- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Smile, Yelp Loves YEW Elite Party X2
Category: Local Flavour Local Flavour [Edit]
Four Seasons Hotel791 W Georgia St
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T4
Neighbourhood: Downtown
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 7 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
40 reviews for Smile, Yelp Loves YEW Elite Party X2
40 reviews in English
-
Review from Mark H.
3/22/2011
Super belated review, but gotta give my props.
YEW may just stand for Yelp Elites Welcome. When you're wined and dined like royalty by YEW's staff, a 5-star is the bare praise acceptable.
I went to Tuesday's Wood-themed party. I'll save the food details, but they were of a quality like a unique, exotic wood, that is if you could eat wood.
For the first time I had to drive home so had to limit my drink consumption but did sample a bit of each offering. Lighting of the orange peel was super cool.
Talking to Bede (FS Room Service Manager) was a delight. Such a cool, interesting guy. And this is where YEW/Four Seasons really nailed it. The level of personal engagement. The staff genuinely wanted to know about your interests, career, favourite restaurants, more about how Yelp works, etc. They didn't just through a sales pitch to you. They didn't have to. Their food, service, ambiance and enthusiasm did that on its own.
Days later I went to brunch and had a 5* experience. I fully intend on going for dinner soon.
I'm usually one to knock 'fine-dining' places as you usually feel screwed after (like a shitty date), but not YEW. There are very few places where I will tell others that it truly is worth it to pay a little extra and treat yourself at a 'nice' restaurant. YEW fits the bill.
Cyndi, all I can say is YEW are magnificent. Scratch that, I'll use your words, "frickin amazing!"Listed in: It pays to be Elite
-
Review from Richard H.
New Westminster, BC
3/2/2011
So I guess I had forgotten that I signed up for Yelp a long time ago.
Tonight's event made me want to put a review together.
This wasn't my first Elite event - they've all been stellar.
But this one was over-the-top!
An intimate environment with a smaller-than-usual group.
Decor that very much reminded me of my years living in New York City and dining in Manhattan, but with a distinct Vancouver/West Coast flair.
Staff that went well beyond expectations. I'm not sure if the management at Yew pay well for great staff or they beat them within inches of their life to be fantastic hosts... whatever the secret, it's quite evident that hospitality and service is always 'Job 1' at YEW (my apologies to the Ford Motor Company).
And the food?
Heavens to Murgatroyd! Let me tell you.
I started with oysters on the half-shell.
And I'm embarrassed to say; in my 33 years on this Earth, I've avoided oysters entirely - I've never been a huge fan of shellfish (call it my British Isles upbringing - all meat and potatoes growing up). But I figured I'd be daring and give it a go. All I'll say is this: I've never eaten a raw oyster in my life until tonight. And I didn't hate it. I'm pretty sure that's a great sign of a good oyster.
The cheeses! Varied, generous and of wonderful quality. The sheep's milk cheese was a particular stand-out.
The duck! To quote the Poet Laureate of the Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Borat Sagdiyev: "Waa waa wee waa!" Cooked perfectly. Rich. Tender. Succulent. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had duck that was comparable to this, and they've all been in Chinese restaurants known for their duck.
Mac n' cheese? Not what I was expecting to find here, but whoa. I would love love LOVE to find out the secret to that dish so I could attempt to emulate that at home.
The desserts!
Where do I start here?
The mango concoction? I certainly wasn't expecting that finish! Stunning.
The espresso caramel? It took every ounce of reservation to not eat more than one, unlike many of the others that attended (and how can you blame them?).
I refrained from sampling the many other wonderfully-presented desserts to spare my waistline from revolt...but it was clear they were very popular and made with the same care as the caramel.
And the drink - as a guy who enjoys beer of all flavours and types, I had to try the exclusive Molson M.
From a packaging perspective (a passion of mine) - the labeling was very nice. Had a little retro Carling Black Label 60's feel to it. Done well.
I hope Molson decides to bottle it in something other than their typical long necks; I'm doubtful their machinery at the brewery would allow it, though. Too bad.
The beer itself? I was happy with it. Had a slight sweetness to it that's not typical of most Canadian megabrews. Finished very clean. The "microcarbonation?" The carbonation did seem to be smaller than your typical Canadian beer... I'd be curious to learn more about the process behind it. I'm sure we'll learn more as the beer becomes generally available.
I was driving this evening, so I had to choose my libations carefully and sparingly. The red was great; I've never met a bottle of Masi I didn't like. I heard great things about the cocktails.
All-in-all:
Fantastic and attentive staff who really care about service.
Food that was as perfect as you could get in a large event.
Drink that was great.
Desserts that were out-of-this world.
I can't wait to come back.
A special shout-out to my man at YEW Shingo! Have a great time overseas!
And Cyndi: I hope you don't lose the carving I made for you! -
Review from Darcy D.
3/3/2011
I am so happy that I went to this plush event because, I almost didn't.
I had already set my heart on geeking out for a few hours over my new favourite board game Cosmic Encouter but, my woman, the fabulous Gina I., convinced me to take advantage of our last-hour invite.
The staff at Yew at the Four Seasons pulled out all the stops and supplied us with tastier and better foods than you would expect at any other swank joint. Rich cured meats, lovely mature cheeses, free flowing wine, duck, oysters, olives, truffle-topped mac and cheese, beautiful fried crab balls, fresh homemade sauces, and extravagant desserts.
But, most of all the staff graciously treated us like important customers. The staff, the staff, the staff... not cloyingly glib like the chain restaurants, not dismissive and entitled like the douchebag steakhouses serving to Tap-out tattoos. This is adult service that is ready, prepared, and capable. They keep it clean, simple, fast and unnoticeable, like the groundskeepers at Disneyland (and that is the highest compliment). -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
3/2/2011
This event certainly did top my original plans for the evening - sitting around giving belly rubs to the dog while watching Showbiz Tonight's breaking coverage of Justin Bieber's new hairstyle. No, instead, because the party goddess (Cyndi be thy name) smiled upon my inbox, my dapper date and I found ourselves mingling with the Elite at the Four Seasons. Swooon.
