18 ~ Friday, July 29, 1988 - North Shore News returns to Casula LIGHTER MENU INTRODUCED PASPAROS T/A.VERNA, THE CRADLE of North Shore Greek food celebrated another milestone recently. Pasparos, the second restaurant son of grand Greek food gastronome Aristedes Pasparakis, officially began its 15th year in business last month (in June). The occasion was marked by the return of Pasparakis from his Torontonian haunts to North Vancouver and a June 27 customer appreciation bash. It was a restrained celebration ‘TIMOTHY RENSHAW table hopping compared with the taverna’s grand opener in 1974 when things went somewhat beyond casual conversa- tion and Greek dancing. In addi- tion to a six-car pile-up on Third Street, the party featured Pasparakis demonstrating to all how Greeks really break dishes and glassware. The event was as outgoing and devil-may-care as the taverna itself, and it signalled the opening salvos in a minor revolution in the way Canadians and Grecks themselves regarded Greek food. Before Pasparakis and his first restaurant offspring, Orestes, Greek food served in the few Lower Mainland Greek restaurants was basically a peasant nosh that Lig 445 - 132 WEST FHIRD STREET, VANCOUVER, 980-0331. VISA, MASTERCARD AND AMERICAN EXPRESS ACCEPTED. WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE ht Meals from the “Barby” Served with two Salads and French Bread Savory Skewers Jumbo Shrimp. . Beef Tenderloin. Breast of Chicken........ Htalian Sausage. Sangria: Large $12.00, Small $6.00 Red or White Everyday from 11:30 Reservations 926-8922 PATS RESTAURANT 43th Street, West Vancouver f } } roots NORTH provided barge loads of potatoes, rice and lamb bobbing atop small seas of olive oil. Pasparakis has opened 13 res- taurants in the past 14 years. He has endowed cach with the subtle culinary elegance of his native Milos and his own inspired use of seafood that has come to typify modern Greek cuisine. The 150-seat Pasparos was sold to current owner and former Pasparos waiter Gregory Roumanis in 1978, but its food maintains the inspired Pasparakis touch and its atmosphere has cultivated Roumanis’s less ex- troverted but equally hospitable persona. In addition to hosting the June 27 party, Pasparakis has returned to North Vancouver to overhaul a Greek menu aped in part or whole by virtually every Lower Mainland Greek restaurant, and to reinstill the atmosphere of informality and unbuttoned collars that distinguished the original Pasparos from its largely sombre competi- tion. A recent test of some of the ap- petizers proposed for the new menu bodes extremely well for fans of Greek food and afi- cionados of Pasparakian innova- tion to that food. Accompanied by gentle summer breezes blowing through the tav- erna’s blue-tiled patio, Pasparakis opened the meal with mussels in a DOSSSSSSSsssssy 5 Ssg Fs NEWS photo Nell Lucente I | | f | j PASPAROS TAVERNA owner Gregory Roumanis offers a special toast to the restaurant’s legion of patrons. The taverna recently celebrated the inauguration of its 15th year in business. OPENING SOON! See Restaurant's Page 19 , 6.95 6.50 .9.75 4,95 August 8 - September 10, 1988 QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE MONDAY to SAFURDAY EVENINGS 8 pn & SATURDAY MATINEES 2pm ¢ Orchestra. ‘ Mezaanine. Dress Circle $45 © Baleeny $37.50 © Rear Baleony $32.50 WEDNESDAY MATINEE 2 pm * Orchestra, Mezzanine, Dress Cirele $37.50 ¢ Balcony $32.50 © Rear Balcony $27.50 © Note: $4 Student/Semior discount Wednesday Matinee only PREVIEW AUGUST 8 © Orchestra. Mezzanine. Dress Circle $43.00 © Baleony $35.50 © Rear Balcony $30.50 Tickets: all VIC/CBO outlets, Eaton's, Woodwards and Infocentres in major malls. Phone Orders: 280-4444 Canadizin + Oficial Atrlines For CAPS