Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel on Howe Street’s focuses on delivering Pacific Northwest flavours through breakfast, lunch, and dinner with playful twists on classic dishes. I popped in for a power lunch earlier this month to experience Executive Chef Hamid Salimian’s latest offering – the Food Truck-Inspired Lunch.
John and I first met Chef Hamid in Whistler back in 2010 and we had the pleasure of experiencing his creative culinary talents a few months later when he was at a hotel restaurant in Richmond. His dishes were gastronomical wonders, I wrote: “I had never seen a puffed fois gras, a powdered popcorn crumble on an amuse bouche, fried salmon skin that tasted like wood smoke and marshmallows, or a shrimp bar with soy caviar and squid ink garnish. Even the classic beef tenderloin was topped with a buckwheat crisp. The dishes burst with flavour and made a conscious effort to combine textures playfully.” Fortunately, Chef Hamid is still as adventurous with techniques and flavours as ever over at Diva at the Met.
With food trucks being a popular lunchtime stop around downtown, Diva at the Met decided to play on their popularity and truly make some of their dishes their own with the help of Chef Hamid’s imagination.
Food Truck-Inspired Menu
- Butter chicken basmati rice, cilantro yogurt, fried cauliflower, lime
- Barbecue eel banh mi sandwich chicken liver pate, pickled carrot, daikon, cilantro (choice of fries or salad)
- Classic poutine french fries cheese curds, beef brisket, gravy
- Diva corn dog truffle mayo, grainy mustard, house made sauerkraut & thrice cooked kenebec fries
Each item from the food truck menu (which is not prepared in a truck but in Diva’s open kitchen) is $17 which gives the Diva Corn Dog the distinction of being the most expensive corn dog in Canada [HuffPo].
“Our food truck-inspired dishes, especially the Diva Corn Dog, take classic street foods and amp them up with high-end ingredients and bold flavours,” said Chef Salimian. “We’ve had great feedback on the Diva Corn Dog since it was first introduced, which is why we’re giving it a permanent home on our menu – it’s fun, yet sophisticated and shows how you can turn something as humble as a corn dog into a showstopping menu item.” [Press Release]
I of course had to try the Diva Corn Dog. I quickly found out that it is not your run of the mill corn dog though, it is seriously gourmet. The homemade sausage is comprised of sweetbread, bone marrow, truffle and foie gras. It’s incredibly decadent with a crunchy cornmeal exterior and I enjoyed each bite that I swiped through the truffle mayo. The sauerkraut was a nice touch as well, adding crisp and contrasting flavours – something Chef Hamid does very well.
My lunch date (the lovely Mom604) decided on the lobster grilled cheese on brioche, which came with kenebec fries (no longer available).
The staff was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was a nice calming contrast to the bustle of the downtown streets outside, and an hour was more than enough time for us to enjoy our meal and not feel rushed before returning to work. In fact we even had time for dessert: a selection of sorbets and The Oreo with vanilla pudding, aerated chocolate, cassis sorbet.
The Diva Corn Dog is a permanent menu item and the rest of the food truck items get changed up every so often. Diva also offers a prix-fixe lunch menu which is refreshed as seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients become available. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about their latest menu offerings.
Vancouver International Airport (“YVR”) was once again named Best Airport in North America at the Skytrax World Airport Awards in Geneva, Switzerland today. Rated 8th overall worldwide, it is the only North American airport included in the top ten. This is the fourth year in a row that YVR has been awarded this distinction.
I’ve traveled a lot over the years: spending time on 3 continents, in 7 countries, 4 provinces, 12 states and passing through over 25 airports. There’s always no place like home but when it comes specifically to airports. Here are just a few reasons why YVR is tops in my books:
It’s not gigantic
Run, Run, Rudolph pumps through my brain as I sprint through O’Hare International Airport (“ORD”) in Chicago as though I’m a member of the McCallister family. It takes me 10 minutes to get from two gates that are only twenty digits apart but that’s nothing like Denver International (“DEN”). DEN is where separate terminals appear endlessly connected by moving walkways that seem to act as treadmills, you gain no ground although your feet are moving. There are no monorails at YVR, no underground passageways, and although there’s an occasional sprint to a gate, there are no marathons. As a side note, the seats also do not have arm rests, making them very friendly to stranded passengers that would like to lay out across them (instead of on the floor).
It’s beautiful and the art is appropriate
There are dozens of pieces of artwork in the airport both in the public areas and near the gates. Prominent First Nations pieces, wood carvings, and over 75 sculptures along in the Lorne Balshine Collection that records the Inuit oral culture in the themes of wildlife, survival, traditional beliefs, family life and acculturation. Learn more about the YVR Art Foundation and their work with the airport authority.
