It is starting to feel a lot like summer, which brings the return of Kitchen Table group’s popular “Summer like an Italian” promotion.
For those unfamiliar, it encourages diners to seek out all the café and restaurants under Kitchen Table’s banner, in order to enjoy their food and win prizes in doing so. And this year there are new additions to this listing, for a total of 12 distinct stops.
Ask for Luigi, Bacaro, Carlino, Di Beppe, Farina a Legna, Giovane Caffè (West Cordova and West Georgia Street locations), Mercato di Luigi – (East 12th Avenue and East Georgia Street (coming soon) locations), MONZO, Motoretta, Pizzeria Farina, Pourhouse and Caffè Super Veloce.
Guests are invited to visit any of the following businesses to pick up their “Summer like an Italian” passport. Meant to mimic an actual passport, but the pages are dedicated to each participating café/restaurant. The goal is to visit them all, dine in, and collect a stamp; like you would when travelling abroad.
You get a stamp when you pay your bill, and there is no minimum spend, nor is there any requirement of what you have to order. Which means, if you are clever about it, you can have a day of restaurant and Café hopping; snacking, and sipping at each location. And this is exactly what I plan to do, because that is exactly what I did last year. However, last year I foolishly did not submit the passport for draw eligibility. I didn’t complete the tour, but still would have been eligible for lower tier prizes. Therefore I was not about to make that mistake again this year.
You have from now until September 30th, 2024 to complete your passport and submit it to any participating business to be entered into the running for the following great prizes.
Gaining all 12 stamps has you eligible to win a trip for two to Milan, Italy in partnership with Campari. With 10 stamps or more you are entered to win an overnight stay for two at Shangri-La Vancouver, which includes a $250 gift card to Carlino. And for a minimum of 8 stamps or more you will be entered to win a $500 gift card to all Kitchen Table Restaurants.
On top of the drive to win, this year’s “Summer like an Italian” program includes special menu items, including the Campari soda. “Diners will also receive a coupon (included in the Summer Like An Italian passport) to redeem at Cantina di Luigi, Kitchen Table’s newest restaurant concept, which is housed in the new Mercato di Luigi in Chinatown (opening this summer at 213 East Georgia Street). The intimate eatery offers a wine-focused spin on Kitchen Table’s popular Ask for Luigi.” (As per the press release).
As a teaser of what we could expect for this dining extravaganza, we were invited down to Fairmont Pacific Rim’s outdoor oasis patio for a preview. There, 6 of the 12 participating restaurants were gathered and set up with samples. Guests were able to peruse each station and pick up small bites and sips, going back for favourites.
From Carlino’s there was a smokey lamb sausage dipped in a jus before getting a good grill over the barbecue. Herbaceous and zesty, it was best accompanied by the tomato-base sauce that it was served with on the side. This was a crowd favourite.
From the neighbouring Bacaro, they had two appetizers to try. One was a tuna crudo with toasted sesame dressing in a purple lettuce leaf. It was fishy and salty, making it great with a drink.
The second bite was mussel escabeche, served in half shell, dressed in a lemon dill mignonette. This was tangy and citrusy, and another one to have as a drinking side.
My favourite station was from Mercanto Di Luigi, serving a Rigatoni Pomodoro. Miniature bowls of saucy tubes served warm off the heat, and finished with a shredding of Parmesan on top. I am not shy to admit I had four helpings of this.
A good accompaniment to the above was the bread station from Di Beppe. They had fresh loaves of fluffy focaccia and crusty sourdough, partnered with a self help station of fresh olive oil, quality balsamic vinegar, and coarse salt. I also used the focaccia to wipe up any excess sauce from the pasta above.
They also had two types of bruschetta to choose from, or to take both of. A gently seasoned tomato number with pomodorini, basilico, and basil oil. Or the more flavourful fishy number with freshly made butter, anchovy, and fresh herbs. This I found a little too rich, given the generous slice of butter atop, and I found myself swiping some of it off and into my pasta bowl for a creamier mix.
And for dessert Motoretta was on location scooping up two different flavours from the mobile gelato cart. Guests could choose from either a Yuzu Sorbetto that was bright and tangy, or a creamier and sweet Mango gelato. Both excellent given in the warmer weather.
Giovane Caffé was also helping guests keep cool with one of two different iced beverages. Either the Amarena Nero iced tea with black iced tea, amarena syrup, and soda water or the eye-catching Latte e Menta with iced milk and mint syrup in an aquamarine hue.
However, I was more interested in the classic Italian cocktail bar. It was stocked wit pre-bottled Aperol Spritz, made to order Campari soda, or Monzo branded canned lagers at a lower ABV. And for the purist, either white or red wine.
Although I appreciated having all the drinks above, (that are all available at Monzo), I really had my heart set on having some of their smash burgers today. They are one of the new additions to the “Summer like an Italian“ passport program. For those who have never been, they are your go-to for when you are craving a greasy, gristly fast food cheeseburger, but want it with fresh quality ingredients.
In short, this event definitely wound up my appetite, and got me excited to check out each restaurant in person. You will be going out to eat this summer anyways, might as well do so and get a chance to win gift cards and a potential trip from it.
The Summer Like An Italian campaign started on July 23, and is running until September 21, 2024. You have until September to submit your passport for prize consideration.
