This Monday, Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) and Vancouver Conference Chair Pino Posteraro will kick off the organization's biennial conference in Vancouver.  Chefs from across the continent will attend sessions with topics such as the Future of Fine Dining, Is Local Sustainable?, and the Importance of Successful Wine Pairing. The grand finale of the conference is a 7 course gala dinner on Wednesday September 17th at the Sheraton Wall Centre. The evening will feature dinner courses by local culinary luminaries including Tojo, Melissa Craig, John Bishop, Ron Shaw, Angus An, Marcel Kauer, Matt Batey, and Thomas Haas.

A limited number of tickets are still available purchase before Friday through DiRoNA's website.

Tour Guide training kicked off today for the YVR School Tour Program. Elettra Communications welcomes tour guide Anna Burk to the team, and welcomes back Jake Sobrepena who was an all-star YVR tour guide last year. Jake also spent the summer as YVR's Community Ambassador visiting community festivals throughout the Lower Mainland. Anna and Jake are both students in SFU's Communications Co-op program. Elettra is very proud to be working with the Vancouver Airport Authority on this program for the 4th consecutive year. Over the next 3 months, Anna and Jake will give airport tours to thousands of grade 5 students from across the Lower Mainland. There's nothing quite like the excitement of 10 year olds watching jets take off from the runway, so we're sure Jake and Anna are going to have a great time!

Jake and Anna are pictured here in front of a favourite stop on the School Tour - the Celebrating Flight totem in YVR's Graham Clarke Atrium. The totem was created by Haida carver Don Yeomans as tribute to humans – the only creature who has learned to fly without having its own wings. Check it out next time you visit YVR.

Anticipation for the redevelopment of Pacific Centre and the arrival of Nordstrom is growing. Read Thandi Fletcher's story in Sunday's edition of The Province. Elettra Communications is proud to be part of a project that is such an important part of life in Vancouver's downtown core.

Read the full story here.

Pick up a copy of BCBusiness's August issue for the full story on Long Table Distillery. Or click here.

De Dutch auctions off Vancouver’s best views of Canada Day fireworks In support of breast cancer research

VANCOUVER BC­ (June 21, 2013) – De Dutch, a beloved Canadian restaurant chain with 23 locations across Western Canada, is celebrating Canada Day with Front Row at the Fireworks, a fundraising initiative benefitting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s BC Yukon Chapter.

Through their website dedutch.com/bestseats, nine waterfront tables at De Dutch’s Burrard Landing location at the Vancouver Convention Centre will be auctioned off with the starting bids at $200 for a table of two or $400 for a table of four. Winning bidders will enjoy the best seats for the annual Canada Day Burrard Inlet Fireworks from 9 pm to 11 pm, with a $20 food and beverage voucher from De Dutch included in the bid price.

"We are very excited to be partnering with De Dutch on what will be a spectacular night of fireworks," states Patricia Chu, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – BC/Yukon Region. "This promises to be a fun community event, not to mention a great opportunity to help breast cancer research."

The fireworks show will take place on the evening of July 1st, 2013, with an estimated 250,000 Canadians expected to attend the Burrard Landing festivities. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s BC Yukon Chapter and help to fund vital research and community health grants to further progress in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

“Our Burrard Landing location offers our guests an incredible view to enjoy breakfast, brunch, and lunch,” says De Dutch President Bill Waring. “The Canada Day fireworks show happening in the inlet right in front of us allows us to use our unique location to support both a community event and an important cause.”

Since 2002, De Dutch has supported the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with its annual Shrove Pancake Tuesday promotion, donating $2 from each pannekoek to the foundation.

Bidding closes June 28 at 12 pm. For more information on the event, visit dedutch.com/bestseats. About De Dutch De Dutch was founded in 1975 with a vision to create unique, quality food inspired by Dutch cuisine. Over the years, our quirky Dutch flair and commitment to quality have helped to establish us as a one-of-a-kind destination for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. With 23 locations and growing, De Dutch is quickly becoming a popular tradition for folks all across Western Canada.   www.dedutch.com

Culinary leaders to converge on Vancouver for Distinguished Restaurants of North America’s September Conference

Vancouver, B.C.; May 21, 2013 – Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA), its Board Chair, Joseph DiSalvo, and its Conference Chair, Chef Pino Posteraro, are officially announcing today that the organization will host its 2013 conference in Vancouver from September 15-18. They are also announcing the list of B.C. restaurants to receive DiRoNA Achievement of Distinction in Dining awards this year.

