Doolin’s Irish Pub on the corner of Granville and Nelson has become our second home on Whitecaps match days (due to it being the official base of the Southsiders supporter club) but John and I recently enjoyed a different Doolin’s experience when we stopped by after work for a flight of local brews and some dinner.
The friendly neigbhbourhood pub, situated in the heart of downtown Vancouver’s entertainment district, is known for its sporting event screenings, live music, casks nights, and beer pairing dinners. On match days, we usually enjoy the specialty menu that is offered so during our date night we sampled a wider range of offerings.
First things first, we each ordered a flight of beer ($11.50) which consists of 4 x 6oz samples of any beer they have on tap, including plenty of local options like Russell, Granville Island, Stanley Park, and brewed-for-Doolin’s features. It was a great start to the night in our cozy, wood-paneled nook near the fireplace.
We decided to split an appetizer and go for something a bit different. After consulting with our server, who said it was a good choice, we ordered the Duck Bites ($8) which are chipotle and ginger marinated duck morcels topped with spicy pickled jalepenos, wrapped in bacon and topped with a sweet sesame soy glaze. There were only a few pieces of duck on the plate but they were devoured quickly and the accompanying salad was a bright and fresh contrast to the rich, tender bites.
For dinner I stuck with pub fare and ordered the Cork County Chicken Pot Pie ($12.50), made with Rossdown free-run chicken from Abbotsford, carrots, celery, and peas in a creamy stew topped with flaky pastry. It was served with house-made mash potatoes and seasonal vegetables. When I poked my fork into the pastry it was “steaming like a locomotive,” as John put it. The pastry was very light and buttery, not too dense, and baked to a golden brown. Once the piping hot filling cooled a bit, I enjoyed the large, tender chunks of chicken in the rich stew. The only drawback was that I did not finish my potato and could have gone for one fluffy, buttery mound instead of two. Those with a heartier appetite will enjoy this helping, however.
John opted for the Wild Salmon ($17) which came topped with garlic herb butter, seasonal vegetables and rice pilaf. This is a simple dish but sometimes — served elsewhere — it can go terribly wrong without the right care and attention to fresh and local ingredients. John thoroughly enjoyed his light meal and in this case it was just right, from the glistening pink salmon to the tender pilaf.
After getting our fill of vegetables at the pub we couldn’t resist dessert. John hemmed and hawed about the third course but once I serenaded him with a chorus of “peanut butter chocolate ice cream” he was hooked. The Brownies and Ice Cream ($6) features a warm, house-made brownie with velvety peanut butter chocolate ice cream. Normally we wouldn’t mix a flight of beer and ice cream but it perfectly rounded out the entire dining experience.
Finally, another thing we like at Doolin’s is the friendly staff. No matter how jam-packed the pub might get, like on a Whitecaps match day, everyone is always helpful, courteous, and prompt.
Win a $50 Gift Certificate to Doolin’s
Now that I have shared our after work/dinner date experience, I have the chance to offer a reader their own with a $50 gift certificate from Doolin’s.
They have new menu items like Cajun Chicken Salad, Wonton Prawns, Fried Pickles, Short Rid Flatbread, Wild Salmon Sandwich, and a Fried Chicken Sandwich as well as wine on tap.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 17, 2014. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly. Doolin’s is located at 654 Nelson St at Granville in downtown Vancouver. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Update The winner is Sarah M!
Yesterday I posted my latest (and probably my only) home decor tip on Instagram by sharing a Vancouver history photo that I downloaded and printed from the Vancouver Archives. It was a hit there so I thought I would share the tip here as well.
The Big Idea
The other day I set out to spruce up the bright white walls in our apartment which currently host a rotating gallery of my sister-in-law’s art, art by Grant Wood, sketches and graphics made by friends, heirloom maps, and in the office I have a few Miss604 awards and certificates on display. There was just something missing and it felt like Vancouver itself needed more representation inside our home, but in a unique way.
Vancouver History Photo Prints
Four years ago I began featuring daily and weekly Vancouver History Photos in the “Archives Photo” section of Miss604, which was populated by finds from the City of Vancouver Archives and the Vancouver Public Library Archives. I’ve featured photographers and themes like taxis, beaches, maps, cats, moustaches, street fashions, aerials and many more in over 200 posts. I had never thought of pulling some of my favourite snapshots from these collections before but it seemed like the perfect fit for my home art project. It’s so incredibly simple too, here’s the process:
- Search the Vancouver Archives online for your desired image. Type in keywords and be sure to check on the copyright of the photo you have selected, this is clearly noted on the photo description page. Look for “Copyright Status: Public Domain” or if it belongs to the City of Vancouver. This means you are free to download and use the work, and the Vancouver Archives also encourages this.
