To help kick off our local spot prawn season, Coal Harbour’s Tableau Bar and Bistro threw a party last night, appropriately titled “Heads or Tails“.

The sampling of spot prawn items that were featured forms part of a summer platter that Chef Marc-André Choquette has created to marry with summer wines, craft beer, and La Strangiato, a signature cocktail prepared using gin, Dubonnet, Amaro Montenegro, lemon, Demerara sugar and soda.

[Tableau's Chef Marc-André Choquette]

The “goods”, those delightful, juicy, meaty BC spot prawn stars, were dressed to the nines, prepared as corn dogs on a stick, in a terrine, their heads deep fried, as a tartare, in a creamy bisque served cappuccino style, on a skewer seasoned with chili garlic and Niçoise style.

I’m personally a fan of the messy, off the table “whole beast” variety. Tableau chefs came out of the kitchen bearing heaping dishes of poached whole prawns, alongside saffron aioli, cocktail sauce, and lemon.

[Spot Prawn Bisque, with fennel, steamed milk, served cappuccino style]

[Tȇte-à-Tȇte (deep fried spot prawn heads)]

[Spot Prawn Corn Dog on a Stick (with frites)]

While I didn’t sample the cocktail mentioned above (I was in between two wine tastings that day and wanted to stick to that), I did enjoy the spot prawns with Joie Farms’ 2011 Rosé ($10/glass), with a blend of raspberries, candied fruit, and a light, refreshing mouth that married well with the dishes. Also on hand was Joie’s 2010 Muscat ($10), a bit sweet for my palate (though a good match for the prawn corn dogs on a stick), as well as Phillip’s Analogue 78 Kolsch craft beer ($6.75).

[Spot Prawn Tail Terrine]

[Spot Prawn Tartare Cup]

[Gougère Spot Prawn Tail Slider]

The platter ($25) features spot prawn head bisque, poached spot prawns, spot prawn tartare cup, spot prawn corn dog on a stick, and a Gougère spot prawn tail slider.

Tableau Bar and Bistro is located at 1181 Melville Street, next to the Loden Hotel in Vancouver. Visit the website for menu information, hours, and events.

Richard Wolak, food writer and founder of both Vancouver Foodster and Taste and Sip Magazine has just launched his latest project: Food Talks. This new series of monthly (for now) social gatherings brings together five speakers of different backgrounds and roles from within the food community in and around Vancouver.

 
Richard’s new social gathering is more than hearing great people talk about their passion. It’s also a chance for the community to meet and mingle over delicious appetizers presented by the hosting restaurant/event space while sipping on wine poured by a different featured winery at each event.

A Q&A will follow each of the talks, allowing participants to benefit from a leading panel of experts. The evening will end with everyone taking home a sweet treat from one of Vancouver’s local bakeries.
 
The Food Talks series kicks off on June 5 with these five well-known food experts:
Chef Trevor Bird – Top Chef Canada Competitor and Chef/Owner Fable Kitchen
Stephanie Yuen – Food Writer and “East Meets West” Author
Mike McDermid – Ocean Wise Manager at the Vancouver Aquarium
Roberta LaQuaglia – Operations Manager, Vancouver Farmers Markets
Hunter J. Moyes – Chef at the Waldorf Hotel, Founder of The Tiffin Project
 
Appetizers will be prepared by W2 Media Café’s Chef Karen McAthy, while this month’s wine will be provided by Misconduct Wine Co.

Food Talks
Date: June 5, 7 pm
Venue: W2 Media Café and Community Media Arts Centre, 111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $30 early bird tickets (until June 1; $40 after June 1) available online
 
For more details, visit the Food Talks website. The series continues on Tuesday, July 10 at EBO Restaurant (Burnaby), and on Tuesday, August 14 (location to be determined).

