Big apple chef on Broadway
Noted New York City chef Daniel Boulud has partnered with Lumière and Feenie’s owners David and Manjy Sidoo. Feenie’s will close on March 20 and morph into DB Bistro Moderne. For a peek at Boulud’s approach, go to www.danielnyc.com/dbbistro/.

Cheers to fest winners
The just-wrapped Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival left lots of happy people in its wake clutching a wide array of awards. Christine Coletta is 2008’s Spirited Industry Professional (SIP); Boneta’s Neil Ingram sommelier of the year; Wild Rice’s Ryan Mah walked away with the Fetzer Great Beginnings wine and appetizer challenge award; and Steve Hodge, from Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates & Patisserie, topped the Quady Dessert Competition. See the Wine List Award winners at www.playhousewinefest.com/page134.htm.

Tequila’s all in the family in yaletown
There’s a new Mexican resto in town taking Latin dining to a new level. Tequila Kitchen (1043 Mainland Street), a stylishly sleek family-run room (mother Laura Enríquez and son Emiliano Núñez), opens fully on Saturday (March 15) to serve sophisticated Mexican fare. Spices are gently layered and there’s habañero salsa for heat freaks. Not-to-be missed dishes include tender octopus ceviche, crab quesadillitas, and slow-roasted duck breast.

Party like it's 1978
Coquitlam’s John B Neighbourhood Pub (1000 Austin Avenue) is partying hard all month with bands and daily specials celebrating 30 years on the scene. Friday (March 14) is the big day and everyone’s invited to the party.

Taste of things to come
It’s time to restock the cellar. Sniff, swirl, and spit (or swallow) your way through a bunch of newly arrived labels, new-world and old, all for free Saturday (March 15), from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at this year’s first New Product Salon at Marquis Wine Cellars (1034 Davie Street).

Bohemian blast from the past
Dr. Strangelove was on its big screen when we checked out the days-old New Bohemian Local Restaurant and Social Lounge (3162 West Broadway). Draws are fireside sofas, a cool bar backed by retro graphics, and a modern menu of “global comfort food”. Think kick-ass seafood risotto, Saigon salad, and banana-bread dessert. There’s also a lengthy wine list (25 percent off all bottles Mondays and Tuesdays) and loadsa single malts. Open daily from 5:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Spring into a deer lake dinner
Work up an appetite with a stroll around blooming Deer Lake Park before heading into Hart House (6664 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby), perfectly sited lakeside, for a leisurely $35 three-course spring dinner. Featured until April 30, choices include sweet onion soup, olive oil–poached tuna, and triple-chocolate fudge cake. Optional wine pairings are $25. Reserve at 604-298-4278.

Last suppers
A couple of reminders: the main dish on the $21.99 table d’hôte menu at Salade de Fruits Café (1551 West 7th Avenue) is salmon with a sauce brie & basilique now through Saturday (March 15), then poulet à la provençale from Tuesday to next Thursday (March 18 to 20). After that, the fermé sign goes on the door from March 21 to 31 for spring break.