Live jazz? Check. Patio? Check. Takeout food? Check. Provence Marinaside pivots amid COVID-19 chaos
The French restaurant overlooking False Creek has weekly live music outside and an Easter Heat and Eat meal to go
Provence Marinaside executive chef Jean-Francis Quaglia (left) and chef Sheldon Maloff are serving takeout Easter dinner this year. Photos by Aoife Raffery, Offbeat Media
IT’S BEEN A rollercoaster for local restaurants with ever-changing provincial health orders in response to COVID-19, with the March 29 announcement of temporary suspension of indoor dining coming as an unexpected blow.
Provence Marinaside has maintained some key components of its service amid all the craziness.
Let’s start with the live music.
Local musician Adam Rohrlick on the Provence Marinaside patio.
Adam Rohrlick and his trio, Hip Pocket, have been playing every Wednesday evening at Provence since 2016. There was a brief hiatus at the beginning of the pandemic, but Rohrlick returned to the restaurant last summer and started to play solo sax outside on the patio; when the weather turned cold and wet, he moved back inside to perform, sometimes on his own and sometimes with Hip Pocket.
A graduate of the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, California, Rohrlick has performed in Japan, Spain, and New Orleans; he has played on cruise ships, with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and at BC Place for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. He’s a session musician, songwriter, producer, arranger, copyist, music teacher who has played with Michael Bublé, Colin James, among others. Rohrlick plays jazz, pop, rock, funk, country, R&B, neo-soul, and more.
Best news ever amid the latest restaurant regulations: Provence will continue with live jazz on Wednesdays for the enjoyment of guests seated on the patio that faces False Creek from 6 to 9 pm.
Herb-crusted goat cheese with mixed greens.
When it comes to food to go, Provence Marinaside is offering its regular menus for brunch, lunch and dinner via Provence at Home Takeout. Dishes include escargot Provencal, steamed mussels, pan-seared Lois Lake steelhead, burger Francais with yam frites, bouillabaisse, seafood platter Provencal, roasted vegetable and mushroom risotto, and much more. There are also four French Food Made Easy kits.
For this coming long weekend, executive chef Francis Quaglia and chef de cuisine Sheldon Maloff have created a three-course Heat and Eat Easter meal. It includes herb-crusted goat cheese with mixed greens; choice of Dijon-and-herb crusted rack of lamb or carved ham; and clafoutis aux fruits rouges for dessert. (Orders must be in by March 31 for pick up between April 2 and 5.)
The patio at Provence Marinaside.
You can also pair your meal with a bottle of specially priced wine picked by wine director Josh Carlson.
Provence Marinaside is supporting the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre through meals and funds, along with a donation option for customers on its website.
Adam Rohrlick plays in the jazz trio Hip Pocket.
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