Bistro Wagon Rouge will be hosting a major “Block Party” Monday, Oct. 3 at 7:30pm. East Van chefs from Bistro Wagon Rouge, Campagnolo ROMA, Houndstooth, Merchant’s Oyster Bar and The Red Wagon are collaborating with their neighbours The Pie Shoppe, Coal Harbour Brewing, Doan’s Craft Brewing, Powell Street Craft Brewery and Odd Society Spirits to prepare a six-course dinner party for 35 lucky guests in support of Backpack Buddies. This local charity is dedicated to filling the weekend hunger gap for children in food insecure households in Metro Vancouver. The menu includes oyster amuse-bouche; root vegetable, pistachio and apple salad; mackerel; gnocchi with foraged finds; beef tartare; cold smoked lingcod; and a pumpkin tart from the Pie Shoppe to finish. Tickets $75 (inclusive of dinner and drinks) and can be purchased by calling 604-251-4070 or emailing [email protected]. BistroWagonRouge.com
Fancy a bowl of cereal? On Oct. 1 and 2, Crunchtime Cereal Bar, a new pop-up, is coming to Gastown. Serving local and select imported cereals, you can get a bowl with milk for $5 or else substitute with almond, soy or chocolate milk for an addition $0.75. All proceeds from the pop-up will go to Backpack Buddies, a local non-profit that helps feed kids during non-school hours. CrunchtimeCerealBar.com
Holt Renfrew has officially opened Holt’s Café, its new in-store restaurant. Open the same hours as the store, the chic restaurant space will offer an all-day West Coast-influenced menu, as well as weekend brunch and afternoon tea. It’s fully licensed, so cocktails while shoe-shopping is now a reality. HoltRenfrew.com
A centuries-old candy concept has arrived in Gastown at 49 West Hastings. Wishing Treats Caramel Studio offers organic custom caramels designed with intricate messages, logos and icons running through them. Look for rock candy, lollipops and other hard candies. WishingTreats.com
The Salted Vine Kitchen + Bar is now officially open in Squamish. Owners and Araxi veterans Jeff Park (executive chef) and Pat Allan (restaurant director/sommelier) have focused on contemporary Pacific Northwest cuisine focusing on small plates. SaltedVine.ca
Terry Pichor, long-time executive chef at the Relais & Chateaux Sonora Resort, is taking over the kitchen at the famed Villa Eyrie Resort on Vancouver Island. Pichor’s long-time executive sous chef at Sonora, Lukas Gurtner, has been promoted to executive chef. SonoraResort.com
La Pentola has launched new fall menus to coincide with its refreshed room. Chef Travis McCord will continue his popular Alla Famiglia menus of five ($55) or seven-course ($65) family-style dinners. On the regular menu, look for vitello tonnato and Parmesan soufflé, housemade papardelle with local roasted porcini and pork sausage, and more. There is also a new happy hour menu available from 9pm until late, featuring $6 Negronis, $5 glasses of wine, $4 local craft beers and $5 bites. LaPentola.ca
As part of the Eat! Vancouver festival, executive chef Quang Dang of West Restaurant will be hosting a special dinner on Oct. 5 with executive chef Nick Liu of Toronto’s DaiLo restaurant. The two chefs will combine their culinary roots – Vietnamese and Chinese, respectively – for this one night. Tickets for this multi-course dinner are $135 and include wine pairings. Eat-Vancouver.com
On Oct. 6, Salmon House on the Hill restaurant in West Vancouver will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special Burrowing Owl wine dinner. The six-course dinner includes lobster tail, pan-seared togarashi duck breast, beef medallions, grilled lamb loin, and dessert. Each course will be paired with a different wine. There will also be a champagne reception. Tickets $125 per person. Call 604-926-3212. SalmonHouse.com
Truffles Fine Foods is once again offering a complete Thanksgiving meal to go. Order by Wednesday, Oct. 5 to pick up between Friday, Oct. 7 and Sunday, Oct. 9. Dinner includes oven-roasted turkey, turkey gravy, housemade cranberry sauce, whipped garlic mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, and pumpkin pie. Designed to feed four, each dinner costs $100, and is available at all four locations. TrufflesFineFoods.com
On Sunday, Oct. 9, The Cascade Room will be offering a special Thanksgiving dinner at two seatings, 5:30pm and 7:30pm. The dinner includes turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, Brussels sprouts, sausages wrapped in bacon, sage and onion stuffing, turkey gravy and pumpkin pie. A vegetarian menu is also available. Tickets $24 per person. TheCascade.ca
Joe Fortes is offering a special Thanksgiving meal on Monday, Oct. 10 for $32.95 per person. Enjoy roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, bread stuffing, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy. For an additional $12, add squash bisque and pumpkin pie for a full three-course meal. JoeFortes.ca
Tickets for the 2017 Bacchanalia Gala Dinner & Auction at the Vancouver International Wine Festival are now on sale. The annual fundraiser in support of Bard on the Beach is the kickstarter to the annual festival. Next year, in keeping with Canada’s 150th birthday, the featured country is Canada, with wineries from BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia. The gala takes place on February 11 and tickets are $450 per person. VanWineFest.ca
