Event Archives | Foodgressing

What to Eat at Surrey Fusion Festival 2019: Something Sweet

July 20, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The 12th annual Surrey Fusion Festival, Western Canada’s largest multicultural event, is taking place this weekend from July 20 – 21.

Surrey Fusion Festival 2019 Food Holland Park

Featuring 55 cultural pavilions, 200 performers, and 7 stages, this event is one of the festival highlights of the summer. In previous years, it has welcomed over 100,000 attendees.

“Something Sweet” Theme

This year’s theme is “Something Sweet” so expect to see many dessert dishes presented by the food pavilions.

There are 6 pavilion rows which are all named after a dessert: Row 1 – Alfajores; Row 2 – Cassave Pone; Row 3 – Kulfi Falooda; Row 4 – Nanaimo Bars; Row 5 – Puff Puffs; and Row 6 – Sweet Bannock.

Tickets for Food, Drinks and Rides

All food, drink, ride and alcoholic beverage purchased can be made with paper tickets provided on-site. One ticket = $1. Food items usually range from 2 to 10 tickets.

Tickets can be purchased from one of six ticket booths on-site with cash, credit, or debit. ATMs will be located on-site beside each ticket booth for attendee usage

I attended the event as media today and here’s a look at some of the deliciousness that I tried.

Sweet Food Items

Cassave Pone | Jamaica (Row 1)

Cassava Pone is a popular dessert in the Carribean. It is a rich, dense pudding made with sweet cassava root, pumpkin, sweet potato, coconut sugar, nutmeg, butter and milk. Cassava is a nutty flavoured, starchy root vegetable native to South America.

The cassava pone recipe is said to be originated from Trinidad and Tobago, where settlers learned to make this dish from local tribes.

Cocadas (Coconut Smoothie) in a Coconut Shell | Venezula (Row 2)

Kulfi Falooda | India (Row 3)

Kulfi Falooda is a cold dessert with origins from the Indian Subcontinent. Traditionally it is made from mixing rose syrup, vermicelli, sweet basil seeds with milk and often served with ice cream.

Deep-Fried Nanaimo Bars | Canada (Row 3)

Named after the city of Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island, the Nanaimo Bar consists of three layers: a wafter and coconut crumb base, custard flavoured butter icing in the middle and a layer of chocolate ganache on top. Enjoy a deep fried version at Surrey Fusion Festival 2019.

Puff Puffs | Nigeria (Row 5)

Puff puffs are a dough-based snack that originated in West Africa. It is popular in Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana. Puff puffs are made of dough containing flour, yeast, sugar, butter, salt, water and eggs, and deep-fried in vegetable oil until golden brown. They are then coated with sugar for sweetness.

Alfajores | Uruguay (Row 5)

Aljafores is a sweet sandwich cookie featuring a layer of dulce de leche or milk jam in the middle of two sweet biscuits and coated with chocolate or sprinkled with powder sugar.

Alfajores is popular in Argentina, Uruguay and Peru, although they can be found in South America.

Deep-Fried Plantains | El Salvador (Row 5)

Taiwanese Wheel Cakes | Taiwan (Row 5)

Sweet Bannock | Bannock Queen (Indigenous Village)

Bannock is a type of fry bread which originated from Scotland but was adopted by the Indigenous people of Canada, particularly the Metis of Western Canada.

Classic bannock has a smoky, nutty flavour blended with a buttery taste while sweet bannock has a taste similar to a donut.

Served by Bannock Queen, the Sweet Bannock features a classic bannock lightly glazed and sprinkled with cinnamon.

Savouries

Jamaican Beef Patty | Jamaica (Row 1)

Tandoori Chicken | Pakistan (Row 3)

Samosas & Chana | India (Row 4)

Vegetarian samosas served with traditionally cooked chickpeas in spices.

Shai Fries with Shahi Sauce | India (Row 4)

Assorted Tapas | El Salvador (Row 5)

Bannock Salmon Burger | Bannock Queen (Indigenous Village)

Things to do in Chilliwack Summer 2019: Chilliwack Sunflower Festival

July 18, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

On August 1, the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival returns for its second year — this time, with a massive field of dahlias to complement the acres of sunflowers. In total, there will be 20 acres of flowers!

