Discounted tickets for the 2017 Vancouver International Wine Festival (Feb. 11-19) are on sale for a limited time. In honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, the theme country for this edition is Canada, with more than 76 wineries from B.C., Ontario and Nova Scotia participating. VanWineFest.ca
Throughout November, Thomas Haas Chocolates will be donating 10 per cent of the proceeds from a selection moustache-themed creations to the Movember Foundation, which benefits men’s health initiatives. Items include chocolate Movember lollipops ($2.90), a Movember Moustache Bar featuring Guinness ganache and a stout-malt wafer ($12.50), and a Movember dark-chocolate cake featuring whisky ganache, malt wafer and moustache accents ($5.90; $35 for 6-7 servings; $45 for 10-12 servings). Available at both the Kitsilano and North Vancouver locations. ThomasHaas.com
Until Nov. 23, Ancora hosts its second annual Caviar Festival, featuring five à la carte dishes including squid-ink linguine and uni with smoked trout caviar ($20), chawanmushi with lumpfish caviar ($14), salmon tartare with salmon roe ($14), and potato pavé with poached egg and Northern Divine caviar ($30). Also on offer is a caviar tasting, featuring three different caviars with potato blini and crème fraiche ($180). AncoraDining.com
Wednesday, Nov. 9, is Vancouver Firefighters’ Umbrella Day in support of Snacks for Kids, which provides healthy, non-perishable snacks to almost 700 vulnerable children at 22 city schools and after-school programs. In addition to supporting the cause by buying an umbrella from a firefighter at any major intersection in the downtown business district between 7:30am and 10am, you can also head over to the Flying Pig in Gastown for an evening of cocktails, canapes, oysters, music, and a live auction (which includes a trip to Mexico). Tickets $75. TheFlyingPigVan.com
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Tableau Bar Bistro hosts a special dinner in collaboration with Laughing Stock Vineyards. Winery owners David and Cynthia Enns will be in attendance, and the five-course menu includes scallop crudo, butter-poached lobster, crispy veal sweetbreads, braised beef shortribs with foie gras, and dessert – each paired with a different vintage/varietal. Tickets $129 per person. Call 778-373-1620 or email [email protected]. TableauBarBistro.com
On Saturday, Nov. 26, Candyland, the free outdoor Christmas festival, returns to Yaletown. While the kids can sit on Santa’s knee and craft candy kebabs, grownups can peruse the many food vendors, food trucks and gift-market stalls. Donations a for visit and a photo with Santa will be accepted in support of BC Children’s Hospital and Starlight Children’s Foundation. Open noon-7pm. YaletownInfo.com/Events
On Wednesday, Nov. 30, Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks hosts a special evening with chef Jefferson Alvarez of Cacao Progressive Latin. Chef Alvarez will be cooking a meal based on recipes from Central, the new cookbook from chef Virgilio Martinez of Peru’s Central restaurant. Tickets are $150, and include dinner, a beverage and a copy of the book. BookstoCooks.com
Provence Mediterranean Grill is in its final month of operations, and to celebrate 19 years in Point Grey, chefs/owners Jean-Francis and Alessandra Quaglia will be offering a series of four prix-fixe Memories Menus – one each week – featuring the restaurant’s most popular dishes. Each $45 menu includes three courses; the first includes choices such as a fish soup from Suzanne Quaglia (mother of Jean-Francis), grilled squid, rack of lamb and crème caramel. ProvencePointGrey.ca
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Yew Seafood + Bar’s new executive chef, Weimar Gomez, hosts a special dinner with Foxtrot Vineyards. A reception is followed by a five-course menu including fresh crab, steamed lobster, roasted lamb loin, roasted beef tenderloin and petit fours. Each course will be paired with a different vintage from the famed Naramata Bench winery. Tickets $150 from Eventbrite (under Foxtrot Vineyards Dinner). YewSeafood.com
On Dec. 4 and 14, The Uncommon Café will be hosting cookie classes, including baking and decorating. Tickets are $40 for adults and $5 for kids. TheUncommonCafe.com
