FELIX ZHOU APPOINTED EXECUTIVE CHEF AT BEACH BAY CAFÉ AND PATIO
Beach Bay Café and Patio is amping up its West Coast cool with the appointment of Felix Zhou as executive chef.
Felix joins the spacious beachside restaurant with a seasoned resume that spans Vancouver (West Restaurant, MARKET by Jean-Georges, The Parker and, most recently, Big Trouble), Whistler (Nita Lake Lodge) and London (modern French bastion Galvin La Chapelle and pop-up restaurant Roganic). In his new role, Felix shines a spotlight on Beach Bay Café’s waterfront location and modern, light-filled space with a complementary menu that prioritizes local ingredients, freshly caught seafood and approachable dishes that hone in on the rich flavours of the West Coast’s regional bounty.
Diners can expect delectable dishes crafted with the best available ingredients, including octopus and chorizo accompanied by couscous and peppers; house-cured salmon with avocado, beets and puffed wild rice; and risotto of celeriac topped with shaved black truffle. What’s more, the take-out window is back in business – dishing up lightly-battered ling cod, traditional British-style chips and sauce gribiche.
“We are thrilled to welcome Felix to the Beach Bay Café family,” says Andrea Vescovi, general manager. “His talent, energy and vision bring a fresh perspective, and his ideas perfectly capture our beachfront location and contemporary feel. It’s a natural fit.”
“Beach Bay Café has one of the best restaurant locations in Vancouver – the proximity to the water and beach is both calming and inspiring,” says Felix. “The West End is such a colourful neighbourhood, and Beach Bay brings a cool, beach-going vibe to the scene. I’m excited to play with the menu and share my favourite local ingredients with guests.”
Felix joins Beach Bay Café just in time for the rousing holiday season, during which the restaurant will debut lunch service, extended brunch hours and a special New Year’s Eve menu. Lunch hours are Tuesday to Friday (noon to 3:00 pm), and brunch is served Saturday (11:00 am to 3:00 pm) and Sunday (9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Dinner service runs Tuesday to Saturday (5:00 pm to 10:30 pm) and Happy Hour is Tuesday to Sunday (3:00 pm to 5:00 pm).
For New Year’s Eve, diners can choose from a four- or eight-course tasting menu (starting at $49 per person, wine pairings available at an additional cost), or order à la carte. Felix and his team have crafted a decadent feast that includes winter truffle chawanmushi with fresh roe; seared albacore tuna topped by carrot escabeche and saffron; and chocolate mousse pear compote, among other gastronomic delights. Guests craving extra luxury have the option of adding shaved winter truffle and Atlantic lobster tail to their meal, or off-the-cuff cocktails crafted by award-winning bartender Adrian Lindner. And because New Year’s isn’t complete without a soul-pumping soundtrack, DJ Gabriel will provide entertainment throughout the night so diners can ring in 2016 in style.
The last seating for NYE dinner is 9:00 pm. To book, call 604.685.7337 or email info@nullbeachbaycafe.com (reservations are highly recommended). For more information, visit beachbaycafe.com.
About Beach Bay Café and Patio:
Located in Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood, mere steps away from English Bay, Beach Bay Café and Patio is focused on serving local ingredients, freshly caught seafood and approachable dishes that showcase the bounty of the West Coast. With one of the best patios in the city, guests can enjoy stunning sunsets and spectacular beach views from both the heated patio and dining room. The redesigned interiors incorporate local materials to create a contemporary space that brings the outdoors inside, and a seasoned culinary team serves up beach-inspired classics to guests looking for a truly West Coast dining experience.