Chilliwack Sunflower Festival: Things to do in Chilliwack Summer 2019 — Credit: Chilliwack Sunflower Festival

Every day from August 1 to September 15, visitors can make their way through 35 varieties of peak-season sunflowers — from two-foot Dwarf Sunspots to 12-foot Mammoth Grey Stripes, in varying shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Pick your own Sunrich Orange sunflowers to take home (while supplies last), as well as cut sunflowers and field flowers, sunflower-inspired gifts, and onsite-grown spring bulbs of tulips and daffodils.

The Chilliwack Sunflower Festival provides countless opportunities to take perfect keepsake photos and videos.

Throughout the grounds, find swing sets, an operational windmill, a vintage bicycle, face cut-outs, and more.

Plus, this year includes the addition of 54 varieties of dahlias, a giant pumpkin patch, and a field of pick-your-own Chilliwack corn (while supplies last).

Weekends include the added attraction of the Rotary Club of Chilliwack Fraser train, which offers free rides through the fields.

Guests of all ages will also love the many outdoor lawn games available to play: bolaball, “giant” Jenga, dominoes, tic-tac-toe, checkers, and more.

Afterward, retreat from the late-summer sun and enjoy cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks in a special covered area. Local food trucks will be on site daily.

On-leash pets are welcome — a water station and complimentary pick-up bags will be available.

The Chilliwack Sunflower Festival runs every day from August 1 to September 15 (hours vary; check website for full details). Location is 41310 Yale Road. Ticket and season-pass prices vary for individuals, families and bus groups; children five and under are admitted free.

Visit chilliwacksunflowerfest.com for directions, complete ticket pricing, and more information.

Surrey Fusion Festival 2019: July 20 – 21 at Holland Park

July 16, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The 12th annual Surrey Fusion Festival, Western Canada’s largest multicultural event, is taking place this weekend from July 20 – 21.

Featuring 55 cultural pavilions, 200 performers, and 7 stages, this event is one of the festival highlights of the summer. In previous years, it has welcomed over 100,000 attendees.

Something Sweet

This year’s theme is “Something Sweet” so expect to see many dessert dishes presented by the food pavillions.

Family-Friendy Highlights

Kids can enjoy various activities on-site including:

crafts
face painting
storytelling
toddler zone
sports zone
inflatables and zip line (requires tickets)

Indigenous Village (Métis Pavilion)

The Indigenous Village features Indigenous Artist Trade Show offering authentic Indigenous art created by First Nations and Métis artists.

The Bannock Queen will serve a variety of tacos including salmon, baked egg frittata, veggie and chilli tacos, with your choice of the following toppings: lettuce, onion, red & green peppers, black beans, cucumber, tomatoes, with old cheddar cheese.

Surrey Fusion Festival
July 20 & 21, 2019: 11:00am – 10:00pm
Where: Holland Park
www.surreyfusionfestival.ca

What to Expect at Indian Summer Festival 2019 in Vancouver

July 1, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The 9th annual Indian Summer Festival returns to Vancouver from July 4 – 14, bringing locally and internationally renowned artists to venues across the city. This year’s theme is “Tricksters, Magicians, and Oracles,” and the 2019 festival lineup features futurists, novelists, stand-up comedians, musicians and storytellers from around the world.

The Indian Summer Festival is a leading cultural event in Vancouver with a reputation for unusual pairings of the local with the international and the traditional with the contemporary. By creating a space in Vancouver for local and global conversations, and dissolving cultural borders, Indian Summer Festival challenges and invites artists and audiences to come together in the spirit of dialogue.

Indian Summer Festival 2019 Highlights

Indian Summer Festival Opening Party – July 4 | Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
Kicking off the festival is one of Vancouver’s most sought-after summer parties. Sold-out for the past eight years, Chef Vikram Vij invites some of the city’s top culinary magicians (Ancora, Medina, La Bodega, Tayybeh, Blue Water Cafe, La Glace) and a cast of jugglers, fortune tellers and musicians to explore the festival theme of “Tricksters, Magicians and Oracles”.

5×15 – July 5 | Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
The festival plays host for the fifth year running to the only Canadian edition of this ever-popular international speakers series. 5×15 features five eclectic artists who will speak for fifteen minutes, unscripted, on a topic they are deeply passionate about. This year’s all-star lineup will include literary ‘Global Soul’ Pico Iyer, Trickster trilogy titan Eden Robinson, and literary bluesman Arthur Flowers.

