Visa InfiniteDining Series
Visa InfiniteDining Prix Fixe Series
2023 AUTUMN SERIES
Explore a world of fine flavours and special dining experiences
for Visa Infinite® and Visa Infinite Privilege® cardholders.
VANCOUVER
WELCOME TO THE VISA INFINITE DINING SERIES, AUTUMN 2023
Autumn is the best time to indulge in the boldest flavours, finest wines, and liveliest social events. Each Visa Infinite Dining Series experience is a multi-course dinner at some of this country’s most highly sought-after tables, many featuring visiting chefs and exciting drink pairings.
Be among the lucky few to enjoy the warm hospitality, rare wines, and seductively simple cuisine of Mon Lapin, ranked Canada’s best restaurant, at a chef collaboration dinner in Montreal. In Vancouver, let the Michelin stars dazzle at the hyperlocal Burdock & Co, indulge in a Mondavi winemaker’s dinner at Boulevard or experience a cultural collaboration of bright Asian flavours when Chefs Alex Chen, Meeru Dhalwala, and Nuit Regular meet in the opulent setting of The Vancouver Club. Calgary’s beloved Chef Duncan Ly has a new, French-themed cocktail bar, Bar Chouette, and he invites you to join him and his good friend Darren MacLean for a dinner you won’t forget.
Savour the global flavours Chefs Elia Herrera and Jenny Kang grew up with at the sizzling hot new Milpa. Indulge in finely-crafted classics at Toronto’s Alobar Downtown. Enjoy classic Italian at its very best at Montreal’s Moccione, and feast on a meal cooked to perfection at Justin Leboe’s new Bluebird in Banff, where he hosts chef Coulson Armstrong from Canada’s Best Restaurant, Toronto’s Prime Seafood Palace. This autumn, we are also once again offering Prix Fixe menus curated by some of your favourite restaurants. With their value-driven pricing, these set menus allow you to discover exciting new restaurants or revisit more of the restaurants you love best, while allowing their chefs to flex their
culinary skills.
Autumn is the season of serious and sophisticated flavours, best savoured with good company. We hope you enjoy these exclusive experiences cooked up just for you.
Visit visainfinite.ca for details.
THE VANCOUVER CLUB, VANCOUVER
915 W Hastings St, Vancouver
Wednesday Oct 25 | 6:30PM✦
$225 per person†
(Includes canapés, multi-course meal, cocktail & wine pairings, & gratuity; taxes extra.)
Click here to book your tickets.
Visa Infinite®
Dining Series
A cultural collaboration of exotic spices and Asian flavours at The Vancouver Club.
ABOUT THIS VISA INFINITE DINING SERIES IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE
The elegant Grand Ballroom at Vancouver’s prestigious private members club will be fragrant with the intoxicating perfume of ginger, chili, cilantro and all the spices of Asia when three of Canada’s celebrated chefs join Executive Chef Matthew Taylor for this unforgettable feast. Alex Chen (of Boulevard and Wild Blue), Meeru Dhalwala (Vij’s) and Nuit Regular (of Toronto’s PAI Northern Thai and Kiin) will each prepare two dishes from their cultures, respectively, Malaysian, Indian, and Thai. Guests will enjoy everything from childhood favourites to popular street food to the elevated fare of royal celebrations. This being The Vancouver Club, known for its deep cellar, guests can also expect thrilling wine
pairings alongside.
ABOUT THE VANCOUVER CLUB AND MATTHEW TAYLOR
On January 1, 1914, The Vancouver Club opened at 915 West Hastings Street, its elegant Sharp and Thompson design providing an exclusive space for the city’s elite. Since then, it has evolved into a welcoming place for local and visiting professionals to connect and recharge, thanks in large part to the exceptional culinary program led by Executive Chef Matthew Taylor. Taylor, a native of Calgary who grew up in Arizona, formed his culinary philosophy while working under James Beard Award winner Bradford Thompson at Mary Elaine’s at The Phoenician. After honing his skills in kitchens in New York, Los Angeles, and New Orleans, he opened several highly successful restaurants in Arizona, then in 2020, returned to Canada to lead the kitchen at The Vancouver Club. The club is still a private members’ club 110 years later, it also plays host to numerous public events throughout the year.
ABOUT ALEX CHEN
The Executive Chef – Signature Restaurants is one of Canada’s most talented and highly awarded chefs. Classically trained, with an affinity for the flavours of his Malaysian heritage, Chef Chen led Team Canada to a Top 10 finish at the 2013 Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France, then opened Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar a year later. He has since earned endless accolades; in 2018 alone, he won gold at the 2018 Canadian Culinary Championship, was named Vancouver Magazine’s Chef of the Year, and beat Hugh Acheson on Food Network Canada’s Iron Chef. In 2022, he opened Wild Blue in Whistler, which currently joins Boulevard on Canada’s 100 Best list. Chef Chen is also a judge on Food Network Canada’s
Wall of Chefs.
