There’s always something to do in Vancouver…but first we eat!
If you like to make food and drink the focal point of fun, we’ve got 18 (and counting!) delicious food events happening in and around Vancouver (and further afield in B.C.) this April.
Check back during the month to see what events we’ve added to the delicious line-up.
ONGOING
TMRW Vegan Burger Pop-Up
There’s a new vegan eats opp popping up in Vancouver, and it’s all about burgers…and beyond. The Juice Truck is teaming up with TMRW Foods to launch a weekly pop-up at their Main Street location, showcasing totally plant-based burgers, fries, and shakes. Vancouver-based TMRW Foods is behind the “altBurger,” a patty made from plant-based ingredients. For their weekly pop-up they’ll be offering special burger creations each Saturday.
When: Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm
Where: The Juice Truck - 4236 Main St., Vancouver
Chocolate Laboratory Afternoon Tea
Enjoy sweet treats at Notch8 Restaurant & Bar at the Chocolate Laboratory Dessert Lounge. Photo courtesy Fairmont Hotels
A pop-up chocolate dessert lounge at Notch8 Restaurant & Bar at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is taking sweet treats to a whole new level. The private dining room of Notch8 Restaurant has been transformed into a dessert-lovers’ delight complete with custom built, floor-to-ceiling chocolate covered walls — though the themed offerings and creative cocktails promise to take centre stage.
When: Available Thursday – Sunday, sittings at 11 am, 1 pm & 3pm
Where: Notch8 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - 900 W. Georgia St., Vancouver
Cost: Adults $59; Children $29.5 (ages 12 and under); reservations recommended
APRIL EVENTS
Poisson d'Avril at Provence Marinaside
Jean-Francis Quaglia, Executive Chef and owner of Provence Marinaside and TWB-The Wine Bar Photo by Emrys Horton, EPH Photography
During the month of April, join Provence Marinaside in Yaletown for some finny fun and fine food at its 11th annual Poisson d’Avril. In France, ‘Poisson d’Avril’ (April’s Fish) is a one-day affair corresponding to our April Fool’s Day. The good folks at Provence believe you can never have too much of a good thing and have extended the fun to encompass a month-long celebration of all things fishy. The restaurant will be featuring a special three-course prix-fixe Poisson d’Avril Menu value priced at $59 with optional wine pairings (Canadian $21/ Old World $26) curated by Provence’s Wine Director, Joshua Carlson.
When: April 1-30, 2019
Where: Provence Marinaside - 1177 Marinaside Crescent
Cost: $59 per person, optional wine pairings additional
Ohhh Oysters at Cardero's & The Sandbar
Photo courtesy Sequoia Company Restaurants
Attention, oyster lovers! Ohhh Oysters returns to Cardero’s and The Sandbar all April long. Enjoy a glass of Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc + 1/2 dozen of oysters for $19 or 1 bottle of Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc + a dozen of oysters for $55 all day.
When: April 1-30, 2019
Where: Cardero's - 1583 Coal Harbour Quay, Vancouver and The Sandbar - 1535 Johnston St. Creekhouse #102, Vancouver (Granville Island)
Battle of the Beers
The Park at English Bay has been holding an ongoing Battle of the Beers. Grab your beer buds and put your tastebuds to the test as the best local brewers face off.
Each night of the event series features four breweries and their best brews, and your job is to vote for your favourite. On tap for April: Backcountry Brewing; Collective Arts Brewing; Boombox Brewing Company; and Beere Brewing Company.
When: Thursday, April 4 from 7-9 pm
Where: The Park at English Bay - 1755 Davie St, Vancouver
BC Uncorked
Now in its 12th year, BC Uncorked has expanded and grown considerably. The 2019 festival will showcase wines from over 55 top-rated BC wineries matched with intriguing foods provided by 12+ local restaurants, caterers and food vendors.
When: Saturday, April 6 from 7-10 pm
Where: Anvil Centre - 777 Columbia St, New Westminster
BC Distilled
Photo courtesy BC Distilled
Over three dozen of the province’s artisan distilleries will be pouring it on this April at the sixth-annual BC Distilled. This premiere spirits event brings together B.C.’s craft spirits creators for a fantastic tasting event, where enjoying each and every sip is wholly encouraged.
When: Saturday, April 6, 2019. Trade/VIP Tasting from 2-4:30 pm; Public Tasting from 6-9 pm
Where: Croatian Cultural Centre – 3520 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online
Paella Dinner at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Beginning with a reception, the all-star team at Boulevard will conjure up the flavours of one of Spain’s most iconic dishes when it hosts a Paella Dinner in its elegant downtown dining room. Guests will enjoy a glass of Boulevard’s house sangria followed by a Spanish-inspired three-course dinner.
When: Sunday, April 7; reception at 6 pm
Where: Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar - 845 Burrard St, Vancouver
Cost: $68 per person with reservations required and can be made by calling the restaurant at 604-642-2900.
Canoe X Wildebeest Dinner at Wildebeest
Wildebeest Executive Chef Ian McHale will be joined by Roy Mckinlay of Canoe, one of Canada's top dining destinations, for a special collaborative dinner. This one-time only dinner will see McHale and McKinlay trade talents and courses during a seasonally driven multi-course feast that spotlights their signature nose-to-tail sensibilities.
