Harvest Table at Bishop’s and a Rebranded Goldfish

left: Goldfish's chill new taste, right: Goldfish owners Bud and Dottie Kanke. credit: Anya Levykh

It was the first restaurant in Vancouver, under the gentle guidance of owner John Bishop, to tout the benefits of using local, seasonal, sustainable and organic. Over the past two-and-a-half decades, it has supported and cultivated relationships with local growers like Celebration Organics, Maple Hills and others. It has defined the term “West Coast cuisine” and trained a generation of today’s top talent.

Bishop’s celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this year, and as a continuation of the festivities, Executive Chef Andrea Carlson is offering up a series of Harvest Table dinners. Each of the three successive menus will run two weeks, and offers four courses for $48 (optional wine pairings $25). The first menu has just launched and I was able to attend a preview of what’s on offer for the first two weeks.

An amuse of Dungeness crab custard with pine mushroom and artichokes was followed by a rich German butter potato soup, studded with Mexican sour gherkins. The main was bacon-wrapped Maple Hills chicken with a deep-fried quail’s egg, with a warm gooey yolk. Dessert was corn pot de crème with corn ice cream and a caramel corn that reminded more than one person of really tasty Cracker Jacks. In two weeks the menu will change to reflect what the local suppliers will bring in, so get thee to table Sunday through Thursday for a seat at the harvest.

Goldfish Pacific Kitchen Reboots as Goldfish Seafood and Chop House

The popular Yaletown sister of Joe Fortes has relaunched itself with something new, something old, something borrowed, and yes, something blue. More grill and chill is on the menu, as well as great little happy hour menu offered between five and seven pm that mimics the dinner menu in everything but price. Owners Bud and Dottie Kanke launched the new menu and rebrand at Goldfish with a little party, a bit of rhythm, and a lot of Cirque du Soleil-style contortioning.