So, when she asked me whether I’d be into having a quick drink before meeting J. Karen Parker for dinner, I’d say “BUT, OF COURSE!”. She picked me up at home and we headed down to the West End, where the night life is actually pretty damn good.

I had my heart set on Maxine’s Hideaway not only because it’s close to where I had to head down for dinner, but also because it used to be Balthazar (a formerly queer hangout), and I wondered whether the new owner would have changed the theme. I am glad to report that Maxine’s is a great bar, and the owner has respected the main feel and flavor of the place as much as possible. Located at 1215 Bidwell Street off Davie Street, you can sense that Maxine’s has a very special magic within the building.

In their own words:

Maxine’s Hideaway is a restaurant with exceptional food,
dinner theatre with exceptional live entertainment (New York style)
and lounge with DJ’s and a dance floor.
All this lives in this historical Vancouver heritage building known as Maxine’s.

Both Erica and I had a couple of martinis (VERY good, and VERY strong). Really affordable as well, within the $7-10 range. Special events include Friday and Saturday dinner shows with the Candy Girl Cabaret (which is a sexy Broadway Burlesque song and dance group, the owner indicated that it was led by New York dancer-choreographer, Leigh Torlage).

We were given a virtual tour of Maxine’s and had a chance to talk about the secret life of Madam Maxine, who apparently had a house for ‘working girls’ (bordello, if you want to use that word). Apparently, Mme. Maxine only used to open the bordello when the economic times were tough. You can read up more on the website’s history section.

I had a wonderful time in no small part thanks to Erica, the owner of Maxine’s Hideaway and also, the fact that I had a chance to spend time with a good friend chatting up. I look forward to more chances like this in the New Year! I am sure both Erica and I will be coming back to Maxine’s many more times!

Voya Restaurant and Lounge is a magnificent bar!

Raul — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:37:24 +0000

Lorraine, Dale and I had a chance to swing by Voya (in my case, rather briefly) to check it out. We’d heard lots of stories from different people saying how wonderful it was, but it hadn’t been until we actually made it there that we realized that all the stories are true. Voya IS indeed a magnificent bar I will try it out for a dinner experience, but even if you just head down there for a couple of cocktails, you’re in for a treat.

LODEN VANCOUVER 1177 Melville Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6E 0A3
Reservations 877 225 6336 | T 604 669 5060 | F 778 373 1609

Voya Restaurant and Lounge is housed in the boutique Hotel Loden Vancouver. Unless you hang out on this side of Coal Harbour, on a regular basis, I would seriously doubt you know how to get there. But its location is unbelievably convenient. Less than a block from the Burrard Skytrain Station. Not kidding. I doubt that any of you would choose to imbibe as much alcohol as to end up stumbling back home (their drinks are simply too nice to over-do them!), you *could* if you wanted to, as it is very accessible even by Skytrain.

Santarac (created by Simon Ogden, Voya)

The lead bartender is Jay Jones, joined by Simon Ogden, who also happens to be one of the top theatre bloggers in Vancouver. I had to stop short of gushing, simply because they DO create art with their hands. The Christmas Sazerac that Simon has developed (which he called “Santarac”) includes smooth vanilla mint, and according to Simon, “it tastes just like a Terry’s chocolate orange!”

Lorraine and I agreed that the Santarac is very much more along the lines of my personality: sweet, strong and refined. I didn’t have a chance to spend nearly enough time at Voya with Lorraine and Dale and Simon as I would have loved to, but one thing you can rest assured of: I am, for sure, coming back.

Voya is a unique experience and you should most definitely head down there. Their hours of operation are posted on the website (linked above).

Biodynamic wines and sustainability – The Farmstead Wines

Raul — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:06:17 +0000

Last week I had the pleasure of having lunch at Salt Tasting Room and enjoy for the very first time some of the Farmstead wines . Despite the fact that I missed VinoCamp (due to overcommitments) I heard rave reviews, so I was looking forward to a taste.

On my Flickr set, Sean Orr (of Beyond Robson’s Morning Brew fame) was kind enough to describe each one of the platters we were offered while at Salt (thanks Sean, very much appreciated). One additional bit of information he kindly added was the fact that Farmstead’s wines are all biodynamic .

In previous posts I’ve talked about eco-vodka, but I had never tried biodynamic wines (well, up until I met Anthony Nicalo). What is the relevance of a wine being biodynamic , you may ask? Well, according to the Wikipedia entry, biodynamic agriculture entails:

Regarded by some proponents as the first modern ecological farming system, biodynamic farming includes organic agriculture’s emphasis on manures and composts and exclusion of the use of artificial chemicals on soil and plants.[Wikipedia entry on Biodynamic Agriculture ]

Farmstead Wines are certified. I had a chance to have a few glasses of different wines not only at Salt but also at the BarCamp Vancouver 2008 party at WorkSpace . Great flavor, and I definitely feel more environmentally conscious as a result. Admittedly, I’m more of a sweet wine kind of guy, but that’s not to say that I can’t have a glass or two of a more dry wine, particularly if it’s environmentally responsible and socially conscious!

Upcoming environmental events in Vancouver – September 2008

Raul — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:00:12 +0000

Two upcoming events are rather relevant to me and both fall on the same day.