Conjuring the Future – July 6 | The Imperial Vancouver
Jarrett Martineau, charismatic host of Reclaimed on CBC curates a galaxy of potent musical voices from across Canada. From Inuit throat singing and traditional rhythms to contemporary sounds and 808-hip-hop beats, this will be an immersive evening of futurist genre-bending music and diasporic dancefloor beats. The night will feature multiple Vancouver debuts by some of Canada’s brightest stars in South Asian, Indigenous, Queer, Filipinx, and diasporic music, movement, and poetry. Watch for PIQSIQ, featuring members of Juno Award-winning Inuit throat singers Quantum Tangle with Ruby Singh’s soundscapes.

Pico Iyer on Life, Love and Mortality – July 7 | Museum of Vancouver
Writer, world-traveller and TED sensation Pico Iyer has spent his life answering the great questions of humankind. Whether in three decades of conversations with the Dalai Lama, or his sleeve notes for Leonard Cohen, Pico Iyer’s voice has always been a place of stillness in the whirlwind of the world. At Indian Summer, he invites audiences to meditate on the age-old question, “What does it mean to be alive? And how do we hold onto the beings we love, even though we know we and they must come to an end one day?”

PAUSE Free Programming – July 8-14 | Vanier Park
Indian Summer Festival’s outdoor programming hub, PAUSE, is a unique architectural installation conceptualized to bring people together with an innovative use of public space. Situated at the site of the village of sənaʔqw (pronounced Sun’ahk), currently known as Vanier Park, the PAUSE Pavilion features free events throughout the festival, including Tiffin Talks (a lunchtime speakers series paired with a tiffin meal), family-friendly programming and workshops, and visual art installations.

Amjad Ali Khan & Sons with Sharon Isbin: Strings for Peace **WORLD PREMIERE** – July 12 | The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
The undisputed living master of the sarod, and one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, Amjad Ali Khan takes the Chan Centre stage alongside his richly talented sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash. In this rare concert, the first family of the sarod comes together with three-time Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist Sharon Isbin. Isbin and the Khans bring together cultural traditions as they present a range of music, from Spanish work for guitar, ragas and folk tunes. These outstanding musicians make an eloquent and impassioned call for harmony – in music, in religion, in cultures, and in the world. Indian Summer Festival hosts the world premiere of this powerful collaboration.

Hari Kondabolu Live in Vancouver – July 13 | Vancouver Playhouse
American comic and creator of the hit documentary, The Problem with Apu, Hari Kondabolu is known for his appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Named one of Variety’s ‘Top 10 Comics to Watch,’ Kondabolu also has a Netflix special Warn Your Relatives. He returns to Vancouver for an evening of comedy exploring the personal and the political. Described by The NY Times as “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today,” Kondabolu will have the Vancouver Playhouse audience in fits of laughter in this one- night only event.

Additional highlights include a special SFU Vancouver 30th Anniversary Speaker Series presentation, in collaboration with Indian Summer Festival, featuring literary heavyweight Amitav Ghosh on July 9 at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. Ghosh, one of the world’s great writers, will explore ‘The Great Derangement,’ arguing that future generations may well think we are deranged, given our imaginative failure in the face of global warming.

In ‘The Beats in India,’ Pulitzer Prize nominee Deborah Baker takes us back to the moment when America’s edgiest writers looked to India for answers as India looked to the West. She follows beat poet Allen Ginsberg on his fifteen months in India in the early 60s, a trip that not only changed his life, it helped spawn generations of hippies, hipsters, writers, artists, rock-stars and soul-searchers. This is one of many ways, she argues, that India expanded the possibilities of the western consciousness

The festival will also be the premiere for Trigger Me This, an exciting new stage format of ‘comedy, outrage and debate’ from Richard Side, creator of The Debaters on CBC Radio One. A panel of talented comedians and the audience decide where jokes cross the line and go from being inoffensive to being off-putting and even toxic. This is in an exploration of what makes us laugh, what makes us shudder and what makes us do both simultaneously.

Indian Summer Festival will be collaborating with the Vancouver Art Gallery, Surrey Art Gallery, and Audain Gallery at SFU, including with the festival’s feature artist Sara Khan, Nep Sidhu and a response to ‘Moving Still,’ the Vancouver Art Gallery’s current exhibition.

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Metro Vancouver July 2019 Events, Openings and Menu Launches

Metro Vancouver July 2019 Events, Openings and Menu Launches

July 1, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Here is what is happening in Metro Vancouver during July 2019. If you have an event suggestion, please email foodgressing@gmail.com. This list is updated as more information becomes available so check back regularly!