Seriously, I didn't think I was going to Elite parties at all this month, and was a bit in recovery from my karaoke UYE the night before in which the Pink kids came down and partied hard after what I know now is multiple foodgasms. My hats off to you, Pink crew!
But oh my, I was in with the Brown now, pampered by the Yew staff from the get-go. Constantly refilled wine (until you could say "No more!"), an array of charcuterie and cheeses from Farmhouse in Agassiz (*****), mac and cheese with truffle oil, duck confit. And then there were plentiful desserts too: the exploding mango thingy that sort of popped in your mouth and the meringue "lollipop" with a chocolate centre. The staff did an excellent job of explaining the food - and it's all on their regular menu too. Truffle. Mac. and. Cheese.
Addendum: Totally forgot about the sublime creamy mushroom soup served with a cracker and a slice of melty Farmhouse Brie to dip. Earthy yet not too strong, it was the Goldilocks porridge of mushroom soups.
I never really pictured myself as a Four Seasons fancy girl, but between the delicious taste I got last night and the new knowledge of half-price wine bottles on Sundays, I think I'm going to try becoming one with my posh self in this neck of the "woods" more often.
Thank you Cyndi. You have truly outdone yourself again.Listed in: Yelping: the Live Show
-
Review from Kat S.
3/1/2011
I'm not sure how these elite parties could possibly get any better. The bar has been set pretty high. The Pink Party was off the hook amazing, from the food, to the service, to the incredible drinks.
I think the best thing about this event was the really engaged staff. They were friendly, informative, and made a point of actually talking to everyone and letting them know what the restaurant is really about. I didn't even know this place existed, but I know I will for sure be coming back, especially since I hear they do a good brunch.
I really appreciate that YEW featured a bunch of divine cheeses from the Fraser Valley. High five for local dairy products, YEW! And those cheeses were so good I wanted to sneak them in my purse for later.
All the food I tasted was incredible, and it just kept reappearing. They would literally force you to take more. They didn't have to tell me twice.
Excellent as always to see all my Yelper friends and it was great to meet some new ones.
Thanks Cyndi, Crystal and YEW!Listed in: Yelp Love
-
Review from Larry L.
3/2/2011
I have this deal that every time I see Pia we have this little bet on who can do their next review with a challenge.
The last one was we were supposed to write a review in the tune of a Christmas song. This one was pretty lousy. I had to write lousy three times in the review and she had to write mediocre three times in her next review. I was going to say that sounded pretty lame, but it's actually quite lousy.
Aha!! I did it! And I must say that the Yew party and the small gathering of 45 worked out amazingly well!
Got to take some pics, meet some people see some familiar faces and enjoyed the evening's event. My plus 1 showed up eventually and then everything was perfect.
The staff were all wonderful and helpful with information and knowledge of the drinks and the food they served. Pretty impressive.
Lots of wonderful charm and the Yew that night was as good as any other night. I have to say that is also an impressive feat. When a place can be as good as it gets,,,,, all the time. -
Review from Gina I.
3/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Holy Moly that was a great event.
Why? Cyndi is the hostess with mostest. Literally and figuratively!
Why else? Yew. I've never been to Yew, but have heard so many great things. The staff were awesome. I'm planning to come here on my own with friends because of YEW guys!
Bottle and bottles of Masi, why yes I will have 3 glasses of pinot grigio.
The negroni's were strong, wow.
The food, so cute and so delicious. Most of the time cute food is not delicious, but this time it was. My favourite were the crab 'balls' and the marshmallow stick with a truffle inside. Seriously? Yum.
A nice and intimate setting, seeing a bunch of my favourite people, with my favourite man by my side.. couldn't have asked for a better event.
Thank you Cyndi and to all the people at YEW!
p.s. I hope you all got a chance to use the dremel and make some wood art. I sure did *wink* -
Review from Linzi M.
3/1/2011 3 photos
Amazing event. 25 bazillion stars!
I was a Vancouver Elite event virgin until last night and this pink party popped my Yelp CA cherry in style. Truly a gobsmackingly swanky event at the fabulous Four Season Vancouver. The Four Seasons, eh? How fancy is Yelp these days? The answer: oyster bar fancy!
Yes, there was an oyster bar. If you weren't there, you also missed out on the trays of duck confit ravioli, porcini mushroom soup and other treats being passed out by the fantastic staff. There were pink sidecars and oodles of pink champagne poured for us, we were treated like royalty! Unfortunately a few of us ended up chatting at the dessert table and 'accidentally' ate everything. My discovery of the night... try a roasted marshmallow with hidden truffle inside rolled in the chocolate, coffee brulee. Mindblowing! I did my happy chocolate dance to the bemusement of a couple of Elite boys.
I can't say enough good things about the experience, the food and the staff. (Did I mention mango lemongrass shooters?) You really just need to visit the Yew bar, meet the staff for yourself and allow them to pamper you too. Bring a date, bring a friend, treat someone like Yew Bar royalty! I recommend Friday nights where they have a special on pink cocktails and oysters.
I had a wonderful time meeting all the Vancouver elites, what a friendly bunch! Thank you for welcoming me! Cyndi, you were a star in that beautiful pink dress, thank you for throwing such an incredible party. You rock. -
Review from Reena M.
3/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow! Cyndi and the crew at YEW pulled off another amazing Yelp event! This was fantastic! The drinks were yumm and the food was delicious, hitting all the senses! I'm sure the various food items will be mentioned in other reviews, but some of my favorites were the truffle Mac 'n Cheese, duck confit, the truffle-wrapped in roasted marshmallow- on a stick thing was sooo good! And the mango "ravioli" in the passionfruit water was fantastic! Totally amazing--- it's like a sweet shooter sans alcohol, with a bubble exploding mango liquid in your mouth! I also loved the caramel coffee creme dessert with the blackberry on top. As well as the peking duck rolls.
