summer frenzy

ok... so call us crazy but we've committed to minimum 12 hour days (which actually means 15-16 hour days when you count prep & cleanup) for at least the summer...

not sure what we were thinking except that we're finally doing what we wanted to be doing all along - serving great lunches & dinners & drinks at a great price to great people...

i'm thrilled to report that we've had a fantastic response to our "test runs"... the soft opening for dinners on the weekends... now, granted, many of the folk who turned out for those are already dedicated & loyal customers & friends, and maybe they were being nice, but we think we're onto a good thing here and really hope that EVERYONE will come give it a try.

Currently, the most expensive dish on the menu is $14 for a single serving... there is Machos for 4 for $30, but that's what... 7.50 each?

There will be the occasional special that goes over the $14 mark, but most mains will be in that close neighbourhood. Starters range from $5-10, and desserts max out at $6 for the most decadent...
Bar Drinks range from $5 up... which from what we can tell is about the best price in town (aside from specials) which was our intent all along. We're not "about" the drinks, they're simply to compliment the food... or provide a little relief from crazy summer heat on a blistering afternoon...

we're changing the approach to retail bread & dessert sales... THIS IS A BIG NOTE... Fresh bread will ONLY be made on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday...We welcome your orders in advance while we work out new daily quantity requirements.

All our bars & savory snacks will still be available for now, but soon you will just have to ask for your favourites, as we won't be displaying them as usual. (That said, anyone need a 6' display cooler? $1000 obo).

Lunch menu will evolve a bit further... will likely add lunch size options of some more popular dinner items and a couple hot appetizers to the existing menu... that remains to be seen precisely.

your comments & feedback are welcome - even the negative stuff... in FACT, we LIKE to know the negative stuff so we have an opportunity to address it. We can't fix what we don't know is broken... right? Complete our survey, if you like... we'd appreciate it.

we look forward to seeing your smiling faces come visit us for lunch & dinner...

kera & ian

licensed to take it up a notch!

Well... FINALLY! After a long haul that began in September 2008, we have FINALLY got our liquor license!!

This is such an exciting step in our evolution...

When we bought "wild blueberry bakery" back in March 2006, we had a long term vision. Neither of us ever had dreams of owning a bakery... neither of us are "bakers", least of all me.. Ian has always made bread, and does 90% of the cooking at home... but i was never one of those super-domestics who made cookies & cakes, and fancy desserts just for the heck of it. Give me a reason to throw a party and I'll dust off my culinary chops, but frankly, I got pretty lazy when ian came along and started doing all the cooking!

anyway, the vision from day one was a bistro - bustling with great people, notorious for a wicked wine & scotch list, loved for the interesting and delicious but not expensive food, and simply a great place to be. We think we're getting there.

Ian & I have two favourite restaurants always in mind when we discuss our vision... Ian's is "Amalfi" in Adelaide, South Australia, and mine is "Pagliacci's" in Victoria, BC... our intention is to take the best things of those two places and put our own stamp on them to create Wild... in it's full expression.

We're gettin' there.

We still have a ways to go - there's more construction & decor that need to evolve, there's a bigger bar list that needs to build up, there's a regular menu that needs to be set, and specials that need to be invented... but those will all come together over the next few months... and from there, it's all gravy.

We couldn't have gotten this far without our wonderful customers. I hope you all know that! You are the reason we exist, and we hope that we treat you like that every day... and that if we don't, you'll let us know!

Your support, understanding, empathy, feedback, word-of-mouth and recommendations are all so very important to us. Your suggestions & requests are not taken lightly. Of course we can't possibly accommodate EVERYTHING, but we really do our best to find the balance that fits with our vision and your needs.


So, our hours will be changing on JUNE 8th...
New hours: Monday thru Saturday, 10:30am-10:30pm
We'll see how that works for the summer...

We'll look forward to seeing you!

busy is good... thanks for all your help with that!

I'm delighted to make note of the fact that things have been pretty busy... busy enough, at least, that taking the time to post a blog has been difficult.

there's been a lot of activity over the past month... a couple great coffeehouses, a chocolate tasting, some meetings, a special performance date with Twisted String, some renovations... and the liquor license got submitted...

so - update...

liquor inspector is making a special trip - and I cannot tell you how much we appreciate her doing so - on Apr 29 to do our "establishment inspection" and "education"... if we pass that and she approves our license, we could be selling drinks by May 1!!

we've got more great coffeehouse lineups in store...

a Cinco De Mayo Fiesta on ... yes, May 5... because it's simply an excellent excuse to have a party and introduce some of our upcoming mexican tapas, and our plan for regular mexican nights...
(check the website for details - www.wildbistro.com)

another chocolate tasting with Le Petite Souris... Dark Chocolate this time, in time for Mother's Day... bring your mom and get a little decadent on the dark side.

We're hoping to having the patio finished in time for May long weekend... need some steel fabrication done to hold up the awning, and need to acquire/build tables/benches that can STAY outside... See it... margaritas on the patio... come on... how great will that be?!?