Metro Vancouver July 2019 Events, Openings and Menu Launches

July 1: Canada Day
Here are a few places in Metro Vancouver that are offering special menus and features so you can show your patriotic spirit the foodie way. Full post here.

July 4 – 14: Indian Summer Festival 2019
The 9th annual Indian Summer Festival returns to Vancouver from July 4 – 14, bringing locally and internationally renowned artists to venues across the city. This year’s theme is “Tricksters, Magicians, and Oracles,”and the 2019 festival lineup features futurists, novelists, stand-up comedians, musicians and storytellers from around the world. Read about festival highlights here.

July 4: Tacofino x BETA5 Evening Summer Social
Tacofino and BETA5 will mark a special summer ice cream collaboration by co-hosting an Evening Summer Social at BETA5 (413 Industrial Ave.) on Thursday, July 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. Each guest will receive a Tacofino taco, beer from Strange Fellows Brewing and a Tacofino-inspired Lime-Mint Freshie-Inspired sundae featuring lime and mint shaved ice with avocado ice cream, fresh pineapple, Tajín-spiced churros and condensed milk Chantilly. Tickets are $29 per person and available online at shop.beta5chocolates.com.

July 5: Official Farmhouse Fest Saison and Wild Ale Kickoff at Bells and Whistles
Bells and Whistles (3296 Fraser St.) will host the official kickoff for the fifth annual Farmhouse Saison and Wild Ale Fest. Beer lovers can sample a wide array of styles from some of the country’s best small-batch, farmhouse-style beer purveyors during a 16-tap takeover that features Halifax’s Stillwell Brewing; Quebec’s Brasserie Dunham; Ontario’s Bellwoods Brewery, Blood Brothers Brewing, Bench Brewing Company and Burdock Brewery; and Alberta’s Blindman Brewing. The event also showcases US producers such as Oregon’s The Ale Apothecary, Gigantic Brewing Company, Upright Brewing, and pFriem Family Brewers; Jester King Brewery from Austin, TX; Maine’s Oxbow Brewing Company; and E9 Brewing Co. and Holy Mountain Brewing Company out of Washington State.

July 5, 12, 19 & 26: PNE Adults-Only Friday Nights
Running every Friday in July (5, 12, 19, 26), Playland will host evenings dedicated to adults-only. Read more here.

July 6: Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day at Juke Fried Chicken
Juke Fried Chicken will commemorate National Fried Chicken Day by offering their famous Fried Chicken Sammies at half-price for $3.25 at both Juke’s original Chinatown (182 Keefer St.) and ‘Little Juke’ (1074 Davie St.) locations all day long. Juke’s fried chicken sandwich is made with gluten-free, free-range chicken marinated for 24 hours in buttermilk and garnished with house-made barbecue sauce and slaw.

July 7, 14, 21 & 28: Sunday Seafood Boil Series Continues at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar (845 Burrard St.) continues its popular al fresco Sunday Seafood Boil Series for a fifth consecutive year throughout the summer. Guests are invited to pull up a chair and tuck into a true, East Coast-inspired communal seafood feast of fresh-caught lobster, jumbo prawns, clams, mussels and Dungeness crab piled high on butcher’s paper and served with all the fixings. Tickets are $68 per person (plus gratuity, taxes and service fees) and available online via Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/canada–vancouver/boulevard-kitchen/

July 7, 14, 21, & 28: Sunday Night Movie Series at Bells and Whistles
Bells and Whistles (3296 Fraser St.) gives cinephiles a front-row seat to some classic flicks every Sunday night at 9 p.m. during its Sunday Night Movie Series, which continues this July with screenings of Talladega Nights (July 7), Three Ninjas (July 14), Days of Thunder (July 14) and Beverly Hills Cop (July 28). Guests can also take advantage of late happy hour specials from 10 p.m. to close that include $7 Negronis, $5.50 draught beer, $5 classic hot dogs and $7 chili cheese dogs and Chicago dogs.

July 11 – 28: Snack ‘N Snap
Snack ‘N Snap your way through Metropolis at Metrotown’s Grand Courtwith larger-than-life foodart displays, sampling from sweet & savoury snack retailers, pop-up treat carts, Workshop Wednesdays to make your own tasty treats, and contest giveaways.