The Honda Celebration of Light returns this summer with the option to reserve a seat in the bleachers. If you’re interested in catching the action up close but don’t want to arrive hours in advance to stake out a spot, this is your chance to watch the show in style. This is the world’s largest offshore international fireworks competition with hundreds of thousands of spectators hitting both English Bay and Kitsilano beaches to enjoy the colourful array of pyrotechnic mastery.

Vancouver’s landmark summer event is now entering its 22nd year. Shore 104 FM will broadcast each evening’s event from 6 to 9 pm and then simulcast the fireworks soundtrack live at 10 pm.

Early bird tickets are now available at $49 (until June 30); after that, the price goes up to $59 for any seats that haven’t yet sold out.

The bleachers are available for all three fireworks nights:

July 28: Vietnam
August 1: Brazil
August 4: Italy

brand.LIVE is also on the lookout for volunteers (5 pm to 11 pm shifts) in a number of areas and positions. Visit the Honda Celebration of Light website for reservation details.

A sneak preview and wine tasting was held last week at Mile’s End Motors in Vancouver to help launch the new 1,200 square foot wine experience centre at Black Hills Estate Winery. Black Hills is collaborating with Calgary/Las Vegas based rock and roll artist Jason Gogo, who’s created an entire new art collection inspired by Black Hills wine.

Several of his pieces were previewed at the Kitsilano dealership during the tasting. Q4 Ristorante chefs were also on hand to create wine-paired canapés.

Canadian born Gogo, 40, has also just finished shooting a pilot for a Los Angeles based reality show on his artwork. Gogo has plans to move to LA “for at least a few months”. “Everybody is really part of that same food chain – if you’re in the entertainment industry, if you’re in the media, if you’re in management, if you’re in art, you sort of gravitate towards each other. A lot of musicians and actors, as well, are interested in art because a lot of them are artists themselves.”

He’s been painting since 1997, developing a unique style of art that he refers to as “organic expressionism,” a brand well known in both Calgary and to his clients worldwide. He’s designed a lifestyle to help promote his talent as the rock and roll artist.

He’s set up New York style studio galleries in downtown Calgary as well as on Hollywood Boulevard. The wine experience centre’s grand opening will take place on June 9 in conjunction with the Nota Bene Release Party. Gogo’s complete new art collection will be on display during the grand opening.

Immersed in the Black Hills vineyards, the brand new $1 million wine centre will offer tastings, vineyard tours, and views of the Okanagan Valley. Black Hills was inspired by world-class tasting lounges recently opened in Napa Valley at esteemed wineries such as Duckhorn and Paraduxx. The facility will provide wine tourists with a unique opportunity to relax in poolside cabanas while taking in the 360 degree panoramic view. The centre will be open from daily from 10 am to 5 pm through the end of October.

Black Hills will also host the 3rd Annual Vinos Wine Film Festival on June 8. The Vinos is the world’s first wine film festival. Wine enthusiasts produce a one to two minute video showcasing their favourite BC winery. Cash prizes and deluxe wine packages are given out during a Hollywood Oscar style party at the Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos.

 For full details, visit Black Hills Winery’s website.


Reel Causes is a volunteer-based organization that presents monthly social film screening events for an enjoyable evening of high quality films for the benefit of different causes. 100% of the event’s proceeds benefit the charity/cause of the month. 



VIFF Vancity Theatre is the home for 
Reel Causes events. VIFF has a strong history of presenting excellent, relevant, cause-related documentaries during the 16-day international Festival and throughout the year at the Vancity Theatre. This month’s Reel Causes film is El Bulli: Cooking in Progress.


Reel Causes presents this popular documentary about El Bulli, the best restaurant in the world, in a fundraiser for The Gratitude Æffect. With 1,500 homeless people living in Vancouver, The Gratitude Æffect continually works to raise both money and awareness in the effort to end homelessness.

Although 3-Michelin-starred Spanish molecular gastronomy mecca El Bulli closed for good on July 30, 2011, its work as an ingenious generator of avant-garde cuisine lives on in Gereon Wetzel’s immaculately crafted documentary.