If your search is outside of this scope, you can purchase copies of a digital record via the archives. Just stop by in person (at 1150 Chestnut Street), make a phone call (604-736-8561), or inquire online.
- Click on the image to get the largest resolution possible, then download that file to your computer.
- For printing, I used the London Drugs Photo Lab. There are a number of printing styles and options to choose from — including canvas gallery wraps — but I simply selected a glossy, no border, 11×14 print for pick-up. Within an hour, and $11.99 (plus tax) later, I had my print. All it needs now is a frame.
The Vancouver Archives has always been a fantastic resource and it feels good to have taken my little photo searches from the online realm right into my home.
Getting Started
To get you started, I searched around to find a few Public Domain (usable) photos that you can click, download, and print just like I did.
The City of Vancouver Archives were founded by Major J.S. Matthews in 1933. Today, you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about their collections, the reading room, and special events.
Vancouver designer Malene Grotrian is hosting her 2nd annual Full Circle Fashion and Art Fundraiser for OVCARE, BC’s Ovarian Cancer Research Team, on September 16th.
The Full Circle Fashion and Art Event is presented by Malene Grotrian Design and hosted at Autoform showroom, this glamorous and fun fashion and art event features a cocktail reception with delicious canapés and wines, special guests from the OVCARE Team, live music and entertainment by DJ Leanne, a special silent auction of original art and luxury items, and exciting luxury raffle prizes. To highlight this special evening, the Malene Grotrian Fall/Winter 2014 Collection will be exclusively launched with a couture runway show. This fabulous night out brings together friends, valued partners, and over 200 guests to raise funds in support of Ovarian Cancer Research.
What: Full Circle Fashion and Art Fundraiser for OVCARE
When: Tuesday September 16th, 2014 at 7:00pm
Where: Autoform Showroom, 1885 Clark St Vancouver
Tickets: Purchase online via Malene Grotrian
There are two ticket options. Regular tickets ($60) include admission to the standing area for the fashion show, delicious libations and canapes, complimentary valet parking, and access to the luxury raffle and silent auction. VIP tickets ($100) include all of the regular ticket perks plus reserved fashion show seating and a unique gift bag (valued at over $300.
The very first time I went to a designer’s studio, where they picked out a red carpet look for me and made me feel like a million bucks, was when I visited Malene Grotrian in 2011. Since that time I have followed her career, kept an eye on her look book, and done a follow up interview as she’s always poured herself into projects for causes she cares about. Be sure to follow Malene on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about her events, collections, and services.
About the OVCARE Research Team
The OVCARE Research Team is proudly supported by The UBC Faculty of Medicine, The BC Cancer Foundation and The VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. The purpose of our Full Circle Fashion and Art Event is to raise funds and local awareness in support of OVCARE and their ongoing commitment to research in Ovarian cancer, the most serious of all gynecologic cancers. In British Columbia, we have the best outcomes (survival rates) for Ovarian cancer in the world. But the sad fact remains: Ovarian cancer has a 75% mortality rate. Research is the only hope we have of saving the lives of women who are suffering with this disease.
Dr. Dianne Miller (Chair of BC’s provincial gynecologic tumor group) and the OVCARE Team have been at the forefront of Ovarian cancer research in their efforts to develop better diagnostic tools and improved treatment protocols for the disease and ultimately, to find a cure. OVCARE is leading the world with their BC policy in Ovarian cancer prevention, which has recently gained international support.
The Vancouver Alpen Club has been at the heart of the local German community since 1935 and the building on the corner of Victoria Drive and 33rd Avenue has been its home for the last 60 years. Heading into fall, they have posted their schedule for Oktoberfest, which will be celebrated throughout the first three weeks of October.
What: Oktoberfest at Vancouver Alpen Club
Where: Vancouver Alpen Club, 4875 Victoria Drive
When: Fridays and Saturdays
October 3rd to October 18th, 2014
Tickets: Starting at $30 per person (includes entrance fee, no reservations) or $80 (VIP includes entrance fee, reserved table, access to Bavaria Lounge, table service, buffet, and a souvenir). Doors are at 7:30pm each night. Must be 19+.