The giant pink donut, 10-foot lollipop tree and cupcake house is back! New this year, Metropolis has added an 8-foot pretzel and melting popsicle displays that will make you want to snack for real! Snap ‘N Share! During the exhibit, shoppers can snap endless selfies in front of the jumbo displays, share their photos on Instagram by tagging @metropolisatmet and #METSNACKNSNAP, and enter for a chance to win a prize pack or a $500 Metropolis at Metrotown gift card.

Shoppers can guess daily how many hundreds (or thousands) of jellybeans are in the display case and enter their guess for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree. There are also random contests for prize giveaways on Metropolis’ Facebook and Instagram.

July 14: Ubuntu Canteen Hosts Community Backyard BBQ
Organic, family-focused café and counter-service restaurant Ubuntu Canteen (4194 Fraser St.) will host a Community Backyard BBQ from 3 to 9 p.m. that underscore its mission to cultivate a sense of community in the heart of Vancouver’s Fraserhood and beyond. Ubuntu will fire up the grill, and will feature cocktails, local craft beer and A Sunday in August wine, while local DJs provide the perfect summer soundtrack. Admission is free, with food and drink tickets available for purchase on site.

July 16: Hip Hop Trivia Night at Juke Fried Chicken
Whether you’re a Biggie or a Tupac fan, all Eyez are on Juke Fried Chicken when the Chinatown location of the chicken-and-rib joint (182 Keefer St.) gets Ready to Fry by hosting Hip Hop Trivia Night on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Teams of up to six are invited to take part in five rounds of questions on all things Hova, Dre and Wu-Tang with food and drink specials and prizes up for grabs. Sign up as an individual or a team of up to six via email (info@jukefriedchicken.com), Instagram (@jukefriedchicken) or Facebook (/jukefriedchicken) to guarantee a spot. Walk-ins are also welcome

July 22: Ubuntu Canteen Hosts Farm-to-Bottle Wine Dinner
Organic, family-focused café and counter-service restaurant Ubuntu Canteen (4194 Fraser St.) will co-host the latest edition of its Farm-to-Bottle Dinner Series with That’s Life Gourmet to present an evening of Spanish wine paired with Spanish-inspired fare. A limited number of tickets are available for $135 per person and may be purchased at the restaurant or by calling Ubuntu at 604-336-9097.

July 27 & 31: Honda Celebration of Light (Canada)
Honda Celebration of Light 2019 takes place for three nights this year as three countries light up the shores of English Bay each night in a fireworks competition. The dates and competing countries for 2019 are: July 27 (India), July 31 (Canada) and August 3 (Croatia). Read more here.

Tacofino x Four Winds Brewing Dinner at Tacofino Hastings
Tacofino will host the final event in its 2019 Beer Dinner Series at its Hastings location (2327 E. Hastings St.) by collaborating with Delta’s Four Winds Brewing Company on Thursday, July 25 at either 6 or 8:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a custom, five-course menu paired with a range of unique and exclusive beer from the notable local brewery. Tickets are available for $55 per person inclusive of tax, gratuity and ticketing fees and available via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/tacofino-hastings-15476556818.

Vancouver Pride 2019: Restaurant Features Cocktails, and Events
Find out more here: foodgressing.com/vancouver-pride-2019/

Special Menus/Features

July 15 – 20: Origo Club One-Year Anniversary Menu
Origo Club is celebrating one-year anniversary by offering a signature French-inspired table d’hôte menu by Chefs David Pan and Tony Hua, wine pairings by Sommelier Melanie Gravel. Menu: https://origoclub.ca/one-year-anniversary/. This menu is available from July 16 – 20 for dinner only. Reservations are highly recommended.

NaMì food truck has launched the Su Su Fried Chicken which consists of Vietnamese-style Fried Chicken that is fried under a waterfall of oil. Topped with the usual delicious fixings of carrots, daikon, cucumber with a drizzle of lemon grass chilli oil and spring onions and crispy fried shallots.

The Flying Pig will be capping off each weekend with a Sunday Porchetta Dinner feature, available for $21 per person at all three Vancouver locations. Sourced from family-run Geldermans Farm in the Fraser Valley, the premium porchetta is slow roasted on site for four hours to create succulent pork meat with a crispy, crackling skin. Stuffed porchetta will be hand carved and served alongside crackling mashed potatoes, fresh seasonal vegetables and house-made gravy for a true farm-to-table feast. As The Flying Pig’s Sunday Porchetta Dinners will be available in limited quantities and are expected to sell out, early seatings are recommended in order to avoid disappointment.