And as for drinks, those side cars really sneak up on you! Either that or I have a lower tolerance from not coming to Yelp Elite events in 3 months.
It was a great event to meet new Yelpers and actually get to remember their faces because we were only 90 people (max) in the place.
Shout out to Derek W. I won't forget you next time (my bad!).
And a last shout out to all the servers in the place. They were so attentive and chatty. Thanks for taking care of our every need that evening!
P.S. Tip for tonight's party--have more tip jars out for the servers and the cocktail mixer!Listed in: Get y'er drank on!, Yelpage
-
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
3/2/2011
Wow. With this event Yelp has raised the bar, and that bar is surely made of... wood!
You may have seen my friend Christina B and me....we were the 2 keeners dressed as Lumberjacks! Upon arriving I had one of those "bad high school nightmare where you are naked in the hallway" when we realized that we. were. the. only. ones. dressed. up. I was mortified - for about 3 minutes. And then I laughed and loved it!
The staff were outstanding - Jeff and Shingo worked the crowd and genuinely seemed to love their jobs, emanating sheer pride at their restaurant. And they have every reason to be proud.
Some of the most delicious cocktail food I have ever eaten - hands down. I was in heaven with the beautiful selection of oysters, cheeses and olives - and that's when the hot tray-passed hors d'oeuvres came around! Unbelievable truffle mac and cheese, delicious crimini mushroom soup with brie toast, duck confit gnocchi (I sampled the sauce - omfg), deep fried quail eggs served with salmon tartar - divine. The only misstep for me was the crab cake - too gingery for my tastes.
And the desserts - so cleverly served in shotglasses! I am hooked on the brulee chococaramel lollipops and the molecular gastronomy mango sphere.
Joel kept my wine glass full all night and had a great attitude, but all of the servers were great. I will definitely be back to try some of the specials Jeff was mentioning - 12 bucks for 12 oysters at Sunday Brunch!? With half priced wine and champagne! Sold.
Yelp - you spoil me! Yew - you have a new convert! Yay me! Yay us! -
Review from Emma L.
3/1/2011
Fantastic party! Yelpers look good when we swank it up, and smaller intimate gatherings mean more food and drink to go around!
The food at Yew was wonderful -- the oysters weren't so much my style, but the duck confit, dungeness crab cakes, truffle oil mac and cheese, salmon tartare and everything else were delicious and amazing. If those foods don't sound wonderful, served by lovely servers who kept suggesting we eat more, then how about tons of cheese, cured meat and olives? And the desserts! Om nom nom. And another nom.
The servers were incredibly fantastic, especially the guy from Morocco who has been working at the Four Seasons since before I was born, apparently! Always there with a top up for our drinks, but never intruding. When I asked about brunch, the GM brought out a menu and pointed out to me all the food that is gluten-free and safe for me to eat. Top notch service.
Made some new Yelp friends thanks to the smaller event. Can't wait to see you all again at the next one! Or at Yew for another drink sometime!Listed in: Elite events and UYEs
-
Review from Roanna Z.
3/2/2011 1 photo
This is my 699th review. Let's just pretend it was the 700th, to make it a memorable one :)
This Elite party was swank!
Walked into the 4 Seasons Hotel lobby and all I could hear was the clicking of my snazzy boots on the shiny floor, it was so quiet in there. I thought we were in the wrong place, but there was the bar, where we were greeted by a host and uber-pleasant service staff offering to hang our jackets. Then we were directed to the back of the room for the Yelp Elite gathering, past a crazy-beautiful glass wine column into a private area.
I'd recommend Yew bar to anyone after our experience in there, everyone we encountered was so helpful and nice. The Negroni-Compari beverage knocked my wee sox off, prompting me to ask "does it come with a lamp-shade?"
Shingo, another super friendly staff member helped me recognize my safe food options, which I so appreciate! The food was seriously impressive and the layout was so 'woodsy themed' :) I love the wood theme, it was earthly heaven.
Cyndi what can we say but thank you!! Nice job, lady. Nicely organized. I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm like 'what did I do to deserve such nice treatment?! When my non Yelpy friend's ask me why I write so many reviews, one of my answers includes party descriptions. The opportunity to check places out that I'm sure I would not otherwise be invited to enjoy.
Yelp Elites ... you're a classy bunch. -
Review from Amy T.
3/2/2011 3 photos
The absolute best Yelp Party ever put together! It was the first thing I talked about this morning when I woke up.
The food was amazing! You can't go wrong with raw oysters, truffle oil mac & cheese and especially Peking duck. What's better than Peking duck? Bite sized easy to eat Peking duck rolls! Genius!
The staff at Yew really put in an effort to talk to each of the guests at the party and it is appreciated. It was interesting to hear about the food, drinks and some background on Yew. And of course, thanks to Cyndi for putting such a classy and delicious party together. You rock! -
Review from Sarah O.
3/2/2011
Yo, did elite parties just take it to a new level or what? This event was so posh it made me want to raise a pinky everytime I ate or drank all they had to offer. I certainly felt under-dressed at such a chic place. Even the food oozed high-class. The plethora of delicious food was too gorgeous to even ruin.. Truffle mac and cheese! Comfort mushroom soup! Fried crab and giner balls! Cheese and Hummus! For a night, we got treated like a high-end prostitutes and why yes, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Was Julia Roberts in the room?
