Bob Lindsay, Owner, Lift Bar and Grill, Soojin Park, Lift Executive Chef, and Damon Wong, General Manager, SSP Canada

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) welcomed a new full-service restaurant, Lift Bar & Grill, in January.  Inspired by the original location in downtown Vancouver, passengers are now able to enjoy Lift’s well-known selection of seasonal cuisine with a focus on local seafood offerings. 

Centrally located in the international terminal, the restaurant is wrapped around the airport’s iconic aquarium (with more than 850 indigenous sea animals), and is designed to draw on a coastal waters theme.  This is evident in both the interior detailing with tones of warm oak, steel blue and charcoal greys as well as the menu, featuring Oceanwise certified seafood. 

Scott Norris, Vice President, Commercial Development, Vancouver Airport Authority said, “YVR provides the first and last impression of British Columbia, so we are delighted to welcome Lift Bar & Grill to bring our passengers a unique West Coast dining experience.”

In partnership with YVR, Elettra invited food media, bloggers and influencers to the launch event, where they were treated to Lift Executive Chef Soojin Park’s incredible tasting menu.  Before becoming a chef, Soojin studied Inorganic Chemistry, which now fuels her passion for molecular gastronomy and understanding of food composition.

Soojin’s beautifully plated bite-sized portions were well received by attending media, served with New Zealand wine from the Marlborough Sounds region.

Lift’s location post-security means that travelers can take advantage of YVR Food on the Fly – any YVR restaurant provides fresh food and snacks packaged especially for your flight in a travel-friendly bag.

Be sure to check out Lift next time you’re flying internationally through YVR.

Today in our ongoing series, “Two Minutes With”, we're talking to Elettra Account Manager Lorna Allen.  

Favourite quote:

I love inspirational and witty quotes so it’s hard for me to pick just one. But here are two I like and think of often.

Mark Twain: A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t.

Anais Nin: Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.

Somebody wise also once told me to remember to "be the you that you know you are" which I always try to remember.

Favourite place to visit:

Top of my list is the South of France especially the Cote D’Azur. I used to go to Cannes and Antibes every spring when I lived in Europe and I thoroughly enjoyed the food, the Kir Royals, and the beautiful coastal scenery.

I also have a very special place in my heart for Hong Kong.  Truly the most colourful and vibrant city I have ever had the pleasure of visiting.  It has it all: beautiful beaches, world class shopping, the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, and that iconic cityscape. 

Favourite author:

Daniel Woodrell – the novelist who penned Winter’s Bone, Tomato Red, Give Us a Kiss and many more. I really enjoy his “country noir” style and think he is very underrated.

Oxford comma: Yay or nay?

I’m an Oxford comma convert.  But only since moving to Canada.  My English teacher did not believe in it and my punctuation habits were deeply ingrained.  My colleagues at Elettra have made me see the light on this one though and I think it definitely clarifies meaning when listing things.

If you didn’t work in PR, what would you choose to do?

I would be a full time film journalist.  I dabbled in this field when I lived back in the UK and the highlight of my year was attending film festivals, working red carpets and interviewing actors and directors.

Why do you choose to live in Vancouver?

I fell in love with Vancouver back in 1999 when I lived here on a temporary working visa. It is such a beautiful city and I love how accessible everything is.  I made up my mind to come back and live here again and 14 years later I finally did just that.

What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod?

I go through phases.  At the moment it is probably either Hello by Adele or Fairytale of New York by The Pogues.  It is nearly Christmas after all!

Fun fact about you:

I once had drinks with George Clooney and Brad Pitt in Venice

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?

It would be to go back in time and be present when Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. His words have inspired so many people over the years and I think it would have been incredible to have been present to hear and witness it first hand.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

Hmm…my love of cinema brings a lot of people to mind.  But sadly my favourite film characters don’t always meet the most pleasant of ends.  For that reason, I think Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice would be preferable. However, my friends would probably say I’m more like Bridget Jones (in fact they have done so...many times).

Media professionals and public relations / communications practitioners enjoy a symbiotic relationship.  It’s important to know what types of stories appeal to specific outlets and reporters and how they like these stories to be pitched.

Lorna Allen from our team recently took over responsibility for supplying journalist profiles on the CPRS Vancouver website. Her first subject was Tim Renshaw, managing editor at Business in Vancouver.

Check out the article here.