The event will feature entertainment from The Continentals and DJ Mike Holzhaus, providing the best of Ohhmpah pah, classic German Schlager Songs and today’s hits. The kitchen will serve Bavarian cuisine and a special menu throughout the month as well and German beer will be flowing.
Tickets are available in the office for pickup or via telephone (604-874-3811 ext. 5). Ticket sale hours are between 2:00pm and 6:00pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays.
For more information, visit the Vancouver Alpen Club online or in person, and follow on Twitter and Facebook.
Top Drop is Vancouver’s newest wine event, featuring 24 terroir-focused wineries from around the world alongside a handful of like-minded craft breweries and local food purveyors. In a city that sees its share of wine events, Top Drop aims to stand out with its selection of global wineries that produce wines reflective of, and unique to, their locations, sharing core values with local producers in BC.
What: Top Drop Vancouver: The Main Event
When: Tuesday, 16 September 2014 at 7:00pm
Where: Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St
Details: 24 terroir-focused wineries, 4 craft breweries, cured meats, artisan cheese & more!
Tickets: On sale now online for $49 (plus fees/tax) with event proceeds going to the BC Hospitality Foundation, which provides financial support to hospitality industry members facing a major medical crisis.
“There are a lot of big marquee blockbusters out there, so think of this as the Sundance Film Festival of the wine world,” Top Drop Co-Founder Kurtis Kolt told me by email.
“There’s been a big movement over the last few years in so many Vancouver restaurants and retail stores from bigger-production, often homogeneous wines to more craft-oriented wines that truly reflect the terroir of where their vines grow. Less manipulation in the winery means wines of integrity that truly offer a sense of place. Since this is the direction many in the local wine scene are going, I thought it was time for an event that really focused on these kinds of wines and the people behind them.”
Another key element will be Top Drom Somms, a fleet of Vancouver’s best sommeliers — in partnership with BC Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers — who will float around the room assisting guests with wine queries and offering their expert recommendation. Kolt says that having a direct line to these top sommeliers will boost attendees’ wine knowledge exponentially. “Since we’ve assembled such a broad range of wineries, we thought it would be the perfect place for people to feel free to ask those wine questions that come up when shopping or looking at a wine list.”
Top Drop Vancouver Participating Wineries
Decero, Mendoza, Argentina
Jean Bourdy, Jura, France
Musella Winery, Veneto, Italy
Planeta Wines, Sicily, Italy
White Rose, Dundee Hills, Oregon, USA
Dominio Del Plata, Mendoza, Argentina
Nichol Vineyard, Naramata, BC, Canada
Radio-Coteau, Sonoma, California, USA
Stoneboat Vineyards, Oliver, BC, Canada
Caves Sao Joao, Bairrada/Dao, Portugal
Koyle Family Vineyards, Colchagua, Chile
Remoissenet Pere et Fils, Burgundy, France
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Lake Sonoma Winery, Sonoma, California, USA
Kunde Family Estate, Sonoma, California, USA
Château de Montfaucon, Côtes du Rhône, France
Farm Collective, Napa Valley, California, USA
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia, Rioja, Spain
Ridge Vineyards, Sonoma County, California, USA
Tantalus Vineyards, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
Domaine de l’Hortus, Côteaux du Languedoc, France
Blue Mountain Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, BC, Canada
L’Ecole N° 41, Walla Walla County, Washington, USA
Stoller Family Estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Neely & Foxglove, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA
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“It made sense for us to show a breadth of wine styles by working with wineries from many countries to illustrate what makes a Pinot Noir from Oregon different and unique from a Burgundian version, for example.”
Kolt added that wineries were chosen based on their dedication to their craft, which includes making wines expressive of terroir (the set of special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place) with an honest sense of place.
Key principals of many of the wineries will also be in attendance along with four craft breweries: Brassneck Brewery (Vancouver), Breakside Brewery (Milwaukie, Oregon), Four Winds Brewing (Delta), and R&B Brewing (Vancouver).
As for the BC wineries, Kolt believes they can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best regions in the world, “It was a no-brainer to have a good home-team showing.”
There will also be a Top Drop Dinner Party on Monday, September 15th, a day before the Main Event. For more information follow Top Drop on Twitter and Facebook, and purchase your Main Event tickets online before they’re all gone.