The small restaurant, which served a pricey 30+ course tasting menu, operated a limited season from July to December. It closed for the other six months so that chef/owner Ferran Adria and his creative team could devise new dishes at a state of the art test kitchen in Barcelona.

The former restaurant was located in a remote and beautiful spot overlooking the Cala Montjoi Bay near the town of Roses in the Catalonia region of Spain.

The film takes the audience behind the scenes, witnessing new dishes, the test kitchen, and all that goes into preparing the restaurant for a new season. Ferran and his brother have recently announced a new tapas restaurant and cocktail bar to open in Barcelona.

El Bulli: Cooking in Progress
Date: Wednesday, May 23, 7:00 pm
Venue: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Adults, $11; Students and Seniors, $9
*No vouchers or passes accepted for this presentation

Reel Causes is supported by Vancity.

Spring is often a time for renewal – this year, take your spring cleaning one step further by giving your health a spring cleaning of its own. Richmond has been named “The Healthiest City in Canada“, according to a study published by Canadian Living. You can follow in the footsteps of fitness-conscious locals by hopping on a bike at Garry Point Park in Steveston and riding along the scenic dyke trails or the city’s 50 kilometres of designated on-street bike routes.

[Photo credit: Terry Tarigan on Flickr]

Or pack a picnic and walk or jog the four kilometer (2.5 mile) Iona Jetty at Iona Beach Regional Park. If the forecast calls for spring showers, hop indoors at the Richmond Olympic Oval to try the impressive 40 foot high new climbing wall, which boasts 31 unique routes suited to all skill levels.

[Photo credit: luckyfish on Flickr]

After working up a sweat, cool down at one of Richmond’s three Asian malls – Yaohan Centre, Parker Place or Aberdeen Centre – all major destinations for shoppers looking to stock-up on health-promoting Chinese herbs. According to Chinese medicine, spring is associated with a cleansing of the liver and gallbladder. Many of the store associates at these Asian malls are bi-lingual and will be happy to assist you in finding the right Chinese herbs to help you feel healthier, happier, calmer and more connected to life.

The Canyon Farms RV Park was another stop on our recent Okanagan Tourism media trip. The farm is tucked away on the ridge of rural East Kelowna. Started as a small, diverse agriculture farm, it now can accommodate eight RVs in a beautifully landscaped flat terrain.

Owners Lesley Reid and Michael Coulthard were on site to show us the grounds, starting with the chickens.

Not only are they fun to watch, but guests are able to purchase their eggs (as well as free-range chicken) right on the farm. Canyon Farms’ own vegetables from their garden add to the abundance of ingredients for a true “100 foot diet” experience. A complimentary basket filled with fresh berries is also provided for breakfasts.

Brilliantly coloured dahlias are grown in the meticulously maintained greenhouse. A batch of 300 chicks was about to arrive when we visited the farm. More beautiful eggs for everybody!

Nearby Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club, hiking, and biking trails are all easy to reach. A five minute walk leads to the entrance of the Scenic Canyon Regional Park, where 17 kilometres of flora and fauna in a beautiful creek and canyon setting await hikers. Up the road from there lies Myra Canyon, considered one of the most scenic areas of the Kettle Valley Railway, with gorgeous views of both Lake Okanagan and the Okanagan Valley. This hiking and cycling paradise takes in 16 wood trestles, two steel bridges, and two tunnels. All only 15 minutes from downtown Kelowna.

If you’re looking for a great escape with an RV this summer, Canyon Farms is a serene and unique way to tour the Okanagan.