I don't remember Yew having such delicious food.. and the service? Unbelievable. They couldn't have been any more attentive, charming, sweet and helpful. I generally underestimate all things pink, so I was knocking back those Sidecars like nobody's business.. meow. Hennessey usually makes me more of a mellow drunk, by mellow I mean only a half step up from Weekend at Bernies. I remember giving someone a very limp handshake and thinking in my head, very carefully, "Hmm i think i'm giving this guy a very limp handshake.. I hope he doesn't notice.." I'm not sure why Hennessey has this pothead affect on me but it does. The lesson to be learned is: Don't underestimate pink. Or the drinks at Yew.
Of course, I missed the other half of the yelpers that weren't there but hey, I'm lucky I even got into this one! So exclusive right now! Cyndi was our pink princess and did us all very, very proud.
Yew and Four Seasons: Back in the game! -
Review from Dan J.
Vancouver, BC
3/3/2011
As soon as I arrived I knew I was in for a great night. Three hosts greeted me at the entrance, grabbing my coat and bag. I was escorted to the back room and immediately offered a drink. I headed over to the cocktail table where their award winning bartender was mixing Sidecars. Yeah, it's a pink cocktail -but not cream puff pink. It's manly pink. Like Ernest Hemingway's panties.
The room was festive. I was greeted so warmly it took me a good 10 minutes to reach my entourage. Okay I didn't have an entourage but I felt like a rock star.
Five stars for the food. The duck confit & gnocchi was so good I caught myself mumbling, why don't more people serve duck? The mushroom soup, black truffle mac & cheese, the cheese & charcuterie spread were all excellent. Oysters and other savory hors d'oeuvres arrived steadily throughout the night. The kitchen hit it out of the park.
The desserts were inventive and fun too. Chocolate truffle lollipops, Strawberry cream and the mango shot was a wiiild ride.
The host spent some time chatting with us and he was charming and witty. I appreciated the intimacy of this event because I got to spend time partying in pink with people I hadn't met before.
Cyndi and Crystal (both pretty in pink) did a bang-up job on this one. So glad I was able to attend. Thanks Ramon & Eva for +oneing me.Listed in: Yelp! Yelp! Yelp!
-
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
3/1/2011
Forget Monday Blues - it was all PINK and absolutely fantastic!
The night was fabulous :) A BIG thank you to our lovely host, Cyndi and special guest, Crystal!!
Jeff and the gang at Yew at the Four Seasons were so spectacular in making sure everyone's drinks were always topped off, and the food was a'flowing. Everything from "exclusive" Mission Hills Rose Wine (doesn't hit the market for another 2 months!) to truffle mac and cheese, oysters, duck confit, and wow, wow, wow, the list really does go on!
Definitely a GREAT way to start the week! -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is probably the most excited I have been for a Yelp event.... all evening of Monday and all morning on tuesday, I was searching for photos of what happened the night before at the pink party... and hoping there would be more reviews, while my anticipation built.
Deciding to go with my "bark" inspired skirt and wooden jewellery, I bumped into Gina and Darcy (thank goodness because we didn't know where the party was), and then met Richard - another Torontonian!
After finally bring brought to the back room, the party began. The waitress was so attentive from the first moment I signed in - she heard I didn't feel like wine so got me a Negroni instead. Boy was it strong ... in a good way.
The food and service was top notch - the oysters were refreshing. The lobster roll and peking roll had amazing flavours - peking duck roll being one of my favourites of the night - the hoisin sauce made me feel like I was eating peking duck wraps with every bite.
I'm not big on meats and cheeses but the spicy pita chips, although not spicy had some awesome crunch and the hummus was exceptionally creamy. The pate at the end of the wooden plank was solid, but not overly hard or too soft either - made just right.
And then the extra food came out - crab fritters were THE BOMB! Shreds of crab meat in a deep fried ball - what more can I ask for? The truffle mac and cheese was creamy and the aroma of truffle oil was so addictive. I enjoyed the refreshing salmon tartare with a nice burst of quail egg yolk.
However, if we're talking about the best burst of the night - it had to be the mango ravioli in passionfruit juice. So sweet and aromatic, the mango was refreshing and out of this world - what a sensation! Not only that, the espresso caramel creme was also delicious, and made me feel like I was getting a good kick of espresso.
Just for words of improvement - I thought the mushroom soup was WAY too salty, and the strawberry cream was exactly that - cream... so not so much my thing.. but I'm just being constructive, so not trying to dampen the awesome time I had.
In an intimate setting with awesome staff and great food, I definitely met many new yelpers / guests:
Michael C - up for some Pork Chop Rice
Tee - cake decorating!
Ben - still haven't met Amy yet
Vanessa - awesome event planner
Richard - Toronto Maple Leafs!
Debbie - Once Torontonian
Steve - Video Game Guru
P.S - Thank you for the Orange. I ate it for lunch today and it is one of the best oranges I have had in a long time - no joke.
P.P.S - I love YEW. -
Review from Sebastian P.
Vancouver, BC
3/1/2011 1 photo
YELPTASTIC!! My first Yelp Elite event in Vancouver that I made it to - and it was a blast!!
Boy was I lucky to make it from the waitlist on literally the last minute, I would have missed the (is it to early to say that already?) best and fanciest event of the year!
A big thanks and many compliments to Cyndi and the YEW crew, you pulled off a gem here!
Knowing YEW and the Four Seasons I already expected they would not give themselves the benefit of the doubt and would roll out nothing but the best. In service, attitude as well as F&B. And they indeed rocked it! The lineup of delicious goodies had nearly no end. Oysters at a Yelp event? Only at Yelp Vancouver!!
The dessert section did not disappoint either. The coffee brulee and the strawberry desserts were my personal fav.
Besides the drinks of course, and the YEW crew really tried their best to make sure that nobody left that place sober. And I think they pretty much succeeded in many instances. :-) Pink sidecars and pink champagne in relation to their 'Pink' promotion every friday where pink cocktails and Oysters are the special of the day.
Thanks a bunch to all of you!! -
Review from Derek W.