The DiRoNA 2013 conference will bring together North America’s leading restaurateurs and chefs to explore themes that include trends in West Coast cuisine, sustainability, and the future of fine dining. DiRoNA is a non-profit organization that recognizes excellence and promotes fine dining through its inspection and award process.  Conference delegates will be from among the 600 North American restaurants that have received a DiRoNA award.  

“The selection of Vancouver as host for DiRoNA’s 2013 conference is a testament to our city’s growing prominence on the North American culinary stage,” says Pino Posteraro, DiRoNA Vancouver Conference Chair and Chef/Owner of Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca. “This is an opportunity to showcase the depth and breadth of talent in our culinary community and to celebrate the local restaurants whose dedication to culinary and service excellence have merited them DiRoNA certification this year.”

B.C. restaurants receiving DiRoNA awards in 2013 are:

·      Araxi ·      Bacchus Restaurant at the Wedgewood Hotel ·      Bearfoot Bistro ·      Bishop's ·      Blue Water Café + Raw Bar ·      Chambar ·      CinCin Ristorante + Bar ·      Hastings House ·      Hawksworth ·      Kirin Restaurant ·      La Quercia ·      Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca ·      Maenam ·      Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek ·      Sooke Harbour House ·      Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill Winery ·      Thomas Haas Chocolates and Patisserie ·      Tojo's ·      Vij’s ·      West

Award recipients were nominated by DiRoNA’s Vancouver Conference Chair, Pino Posteraro, and were selected on the basis of excellence in ambience, cuisine, and service. Award recipients are certified DiRoNA Restaurants and have earned the right to display the DiRoNA logo on their premises.

"With DiRoNA, we celebrate the art of culinary excellence, and Vancouver is the perfect place to do that,” says Joseph DiSalvo, DiRoNA Board Chair.  "The region has a vibrant culinary scene that is second to none."

As part of the award announcement, DiRoNA is also recognizing JJ’s Restaurant at Vancouver Community College for its commitment to excellence in training the next generation of Vancouver chefs.

DiRoNA’s 2013 conference will take place from Sunday, September 15 – Wednesday, September 18 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel. The conference will feature marquee speakers, working group sessions, and a visit to Whistler. The prestigious Mission Hill Winery will supply wine for the conference.

About DiRoNA DiRoNA was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1990 with the goal of raising dining standards and promoting fine dining throughout the US, Canada and Mexico. In 1992, the DiRoNA award was launched to recognize restaurants exemplifying the highest quality standards in all aspects of the dining experience. There are currently 600 restaurants that have been named as DiRoNA award recipients. A comprehensive list of DiRoNA restaurants can be found on DiRoNA’s website at www.dirona.com.

Another great year for dining in Vancouver, and another great Restaurant Awards to recognize the top culinary talent in the city! Hosts Mike Eckford and Fiona Forbes were on hand to announce the winners at VanMag's 24th annual celebration, which saw both fresh faces as well as some familiar ones taking top honours.  Before and after the awards presentation, guests enjoyed tasty beverages and snacked on delicious bites provided by some of Vancouver's top chefs and the culinary team at the host venue, the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre.

Always such a fun event - we're already getting excited for the milestone 25th year in 2014!