Some of the amenities include:
- Eight spacious pull-through RV sites
- Vehicle parking at your site
- 20, 30 and 50 amp services
- Water and waste hookups
- Washroom and laundry facilites
- Free WiFi
- Five minute drive to grocery and liquor stores
- Pets on leash welcome
- 10 pm to 7 am quiet time
- Adult oriented

2012 rates (RV park season runs from April 1 to October 31):
$50 per night/$300 per week in high season
$39 per night/$234 per week/$600 per month (April 1 to May 31, September 15 to October 31)
Prices do not include HST.

[Saskatoon berry bush]

Canyon Farms RV Park is located at 4020 Field Road in Kelowna. Visit the website for more detailed reservation information.

The Sketchbook Project is a traveling library of artists’ books by thousands of people from around the world, forming an immense collection of books and art expressing unlimited styles, influences, and ideas.



The project will be in Vancouver for two days, on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 15 and 16, before traveling to Los Angeles. W2 Media Café is proud to host the only Pacific Northwest stop on the tour and is pleased to be sharing this collection with Metro Vancouver’s artistic community. In total, this collection will travel to 14 cities on four continents.

The Sketchbook Project is a constantly evolving library of artists’ sketchbooks from around the globe. Consider submitting your work for the 2013 tour. If you’re interested in attending, RSVP for the event on Facebook. Woodwards W2 Media Café is easily accessible by bus, train, Skytrain, Seabus, bicycle and car.

The 2012 Vancouver Men’s Show returns this June for the second year running. The 2nd annual Vancouver Men’s Show is the only BC consumer trade show devoted to men and is billed as the Ultimate Men’s Event. With over 250 exhibitors featuring the hottest new male products, The Vancouver Men’s Show is a one stop destination for a jam-packed “man sized” weekend.

[Photo credit: chris_21 on Flickr]

The 2012 Vancouver Men’s Show will offer several new live events, shows, and toys that men will love. The BCEA Strong Man Competition, a returning favourite, will face some stiff competition from the Arm Wrestling and Bench Press competitions. Outside, top stunt riders will show off their tricks while Motorcross FMX demos will keep the energy going. Live BBQ shows, poker tournaments, plus beer, wine, and spirits tastings will complete the picture.
 
This year’s show will again support a local charitable initiative; partial proceeds from the Live Charity Auction on Saturday will go directly to BC Children’s Hospital.
 
The Vancouver Men’s Show is a perfect opportunity to celebrate Father’s Day. Over 200 exhibitors will be on hand to offer something for every Dad. Whether gift shopping’s on the agenda or not, the event will be a fun way to spend some quality family time together. 
 
Some of the 2012 Vancouver Men’s Show highlights will include:
- Sit N’ Go poker tournaments
- Paintball Shooting Range
- West Coast Freestyle Stunt Show featuring professional motorcycle stunt riders
- Live Motocross FMX display
- 4×4 Rock Crawl demos
- ATV Track
- Meet X Games gold metal winner Heath Frisby and FMX star Keith Sayers
- Roller Derby
- House of Q BBQ show
- Tasting Zone featuring samples of top local and internationally produced beers, wines, and spirits
- BCEA Strong Man Competition
- Live Charity Auction presented by Prospera Credit Union, benefiting BC Children’s Hospital
 
The 2nd Annual Vancouver Men’s Show
Dates: Friday, June 15, 4 – 9 pm; Saturday, June 16, 10 am – 9 pm; Sunday, June 17, 10 am – 1 pm
Venue: TRADEX Abbotsford, 1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford
Tickets: Adults (13 and over), $10 advance/$12 at door; Kids (12 and under) by donation; Weekend pass, $16 advance/$20 at door
*Special Father’s Day family package (two adults and kids) $15 

Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen has become a fixture on the Okanagan dining scene. Chef Ricardo Scebba and wife Sue Miller have worked hard over the past 11 years to build and nurture their labour of love — a hearty, welcoming Italian restaurant that brings to mind a slice of Tuscan life in the Okanagan.

When we dined there on a recent Thursday evening, the 50 seat dining room was packed with families, couples, and food lovers enjoying a meal with live jazz music on the small stage near the entrance.