3/2/2011
Best elite party yet. The staff was incredibly attentive, professional, and knowledgeable. The food was excellent - that little caramel dish couldn't be better. The (pink) sidecars were delicious, and got boozier as the night went on!
And I left with a Yelp mint tin in each pocket. Win all around. -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
3/1/2011
At first I was thinking I might be a bit biased in reviewing this since it was my first event as an actual Yelp Elite and not as someone's +1, but it looks like everyone thought this event was fantastic as well! Cyndi + YEW, thank you for creating an amazing event! This was the best introduction to Yelp Elite ever!
It was great as an intimate event; with only 45 elites, I had a much easier time introducing my new self to people (Cyndi included!) and getting to know people. The last party I was at was at Mis Trucos, and while the place was rammed full of people, I found it hard to meet a lot of yelpers there. Since it was much easier to move around here and conversations were easier to hear, I was able to butt into a few groups and say hi.
The food, drinks, and the servers were amazing. I especially loved the the Mission Hill rose wine, and the delicious truffle oil mac & cheese. I'm 100% certain I will return to YEW simply to eat this dish in its entirety. Until then, no mac & cheese will ever be good enough for me again.
Best part of the night? Meeting some new friends! I can't wait to meet more people at the next event. If I didn't get a chance to say hi, I hope to see you guys again soon!
Second best part of the night? Shingo, the food & bevvie assistant manager at the Four Seasons, came by to talk to us about the restaurant and the amazing food offerings and when he recommended the mango shooters, I mentioned that I sadly missed all of them. At the end of the night he came back with two for me and my +1, and he was right - those things are amazing! That kind of service makes me smile! :DListed in: Yelp Elite Love!
-
Review from Nicole F.
3/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the best Elite events I've ever been to!
I took Rheanna F. as my guest and even though we both felt like hobos and totally out of place (Yew is fancier than the dives we're usually drawn to...) we were not treated as though we didn't belong at all!
I didn't know how to go about dressing for a wood theme, so I wore a Pterodactyl print dress.. because when I saw it in the store, it gave me girl-wood. There, I have finally participated in a theme!!!
All of the staff were incredibly friendly and introduced themselves to us and really seemed excited about the event.
There was a beautiful selection of cheeses out for nibbling, as well as the most amazing dessert table I've ever raided.
The Truffle Oil Mac n Cheese was DEEE-LISH! The first little dish that went around was almost perfect! The second one that went around had been salted a lot more which was great, as I am a total salt fiend.
And the desserts... where to start? Well, my favourite was definitely the strawberry one that had the delicious creamy goodness underneath. I don't know what it was, but it was damn tasty. The Lollipop one was a nice surprise! Can't go wrong with chocolate.. The mango one was totally bizarre yet totally amazing at the same time. It scared the shit out of me. I took the last one so unfortunately I couldn't watch anyone else's reaction when they had it. I wasn't as big on the espresso one, but it was still decent!
And a special thanks to JOEL for keeping my wine glass full the whole time!Listed in: Yelpin' it up!
-
Review from Kyrsten J.
New Westminster, BC
3/3/2011
amazing food + awesome service + staff who genuinely seemed happy to be there + bottomless wine + a beautiful location = stellar night!
Gotta say this has been my fav Elite event so far ! Cyndi did a fantastic job of organizing, and I was extremely impressed by their Assistant Mgnr/Social Media Guru (who runs the @FSVancouver twitter) - it was really awesome to meet someone who actually likes meeting new people! (surprisingly rare in the hospitality industry...)
I've never been let down by YEW - been there for a wine tour night as well as a drink or two - I love the decor, the big room, and I don't think I've ever had anything (drink or appy) that didn't blow me away.
also, I gotta say, it's always awesome to walk past the expensive cars on the way into the Four Seasons :) -
Review from Ben C.
3/3/2011
When you put 2 magical words together such as "lobster" and "springroll" - you're going to WIN. This was just such the case.
Great party by Yelp (thanks Cyndi) and big ups to the staff a YEW for their hospitality to go with their tantalizing appies.
Looking forward to future events! -
Review from Dru C.
3/3/2011
AMAZING night! WOAH for sure hands down one of the best party ever!! I was so pampered in this event it might be hard for the next one to top it off! I wish there was a dress code though, because everyone would look lovelier! I wore pink of course in a lovely vest, because I am totally epic like that!
The event went extremely well as the food was extravagant and the service was exceptional. The people were attentive, and were very friendly with every single one of us. The dishes were quickly taken away, and the food was properly made. They served us Rosé, Champagne, and a very VERY strong in alcohol cocktail, which I might not drink ever again...
I enjoyed the most was the cheeses they had in selection. I enjoyed every piece with a great plain palette, and the oysters just oozed right into my mouth. I had the best night ever. Thanks to Cyndi and Crystal for an amazing night! I will never forget such an event!!Listed in: Yelp Events!!
-
Review from Stephen Y.
Richmond, BC
3/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I would like to thank Cyndi and the rest of the Yelp Academy for a great evening. It was my first Elite event and I was overwhelmed by the abundance of great food, fine drinks and even better people. Seriously, I was kind of cautious in terms of how people would be like at these sort of events (the whole meeting people from online stigma I suppose). However, I met some of the nicest people around town and they all made me feel like part of the Yelp family.
As well, the entire staff @ YEW was extremely helpful, well-mannered and treated us like friends. Hats off to you guys and gals!
The highlights from an eating perspective were the duck confit, salmon tartar with quail's egg and the lobster sushi. Not to say the rest weren't good, but these were the stand-outs that left me wanting more and more.
The caramel espresso was a fine finisher but that mango passionfruit shooter...wow! It had just the right amount of sweetness and the the mango burst with flavour in your mouth. Wish I could have one now!