ABOUT MEERU DHALWALA
Meeru Dhalwala is an author, Chef and Co-Owner, with Vikram Vij, of the Indian restaurants Vij’s and (now-closed) Rangoli in Vancouver. Born in India, raised in Washington, D.C., and armed with a master’s degree in Developmental Studies, in 1995 she joined the newly
opened Vij’s to create the recipes, hire an all-female staff, and run the kitchen. Vij’s has won countless accolades and international renown, with Dhalwala writing their three successful cookbooks, and becoming a tireless advocate for sustainability, farming, health, and
multiculturalism. She has been a judge on Food Network Canada’s Wall of Chefs for two seasons, and in 2022 she won Vancouver Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
ABOUT NUIT REGULAR
Nuit Regular began her journey to becoming one of Canada’s most influential chefs when she left her career as a nurse to open the humble Curry Shack in the small town of Pai in Northern Thailand. Today she is Co-Owner of Toronto’s hottest Thai restaurants—PAI Northern Thai Kitchen, Kiin, Sukhothai, and Chaiyo—where she serves up family recipes, street market dishes, and creative collaborations. Both PAI and Kiin have been awarded the government of Thailand’s prestigious Thai SELECT Premium designation, with PAI also being recognized as a Michelin guide recommended restaurant. Chef Regular is a judge on Food Network Canada’s Wall of Chefs and in 2022, she won a WXN Top 100 Award.
Note: This event may have communal seating. Any changes to this event will be communicated at least 7 days prior to the event. Events run approximately 3-4 hours and venues are not suitable for young children. Please note that the food described above is a representation of
the restaurant’s style of cuisine; actual dishes on the menu.
BOULEVARD KITCHEN & OYSTER BAR, VANCOUVER
Sutton Place Hotel, 845 Burrard St, Vancouver
Saturday Nov 4 | 6:30PM✦
$225 per person†
(Includes canapés, multi-course meal, wine pairings & gratuity; taxes extra.)
Click here to book your tickets.
Indulge in iconic wines from California at this decadent winemakers dinner.
ABOUT THIS VISA INFINITE DINING SERIES IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE
Wine lovers mustn’t miss this evening of fine wine, exceptional cuisine and some of Napa Valley’s most iconic wine estates paired with the always innovative and engaging culinary offerings from Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar. Robert Mondavi Winery, Double Diamond, and Mount Veeder Winery, each unique and storied in their own regard, will showcase the diversity and depth of Napa Valley. Chefs Alex Chen, Roger Ma, and Kenta Takahashi will present an unforgettable multi-course dinner menu expertly paired by Boulevard’s Wine Director JP Potters, with commentary and insight from Master of Wine Eugene Mlynczyk. The evening will feature special limited-edition releases and wines from the storied To Kalon vineyard, with an exclusive opportunity for cardholders to purchase these otherwise unavailable wines. This memorable pairing dinner will deliver an evening of insight and indulgence, and will surely be an experience as extraordinary as
the wines in the glass.
ABOUT BOULEVARD KITCHEN + OYSTER BAR
The pinnacle of fine dining in Vancouver is at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, a sophisticated and elegant restaurant at the Sutton Place Hotel, with a welcoming craft cocktail bar and lively wraparound patio. It uniquely showcases the talents of three highly skilled chefs: Alex Chen, Roger Ma, and Kenta Takahashi. Chef Chen’s many accolades include leading Team Canada to a Top 10 finish at the 2013 Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France, winning gold at the 2018 Canadian Culinary Championship, being named Vancouver Magazine’s 2018 Chef of the Year, and successfully winning the famed Iron Chef in 2019. Chef Ma is a Vancouver-born-and-raised chef who brings to Boulevard several years of
experience working at Daniel Boulud’s two-Michelin-starred Daniel in New York, in addition to collecting gold in 2020 at the Canadian Culinary Championship. Executive Pastry Chef Kenta Takahashi, twice crowned Canada’s Best Pastry Chef of 2020 and 2023 by Canada’s
100 Best, brings a modern and sophisticated twist to each dessert he creates. Together this dynamic trio blends technical skills with a reverence for West Coast ingredients and the finest international flavours.
ABOUT ROBERT MONDAVI, DOUBLE DIAMOND, AND MOUNT VEEDER WINERIES
There is no one more synonymous with North America’s finest wines and wine culture than the late Robert Mondavi. In 1966, he established his namesake winery at To Kalon in Oakville, California, a vineyard rated No. 1 in North America, and No. 7 in the world by World’s Best Vineyards, renowned for producing critically acclaimed, top-rated wines. Mount Veeder has been championing wines with altitude for over 50 years, where vines are planted on wide terraces cut into steep slopes at elevations of 1,000 to 1,600 feet, which provide a microclimate quite different from the Napa Valley floor. And from the founder of Schrader Cellars is Double Diamond, whose 2019 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon
earned its place as Wine Spectator’s No. 1 wine of the year.