Born in Montreal to Italian parents, Ricardo Scebba learned to appreciate the traditions of food and family from an early age. At 16, Ricardo started as a cook and continued working at various Montreal restaurants throughout high school and college. Knowing early on that restaurants were his true calling, Ricardo earned a degree in Restaurant Management from St. Clair College.

In 1981, Ricardo relocated to Toronto and moved to the front-of-the-house working as a server and bartender. Ten years later he moved west to continue his career in Vancouver. Shortly after his move, he met the love of his life, Sue Miller, as they both worked together at the same Granville Island restaurant.

Leaving the big city behind, Ricardo and Sue moved to the Okanagan where they started a family and began to build their dream business. In 2001, they opened Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen. And the rest is history.

[Summerhill Pyramid Winery's Eric VonKrosigk, winemaker]

We were joined by Summerhill Pyramid Winery winemaker Eric VonKrosigk, as well as a childhood friend of Ricardo’s, who had some great tales to tell of their lives back in Windsor, Ontario. The wine and food naturally flowed in between conversation at our table, bringing the group closer by evening’s end.

The interior is dimly lit by candles of all sorts; outdoor patio seating is certain to fill up in the warmer months.

We started our dinner with a selection of antipasto, including house made artisan breads, Italian olives, Cavolfiori Fritti (delicious batter-fried cauliflower florets), cheeses and salumi. The chosen wine was Summerhill’s Cipes Brut ($52/bottle). After a round of clinking glasses, we dove into some fantastic homemade focaccia as it was brought to the table fresh from the oven.

A big heaping bowl filled with Porcini mushroom risotto was brought out next, paired with Ex Nihilo’s Pinot Noir. The excellent richness of the risotto went very well with the deep pinot notes of dried cherries and plum.

[Nonna's turkey polpette]

Not enough can be said about down to earth Italian cooking, but when Nonna’s turkey polpette (meatballs, made purely from ground turkey, though normally mixed with pork at the restaurant) arrived with that gorgeous rich tomato sauce, everyone’s eyes gravitated towards the dish.

[Wild salmon caponata]

[Rack of lamb chops]

Wild salmon caponata, rack of lamb chops, polenta, and arugula salad were also brought over. Out of all the beautiful bites I was enjoying, the polpette was my hands-down favourite. These secondi dishes were paired with Cedar Creek Pinot Gris and La Frenz Total Reserve glasses of wine.

[Coconut panna cotta, amaretti cookies, raspberry granita]

A trio of coconut panna cotta, amaretti cookies made by Ricardo’s Mom Concetta, and a raspberry granita to cool the palate formed our dessert trio. I loved the creamy goodness of the panna cotta, and although I’m not a huge coconut fan, this was hardly a reason to put down the spoon. Its joyful aroma and taste together with the almond amaretti bites were superb. We saved a few amaretti cookies to dip into coffee later. With the desserts, our group enjoyed a glass of sweet Arrowleaf Vidal.

[Ricardo Scebba and me]

This restaurant is worth seeking out for its ambiance, attention to fresh ingredients, as well as a friendly vibe. There’s nothing pretentious about Ricardo’s, and their seatings book quickly from Thursday through the weekend. The live music roster changes up weekly.

The counter is loaded with various dining accolades, and Ricardo’s currently sits at number three in BC’s top Italian restaurants, according to Open Table’s website. Last year, Ricardo and Sue put together a collection of their favourite recipes. That’s Amore ($24.95; available online) has become a great resource for fans wanting to try Ricardo’s dishes at home. It pays homage to Ricardo’s Italian roots. Many of his family recipes are in there.

Ricardo’s is located at 415 Commonwealth Road between Vernon and Kelowna, at Holiday Park Resort. They’re open seven nights year-round from 5 pm. My dinner was compliments of Ricardo’s (Grazie, Ricardo!).