Green Drinks Vancouver happens again on the third wednesday of the month (Sep 17th, 2008) at Steamworks.
The Metro Vancouver Sustainability Breakfasts series continues, and this time, they will focus on the discussions we’ve been having on bottled water. I am SO definitely there!

About the Community Sustainability Breakfast [Metro Vancouver's website]:

Sustainability Community Breakfasts – Nature’s Health Drink – Always on Tap
Wednesday, 17 September, 2008
from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM
British Columbia Institute of Technology
555 Seymour Street, Vancouver

About Green Drinks Vancouver Sep 2008 [Green Drinks Website]

WHEN the next regular Green Drinks is: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month (except in Dec and July) Our next event is on Sept 17th, 2008
WHERE: Steamworks pub at 375 Water Street on the edge of Gastown near Waterfront Station.
Please be aware that due to changing space availability we cannot guarantee we’ll be in the same room each month – if you can’t find us just ask Steamworks staff which room we are in.
TIME:5:45pm-until?

It’s lucky that both of these events fall on the same day, and that I’ll be back in Vancouver by then! And again, I’ve got a full week booked (Brew 2.0, Green Drinks, Launch Party AND a special day!). Can someone please clone me? Thanks.

Bar review – The Kingston (Downtown)

Raul — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:54:16 +0000

So, last Friday was quite the social, off-line gathering of online geeks. I started off meeting Rebecca for a beer at Delicados, where we were joined by Beth Snow. We then parted ways and Beth and I ran around downtown trying to find the free 7-11 Slurpees. No luck. At that point, we headed to the Kingston to meet up with Duane, a couple of his friends, John and Rebecca.

I had never done a review of the Kingston even though we had been there a few times already, but the real reason was that I had never actually eaten there. This time, we ordered nachos (are you surprised?) The nachos were really good but I had to remind the waitress to actually add meat. The service was pretty minor, I wouldn’t say it was good. But nothing compared to Jimmy’s, whose service is REALLY BAD. And Tanya was saying that Dix’s service was just equally bad (I got to witness how their waitress treated them – I would have just called the shots there, but…)

Anyway, the Kingston is reliable for having a nice patio and it’s a destination I would go to just for the fun of hanging out with my friends. As I mentioned, the nachos are good and the service can be sometimes great, sometimes kinda so-so. This past Friday it was just ok, nothing to write home about. As it often happens with these places, it’s all about the good friends who join you rather than the actual place itself.

Review of Jimmy’s forthcoming.

Restaurant review – Bridges (Granville Island)

Raul — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:53:32 +0000

Without a doubt, Bridges manages to offer the best mojito I’ve ever had in Vancouver. Sweet, tasty, well muddled. Everything is perfect. Moreover, it offers some of the best food I’ve had in all my time here. I had been to Bridges before, but this past weekend, with my brother’s visit, he suggested that we go for lunch to Granville Island, which to me is always a great proposition for lots of fun and great food, and an amazing view.

I wasn’t disappointed in Bridges. It is still one of the best restaurants in Vancouver. The service was very prompt (and a tad too friendly, I would say but that’s ok, I don’t mind). We ordered ceviche and a dipper platter which should have been more than enough for lunch, but I was way hungry and we finished it off rather quickly. Loved the tzatziki and the hummus, and of course, the ceviche wasn’t 100% authentic like what I would expect, but it wasn’t bad at all.

The main course I chose, a smoked salmon burger, was very good but I couldn’t finish it off. Perhaps I should have ordered a different dish, but frankly, this is a West Coast restaurant and it should provide a good salmon burger. That, they do. I was slightly surprised at how many staff members they had, but it seemed like they were having a good time.
finished it rather fast.

The prices are in the higher-end-ish scale, but I really don’t think it’s too much of an issue, because really, I would only come to Bridges for a celebration or for a meal that is somewhat significant. A main course can go anywhere from $25 to about $35-$40 (which is not all that unreasonable for the kind of place that Bridges is).

The food was amazing, the company was outstanding, and I had a great time. I *will* be coming back to Bridges, for sure. This is one of the best restaurants I’ve tried in a long while.

Restaurant review – Delicados (Downtown)

Raul — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:25:00 +0000

To continue with our Mexican food rampage, Rebecca and I went to Delicados for dinner just before attending Third Tuesday. I headed down there early, and since we both were starving we figured we’d order right away. I ordered enchiladas, but committed the mistake of going SUPER HOT. She ordered a wrap.

I was slightly surprised with the sunflower sprouts, but they were very tasty. The food is good for what it is (e.g. comfort food for lunch/early dinner). We were shocked to find out that Delicados closes at 6pm but I’m somehow not too surprised since it seems to cater to the lunch business crowd. The food is tasty and not all that expensive.

We had the pleasure of having Colleen and Ianiv join us for a bit, and afterwards we had a quick pint at Century. Which reminds me that I should have asked Ianiv and Arieanna to guest-blog-post their dinner experience at Century. The staff at Century have always been super, super nice, so I would figure that maybe the food is just as good.

Overall, Delicados is quick, inexpensive, Tex-Mex, filling and sort of a cheap bite. Not bad for what it is, definitely. But closing at 6pm? Not good in my books!