The drinks were awesome as usual. The cocktail of the evening was a Gin, Campari and Vermouth monster of an apertif. A little bit strong in the beginning with nothing in my stomach, but I enjoyed it. I switched to the Masi red wine for the rest of the night as I felt that went with the food a bit better. With very little tannin in the wine, it left little aftertaste and well, was quite drinkable =P
Again, thanks to everyone for a wicked good time. It was quite delightful to meet so many wonderful people and I'll see you around town and on Yelp! -
Review from Pia W.
3/15/2011
So Larry L. and I, THe non-mediocre, overachIeving YelperS that we are, always attEmpt to think of a new and fun way of writing out our Yelp reviews. After all, it's the extra entertainment ValuE added to Yelp reviews that make them more....no, I meaN less mediocre. So if you have read Larry's recenT revieW (dAted March 2nd, 2011) -- you would know what I waS "challenged" to do. Oh, one of the many joyS I experience at a Yelp Elite party!
Our gOrgeus CyNdi, with her sparkle and glamOur, Threw an awesoME event here -- Raw oysters, lobster rolls, mango shots and wine? How much classier can we get? FooD and service was great, though I questIOn the Cocktail -- a mix of HendRick's Gin, VErmouth, Campari, dried orange peel with a light of fire -- a nice, smooth drink, but I was hoping that I would be able to taste the gin more.
The wood theme was well presented the entire night (carving your initials on a log with some significant other...how cute is that?). However I expected a few more lumberjacks around given the amount of logs present.
I love small, intimate gatherings like this -- thanks for an amazing time Cyndi!
By the way, my third "mediocre" is hidden in the embedded message in this review. Booya Larry L.! I managed to fit more than 3 -- I think I just 1-uped you! -
Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
3/1/2011
Yew are so beautiful.. Let's just say to anyone who didn't get to go last night that ya missed something special.. and to those who are wooding it up tonight, you're in for a treat.
What a fabulous restaurant. Top notch food and even better staff. Plus I got to wear my Betsey J dress for the first time. It suited the night, all shmancy and stuff...
I heart yew Cyndi!Listed in: yelp it up!
-
Review from Vincci L.
Yelp loves YEW, I love YEW= the reason why I love these Yelp Elite Parties.
The wood theme was all tied together nicely with a huge log at the sign in table, unfinished wood cheese & chacuterie serving boards, and of course, accents of wood decor all over the swanky space.
Negroni's were the cocktail of the night, mixing Hendrick's Gin, Campari, Vermouth, and orange bitters to create one strong drink. After the ice melted a bit, it actually wasn't too bad at all. I mostly stuck to the delicious Masi Pinot Grigio/ Verduzzi wine.
The service was also awesome! Spoke to the friendly manager, Jeff for a bit, and Shingo was also very helpful. They were surely well staffed; I was also asked if I wanted my wine glass to be topped up. Awesome.
Oh and then there was the food. Oh, the delicious, delicious food. I liked how it was a mix of 'self-serve', as well as hot items brought around. Fresh oysters, cheese (they have the La Pyramid!!), chacuterie, peking duck roll, lobster roll...yes, I was in heaven. On top of all that, there were these amazing dungeness crab balls...soo good I had to find out if they were on the regular menu. Duck confit gnocchi, TRUFFLE mac & cheese, deep friend quail egg with salmon tartare, porcini mushroom soup...
Then....the dessert table!!! Mango shots were a novelty, and certainly popular. The espresso one was also good, smooth, creamy caramel toffee yum-ness.
Really enjoyed the more intimate atmosphere; allowing me to be able to talk to everyone in a beautiful, relaxed setting.
Cyndi, thanks for another amazing party, and Yew, I'll be back!!Listed in: Yelp Elite Fun
-
Review from Cody S.
3/3/2011
YEW at the Four Seasons is beautiful. This was my first Elite Party and I can say that this one has me spoiled rotten! I don't even know where to start.
First of all, I was completely surprised that I even got in....thanks to Cyndi and her magic invitation.
The bar and restaurant's interior was top notch. The service was impeccable. We we're greeted by great staff and we had a sidecar in hand within a couple of seconds. I'm not kidding, a couple of seconds. The staff here shine...the greatest in Vancouver. We learned about the length of time each had been employed there and their dedication to service and the hotel's hospitality was very apparent.
The food was fantastic. There is nothing like meandering through a group of friends with a cocktail and sampling lobster and peking duck rolls. The oyster bar was beautiful and the few I had were delicious. The truffle mac and cheese was, by far, my favourite. I might have had a couple, not gonna lie. In between all of this was alot of booze... thanks to the service staff and bartender (who mixed his head off!). The Molson M was light and had a very clear and crisp taste. That will be a reason why I will pickup a case when I can.
Overall, I didn't know what to expect and this has made my week. Thanks to Cyndi for organizing a fantastic party. We made quite a few friends and look forward to the next party...Thanks to Jeff and his staff for hosting such a great party. We will be back again very soon. -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
3/2/2011
... then Superman dat ho. (YEEEEEW!) Now watch me (YEEEEEW!) Crank that Yelp Event. (YEEEEEW!) Now watch me. (YEEEEEW!) Crank that Yelp Event.
And no, your calendar isn't mistaken: it is the distant year of 2011 and I'm making a Soulja Boy reference.
A much more intimate and grown-up vibe than most other Yelp events as dictated by the cozy space and classy decor. Bit sad that it was so exclusive and not everyone got in, but it meant more room to mingle and dingle. But hey, can't be bougy without someone being left out, right? Yelp Elite: Ever Heard Of It?
Some pretty amazing food -- the highlight being the duck confit for me -- and a staff with unmatched attentiveness and enthusiasm. Unsure if they changed up the drink choices for the doubled nights, but the pink champagne and pink sidecars were flowing freely on Monday. Just unsure why the cocktails got shut down early. As for the Molson M, still unsure what 'micro-carbonation' means exactly - sounds like some bullshit marketing gimmick term to me. Outside of a black label - tastes like regular Molson to me. Then again, who am I to criticize free beer?
