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Archive: 2011

Augustus Caesar’s Sticky Toffee Pudding

A little Italy in Britain can't be bad, right? This is a British dessert invented in 1907… but I’ve Italy-ified it with corriander and pistachio accents. A little Italy in Britain can’t be bad. Serves 8. Equipment: Baking sheet, 8 – 3inch ramekins greased with butter Ingredients: 6 oz pitted dates, chopped 1/2 tsp vanilla…

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December 12, 2011

California Wine Roadtrip – Essentials…

Anyone going to California for some wine tasting soon? No? You’d be utterly insane not to. Here are some tips on where to go and how to bring it back to BC. How to bring it back… I packed all these puppies on the plane back to Vancouver in my checked luggage. You pay an…

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November 12, 2011

Down the Rabbit Hole – a pop up restaurant

Nov 24th to Dec 18th 2011 Follow us down the rabbit hole to amazing food, wild performance in a mysterious underground space. Swallow Tail is joining up with the In the House Festival to conjure a restaurant & show out of nothing. It will live for one month only. Book the whole show just for you, your friends, co-workers or what-have-you, min 25 guests. Price is $129 reg/$99 booked before Oct 30. Perfect for your business xmas party, convince the boss! Email us at [email protected] if you want first grabs at tickets and to keep posted on this event. OpenThursday – 7pm showFriday – 7pm showSaturday – 4pm show, 8pm show Nov 24-26Dec 1 (sold out),2,3,15,16(sold out),17

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September 14, 2011

Chefs List – Top 5 Favourite Restaurants in Vancouver

Wonder which restaurants in Vancouver are closest to our local chefs hearts? I’ve polled a few friends in the field that I know, love, respect and fear slightly. Chefs are by nature pick-aparts, everything is critiqued. Join any chef at a restaurant table and they won’t be able to help themselves. It’s like itching a mosquito bite, MUST DO IT. The perfect panel to highlight some of the true gems in Vancouver’s huge roster of restaurants. It was really hard to narrow it down, there are so many wondrous restaurants, it was like choosing which body part you wouldn’t mind losing. However, the final tally of restaurants were the ones that we dined in and left fully inspired or scratching our heads in delighted confusion at the artistry and perfection that graced our table. Note: I have to keep the…

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August 30, 2011

Dirty food secret #1 – Do you like Kraft Dinner?

I know you’ve eaten it before! Come to confession all ye sinners. KD was invented in 1937 as a war ration staple to feed hungry soldiers cheaply at only 19 Cents! Fast forward to the 1980’s, my mom used to serve this bright orange madness as a treat, cause kids love the shit. As you move into adulthood it’s far more fashionable to treat KD with distain as crappy food reserved for white trash. But I was curious to relive my childhood so I whipped some up the other day, yes, I’m admitting it. As a chef, you’d think it was sacrilege, but if you’ve worked in restaurants you’d notice that chefs eat the more junk food than most. Cooking all the time gives you a hate for the food you make, and a jones for McD’s. So… A nice…

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August 19, 2011

Salmon and Summer with In the House

The summer salmon run is almost over, so swallow tail will be cooking the last of the tasty little buggers on Sunday, Aug 21st at the latest In The House performance. If you don’t know about In The House, they take over private homes in Vancouver and put on these incredible performances collecting artists from around the city. Details are on the In The House site if you want to come eat and be thoroughly entertained. $30 for your salmon dinner and the show is amazing.

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August 17, 2011

The Merits of Apples, Hops & Cheese in Quebec

Just got back from a trip to Quebec where I entreated the locals to suffer my butchered French. They were very kind and only gagged me once. Highlight of the trip: A culinary focused jaunt from Montreal to Quebec City with my lovely Francophone buddies, Marco & Eliane. We tasted at every cider house and cheese shop that we could rustle up from Ile d’Orleans to Rougemont. Don’t know if you can find any of their cider or brandy out here, but Cidrerie Michel Jodoin is tha bomb. Their brandy was like boozy liquid gold. Best cheeses included; The hard to find…Le Bleu d’Elizabeth, Le Baluchon, L’anceire 3 year, Fritz Vielilli, Louis D’Or (bit like a nutty Gruyere) and a few you can get in Vancouver; Bleu Benedictine (made by monks), Savagine, find them at Benton Brothers. If you are…

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July 7, 2011

Chef Montri’s back to feed us… lucky souls

Back from Thailand this month, Chef Montri has some new recipes up his sleave… email us to reserve a spot at his next 5 course dinner on July 29th at the secret supper club.Only 4 seats left BYOB as usual, beer lovers, this is the perfect menu for you!

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July 7, 2011

Symphony for the Senses – Sat. July 16th

La Stella Winery & Swallow Tail present…Join us for a summer evening of sensory delights. A six course wine pairing secret supper with Robin Braun of the VSO.Dine surrounded by spring flowers in one of our private Vancouver hideaways. Sight, sound, scent & taste will be explored. DetailsSix wine pairings from the fabulous La Stella WinerySix creative courses from the Swallow Tail chef team1 lovely violinist playing a piece for each course1 secret location in Vancouver… spring flowers are your clue – location to be revealed when you book Tickets8pm SOLD OUT, 5PM (a few seats available)Vegetarians welcome – Just give the chefs a heads up Regular rate $129Swallow Tail discount without wine $79Swallow Tail discount with Wine $99 Email [email protected] to reserve

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June 13, 2011

BBQ Spot Prawns

BBQ Spot Prawns with cilantro salt and green papaya salad at the supper club. Tip: Buy them at T&T; Market live if you want to save a buck $8.99/lb right now. It’s spot prawn season in Vancouver and they are bloody tasty. Last year, I made a video (link below) on how to properly prep live spot prawns. This year, I’ve been shelling hundreds for various catering jobs and, by God, they are so lively. I’ve never experienced the jumping craziness before. What is in the Ocean this year, ephedrine? I had 10 of them actually jump out of the sink. It usually doesn’t freak me out, but I had to put gloves on to steel my nerves and behead them all. If you are experiencing a similar squeamishness, I just want to tell you, “You are NOT alone!” Here’s…

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June 7, 2011