Olympic Feasting, A Vancouver Olympic Feat

Up in British Columbia we take food and wine seriously.  Maybe not as seriously as we do hockey and those other winter sports, but seriously enough.  So for all the revellers coming to the city starting Now, VANOC [that stands for Vancouver Olympic Committee] wanted to make sure there's plenty to eat and drink, as well as do and see, in Vancouver, the Olympic City of Winter 2010.

Now, we know we're stretching the notion of "locavore" a bit thin here, but since so many nationalities are converging and calling Vancouver "home" for a few weeks this February, we thought we'd be generous and extend to them a temporary pass for "local" as in "locavore" and Local Foods.  After all, they are serving "local" foods to where they're from...so that's gotta count for something.

Saxony House
Cooking will be done by Saxon Chefs.  Its location is optimal...at the Vancouver Rowing Club, 450 Stanley Park Drive.  You will enjoy free entry and menu items, in addition to the Kostritzer Schwarzbier and the Wernesgruner Pilsner ($9), will feature crispy roast pork with sauerkraut, grilled sausage with Bautzen mustard and trout in Riesling sauce with wild rice. Their apple and plum cakes will be baked on site.  No kids after 9pm. And live music every night from 6pm to 11pm by De Erbschleicher.  INFO:  www.saxony-in-vancouver-2010.com  From Feb. 12 - 28, 12p.m. to 2 a.m.

Irish House
The Olympic Council of Ireland and the Irish Heritage Society have partnered to present this 9,000 square foot pavilion located next to Doolin's Irish Pub on Nelson Street.  Free for kids. Grown-ups pay $10 for admission until 7p.m, after that it's party time and only open to adults, who pay $20 for admission.  Steak and Guinness pie, corned beef and cabbage and burgers with Irish bacon will be served over-the-counter and prepared by local Vancouver chefs.  Did we mention Guinness on tap? Food priced at around $9. Doolin's is also open, look for the separate entrance.  The daytime family-friendly atmosphere  boasts local Irish storytellers, dancers and musicians. INFO: www.irishhouse2010.com  654 Nelson Street
Holland Heineken House
The Dutch have taken over two hockey rinks in Minoru Arena, Richmond to create the famed Heineken House.  Watch for the swarms of Dutch expected to to make the Holland House their party central. Apparently, "speed skating in Holland is like Hockey in Canada," according to Ted Townsend, spokesperson for the City Richmond.  Entrance is free, but expect lines for the wristband you'll need to get each day.  Adults only after 7 p.m.  For eats: hotchpotch, a stew made from potatoes, veggies such as carrots, kale and sauerkraut, and beef, smoked sausage or crisp-fried pork. They're also serving Canadian fare such as salmon adn buffalo steaks.  Dutch chefs are cooking the two nightly dinner seatings. Prices between $17 and $30 and there will also be snacks...and Heineken! on tap!  INFO: www.hollandheinekenhouse.nl/uk_home.html
House of Switzerland Canada 2010
Already written about in these pages...but just suffice to say that different days will see different and free samplings:  Lindt Chocolate, cheeses from Switzerland and the Swiss soft drink, Rivella.  Swiss Chef Beda Zingg will work with Bridges Chef Shane McNeil on specialties like Swiss air-dried meat adn venison with spaetzle for the restaurant. Menu also includes moitie-moitie a fondue made with two types of Swiss cheeses and garlic. INFO: www.houseofswitzerland.org  1696 Duranleau Street, Granville Island

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Local Flavors: The Best Poutine In Vancouver

Even Americans have discovered the delicious Canadian dish, Poutine.

Follow, "Follow Me Foodie's," Mijune Pak on her quest for Vancouver's Best Poutine (on Davie Street.)

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Vancouver Food And Wine *   Okanagan Food And Wine

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First Nations Host Food In Olympic Pavilion

Vancouver Olympics 2010 is the first time in history that Indigenous peoples have been recognized by the International Olympic Committee as Official Partners in the hosting of Games.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are being held within the traditional and shared traditional territories of the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.  Their First Nations Pavilion is located at Georgia and Hamilton in downtown Vancouver.


This is the Food they'll have available at the Pavilion to sample. We highly recommend you stopping by! And with a 17 page menu, there's enough selection to keep you coming back each day of the Winter Olympics 2010.

* Wild Rice Partridge Tartlets with Cranberry Drizzle
* Fiddleheads Wabanaki (your mission is to try it and write in your comment below!)

* Turtle Island seafood martini with ginger lime cream sauce
*Pan-seared asparagus wrapped in musk ox prosciutto
*Metis Bison Tourtiere
*Maple Taffy on a Stick
*Wines by Nk'Mip - the first Aboriginal owned winery in North America, located in the Okanagan

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Four Host Nations Olympic Pavilion. Check it out!

Olympic Food And Wine In Vancouver

Olympic Food And Wine In Vancouver

Granville Island is Olympic Central for good Eats!