[scanning the other reviews] Hmm - I'm going to have to be the Russian judge here with 4 stars? Or I'm just a non-conformist miscreant. Don't get me wrong - as always: good times, good food and good people. If anything it's a testament to Cyndi's party planning powers - we're spoiled rotten.
"Oh, you're getting to let me drink and eat like a king with kick-ass people all night for free while being waited on hand and foot?... ya... I'm 80% impressed." says the man who recites ringtone-rappers.Listed in: Yelp Events
-
Review from Shannon M.
North Vancouver, BC
3/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh man, this event was crazy good times.
I already have a deep and abiding love for YEW (been there a few times for work lunches and mm mm mm deeeeelicious) so when I found out the Elite event was being held there I knew I had to RSVP, post haste!
The space is absolutely gorgeous (I could really go on and on about how beautiful the entire restaurant is, all wood and glass and high ceilings and wine), the food was beautifully presented and the servers that were dedicated to our little party were really stellar. Shout out to Megan, always ready to help and answer a question or four! I was extremely impressed by the attentiveness of the managers too... wandering around talking to everyone, getting a feel for how we were doing and what we loved. Oh, but next time... more tip jars! We had to improvise one out of a cocktail glass and pass it around to the other tables at the end of the night.
Now. Can I get to the food? Oh, the food! My favourites of the food that was set out had to be the mango lobster roll (already a favourite from my other visits) and the duck spring roll while at the dessert table the mango shot melted my heart the way it melted in my mouth (I liken the mango explosion to what happens when you eat a cream puff... mmm... explodey...).
As far as the tray pass food went, my favourites definitely had to be the mac & cheese (which I've had here before and let me tell you, white cheddar and truffle oil do a fine mac & cheese make) and the gnocchi. I, unfortunately, missed out on the mushroom soup that was brought out a few times but was happy to let people who hadn't tried it give it a go cause yep, it's a good mushroom soup.
I really loved that this event was as small as it was (and yet still contained all my favourite Yelpers!). I got to spend some quality time with our lovely hostess, Cyndi (who, at one point when we were talking suddenly declared, "I like you!" Well thanks Cyndi, I like you too!) and I gotta say, she puts on a damn fine party.
All in all, a really fun, classy night. Thanks to Cyndi and YEW and Yelp for this one. Us Elite kids are a lucky bunch! -
Review from Evilyn T.
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. After nearly putting a spoonful of sugar down my throat from the lollipop dessert, it seemed like a good idea to wash it down with some red wine, I think Mary Poppins knew the score all along.
Yew is a pretty swank restaurant, with very generous staff, who were both informative and eager to feed us. This is the kind of place I think I would get kicked out of if I went for dinner with my friends. It's too classy, and for my entourage that doesn't take much.
I tried the Negroni drink, which honestly wasn't my favourite, it was a bit too strong for me, and not quite sweet enough to counter the burning boozey aftertaste. That being said , the red wine was lovely, but I found that all the dishes I was snacking on were so rich that I needed to switch to water to really enjoy them. Don't get me wrong, these dishes were amazing, and full of flavour, but I needed to cleanse my pallate after indulging in all four of the desserts. The espresso dessert was my favourite, with a sweet blend of chocolate and coffee that wasn't bitter, I really just wanted to stick one of those in my pocket for the ride home.
The mac-n-cheese was also super good, it was nice and creamy, although I found it a bit too salty. I tried the mushroom soup, even though I have never been a fan of mushroom soup, but I have to say, I would gladly eat this soup! It came with a piece of bread that had brie melted on it that you could dip into the soup too. Yew also set up a fancy cheese and meat plate which I picked at throughout the evening as well. Well, not the meat, but I heard some of the meaty plates were delish.
I would definitely like to try out a lunch date here sometime soon, maybe when I finally have that stay-cation I'll be hitting Yew up, like Yew wouldn't believe!Listed in: Elitist Biatches
-
Review from Kimli W.
3/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
That was amazing. Thank you so much to YEW and their staff, Cyndi and Yelp, and everyone who made the evening so much fun!
I wrote up a blog post about the evening: http://blog.deliciousj...
That was likely the best night I've had in 2011 so far! -
Review from Mathieu Y.
Vancouver, BC
3/1/2011
Even dressed in green I could still appreciate the pink theme of the night. My date and I arrived to some very pink champagne and salmon tartar. More pink to be found in the cured meats and pale cheeses. It was impossible to be over dressed for the event but eing under dressed really wasn't all that strange either.
As the evening, so much a bit of mingling and I appreciated the briefness of the speech, the hotel had absolutely no reason to brag! Although I do wonder the chef's secrets to fanciness... small portions? I should try that in my own kitchen.
Once the booze started flowing there was a lot of yelling and laughing. What more could you expect? -
Review from David L.
3/18/2011 2 photos
I loved this Elite Event at YEW restaurant + bar! Just like everyone else said - the food, service, drinks, and fellow yelpers which I met which were amazing!
Food and drinks came to me from all directions!
I loved the spiced pita chips dipped in the garlic hummus, various locally made cheeses, gnocchi and porcini mushroom soup, salmon tartare with quail eggs, and the duck rolls.
Dessert was a real visual delight and it was nice that it wasn't too sweet. The espresso-caramel crème brulee and strawberry crème cups were my favourites. The truffle lollipops were so very cool - a bit soft on the outside with a tasty treat inside.
Mission Hill 2009 Rosé was great too!
Cyndi did a wickedly excellent job with this pink themed event and I'll be returning to the YEW for sure! -
Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
3/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
How to survive a Yelp Party...