When: Monday, April 8 at 7 pm
Where: Wildebeest - 120 W Hastings St, Vancouver
Cost: 99 per person plus tax and gratuity; tickets available online
Quebec-inspired tasting menu at PICA
The marina-side Bistro at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts will serve a special tasting menu created by ITHQ chef John Lapierre-Réhayem to highlight ingredients from Quebec producers. Guests are invited to take in breathtaking views of the Vancouver skyline and North Shore mountains while sampling the finest products and latest trends from the Quebec culinary scene. The Rendez-Vous Gourmet Quebec menu will be available for lunch, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and dinner from 6 pm onwards. Reservations can be made by calling 604.734.0101 or by visiting the Bistro's website.
When: April 8-12
Where: Bistro 101 at PICA - 101-1505 West 2nd Ave, Vancouver (Granville Island)
Southern Pride Chicken at Juke Fried Chicken
Photo courtesy Juke
Juke Fried Chicken will get loud and proud with ‘Southern Pride Chicken’ on at Juke’s Chinatown location. The event the will feature drag-themed cocktails, canapés, a three-course Southern-style family feast and live drag queen performances by Vancouver’s Kendall Gender and Calgary’s Perla Coddington.
When: Friday, April 12 at 10 pm
Where: Juke Fried Chicken - 182 Keefer St, Vancouver
Cost: $59 per person; get tickets online. Partial proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to QMUNITY.
Oregon Wine Dinner at Tuc Craft Kitchen
Tuc Craft Kitchen will give guests a taste of Oregon’s celebrated Willamette Valley when it welcomes Robert and Ellen Brittan of Brittan Vineyards to the Gastown restaurant for an exclusive wine dinner. The event will pair Chef/Co-Owner Roy Flemming’s signature brand of rustic comfort food with a selection of rare and prized Brittan Vineyards wines during a five-course menu.
When: Sunday, April 14 from 6-8:30 pm
Where: Tuc Craft Kitchen - 60 W Cordova St, Vancouver
Cost: $95 per person plus taxes and gratuity; purchase tickets online
Wines of Northern Italy dinner at Cibo
Photo courtesy Cibo Trattoria
Cibo Trattoria General Manager Murray Saunders and Executive Chef Curtis Luk will preside over an exclusive trio of wine dinners showcasing the unique wine-growing regions of Italy at the downtown restaurant throughout spring and summer. This month, Cibo welcomes special guest speaker Ksenia Tsybina to co-host an event spotlighting a list of Northern Italian wines that includes Fattoria Casalbosco Chianti DOCG, La Ladra Barbera d’Asti Superiore DOC and Gancia Prosecco DOC in addition to a welcome Gancia Americano cocktail.
When: Thursday, April 25 at 7 pm
Where: Cibo Trattoria - 900 Seymour St., Vancouver
Cost: $89. Purchase online.
Tacofino Hastings X East Van Brewing Collaborative Dinner
Tacofino welcomes East Van Brewing for its Beer Dinner Series at its Hastings Location this month. The event offers seatings at 6 and 8:30 p.m. and pairs the brewery’s delicious beer selection with a custom five-course menu prepared by Tacofino Regional Executive Chef Stefan Hartmann and Tacofino Hastings Head Chef Daniel Echeverria.
When: Thursday, April 25 from 6-10:30 pm
Where: Tacofino - 2327 E Hastings St, Vancouver
Cost: $55 per person; purchase tickets online
BC Cider Week
The NorthWest Cider Association, along with your local BC Cider producers, are really stoked to be bringing BC’s Cider Week to you. This week long series of events will take place around the province, and with an opening festival at the start of CiderWeek.
When: April 26-May 5, 2019
Where: Various locations around the province
FURTHER AFIELD
A few events to work into your travel plans this month in B.C.
WineSpring Festival
The 3rd Annual WineSpring festival leaps into the spring season the first weekend of April, and encourages festival goers to savour longer days and celebrate food, wine, and wellness. WineSpring is an interactive, culinary-themed weekend taking place at the beautiful St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino in Cranbrook.
When: April 5-7, 2019
Where: St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino, Cranbrook
Cost: $95 and up. Tickets and pricing info available online
Drags Benny in Victoria
Photo courtesy Drags Benny/Eat North
Eat North is pleased to announce that it will be bringing its unique concept Drags Benny, a lively pop-up drag brunch in support of Canadian Pride initiatives, to Victoria this month. Kick things off with a morning cocktail and brunch canapé hour, sponsored by Victoria Distillers, followed by a multi-course brunch created by Fairmont Empress executive chef Morgan Wilson. Talented bartenders on-site will also be serving up an innovative and vibrant brunch cocktails using Victoria Distillers spirits, which will draw inspiration from the drag artists taking the stage during brunch.
When: Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 11:30 am
Where: Crystal ballroom of the Fairmont Empress Hotel - 721 Government St, Victoria
Cost: $90-800; tickets available online
8th Annual Osoyoos Oyster Festival
One of the signature happenings of the South Okanagan’s springtime calendar, the Osoyoos Oyster Festival, returns for its eighth annual edition this month. Indulge in premium oysters from around the world, paired with the award-winning wines, beers, ciders and spirits for which the Okanagan is internationally renowned. A variety of events are scheduled for the multi-day and multi-venue event.
When: April 24-28
Where: Various locations in the Oliver-Osoyoos region
- Have a food or drink event we should know about? Send tips and links via e-mail to lindsay@vancouverisawesome.com