Continued renovations (minor) & reconfiguration of the kitchen...

A few new decor changes & additions...

Possibly a big-ass flat screen TV too... for those special events that require TV, or hockey play offs, or seminars that require a presentation... we've got lots of plans... are you ready??

We'd love to have input and help, too... if you are interested in volunteering to coordinate events or do publicity, or sew curtains, or paint... we'd love to have your help!

We're just so EXCITED!

It's all coming together, and we're seeing new customers every day, and we're really, truly grateful for the love and support that our friends (aka fabulous customers) give us on a daily basis... bringing your friends for the first time, telling colleagues, sharing our food with your neighbours... all those "little" things that you think of to do on our behalf are so generous and delightful... we couldn't be where we are, nor on the path we're on, without you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

forward & upward...

one more step toward the vision... the liquor license application has been submitted! YAY! According to the liquor board rep i spoke with, it should be a fairly quick approval process as, strangely enough, our application was complete... why would anyone submit an incomplete application??

anyway... with the liquor license comes other changes, which are yet to be finalized and a date for which has yet to be determined...

but what changes, you might ask?

well, new hours, for starters... not entirely certain what those will be yet, but we're pretty sure they will not include opening at 8am anymore... unless there's a wild protest. You see, mornings are not our busiest time. In fact, mornings are more often than not, quite quiet before 10am. Especially saturdays, which is weird. But I suppose since we don't serve actual breakfast, that's not THAT weird.

We're really on the fence about it... we don't want to alienate those few but loyal customers who DO come thru our door before 10am, but at the same time, the cost of being open for them is much more than the revenue we generate from them... tho we enjoy their company and value their business, it doesn't really make financial sense.

Here's what we're thinking for hours, and we welcome your comments & feedback:
10:30am-2:30pm - open for lunch, then between 2:30-5:00 open just for snacks & coffee while we prep for dinner, 5:00-9/10/11 open for dinner... Our lease only allows us to be open until 11pm, and since we are below apartments, it's only fair to our neighbours that we be done business by then.

and so what about menu... might be your next question.

that's a surprise!
but we'll tell you this - there will be a good selection of appetizers, salads & desserts, with a small selection of constant mains and then a list of "features" that will change as inspiration comes... mains will be available in single size and share size, as will some of the appy's... per person pricing for things like antipasto platters & machos (yes, that's Machos... you'll see).

and the bar... expect a small and eclectic wine list with more reds than whites... import beer, premium spirits and a short cocktail menu with specials... and a rotating single malt scotch list.

at REASONABLE prices.
house wine will come in at under $5 a glass...
and no, it won't be Calona Red Table Wine

Above all, you can expect the same quality of great food & service at a middle of the road price... somewhere between McD's and Spence... a place where families are welcome, meals are filling, atmosphere is friendly, and the experience is one you'll choose to repeat regularly...

at least that's what we're aiming for.

And we trust you'll let us know how we're doing!

Oscar night...

Who really cares about who wins... i mean, come on... does it matter one little bit in the grand scheme of things??? OF COURSE IT DOES... It's the perfect, non-secular, non-commercial (in that you don't have to buy a $7 greeting card), Sunday night excuse to have a spectacular dress up affair, eat fancy-schmancy food, drink champagne, and live vicariously through the rich & famous...

And we do it EVERY YEAR.

This will be our 10th annual oscar party... but our first "public" one... and I have to say I'm a little nervous. We've been so busy, I completely forgot about the idea of decorations! Now, we HAVE a red carpet, cuz that's a MUST... but outside of that, the crunch is on and today is d-day... got to get creative and decide how best to decorate this joint to give the illusion of glitz & glamour, cuz well, frankly, we're pretty much NOT glitz & glamour people, but for this one day a year.

I'm not worried about the food... that part i KNOW will be good... we've got some super yummy stuff prepared, and more on the way. And the sparkling shiraz won't go astray either... if you've never had it, then this is a great excuse to get out and try it!

And well... the dress... provided it still fits and i don't look like a fish wrapped in tin foil, we should be all good. Ian's suit has been dry cleaned - yes, you'll get to see Ian in a suit... no maple leaf or anything...

We've got some lovely prizes... many of our friends have come through with gifts for us to share and we're very grateful: Blackfish Pub, Carol Cares (Massage therapy), QT's Hair Design, People Skills Press, Wild Bistro, Penhallow's Pantry, La Petite Souris (chocolates!), Libre Tea, Myoga, Loumidees, Snowcap, some CDs, and other trinkets.

Whatever happens, it will be a good party. That's something we are pretty confident in - throwing parties that people enjoy.

So haul out your finery - or your most outrageous glamour duds... put Cher to shame if you must... and come celebrate with us! Sunday, Feb 22 - 4-10pm here at the bistro... $20 tickets must be reserved in advance (604.886.1917 or eat@wildbistro.com to reserve)