German Tasting Menu at Mosaic; New Cocktails and Menu at Bambudda; Bittered Sling Bistro Winner

GASTOWN— New cocktails from the ever-innovative Buck Friend (and the first from Sean Hewlett) at Bambudda include a thrilling hot-foam-and-icy-drink confection with Valrhona white chocolate and an aromatic take on 'Hot water and lemon' which has a candied ginger garnish which takes 12 hours to create. This compliments a seasonal menu change from chef Keev Mah and new hire, Scott Korzack (ex-L'Abattoir) with a perfect-for-winter lamb dish with five-grain porridge and a vegetarian-pleasing showcase of B.C. heirloom carrots. [Eaterwire]

DOWNTOWN— For one month only, chef Thomas Heinrich at Mosaic at the Hyatt has a German Fall Flavours tasting menu featuring pretzels, Bismarckhering, Two Rivers Bratwurst, Spätzle and Jägerschnitzel, all finished off with a Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte aka Black Forest Gateau. The menu costs $45 or $65 with wine pairings and you can reserve on 604-639-4770 or visit Open Table. [Eaterwire]

DOWNTOWN— The results are in: the finale of Season Three of Bittered Sling Bistro was held last night at Uva wine bar where Vancouver's finest bartenders battled it out to be the ultimate cocktail winner. Jay Jones (The Blackbird Public House and Oyster Bar), Jean-Sebastian "J.S." Dupuis (Homer Street Café), Evelyn Chick (Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar), Robyn Gray (PiDGiN) and Grant Sceney (Fairmont Pacific Rim) all competed but Justin Taylor (Yew at the Four Seasons) took home the honours with the delightfully-named "Blowing Smoke Up Yer Kilt" cocktail. According to Justin, his winning cocktail " ...might not make it to menu as it takes a long time to prepare .... but it would always be available but word of mouth." [Eaterwire]