Food & Drink

…from the crisp white shirts of servers to the music playing from overhead speakers in the washrooms, everything was so elegant and fancy.

For their second issue, MONTECRISTO Magazine is very excited to have Jay Jones join its team of contributors. Though Jones is the mixologist and head bartender at the Loden Hotel’s Voya Restaurant, it’s the latter title he prefers. Throughout his career at the bars of some of Vancouver’s most prestigious restaurants, he has been dubbed a variety of names, each one seemingly an attempt to elevate the public perception and appreciation of the lowly barkeep. To him, it seems that “bartender” has become a dirty word, so in the spring issue of MONTECRISTO, Jones makes a humble appeal for its resurrection.

You could see the [hospitality] industry percolating, as new ambitious kitchens began to pop up. We started to embrace fresh, regional ingredients and to pay attention to seasonality. The ambition and creativity was inspiring as chefs became celebrities. The world began to notice. Bartenders began to notice.

MONTECRISTO magazine is a regional lifestyle quarterly created for the discerning, cultured Vancouverite, and is designed with the highest standard of quality in mind. The upcoming spring issue of MONTECRISTO will be available at Chapters/Indigo stores across Greater Vancouver, as of April 20th. www.montecristomagazine.com

Modern Mix Vancouver was invited to Yaletown’s r.tl (1130 Mainland Street) last week for a sampling of its new regional features. In case you missed the first article, r.tl’s menu is split into three sections, with each section featuring five to six small plates inspired from a distinct region of the world. The featured regions rotate on a three month basis, with the exception of BC, which is a constant on the menu.

A quick peek at the menu reveals that executive chef Erik Smith has chosen Portugal and France to join BC as its regional features for the next three months. The 50-seat establishment is chic and trendy, with dark wood furniture contrasted by contemporary white chairs.

Earls Restaurant is opening the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. For more information and to purchase tickets ($65), click here.

…tuna tartare was sophisticated in preparation and presentation; tartare cakes perfectly sandwiched between thinly sliced asian pear.

Au Petit Chavignol (845 East Hastings Street) is now open. Strathcona’s new 36 seat cheese and wine bistro is open for dinner from 5pm to Midnight, Thursday through Monday. Their dinner menu is categorized into “cow”, “goat” and “sheep” (milk, that is) and “mixed milk”. All cheeses are served with baguette and croccantini. A selection of accompanying side dishes can also be ordered for $3 or less – including almonds, onions, specialty cherries, jelly and granny smith apple. I am a big fan of nibbley food and tapas; I have yet to try out Au Petit Chavignol but I am looking forward to checking it out in the near future!