Vancouver, B.C. (April 24, 2023): The Volpe famiglia of restaurants – Osteria Savio Volpe, Caffè La Tana, and Pepino's Spaghetti House – is delighted to announce the appointment of Kristi Linneboe as Wine Director. Bringing to the role over 10 years of hospitality experience, Kristi is responsible for the curation and education of the wine programs at all three restaurants. She will also be opening wines tableside, sharing her innate spirit for wine and hospitality.

"I'm so excited to be joining the Savio family,” says Kristi. My biggest inspirations in the wine world are the people, the stories, and the farming practices behind each bottle. Wine, food, and knowledge are all meant to be shared. I'm looking forward to learning from each other as well as our guests, as we deep-dive into the wonderful world of wine together!"

Kristi is always thirsty to try something new; so, after graduating from Simon Fraser University with a degree in Communications and International Relations, Kristi launched into her wine studies wholeheartedly. In her first wine buying role at Maenam Restaurant, she discovered the magic of pairing food and wine; as Wine Director at L’Abattoir, she immersed herself in the wines of France and Italy, all the while celebrating those of the Pacific Northwest; and her recent Sommelier positions at Como Taperia and Elisa Steak have further expanded her knowledge as her role in the community has grown.

With three harvests now under her belt – Tantalus Vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Brooks Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and Domaine Fumey-Chatelain in Arbois, Jura – Kristi has gained a first-hand understanding of viticulture and winemaking, drawing deep inspiration from the people and farming practices behind each bottle.

Committed to hospitality and in love with the local wine community, this Ottawa-born, proud Vancouverite of 15 years continues to volunteer and contribute to the BCHF (British Columbia Hospitality Foundation), Top Drop Vancouver, CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers), VIWF (Vancouver International Wine Festival), BCWI (BC Wine Institute), as well as tasting groups, mentorship programs, and wine events throughout the year.

For more information, visit www.saviovolpe.com.

As an established brand, Earls Yorkdale will be the 59th Canadian location and features a completely unique look and feel curated for the Yorkdale community. From the design of the space to the wine list and fresh menu additions, to the local art on the walls, Earls Yorkdale is made to be an escape from the hustle and bustle of the shopping center just steps away.

Exclusively available at the Yorkdale location for the launch are fresh new menu additions, including: 

Food items such as the Yuzu Tuna Tataki, an expansive Seafood Tower, and Angry Chicken Lettuce Wraps; 

Cocktail additions like the Cucumber Jalapeno Ranch Water, Grapefruit Hibiscus Paloma and the Passion Fruit Chili Margarita, and; 

The spring wine feature being Post Malone’s Maison No9 Rose, exclusively offered at Earls. 

Earls Yorkdale looks forward to welcoming guests, and reservations can be made online.

VANCOUVER, BC (APRIL 20TH, 2023) — MED GRILL & BAR on 1157 Davie Street, Vancouver BC, has been a work in progress since January 2023 and is set to welcome their customers on Monday, April 24th, 2023. The restaurant will soft launch this coming weekend, opening its doors to friends, family, and the surrounding neighbourhood. 

This new Mediterranean restaurant is a breath of fresh air and is sure to be a hit among food lovers in the area. The restaurant's name itself is indicative of the rich history and tradition the cuisine takes influence from. The team (led by General Manager, Armin Nejadyousefi and Shawn Jones from Vianello Hospitality) is hoping to bring a more modern energy to the space; nostalgia of the Mediterranean with a contemporary edge. The restaurant will be open from 11 am to 12 am daily, with Happy Hour from 3 pm to 5 pm Monday to Sunday with music from local DJs from 10 pm to 12 pm over the weekends.

The 68-seater restaurant along with its 20-seater patio boasts an extensive menu filled with authentic Mediterranean dishes with a twist, that is sure to tantalize the taste buds of many. From spanakopita to fresh salads, the menu has something for everyone. Guests can indulge in mouth-watering appetizers like Hummus ($6), Merguez corn dogs ($11) and Calamari ($16) before moving on to the main course, which features a range of options all cooked to perfection. Also on the menu, patrons will find Grilled Steelhead ($26), The Burger ($20) (made with beef from Two Rivers Meets), and Shawarma Plates, created and led by Consultant Chef Alessandro Vianello (@chefvianello) and Head Chef Chris Robertson.

The vision for Med Grill & Bar, is to be one of the central hubs for dining in Davie Village: not only in the aspect of food but also cocktails. You will find some innovative drinks named and inspired by Greek gods like Poseidon ($14) described as a “beachy vacation in a coupe glass”- playful, sweet, and fruity, as well as Zeus ($13) “As Light and fluffy as a cloud”. The restaurant also has a fully-stocked bar that serves a range of curated beers, wines and spirits making it the perfect place to go unwind and enjoy.

The ambience is also key to mention, as the 7000 square foot interior is contemporary and welcoming. The designer of the space Kiarash Tarikhi (@kiarashtk), pulled much influence from ancient Greece and Greek gods, reflected in the bespoke wallpaper and statues inspired by that era. The team have turned this once derelict space into a piece of art, literally!

MED Grill & Bar's official opening on Monday, April 24th will be a great addition to the village and Downtown Vancouver. "The Med Grill & Bar will be a safe space for all to come and enjoy. With our delicious food, inviting atmosphere, and excellent service we are excited to open our doors and be part of the community” says manager Armin Nejadyousefi. This new restaurant is poised to become a go-to spot for those looking to indulge. Stay tuned for more to come from Med Grill & Bar in 2023, as they start to work on a brand-new food truck that supports the same great concept and style. The truck will be available for private hire and spotted on the streets of Vancouver for locals to enjoy.

Reservations can be made by calling +1 236 427 3889 (booking system coming soon)

Montreal, April 18th, 2023 – For the third consecutive year, Sodexo has been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2023 by Mediacorp Canada. Developing and nurturing a culture of sustainability throughout the organization is a concerted effort.

Sodexo Canada’s sustainability strategy focuses on four pillars that align with the company’s global Better Tomorrow 2025 roadmap: prevention of food waste, prevention of material waste, promotion of plant-based meals, and responsible sourcing.

“Our teams work closely with our partners and clients to create innovative solutions that make a positive impact on our environment and also support our client's bottom line business objectives,” says Normand St-Gelais, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Sodexo Canada.

“Being named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers confirms we are on the right path and encourages us to continue our journey towards a better tomorrow.”

The following are a few of the many initiatives that make Sodexo one of Canada's Greenest Employers:

• Committing to reducing its food waste by 50 percent globally by 2025 by implementing innovative programs such as Wastewatch powered by Leanpath.

• As of April 2021, implementing company-wide initiatives to phase out single-use plastics, meeting requirements of national and city-specific bans. Begun in 2019, Sodexo’s initial commitments paved the way to implementation of reusable and sustainable packaging strategies.

• Partnering with the Humane Society International (HSI) Canada to promote plant-based dining with partners across Canada, including plant-based training for Sodexo culinary professionals. So far in 2023, 72 culinary professionals have completed the Forward Food certification program and pledged to immediately transition 20 percent more of their menu options to plant-based offerings.

• Prioritizing sourcing from local, responsible, and diverse suppliers across Canada, as well as growing food on-site with partners like Zipgrow and MicroHabitat. Sodexo Canada also developed an interactive mapping tool, digitally showcasing the company’s local sourcing and purchasing footprint, providing company stakeholders with details on the current supply chain and traceability metrics for clients. 

To learn more about Sodexo Canada’s sustainability values, practices, and partnerships visit its sustainability webpage.