1. Bring a wing Yelper (or be one). I was Tee A.'s
2. Show up early
3. While you're early, strategically attack the food (Cause it will run out)
YEW was an amazing venue to hold our last event. The food was really great. It was the best reception food I had in a long time. The Peking duck roll was at the top of my list of faves! Maybe cause I'm Chinese or maybe it was just a deliciously made roll. Perfectly cooked and tender.
The Truffle mac and cheese, very nicely made. Fresh grated truffle on top of pasta that you could smell the truffles as it left the kitchen. Well balanced, creamy, velvety, and trufflelicious.
Duck confit Gnocchi. I heart duck confit :) Wish I had more duck in mine. Amy T. too the one that had the most duck in it lol She better have enjoyed it!!!!
Great selection of cheese! Ciel De Charlevoix (one of my fave), Manchego, and Camabert.
I didn't get a chance to try out the desserts :(
Glad, I was able to take the time off to come out to one of these events again. I met a lot of cool Yelpers and hope to see all again soon!
As always,
Great food,
Great staff,
Great Yelpers!Listed in: Ain't No Party Like A Yelper…
-
Review from Rick C.
3/4/2011 5 photos
The night was a blast hanging out in the corner of Yew. The staff took care of us, explained each dish, and warmly mingled with the crowd.
All of us enjoyed the treats. The drinks and wine from Mission Hill were superb as well. However, the featured cocktail tasted like pure Hendrick's Gin. It was incredibly strong. The preview taste of the Molson M brand beer ahead of its launch was refreshing as well.
All the treats were good from the Peking duck rolls, crab cake fritters, truffle macaroni and cheese, mushroom soup, and all the other goodies. Everything was fabulous, particularly the dessert tapas including truffle marshmellow lollipops, strawberry white chocolate ganache, mango shooters, and espresso caramel crème.
I love Yelp and their community drives for dining and hospitality in each city. The elite parties are a great way to get introduced to some of the finer parts of the city and I look forward to the next one. As I often joke, you can tell the amount of fun I'm having at an event by quality of my photos. The more fun I'm having, the worse the photos. -
Review from Sara M.
3/14/2011
So I am a little late with this review, but still wanted to give my shout outs!
Wowza. This was my first Yelp event and I was blown away!
The staff at YEW were amazing. I really enjoyed the time the manager took to wander around and chat to everyone and share a bit about his place. And our server from Morocco who was incredibly genuine and attentive. Man I love great service. I will be definitely be back.
The drinks were delicious and always aid great conversation :) We met some fun peeps that night!
I didn't eat much of the food due to the vegan front, but it was beautiful! The desserts especially caught my eye - very well crafted. And based on all the mming and oohing that was happening around me, I think they tasted great too.
Thanks Cyndi and gang for putting on a fabulous partay! And thanks to all you awesome Yelpers! -
Review from Simon K.
3/1/2011
Pink was the theme, and pink was also the constant stream of liquid that started going down the hatch, again and again. Somehow Yelp seems to always rise high and shine in whatever setting they choose to throw the Elite party in. Never to be outdone from the last one, and living for the moment was this night, and also this setting. The Yew, in the Four Seasons, was the star of the show where they had a nice area in the back of the restaurant for our gathering. The one thing prior to coming for this night was the fact that the Elite's were split into two nights, one for February 28, and the other for March 1. It makes you wonder now, moving forward how exclusive these Elite gatherings are going to be, as it was only 45 on this night, with you plus 1, and also the same on March 1.
I am glad to say, looking at the history of Yelp Vancouver, that I was able to attend the very first February party! Getting back to the venue, the Yew cleared a good area for all of us Yelp'ers to mingle. The sides had beautiful displays of food, from fresh raw oysters on the left side, and on the right side, a multi-level display of cheese's and meats. At the far end you had one of their very helpful staff mix up side cars, and at the start they are nice as you do not really feel any effects, until it really hits. You also had the servers come around with a rose wine, and champagne, constantly. Another party, and another non-stop drink off with friends new and old is what these things have been for me! I would have said something about the desserts on the other table, but come to think of it, I did not have any. A big round of applause goes out to the staff at the Yew, for putting on a smile, being very social with us at the event, and showing us why they are one of the hits with the town.
Everyone, or most people, showed up in the themed pink attire, and Cyndi definitely kicked it off in a very pretty outfit! And Crystal, I loved the wig! Tons of free treats again from our two awesome hostesses, always the best of times, and a great way to start the week off, I cannot wait to see the pictures of this event!Listed in: My Yelp Event Attendee List!
-
Review from Vanessa G.
3/2/2011
Well if i had to choose my last meal on earth it probably would have been everything we ate last night. HOLY CRAP it was so good!
It was so good i can't even decide what to eat right now for lunch because nothing is going to taste as good as what the Yew serves up.
All i could do the whole night was keep thanking the people at the Yew for having me. It was a real treat, after treat, after treat.. ok stop i can't eat anymore. The food just kept coming.
The selection and quality of the cheese was delicious. I could eat that mac and cheese with truffle oil forever. So rich and delicious. The chef definitely knows how to take advantage of the truffle oil factor, it was in the mushroom soup as well and i don't even like mushroom soup, and i ate it, it was so amazing. Nevermind the deep fried crab fritter. I don't eat crab either and all i want is another ball! Did i mention the desserts yet? A whole table full of them, constantly stocked. The meringue "lollipop" truffle with a chocolate centre really did things for me and my friend.
The GM was super nice and passionate. I like a man who is passionate about his job and i told him that too.. after i thanked him and asked him how the mango dessert shooters are made. You will just have to try them, oh and they are healthy.
The Masi wine was a fantastic pairing. I tried the Hendrick's gin (which is my favourite gin already) cocktail but what it was paired with wasn't doing anything for me.
I liked how this event had nothing but the onslaught of food. No entertaining needed. I will be coming back for more Yew.Listed in: I love being an Elite
