Pied-à-Terre
(604) 873-3131
Address: 3369 Cambie St (map)
Homepage

If you build it, they will come
a Quick Bite

By Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer

Canada Line Schmanada Line.

For the record, I never asked Chris Stewart or Andrey Durbach if they were worried about building their new little French bistro on construction-ridden Cambie Street. But if I did, the above would have to be their answer, right? With businesses on Cambie bailing out left and right (notably, Tomato Café’s exodus to Broadway), opening a new restaurant would seem to many a recipe for disaster. But it all fits Stewart and Durbach’s apparent mantra of late: If you build it, they will come. Take a location not typically known for fine cuisine, such as La Buca at 24th and Mcdonald and now Pied-à-Terre on Cambie. Add in simple but expertly prepared regional cuisine, seasoned staff, small but comfortable room, fair prices, and you’ve got yourself a hit. Of course, it’s a bit too early to tell with Pied-a-Terre, but word on the street is they’ve been packing them in since opening, my visit last Thursday being no exception.

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Brian Fowke is News to You
a news item

Saturday November 24th, 2007

By Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer

I stumbled across Brian Fowke’s new website this morning, and it’s already proving quite useful. An informative place for all things Rare, Metro and BC ingredients there are already several items worth checking out.

One is a list of events at Rare this month (many already over, sadly). But how about the Metro Christmas party on the 29th?

It also reminded me about the (complimentary) classic cocktail series at Metro. Sadly, I missed the first one, which was supposed to be my favorite classic cocktail of all time, the old-fashioned, but juding from the write-up on Fowke’s site, ended up being the sazerac. Lies! Deception! Just kidding, the sazerac is a hell of a drink, and I would have been happy to attend had it not been Thanksgiving.

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Blogging Cornucopia: Battle of the Sexes!
a photoblog feature

Sunday, November 11, 2007

by Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver editor

Next up on my docket was Battle of the Sexes, in which a group of female wine experts takes on a group of males to answer the age old question: what gender is best at blind identification of wine. I know I’ve always wondered.

This is supposed to be a highly entertaining seminar/competition, so it was one that I was quite looking forward to attending.

The female group included several powerhouses: Michelle Bouffard, DJ Kearney, Sandra Oldfield and Daenna van Mulligen. In a surprise move, David Scholefield, former BCLB wine guru, showed up in drag as some kind of Julia Child like character. It was unexpected and pretty hilarious.

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Pied a Terre is Open
a news item

By Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer
Friday, November 16th, 2007

After and despite several roadblocks, word is that Pied a Terre opened its doors (softly) on Wednesday and is now open to the public. This has been one of my most anticipated openings for a while now, and I’m very excited to try it in a few weeks when I’m sure that they are firing on all cylinders.

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Blogging Cornucopia
a photoblog feature

Sunday, November 11, 2007

by Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver editor

In the tradition of the great Tony Pierce and his pioneering photo essay medium, I’ve decided to present my Cornucopia blog as a photo blog.

I arrived at Whistler Friday evening with barely enough time to grab a quick bite to eat, pick up my media pass and hit the hay. Saturday was going to be an early morning.

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Mistral Bistro
(604) 733-0046
Address: 2585 West Broadway (map)
Homepage

Very tres, tres bien.
a Quick Bite

By Mark Freeman
Eat Vancouver writer

Cheese. Of all the elements in the universe, cheese is one I value the most. And when it comes out of a goat, I appreciate it even more. And when I stopped by Mistral Bistro on Broadway at Trafalgar and they took two thick medallions of wonderful goat cheese, browned them and set them on a bed of organic greens with two paper thin slices of very fresh, light prosciutto I was so overwhelmed by how delicious this appetizer was that I almost didn’t want the main course, I just wanted more of the goat cheese salad.

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Pied a Terre is Surely Almost Here
a news item

By Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer
Tuesday, November 6th, 2007

Pied a Terre, the newest offering from Andrey Durbach and Chris Stewart (of Parkside and La Buca), slated to open months ago is finally about to take off. The most recent news I’m hearing is that this Friday or Saturday is the new target opening. Problems with kitchen contractors and obtaining a liquor license have been the main roadblocks pushing the opening date back from what was originally expected.

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Word on the street, and by street, I mean the Vancouver Sun and Globe & Mail, is that the relationship between Rob Feenie and David and Manjy Sidoo, majority owners of Lumiere and Feenie’s is terminated.

With the tension caused by the hiring of Feenie’s heir apparent, Dale MacKay, pundits have speculated that the end was near for months now.

Personally, I’m excited to see what restaurant ventures Feenie will busy himself with now that all of this unpleasantness is behind him. I don’t want to take sides, but it’s hard to sympathize with Mr. Sidoo, who apparently garnered fame during his time in the CFL. I mean, anyone who gets popular for playing amateur football has to be seriously questioned. Back in 1992 I averaged two rushing touchdowns a game in my peewee football league over at the Y, and you don’t hear me bragging about it. True story.

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I’m sad to say that Eat Vancouver darling Triggiano’s has closed its doors for good. The last latte was officially slung two Sundays ago, and renovation has already begun on the forthcoming J.J. Bean.

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