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What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019

Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival 2019: Festival Highlights

May 21, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The Vancouver Craft Beer Week (VCBW) festival returns to the PNE Fairgrounds on June 8 and 9, 2019, for a full weekend of live music, food, art, craft beer and cider, games and good times.

The VCBW festival caps off a 10-day citywide celebration of craft beer culture and community running May 31 through June 9.

For a complete list of VCBW citywide events including VCBW’s 10th Anniversary Kickoff Party on May 31, visit VancouverCraftBeerWeek.com.

Vancouver Craft Beer Festival 2019 Highlights

100 + breweries and cideries pouring more than 300 beers and ciders.
Festivalgoers can create a list of must-try breweries and favourite standout beers in advance through the VCBW website.
An incredible lineup of food trucks and food purveyors including local favourites DownLow Chicken Shack and Big Day BBQ
BC Ale Trail-er pouring 10 craft breweries from the furthest reaches of B.C.’s Ale Trail.
BC Farm Crafted Cider Association’s cider row featuring a variety of cideries from across the province.
United States Brewers Association has chosen the VCBW as their exclusive Canadian festival partner four years in a row. They are crossing the border to present 20+ breweries and 40+ beers, many of which have never been poured in Canada.
Live interactive painting with the Vancouver Mural Festival.
Go RV’ing presents a camp style lounge outfitted with one of their popular retro trailers.
VIP Section catered and presented by Whole Foods Market.
The BC Lions will have two players onsite hosting a football toss on the Saturday, and two members from the Felions Dance Team on Sunday.
No stress transportation to the festival with dedicated Evo valet parking (attendees must plan an alternative safe ride home).
Live music lineup includes BB, Campfire Shitkickers, Dead Soft, Eleven Twelves, Foxy Moron, Rain City, the Spillionaires, the Tanglers, Woodhead, Mark Woodyard & Friends, Vinyl Ritchie, Young Friend, plus the Carnival Band, Hip Hop Tricycle, DJ Sheldon Knight and DJ Hebegebe.

Vancouver Craft Beer Festival 2019 Details

Date/Time: Saturday, June 8 from 2 – 7 pm; Sunday, June 9 from 12 – 5 pm
Location: PNE Fairgrounds, Vancouver
Tickets: Single day, weekend passes and VIP tickets available now starting at $39
Website: vancouvercraftbeerweek.com/events

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver 80th Anniversary Celebrations on May 24, 2019

May 21, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

To celebrate its 80^th anniversary, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver invites the public to drop in on May 24 and enjoy lunch for $19.39, live music, Happy Hour party – and of course, cake!

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver 80th Anniversary Celebrations on May 24, 2019

On May 25, 1939 the third Hotel Vancouver swung open its doors and four days later welcomed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth who officially opened the property and were guests at a luncheon held in their honour. Eighty years later, the hotel has become a city landmark and, although the menu has changed, is still playing host to royals and celebrities.

Debut of 80^th Anniversary Photo Exhibition
The hotel’s anniversary exhibition, inspired by its storied past and captured through the contemporary lens of Dennis Grocer of The Collective You, is unveiled in the lobby and on display throughout the year.

9:00 am to 11:00 am – Hail Caesar
With a purchase of any breakfast item in Notch8, guests will receive one complimentary cocktail from the Caesar bar.

8:00 am – Power Breakfast Bars
Bars will be distributed to the first 1,000 guests. Available at the hotel entrances on Burrard and Georgia, the bars are made from executive chef Colin Burslem’s personal recipe and chock full of goodness with dried local cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and oatmeal.

9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Cake for a Crowd
Watch Pastry Chef Eric Fernandez and his team create a five foot (80% chocolate in keeping with the anniversary theme!) cake in the shape of the hotel for the afternoon celebration.

11:30 – 2:00 pm – $19.39 Lunch Special in Notch8
Diners can indulge on a deal with a set menu lunch inspired by archival menus. Served on a silver tray, it includes a Waldorf Salad with walnuts, apple, grapes and celery served in a lettuce cup, a pot of New England Clam Chowder with oyster crackers (an ode to Griffin’s restaurant), rotisserie Chicken Vol Au Vent with peas, carrots, sweet corn and mushrooms, and Chocolate profiterole and Vanilla Chilboust for dessert. Taxes and gratuities are not included. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made at hvc.concierge@fairmont.com or 604-662-1900.