Note: This event may have communal seating. Any changes to this event will be communicated at least 7 days prior to the event. Events run approximately 3-4 hours and venues are not suitable for young children. Please note that the food described above is a representation of
the restaurant’s style of cuisine; actual dishes on the menu may differ based on seasonality and availability.
Refined L’Abattoir puts a French accent on West Coast ingredients.
ABOUT THE VISA INFINITE PRIX FIXE DINNER SERIES
Book your reservation and enjoy this delicious prix fixe menu curated by Executive Chef Lee Cooper of L’Abattoir. Preview the tasting menu below, choose your reservation from the list of dates and times available, and pre-pay for your table in advance for an evening that is as effortlessly simple as it is delicious.
Your reservation includes:
• A welcome drink
• A delicious amuse bouche, followed by the tasting menu noted below
• Gratuity
• Note—wine pairings or additional menu items are available at an incremental cost
ABOUT L’ABATTOIR
Since it opened in 2010 and was named enRoute magazine’s No. 3 best new restaurant, L’Abattoir has been Vancouver’s go-to for elevated, French-inspired West Coast fare, thanks to the prodigious skills of Chef-owner Lee Cooper and his talented team. From its cosy-meets-industrial location in historic Gastown, L’Abattoir has produced some of the city’s most iconic menu items (the baked oysters, the Avocado Gimlet, the heavenly breadbasket), but also turns out some of its most inventive and refined dishes. This prix fixe menu is a rare opportunity to savour the exceptional cuisine and warm hospitality of this Michelin-recommended hot spot for an incredible value.
PRIX FIXE TASTING MENU
Welcome Cocktail: Mercury
Herradura Tequila, Caffo Maraschino, Punt a Mes, Bar-Aged Orange Bitters
—
Smoked Trout
Cucumber, Horseradish, Toast
—
Roast Scallop
Pumpkin, Ginger, Apple, Sage
—
Choice of:
Confit Duck Leg
Beetroot, Chicory, Quince
—or—
Fillet of Pacific Ling Cod
Clams, Brussels Sprouts, Fine Herbs
—
Pear Sorbet
Verjus Sabayon
—
Sticky Ginger Cake
$85/person
Note: This is a prix fixe menu with no substitutions. Additional menu items or drinks may be ordered and paid for separately. Reservations are booked for two hour blocks. Venues are not suitable for young children. Please note that the food in the image above is a representation of
the restaurant’s style of cuisine, not a representation of this prix fixe menu. While this is a set menu, some ingredients may differ based on seasonality and availability. Any changes will be communicated at least seven days prior to the reservation.
Farmed, foraged, and fabulous at Burdock & Co.
ABOUT THIS VISA INFINITE DINING SERIES IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE
There’s local and then there’s local; seasonal and micro-seasonal. At Michelin-starred Burdock & Co, the food on your plate can only be enjoyed at this moment and at this place; the huckleberries in the vinaigrette picked on a nearby mountain, the pine mushrooms in the congee foraged mere moments ago and just, it seems, for you. It’s the way Chef Andrea Carlson likes to cook, and it’s what wowed the Michelin judges, who raved about “the rustic appeal” and “concise menu” of this charming Mount Pleasant restaurant, describing her dishes as “delivering unexpected glee.” In other words, if you haven’t recently tried Chef Carlson’s signature style of cooking and the delightful, responsible wines poured by sommelier Kelcie Jones (named BC’s Best Sommelier of 2023), this dinner celebrating the warm, rich flavours of autumn will be perfect for you.
ABOUT ANDREA CARLSON
Born and trained in British Columbia, few other chefs are as closely associated with local, organic, and authentic BC ingredients as Andrea Carlson. She began her career cooking at some of the most farm-to-table-focused restaurants in the province, including Sooke Harbour House, C, and Raincity Grill, where she popularized the concept of the 100-Mile-Diet. In 2013, after leading the revered Bishop’s as Executive Chef for five years, she opened her own restaurant, the micro-seasonal, hyper-local Burdock & Co (she also runs the sustainable grocery Harvest Community Foods and Michelin-recommended wine bar, Bar Gobo). In 2022, Burdock & Co received a World’s 50 Best Discovery award, and
also became the first female-led restaurant in Canada to earn a Michelin star. In 2023, Burdock & Co was featured within the Vancouver profile of Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list.
Note: This event has two seatings at 5:30 and 8:30 pm and may have kitchen, bar, or communal seating. Any changes to this event will be communicated at least 7 days prior to the event. Events run approximately 2-3 hours and venues are not suitable for young children. Please note that the food described above is a representation of the restaurant’s style of cuisine; actual dishes on the menu may differ based on seasonality and availability.
