|
 Ed
and Salve Dayao, known for years as a world-class husband-and-wife musical
team, are now in the restaurant business and have proven to be equally
successful in their new venture.
Java
Jazz Café & Bistro which the Dayaos own and manage in
New Westminster
is on its third year of operation and continues to be the “in-place”
for connoisseurs of good food and music lovers. The food is cooked home
style, the atmosphere is friendly, and the entertainment set the place
apart from other similar eateries and lounges. This fully licenced
establishment serves fine western and Filipino foods with live music from
12:00 to 2:00 p.m. and from 7:30 in the evening till past midnight,
playing sweet jazzy music for the diners' listening pleasure.
You
may catch Salve, with her sweet, soft, melodious voice singing for her
audience but there are also other song stylists and musicians to entertain
the customers. Maria sings on Tuesdays alternating with the Rosario
Strings; Vera Layne Bedard on Wednesdays and Fridays; Via dela Pena
alternating with Kisi on Thursdays; daughter Mia Dayao alternating with
Julie dela Pena on Saturdays and Julie dela Pena alternating with Masumi
on Sundays. Ed Dayao plays the piano with Tony Inclan as alternate while
Archie Alafriz and Tony Lam play the drums.
Java
Jazz Café and Bistro caters to the mainstream crowd, its diners coming
from different segments of society. However, authentic Filipino cuisines
are also available in the menu such as kare-kare,
pork adobo, crispy pata, lumpia, pansit guisado and other culinary
delights that many non-Filipinos have come to enjoy.
Ed
and Salve left
Manila
in the mid-seventies. They have performed as a musical duo in various
hotels and night spots in
Japan
, the Middle East,
Vanuatu
and
Australia
before they came to
Canada
in 1986. Salve could sing songs from 19 different countries. She is
accompanied on the piano by her husband Ed, an accomplished
composer-arranger who is an equally versatile performer. In 1991, they
opened their first Filipino-Canadian voice, music and dance studio at
their home in
New Westminster
that served as a training ground for many young talents, some of whom are
now performing artists.
Ed
and Salve have set the record as the longest running house performers at
Westin Bayshore's Trader's Vic and Garden Lounge for close to ten years.
Among the famous personalities who saw them perform there were Bob Hope,
John Travolta, Ringo Starr, Gene Hackman, Katherine Hepburn, Kelly Preston
and
David
Carradine during their visits to
Vancouver
. They also performed at Hotel Vancouver, Pan Pacific Hotel and other
five-star hotels and top clubs in the Lower Mainland.
“Our
dream of putting up our own restaurant and lounge was met with early
discouragement, frustrations and disappointments,” Salve said.” But we
did not give up and when we found this place, we were determined to
establish our business here.” Java Jazz Café & Bistro's regular
patrons include Mayor Wayne Wright of
New Westminster
and members of the City Council as well as officials and staff of the
city's Health Department who come to dine or order take-outs. Ed and
Salve's fans from their Bayshore Inn days frequently drop by and bring
their friends to dine and listen to their music once again.
Saturdays
and Sundays are the only days when lunch is not served and the place is
available for meetings, private parties and catering.
Ed
and Salve have the loving support of their family in running the business.
Daughter Beth is manager of the joint and part-time singer. Teenage Mia
who also sings like her
mom
and sister is the pizza and dessert manager. Another daughter, Sheila
Marie and her husband Dax Alejandro just arrived from
Manila
with their two children. Ed
and Salve have good reasons to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary
on August 21 this year. Their dream of having their own restaurant and
lounge has been realized and the business is doing well, their family has
been reunited and the future seems brighter than ever.
- LBC
Java
Jazz Café
& Bistro
412-6th Street
New Westminster, BC V3L 3B2
For reservations call (604) 521-2929
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