3:30 pm – Cake and bubbles
Join General Manager Adam Laker for the cake cutting and a celebratory toast in the lobby. Limited to the first 500 guests.

4:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Lobby Party
Live music and dancing to Trilojay in Notch8 and the Lobby Court. Buffet available for $49 per person (includes taxes and gratuities) with a Seafood Bar of oysters, crab cocktail, jumbo prawns, torched ahi tuna, Carvery with prime rib, Yorkshire pudding and jus, Soup Station with French onion soup with raclette, London gin tomato soup with inside out grilled cheese, and lobster bisque with lobster rolls, and Dessert Bar with homemade gelato, orangettes, chocolate bark, truffles and babas au rhum.

North Vancouver Shipyards Friday Night Market 2019: May 3 – Sept 27, 2019

May 19, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

North Vancouver’s Shipyards Friday Night Market is now on every Friday night all summer long from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. until September 27, 2019. This free weekly event has no line-up to gain entry, offers a casual and welcoming vibe to everyone (including dogs), features live bands, alfresco dining and dancing, alongside stunning views of the Vancouver skyline.

shipyards night market 2018 north vancouver

Close to Downtown Vancouver and easy to get to via the Seabus, the Shipyards Friday Night Market features 150+ food and artisan vendors, a 19+ beer garden, and musical talent from across BC on the Shipbuilders’ Stage.

NIGHT MARKET FEATURES

Food Trucks

There are typically 30+ local food trucks and food vendors at the Shipyards Night Market. New to this year are unique food trucks like the vegan double-decker Buddha-Bus from the owners of Buddha-Full, the Chowdery and Truckin BBQ. Some returning favorites include Reel Mac & Cheese, Rolling Cashew, Tacofino, Mama’s Fish & Chips, Taters and Urban Wood Fired Pizza. For desserts, visit the Pocket Pies, Dolce Amore gelato, Chouchou Crepes, Kettle Corn, Slavic Rolls and more.

The Shipyards Friday Night Market recognizes its potential environmental footprint and is dedicated to using compostable cutlery and straws and to sorting and minimizing all waste.

Beer Garden (must be 19+ to enter)

Selections include local craft beer from a variety of local breweries including Bomber Brewing, vodka and gin sodas from Nude, red and white wine, and cider.

With a 350-person capacity, there are plenty of seats with a great view of the stage and each evenings’ headlining band.

Shopping & Entertainment

The Shipyards Friday Night Market believes in a local lifestyle and in showcasing BC’s artistic and culinary artisans. The artisan marketplace, which is both inside The Pipe Shop and outdoors, features products such as jewelry, clothing, kids wear, baked goods, distilleries, cideries, preserves, soaps, plants, chocolate and more.

When: Every Friday from May 3 to September 27, 2019
Where: Shipbuilders’ Square – 15 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver
Time: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Cost: FREE and no lineup to enter
Getting There: Catch the Seabus from Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver – the Market is conveniently located just east of the SeaBus terminal and Lonsdale Quay.
Parking: There is street parking and free parking in the ICBC Parkade after 6 p.m. on Fridays, which is adjacent to Lonsdale Quay.
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs, which are on a leash, are welcome
Website: www.shipyardsnightmarket.com

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Things to do in Vancouver Summer 2019

DISH (Drink. Indulge. Savour. Help) – BCHF Fundraiser Event Recap 2019

May 19, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

On May 8, the BC Hospitality Foundation hosted DISH (Drink. Indulge. Savour. Help) – a fundraising event featuring wine samples, bites from top local restaurants, a cocktail competition, a silent auction, and more.

DISH (Drink. Indulge. Savour. Help) 2019 Event Recap BC Hospitality Foundation

Guests at DISH enjoyed bites from 14 Vancouver-area restaurants and samples from over 25 wineries from California, Washington, Oregon, and New Mexico.

Proceeds from the fundraiser support the work of the BCHF, which provides assistance for hospitality workers in financial crisis due to extraordinary medical circumstances, as well as operating a scholarship program to foster the next generation of hospitality industry leaders.

I attended the event as media. Here are a few photo highlights from the evening.