 Top honours awarded to Hawksworth, Wildebeest, La Quercia 

John Bishop, Alain Rayé recognized for mentorship, lifetime achievement

Vancouver, B.C.; April 23rd, 2013 –More than 700 of B.C.’s top chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and food critics gathered at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre yesterday to recognize the city’s best at the 24th Annual Restaurant Awards. For a second consecutive year, Hawksworth was awarded both Restaurant of the Year and Best Upscale, with acclaimed Chef David Hawksworth taking Chef of the Year honours.   “This year’s results reflect a balance between innovation and consistency across Vancouver’s culinary landscape,” said Vancouver magazine Editor-in-Chief, John Burns.  “The city welcomed several exceptional new rooms, while restaurants with longstanding histories and previous award recipients proved they continue to thrive.” Wildebeest took home the honour of Best New, having impressed the panel of 19 distinguished judges with their nose-to-tail cuisine. The room’s interiors also earned them the award for Best New Design.  The judges selected La Quercia as their favourite in the category of Best Casual, citing Chef Adam Pegg’s pasta and the value of their $45 seven-course menu as contributing factors in their voting. Revolver claimed top prize in the new category of Best Coffee House, with their slow-brewed cups edging out other finalists including 49th Parallel and Thomas Haas.  Haas did receive the honour of Pastry Chef of the Year. Perennial favourites demonstrated their staying power, with gold awards going to Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar for Best Seafood, Vij’s for Best Indian, and Phnom Penh for Best Vietnamese.  Meanwhile several rooms made their first appearances at the top of their category including Hoi Tong for Best Upscale Chinese, and Tableau Bar Bistro for Best Casual French. This year’s Mentorship Award went to John Bishop of Bishop’s, for his longstanding commitment to mentoring and developing chefs. Alain Rayé took home this year’s Lifetime Achievement honours for his impressive 40-plus years in the culinary industry. The owner and chef at the North Shore’s award winning La Régalade began his foray into cooking just outside of Paris at the age of 14, with his ambitious cuisine garnering critical acclaim throughout his lengthy career. The Green Award was given to Forage in recognition of the sustainable initiatives that extend through every aspect of their operations. Chef Chris Whittaker has led the drive to reduce their energy consumption and waste, implementing high efficiency equipment and extended composting and recycling programs.

Other notable awards include: Tacofino fr Best Food Cart; Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca for Best Upscale Italian; Dynasty Seafood for Best Dim Sum; Maenam for Best Thai; Cactus Club Cafe for Best Casual Chain; Robert “H” Holl-Allen for Bartender of the Year. Vancouver magazine’s May issue includes a 32-page feature on all the award categories. The issue is on newsstands now and digital subscriptions are available at vanmag.com.

It's Boink Day today! Check out our friends from Spring Advertising in today's issue of Metro.

Mark Madryga of Global Morning News was also practicing his boinking today. Check out a video of his skills here.

Spring Advertising's Boink Day is back and bouncier than ever! The media advisory is below, but also check out the website and the Facebook page.

Boinking for a Good Cause Vancouverites bounce into spring and support the Food Bank

WHAT: Winter is nearly over in Vancouver, and Spring Advertising is marking the first day of spring with Boink Day on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. The event is a public pogo bounce challenge that gives Vancouverites a chance to shake off winter cabin fever while benefitting the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

HOW: For each pogo “boink” performed, Spring Advertising will donate $0.10 to the Food Bank. Pogo sticks will be provided on site, or participants can bring their own.

Every $1 donated enables the food bank to purchase $3 of nutritious fresh fruit, vegetables, and eggs. The public can also make a cash or non-perishable food donation on-site.  

WHY: Boink Day raises funds for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, and also gives Vancouverites a chance to bounce out of the long, dark, rainy winter and into the spring.

WHERE: Vancouver Art Gallery – Georgia Street side

WHEN: Wednesday, March 20, 7am – 7pm. Rain or shine. Media are welcome to bounce by anytime during the day, but prime boinking time (based on expected pogoing traffic) is expected to be 12pm-1pm.

www.boinkday.com / www.facebook.com/SpringAd / @springad / #boinkday

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CONTACT: Cassandra Parsons Elettra Communications 604 738 3870 / (c) 778 866 5620 cassandra@elettra.ca

 Vancouver magazine and PINQ have great recommendations on what to do this weekend...visit Long Table Distillery, of course! Click on the image to watch Vancouver magazine's video:

              And read PINQ's take on Vancouver's only small batch distillery here:

The city is embracing the art of small-batch distilling. Thanks to the Vancouver Sun and Metro for their stellar coverage of Long Table Distillery. Click on the images to read more:

People are excited to hear all about newly opened Long Table Distillery, the only place in Vancouver to get locally handmade spirits.  Thanks to Vancity Buzz for featuring LTD yesterday - check out the article here!