I’ve updated my blog entry from October 2nd, 2006, click HERE to check out new commentary on this Denman Street restaurant as well as more photos.
According to Wikipedia, An izakaya (居酒屋) is a common kind of Japanese bar or restaurant, also found in cosmopolitan cities throughout the world, popular in Japan for after-work drinking. A definitive feature of an izakaya is that it serves food as well as drink. Patrons typically sit on tatami mats and dine from low tables in the traditional Japanese style. (MORE)
Well, they seem to be popping up all over Vancouver as of recent:
Sonomama on Granville Street
Very clean decor – you can tell they’re a nascent operation. I enjoyed having dinner there (especially the wasabi steak) and will be back to check them out for lunch. Accessible to business and they’ll probably do very well due to their proximity to the Granville Strip (and my office).
Sonomama Bar & Grill
980 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L2 (MAP)
TEL: 604.662.3770
FAX: 604.329.7942
WEB: http://www.sonomama.ca
Yutaka on Jervis Street
I had a quick stop into this restaurant on Friday. It’s a large restaurant with an open plan. Just off Robson, I can see alot of potential here. The food was okay, sushi was quite fresh but where they can excel is possibly looking at doing something inventive with their drink menu. No plans for that right now, though – they haven’t received their liquor license yet.
Yutaka Bistro Izakaya
793 Jervis Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 2B1 (MAP)
TEL: 604-633-9118
FAX: 604-633-9129
On another note, it seems someone in Japan has gone great lengths to open up an Izakaya in my honour:
If you’re ever in Setagaya-ku, keep an eye open for it.
Calpis is a favourite drink that I learned about throughout my travels in Japan. If you’re familiar with South-Asian drinks, you may know of the ‘sweet lassi’ which is comprised of sugar, yogurt, ice cubes and water. Well, Calpis tastes sort of like a sweet lassi, but it’s more of an energy/lifestyle beverage.
I saw this article in the recent ‘Terrie’s Take 395 — plummeting post-IPO prices, ebiz news from Japan’ and thought I’d share:
Calpis, the fermented milk drink company, have announced that it will soon start selling its Calsporin bacteria-based feed additive for livestock. The new product is designed to compete with antibiotics in animal health. Calsporin is made from Bacillus subtilis and works in the animals’ intestines to reduce salmonella and other harmful bacteria. First off the rank will be a poultry feed additive. ***Ed: If it works, we think it’ll be a hit! No one likes absorbing antibiotics second hand from animals. ** (Source: TT commentary from nikkei.co.jp, Oct 13, 2006)
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/AC/TNKS/Nni20061012D12JSN07.htm
The first of five gala fundraiser auctions for BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities occurred tonight at the Westin Bayshore where we got to raise our ‘paws’ to bid on some amazing Kermode Spirit Bears. In total, $546,000 was raised in the auction, not including the silent auction. Photos from the evening are below but first, a tally of the bears and how much each one fetched:
One thing to mention, one bear, Jeanie, Whistler Spirit Bear, which was not originally slated to auction, was auctioned off at someone’s request. The bear fetched $50,000 making it the highest-bid for the event.
1 $5,500 Simon
2 $6,000 Worth Protecting
3 $6,500 Vancoubear
4 $14,500 Sto:lo Bear
5 $20,000 Darth Bear
6 $30,000 Rocky
7 $40,000 Kromode (my favourite)
8 $15,000 Ursus Intrawestus
9 $10,000 Pacific Spirit Bear
10 $15,000 Royal Shopper
11 $26,000 Chilkat Spirit Bear
12 $33,000 Kermode Couture
13 $9,000 Bear-Tiquity
14 $13,000 Sea to Sky Bear
15 $14,000 West Coast Bear
16 $15,000 Nazzy Bear
17 $15,000 WPGA (West Point Grey Academy) School Spirit
18 $20,000 Whimsy Bear
19 $10,000 Rhythm of the City
20 $25,000 Explorer
21 $16,000 The Bearrister Bear
22 $11,000 Look At Me!
23 $11,000 Vinnie the Crew Bear
24 $12,000 Summer Cone Bearing
25 $32,000 Spirit Friend
(NO NUMBER) $50,000 Jeanie, Whistler Spirit Bear
26 $16,000 Icebow
27 $21,000 Cuddles
28 $20,000 Fable Bear
29 $16,000 Roto Bear
Some pictures from the evening, check out my Flickr stream with the tag “Spirit Bear” or my set for the evening, “20061010” for all of the pictures taken:
Pictures from The Great Spirit Bear Auction & Gala:
Greater Vancouver including Whistler
Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver
October 10, 2006
For those of you who missed this event, there’s four more galas coming up (click HERE to find out more) and Internet-based bidding at GoBid.ca:
Terrace, Kitimat & Prince Rupert
Best Western Hotel, Terrace
October 14, 2006
Surrey
Sheraton Guildford Hotel, Surrey
October 19, 2006
Prince George
Coast Inn of the North, Prince George
November 4, 2006
Vancouver Island
Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria
November 8, 2006
Internet Auction
Bidding Opens October 11, 2006
Bidding Closes November 9 to 14, 2006
I’m very fortunate to have good friends. Friends like Glenn Stevenson at City TV in Calgary – people in the know, people who know about great new restaurants like Victoria’s Bistro • Bakery • Bar • Ballroom on 17th Avenue SW.