Vancouver All-Day Breakfast: OEB Breakfast Co. Vancouver

May 18, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

There’s a new all-day breakfast restaurant in town! Calgary-based OEB Breakfast Co. has now opened a location in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood at 1137 Marinaside Crescent. Founded in 2009, OEB has restaurants in Calgary and Edmonton and soon-to-be in Saskatoon and Scottsdale, Arizona.

OEB prides itself in being a Chef-driven and locally-owned concept with menu items that simply can’t be made at home, balanced by lighter fare and vegan options.

I was invited to a media tasting recently. Here’s a look at my experience.

Modern & Inviting

The modern, vibrant and inviting interior of OEB’s new location features a breakfast appropriate pallette (ie, yellow), high top communal tables, smaller dining tables and bar seating.

The broken egg-shell overhanging lights are a fun touch.

OEB Breakfast Co. Vancouver Menu

OEB’s menu is divided into Farm Fresh Classics, Blue Plate Specials, Breakfast Poutines, Benny’s, Omelettes, Sandwiches, Sweet and Sides. The entrees generally run around $15 – $20.

Some of their Signature items include Eggs & Caviar (farm fresh scrambled eggs, bourbon, sour cream, green onions, sevruga caviar, pumpernickel rye), Fresh Toast Trifle (Meyer lemon curd, market berries, Sicilian pistachio, torched French meringue), and Canadian Eh! (Canadian back bacon, dark maple syrup or brown butter hollandaise).

Some other interesting offerings that caught my eye are Wild Boar Spalla (free run hen eggs over easy, cured wild boar shoulder, smoked chipotle aioli, arugula, aged Manchego, artisan brioche), Indian Inspired Avocado Bagel (Haas avocado, semi-dried tomatoes, dill, chickpeas, braised onions, turmeric), and Hogs & Scallops Breakfast Poutine (poached eggs, seared digby scallops, bacon lardons, Saint Cyrille cheese curds, brown butter hollandaise).

For drinks, OEB offers fresh juices, fruit smoothies, espresso-based drinks. Those who prefer a boozier breakfast can enjoy hot or cold coffee cocktails, prosecco cocktails, beer (on tap or bottled/canned), wines (by the glass or bottle).

Local Producers

OEB takes pride in sourcing high-quality ingredients and working with local producers wherever possible. Here are are the producers that the Yaletown location is working with:

Fully-organic and Canadian what bread from A Bread Affair (Langley, BC)
Pierogies from A Taste of Ukraine (Port Moody, BC)
Herbs and produce from Barnston Island Herbs (Barnston Island, BC) and Ponderosa Mushrooms (Maple Ridge, BC)
Butery from Arctic Meats and Sausage (Port Coquitlam, BC), Drakes Meats (Lanigan, SK), Brome Lake Duck Farm (Knowlton, QC), and Albion Farms and Fisheries (BC)
Salmon from Wolveshead Smoked Salmon (NB)
Coffee from Caffe Umbria (Seattle, WA)

Waitlist System

OEB Breakfast has a waitlist (not reservation) system via Yelp. Be sure to join the waitlist ahead of time and check out the live wait time.

What We Tried

At the media tasting, I was able to try three entrees along with a few sides.

The Waffle & Laks ($21) features dill cured laks, crisp buttermilk waffle, tzatziki, Spanish capers, pickled red onions, and micro herbs.

The Soul in Bowl ($17) was a hearty, comforting dish with poached eggs, duck fat fried herb potatoes, Saint Cyrille curds, slow cooked bacon lardons and brown butter hollandaise.

The Threesome ($19) is one of OEB’s Farm Fresh Classics. It comes with two free run eggs any style, duck fat fried herb potatoes and your choice of double smoked bacon, Canadian bacon, rosemary ham, blueberry chicken bangers, or maple pork bangers and choice of toast. I went with French Toast and blueberry chicken bangers.

Not to be missed are OEB’s duck fat fried herb potatoes. Perfectly golden, crispy and delicious. Some of OEB’s dishes incorporate them as part of the entree but you can have them as a side as well.

We also enjoyed a few sides of fruit and coffee by Cafe Umbria.

Overall Impression

I enjoyed all the dishes that we tried from OEB and would love to return in the future. With such an extensive menu and so many inventive dishes, breakfast or brunch at OEB doesn’t get boring.

OEB Breakfast Co. Vancouver
1137 Marinaside Avenue, Vancouver, BC
www.eatoeb.com