Bridges is the House of Switzerland during the Olympics.  It’s going to be a party in B.C. Canada! The regular menu will be combined with traditional Swiss dishes. They’ll be hosting numerous events and you’ll be able to catch television broadcasts of the Olympic competitions and feats there, too.  Plus, it’s on Granville Island.

Go Fish!

Another Granville fave is Go Fish!  It’s actually right on the docks as you walk from Granville Island toward the Burrard Street Bridge.  They get the freshest fish because they buy it right off the boats, parked alongside the dockside location. There’s nearly always a line, especially on clear sky days.  It’s always well worth the wait. And if the tiny tables are filled up, most people just sit on the seawall and watch the boats go by. This one’s a gem for all of us locavores, especially we who love seafood!

Of course, not to be missed by any account, is the Granville Island fresh local market.  It is Foodie Heaven. No, wait. It is Foodie Nirvana. No, wait. It is a locavore Foodie’s heavenly nirvana!  Schedule some time to linger over all the fresh, delicious and colorful choices. Bring your appetite and be prepared to graze!

More Vancouver Local Food And Wine choices.  Go ahead, explore a little!

Market at Shangri-La –   Indulge in a high-end westcoast meal without breaking the bank. Shhh…it’s still a local’s secret…

Sushi at Tsunami and Shabusen both put you in the heart of the shopping district in Vancouver.  Tsunami has fresh sushi and a variety of other Japanese dishes.  Shabusen is all you can eat sushi.

Pajo’s Fish & Chips – Just off the Steveston docks. Large portions, great fish and great prices.

Beefy Beef Noodle – Tawainese savoury beef noodle soups are great for lunch, and very popular in Vancouver.

Dim Sum at Sun Sui Wah – It’s a busy place, but you can make a reservation.

Griffins – For kids and a great meal, Griffins’ has something for everyone.

All India Sweets – Vegetarian buffet – Meat dishes also available.

Dinner at the Cannery –  Off the beaten path but well worth it. This landmark Vancouver restaurant is losing its lease so be sure not to miss your last chance to take in the view.

Campagnolo – Italian cuisine with  a charcuterie upstairs.

Kam’s Place – curries and Tom Yum soup dished up with friendly service and consistently delicious Singaporean food.

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Terminal City Club's Sizzlin' Sommelier

Terminal City Club’s Sizzlin’ Sommelier

Local Food And Wine

I first met Teresa Alampur, Terminal City Club’s sommelier, when we were both putting in a grueling day sorting grapes.  In the middle of  harvest season out in the Okanagan last fall, we found ourselves standing side-by-side at a sorting table, picking through 4 tons of pinot gris.

The day started at 8 a.m. and we all showed up cheerful enough. A few hours into it, after standing on hard cement, picking errant leaves and vine out of the grapes before they were to be pressed, in the cold snap that had descended suddenly on the Valley after the prolonged balmy summer days, and no one was saying too much to one another any more.No one could; even our faces were frozen.

Nine hours later and this trained and credentialed sommelier was still hanging tough, just like the rest of us. And the “rest of us” were mostly grown and griseled guys with steel-toed, insulated boots that buffer the hard ground and thick rubber gloves to protect our hands from the cold and sticky grapes.
A real trouper, that’s what the petite Alampur proved herself to be. She’s a sommelier, then, who has earned her stripes both indoors and out on the vineyard.

Expert wine selections at Terminal City Club's Cuvee.

At Vancouver’s prestigious and exclusive Terminal City Club,  where she is Director of Restaurants as well as Club Sommelier, Teresa oversees the Cuvée Wine Bar which presents a modern cocktail menu and ever changing wine list, a list that is carefully curated by Alampur.

The Terminal City Club is described as “Vancouver’s most prominent private business club” and enjoyed a full renovation in 2008.  It is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, a city which is consistently rated as number one in the world in terms of quality of life. It is a private club whose tower maintains five floors with 60 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites.

Check online for their weekly and monthly special tastings. The Menu from Cuvee below has likely already been freshened up with seasonal fare.

Cuvee Menu

Charcuterie Plate
A Selection of Dry Cured Meat, Aged Cheese, Club Marinated Olives

Braised Beef Short Rib Sliders
Pumpkin Butter, Brie Cheese

Rice Noodle Wrapped Tiger Prawns
Steamed Pork & Prawn Dim Sum
Light Soy, Chili Sauce

Crispy Fried Calamari
Chili Paste, Japanese Mayo

K.F.C
“Korean Fried Chicken”
Panko Crusted Chicken, Pickled Vegetables, Scallion Soy Glaze

Prawn & Oaxaca Cheese Quesadilla
Avocado Cream

Prosciutto, Bocconcini, Oven Dried Tomato Panini
Basil Mayo, White Truffle Butter

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What Else is there to do and see in B.C.?