DINE ON: Forget getting on the scales just yet as restaurants will once again tempt us with their magnificent menu offerings. As part of the 13th annual Dine Out Festival, which began Jan. 16, nearly 300 restaurants, including 54 first-timers, are participating by offering three-course fixed menus of $18, $28 and $38 — a far cry from the paltry 54 restaurants that signed on during its inception in 2003. The brainchild of Laura Serena, Kate Colley and Casey Wilson, the festival today will see more than 100,000 foodies attend the largest food and drink festival in the country, injecting millions into the industry and economy. Along with discounted menus and hotel stays, more than 84 culinary events and experiences are also on the program to satisfy appetites and budgets big and small. Tourism Vancouver VP Walt Judas and festival coordinator Lucas Pavan hosted the annual Dine Around preview in advance of the gastronomic festivities.
RAISING A GLASS: And just when you thought there would be a window for that cleanse following Dine Out, think again. The 37th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival will kick off in a month’s time. Sales are reportedly brisk for the 43 events to be staged Feb. 20 to March 1. Harry Hertscheg, the events long-time director, hosted a festival taste at Forage Restaurant on Robson. Twenty-six (of some 30,0000 bottles expected to be opened during the festival) were uncorked for the exclusive preview party, which highlighted Australian Wines — this year’s themed country — and the black-tie Bacchanalia Gala, benefitting Bard on the Beach. On hand for the toast was Bard artistic director Christopher Gaze, along with Australia Consul General Kevin Lamb and Wine Australia’s Louise Nightingale.
CAMPAIGN READINESS: Rachel Schneider was the keynote at a B.C. Young Liberals mingler staged at the Opus Hotel. The former National Youth Vote Coordinator on President Obama’s campaign and current Campaign Readiness Coordinator for Hillary Clinton spoke at the sold-out affair organized by B.C. Chapter president Linda Ching. More evidence of Justin Trudeau’s popularity among women, a predominantly young female audience piled into the ballroom of the Yaletown property to hear from Schneider and local candidate Pamela Goldsmith-Jones. The later joins Jody Wilson-Raybould and party stalwarts Hedy Fry and Joyce Murray in a campaign that will see the party reportedly field the largest slate of women for the 42nd federal election slated Oct. 19.
