Business is Served — Page 3

BACCHUS AT THE WEDGEWOOD HOTEL
Cocktail hour in the Bacchus lounge is a veritable who’s who of Vancouver’s major movers and shakers—particularly on Thursdays and Fridays. Jimmy Pattison has been known to settle into a comfy wingback chair over Tanqueray and tonic with hotel owner Eleni Skalbania, not far from where Canaccord CEO Peter Brown sips Stoli on the rocks from his usual seat at the bar. Don De Cotiis is a regular visitor, while steak tycoon David Aisenstat (Hy’s, Gotham, Shore Club) likes to kibitz with associates over pizza at the corner table near the fireplace. B.C. senator and CedarCreek winery owner Ross Fitzpatrick prefers his power meetings in the morning, dining with legal eagles from the nearby law courts. In the private library, behind elegant French doors, Premier Gordon Campbell dines on Chef Lee Parsons’ veal tenderloin with oxtail and fresh chanterelles, and Telus CEO Darren Entwistle and CFO Robert McFarlane host wine-soaked executive soirées over E & E Black Pepper Shiraz.

THE BEACH HOUSE AT DUNDARAVE PIER
Spectacular views and Chef Julio Gonzalez-Perini’s convincing fare offer two compelling reasons for West Vancouverites to conduct business in their own backyard. Macluan Capital CEO Harald Ludwig can be found entertaining guests as powerful as the Super Tuscans they sip in the lounge while carving into thick veal ribeyes with sautéed pine mushrooms. Uniglobe Travel CEO Gary Charlwood is easy to spot in his striking red blazer, dining with clients over 1994 Château L’Evanagile from Pomerol ($260) at a table near the fireplace, but he often prefers a private room for executive meetings with top brass. Realtor Malcolm Hasman favours a booth for hobnobbing over Cobb salads and dark rum and Coke, while Jason Soprovich has been known to nibble on wok-fried calamari and pop a bottle of Veuve Clicquot after a particularly good day. Speaking of good days, Stanley Cup winner (and B.C. native) Rob Niedermayer married local girl Jessica Bentall on the Beach House patio this past July at an elaborate ceremony that also featured a private performance by Blue Rodeo.

LA PIAZZA DARIO
Chef Claudio Ranallo’s rustic trattoria at the Italian Cultural Centre has seen more deals than the $5 tables at Caesar’s Palace, drawing a steady stream of Italian suits, firm handshakes, and guys whose last names end in vowels. Ferrari fanatic Ezio Bortolussi of Newway Concrete prefers to hold court in the middle of the room (Table 9), where tense negotiations are often greased with a supple Barbaresco, prosciutto di Parma, and thick slabs of salty parmesan. Conversation stops, however, when AC Milan is playing (Bortolussi once famously interrupted a $50 million deal when alerted that striker Filippo Inzaghi scored a key goal). Business mogul, positive thinker, and Canada Wide Media president Peter Legge can often be found power lunching over fresh snapper at the round table in the corner (Table 21), while the News Hour’s Tony Parsons opts for linguine al pesto with an oversized glass of Nippozano Rufina. “The usual” for big-league developer Nat Bosa, who often holds court here, means a seat at nearby Table 8, a bottle of Chianti Ducale, and fresh buffalo bocconcini with aged balsamic. If he’s sticking with San Pellegrino, he means business—an important contract is likely on the line.—Chris Gonzalez

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