For starters, fantastic ambience, friendly staff and excellent food. A rare thing in Calgary’s boom market where the an experience at event the finest restaurant could be tarnished by inexperienced or worse yet, complacent staff. All the good people have left for greener pastures so it seems except with here – where you’ll find people a hidden paradise where foodies frolick. Okay, well, that’s a bit much – actually, everyone there loves food so maybe it isn’t too much of a stretch.
Okay so what’s to know about Victoria’s?
Some photos – you can also watch my tag “Victoria’s” on Flickr to see new developments:
The chef is a genius. The food excellent. What stuck out as well was dessert. Lisa Cheah, their head baker, is a Slow Food member and makes some of the most amazing baked goods I’ve ever tasted. Next time you’re in check out their crème brulée tarts! (… and say hi to Lisa).
Rating: 10/10 (Perfect score)
———
Victoria’s Restaurant
ADDRESS: 306 – 17th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2S 0A5 (MAP)
TELEPHONE: (403) 245-5356
EMAIL: info@vic17.com
Ahh.. so few people in the know, until now:
Parkside’s [Parkside Restaurant] Andre Durbach and Chris Stewart have bought the Henry’s Kitchen space and will be opening a Mediteranean Style Trattoria. 4025 Macdonald. Henry is moving further East.
Tom Doughty and Robert Belcham are leaving to open Fuel Restaurant in the former Arian House of Kebabs location on Fourth Ave.
Artigiano [Caffé Artigiano] coffee shops have been sold. Parent bean company still owned by Vince [Vince Piccolo].
Chef Quang from Rare [Rare One Vancouver] has left to go to Calgary to sort out some personal matters
Tim [Tim Keller] and Brian [Brian Fowke] are also working on a 3rd venture [after Rare and Metro]….yum.
Ryan Bissell (Canoe, Jump and Auberge de Pommier, all in the T.dot) will be Chef of Metro.
Kurtis Kolt (GM of Aurora [Aurora Bistro]) going to Salt [Salt Tasting Room] to wait tables..
UPDATED: 11/7/2006 06:00 AM
I’ve since returned to Kingyo a number of times. On yesterday’s occasion, I took some more photos (below).
Of note, service was excellent and the food was great as well. My favourite is the Chicken Karaage which comes with three types of salt or shio to dip in – from Utah, from the Himalayas and from Japan.
Umami’s Hiro is no longer the bar manager – he’s moved into where his passion lies, in the kitchen. Yasu has taken over his post.
You can read the menu in the photos below as well – and check out Yasu’s daily drink special next time you’re in:
Original Post: 10/02/2006 06:00 AM
Kingyo occupies the space which was once Enthuze on Denman Street (Vancouver). The sign on the front window says ‘See you in Aug’ but August came and went… now it’s October.
I recently passed by and was invited to take a couple of pictures while they put the finishing touches on the place. They’re still finishing the mural and other small items but overall you can get a feel for how it’s going to look inside.
Also, stay tuned to my flickr stream (and specifically photos tagged kingyo) at: http://flickr.com/photos/urbanmixer/tags/kingyo for more photos from Kingyo.So what’s the scoop? Well, two elements come together. Firstly, Hiro (ex chef, owner, and sommelier of Umami) will be the sommelier and bar manager of KINGYO. Secondly, the restaurant is owned by the same group that brought Guu with Garlic to fruition (amongst other restaurants).
Sounds like a hit.
Cross your fingers, the city’s inspectors are going to be visiting in the next couple days.
KINGYO
Telephone: 604-608-1677
Address: 871 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L9
Duran is a superstar that’s for sure! Here’s a video that his dad shot when he was a kid:
Check out VM Lounge (formerly Video Monster) in Gastown at 1 West Cordova Street in Vancouver and say hi to Duran!
Here’s the scoop for the Palace in Calgary according to Jocelin – apparently they have a 150 seat restaurant called Wild Fire. The rest of the club will have a 1200 person capacity, 600 on the first floor and the rest for the two upper floors. It’s going to be huge! The Calgary Flames are involved and I’m totally looking forward to this new venue on 8th Avenue. Keep your eyes peeled.
Palace Night Club – slated to open in November, 2006
Capacity: at least 1200ppl
Location: 219 8th Avenue SW, Calgary