Free WIFI and charging stations
Although vacations are for disconnecting and relaxing there is still a need for business travellers (and the internet-addicted) to hook up their devices now and then. Charging stations between seats and free WIFI definitely help. The airport also stays connected with you using social media management systems and customer service on Twitter.
It’s not in the middle of nowhere
Hop on a Canada Line train and in under 30 minutes you’re in downtown Vancouver. Drive in from Surrey and again you’ll be at the ticket kiosks in under an hour. There are options to get to YVR and also to explore the region if you’re just stopping in (or stuck with a canceled flight). Civilization is close-by and hundreds of Richmond’s restaurants are within 10 minutes if you’re peckish.
I could even add on that people who aren’t even going anywhere or picking anyone up like to hang out at the airport. Take Off Fridays in the summer provide free entertainment, there’s a free public observation deck, it’s a great place to pick up souvenirs, and the Fairmont YVR hosts afternoon tea. Chester Johnson Park, as I found out last summer, is also a nice little oasis amongst all the traffic. In my opinion YVR does more than get you from A to B. It sends you off in style and welcomes you home (literally) with open arms.
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is on now with dozens of free and inexpensive activities and events that will get you out and about under these beautiful pink petals. In celebration of the festival, I have put together a collection of Vancouver Cherry Blossom Photos from the Miss604 Flickr Pool. All of the following photos have been captured and contributed within the last few weeks:
I will do another photo roundup at the end of the season in case you would like to contribute your own photos to the group after seeing this collage.
As always, please click through on these images to view more work from the photographers and feel free to share your own photos with the Miss604 Flickr Pool. View all photo collections here.
The 64th annual Army and Navy Shoe Sale is coming up this month with discounts at every location including Vancouver (Gastown), New Westminster, Langley, Calgary, Edmonton Whyte Avenue and Edmonton Londonderry Mall.
The dash for deals will begin at 8:00am on Wednesday, April 24th with savings on premium brands like BCBG, Steve Madden, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Eli Tahari, Franco Sarto, Pour La Victorie, Bandolino, Marc Fisher and Kelsi Dagger. There will be over 100,000 pairs up for grabs and many priced under $40.
Back in 2008 I interviewed a Junior Buyer for the Shoe Department at Army and Navy who gave me some tips for Shoe Sale first-timers:
“I would definitely recommend for everyone to wear flip flops! That way you just slip them off and try on a new pair. Because the sale is so popular, it gets very full, so wearing something light and comfortable is ideal. Another great tip is to grab a basket or the complimentary Army and Navy shopping bag, fill it with all the shoes you like, and grab yourself an empty corner to try your shoes on. That way you don’t have people grabbing from your stash…yes the competition is fierce. For those shoppers who aren’t able to make it right at 8:00am, don’t worry we stock up the shelves all day, and especially for the lunch and after work rush. Once you have picked out your fantastic pairs of shoes, you are able to purchase them at any till in the store.”
Army and Navy has offered up a VIP opportunity for a lucky Miss604 reader and their guest. Our contest winner will receive VIP entry into Army and Navy in Gastown at 7:30am (beating the rush and the line) on Wednesday, April 24, 2013. The winner will also receive a $25 gift certificate. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Since 1919 Army and Navy Shoe Sale has been 100% Canadian owned and operated by the Cohen family and the Vancouver store was the one that began that legacy. This year’s Army and Navy Shoe Sale will run from Wednesday, April 24th until Sunday, May 5th. Follow Army and Navy on Twitter and Facebook.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 2:00pm.
Update The winner is Kristen!
This is probably the most specific theme topic I’ve had for my Archives Photos of the Day series however when you’re on the trails of Stanley Park as much as John and me, finding a single image showing “Tree Felling Using Springboards” is pretty fascinating. There is still evidence all over the park – and in any other previously logged forests in the region – of this spring board technique. Once you spot these notches on familiar old stumps, you get an idea of how old they are and just who might have been (painstakingly) chopping away at them.
Left: 2013 – Stanley Park.
Right: 1900s – Tree felling using spring boards. Archives item# Tr P35.
Left: 1900s – VPL Number: 4102. Photographer: Leonard Frank.
Right: 1890 – Shawnigan Lake. Archives item# Log P29.
Left: 1890s – Archives item# LGN 727.
Right: 1890 – Men on spring boards felling a tree near 9th Ave & Waterloo. Archives item# Log P11
1891 – North Arm Fraser River near Vancouver, George Oliver’s contract. Archives item# Tr P44. Photographer: Bailey Bros.
For more information, photos, and artifacts about early logging in the area, I recommend paying a visit to the North Vancouver Museum and Archives.
