Vitamin Daily

Pioneering Vancouver restaurateur Mark Brand (Boneta, The Diamond) hits the airwaves tonight with his new docu-drama Gastown Gamble about leasing derelict landmark butcher shop Save-On-Meats and attempting to revive it and its diner.

With amazing production values (gritty never looked so stylish) and flattering lighting (in a butcher shop!) the show feels fancy yet fearless.

Brand's wife Nico (an ex-Aritzia exec) manages the butchershop with grace under pressure, while his old friend "Fat" McDougall runs the increasingly tenuous numbers. The local talent (former addict Mike "Football" Haggerty) acts as handyman.  

But while the gentrifying East Hastings Street neighbourhood may be touted as the true star, there's no doubt that the charismatic Mark is what's keeping us watching.

Now that's what we call Brand power. —Sarah Bancroft

Gastown Gamble premieres tonight (6:30 PST/9:30 EST) on the Oprah Winfrey Network. View the trailer here.

To see photos of the launch event, please visit our Editor's Diary.