Shotgun Olympics: Tasting Gold, Silver & Bronze

In only seventeen days Canadians will welcome the world with glowing hearts as we host the 2010 Winter Olympics. I never imagined I would be doing anything with the games but here I am at the Four Seasons Yew restaurant in Vancouver where I’m accompanying a film crew covering the 2010 Olympics. Ironically, I spent a lot of time in this hotel when I first moved out to the west coast. Back then I worked across the street in the financial world at the Canaccord building. I would spend my lunch breaks writing in the hotel lobby releasing my frustrations and hopes amidst the political and economic unravel of the Bush years. It was here where I first started to stick it to the man with my Observations from the 19th floor, ten years ago. At the height of my anti-corporate/government ranting, I voted NO for the Vancouver Olympics. Now I’m watching the bartender mix new cocktail creations just in time for the winter games. What am I doing here? What happened?

I’ve been riding shotgun with this film crew, driving around the great city of Vancouver writing and sending the occasional tweet. Driving could prove to be quite the Olympic event in itself. There will be so many closed streets, security areas and restricted zones that it may make more sense to travel by rickshaw. We’ve spent three days filming Olympic stories for the French TSN channel, RDS. Starting at the CTV studios we visited the Olympic curling rink, the International Broadcasting Center, the accreditation center at the Pacific National Exhibition as well as a handful of local businesses. You can really feel more of that Olympic fever now as you spot various groups toting official Olympic team jackets everywhere.





This opportunity allowed me to see the beauty and greatness of this city - its’ people. First there was the fantastic staff and management at Blenz coffee downtown at Richards and Hastings St. Here we filmed Aki Tokuhara an amazing ‘latte artist’ creating magic with white foam. Originally we were going to film unbelievable renditions of the Olympic mascots: Sumi, Quatchi and Miga. Fearing a possible VANOC backlash we opted for a grizzly bear floating on top of the latte which was still very impressive. Oh yes, I can’t forget to mention the very delicious Blenz Belgian hot chocolate, a must the next time you visit. Thank you Linda Olsen.

From lattes to facials, next up was the Vida spa at the Wall Center Hotel where we did a story about their Gold, Silver and Bronze facials. Yes, with real gold and silver with a price tag to match, purely for the vain at heart. People really believe in anti aging crème? It’s like getting six-pack abs by wearing a magic vibrating belt while you continue to sit on your ass watching television. We left downtown and crossed the Granville Bridge to the Broadway neighbourhood, home of the legendary Tojo’s restaurant. This was a definite highlight of the day. We hung out with Vancouver Sun food columnist Nathan Fong and watched Chef Tojo create his Olympic and gold sushi rolls. In a short time we ate like Olympic royalty and were schooled in some sushi truths. For instance, good Saki should be served ice cold, white ginger is better for you than the pink kind and sushi should be eaten with your hands, not chopsticks. Tojo sushi really is in a class of its’ own, delectable edible works of art.







Next on the Olympic tour was the Campagnalo restaurant on Main Street. For over twenty years the location was home of the great Adega Portuguese restaurant but now the building has been completely renovated. The new funky restaurant is home to great pizzas and a great taste in music too. We tried their Olympic specials on pizza and beer. Bronze – Margarita Pizza/R&B Lager, Silver - Salciccia Pizza/R&B Cream Ale and the Gold – Funghi Pizza with Menabrea Italian Lager. While you are there, you could win a free meal too if a Canadian athlete wins a medal to match your Olympic special medal meal. The Campagnolo restaurant is a great addition to the slow and emerging renaissance happening in the Main and Terminal neighbourhood.





So after all that food we ended up here, sitting in the Yew bar drinking these Olympic concoctions. Alberta Premium Rye, Granny Smith apple juice and egg whites are featured in the sweet Bronze cocktail. This one is incredibly smooth and dangerous. In second place, the Silver cocktail is a hearty type Caesar with Chipotle and smoked buffalo infused Crystal Head Vodka with special secret spice, topped with a piece of Buffalo Jerky. It’s a meal in a glass. A special gin martini takes the Gold podium highlighted with fresh dill, cucumber and smoked salmon. The drinks are priced accordingly with Canada’s Olympic years with Bronze priced at $19.76 (Montreal) Silver at $19.88 (Calgary) while you can have some Gold for only $20.10.





With less than three weeks left it is too late to continue waving the NO flag now. While I believe and understand that those who will benefit the most economically will be the major corporations, making heap loads of money on the backs of the generous people of Vancouver, I still want these games to be successful, peaceful and hopefully enriching to our city.

Watch “Vers Vancouver 2010,” (Towards Vancouver) for these full stories. It airs Monday nights on the RDS channel. This particular episode will be shown this Monday night, January 25. It was a fun ride with Dave, Sylvain and Anik. Go Canada!