With all the Dine Out and wine fest frenzy, its easy to overlook that other feasting event that approacheth Chinese New Year. At Bambudda in Gastown, The Year of the Horse menu runs January 31 to February 9. No horse on the menu, but plenty of duck. Duck bao buns, lightly toasted and drizzled with Chinese barbecue sauce and cilantro, are pleasantly chewy, while the eggplant version is cooked perfectly, small, still-firm coins with just enough juice. Deep-fried balls of minced duck gizzard, however, were the standout item, crispy and juicy, and served with plum sauce. Pair with the Last Dynasty cocktail, a heady mix of three-year-old Havana rum, Lillet Rouge, sherry vinegar date puree, house-spiced grenadine, Angostura bitters and foamy egg white.
After more than 13 years in Gastown, Wild Rice is closing its Pender Street location on January 31. Owner Andrew Wong will be concentrating operations at the New Westminster location. Besides being the first to introduce contemporary Chinese cuisine to Vancouver, Wild Rice was also the first Chinese restaurant in the city to champion the local, seasonal, sustainable movement. Dont miss this last chance for their kung po chicken and cha siu bao.
For the serious whisky loverOdd Society Spirits is offering whisky aficionados the opportunity to purchase their own private 30-litre cask of Canadian Single Malt, made from 100 per cent BC malted barley. Casks are priced at $1,350 plus bottling fee, and will be stored at Odd Spirits for three years until it reaches maturity, after which it will be bottled. Offer good only until January 31.
On Tuesday, January 21, 4-6pm, Dr. Marni Ross of Sage Clinic will be offering free information sessions on gluten intolerance at Choices Yaletown.
DRINK | DINE
The fourth annual Hot Chocolate Festival is back from January 18 to February 14 for 28 days of chocolate madness. Look for 25 vendors creating more than 60 flavours of hot chocolate, including chocolate-inspired cocktails at Uva Wine Bar.
Dine Out Vancouver launches this Friday with the first-ever Chef Soup Experiment. Fifty Dine Out chefs will convene at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts on Granville Island and toss one ingredient each into a simmering pot. PICA students will then brew and stir the result for five hours before dishing out free samples to the public starting at 12:30pm.
The Emerald will be holding a special brunch on January 19 to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The Sojourners, Canadas award-winning gospel trio, will be performing at the launch of The Emeralds weekend brunch, with proceeds going to the foundation. Tickets are $25 for the all-you-can-eat Vegas-style brunch buffet, including performance. Starting the following week, the regular brunch buffet is priced at $12.95. 604-559-8477
Blue Water Café will once again be offering its annual Unsung Heroes menu through the month of February. Executive Chef Frank Pabst originally created the event to bring awareness to local, unique seafood. Past dishes have included red sea urchin trifle and poached periwinkles. Look for gooseneck barnacles and sustainable sturgeon liver mousse on the 10th anniversary menu.
Sonoma County Vintners is hosting two winemakers dinners on February 4 in support of the BC Hospitality Foundation, at Blue Water Café ($165) and Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar ($110). Blue Water will host Siduri Wines and Novy Family Wines, while Brix will host Rodney Strong Vineyards. Tickets available from the respective restaurants. BrixVancouver.com | BlueWaterCafe.net
On February 5, Sonoma County Vintners will be presenting Sonoma in the City at Terminal City Club, with more than 20 wineries offering up classic varietals, as well as some surprises. Tickets $55. .
Vancouver is invited to bake a difference via the second annual National Cupcake Day, taking place Feb. 24 to benefit the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. By baking delicious treats for friends, family and co-workers in exchange for donations, you will not only raise desperately needed funds for abandoned, neglected and abused animals in your community, but you will also be making everyones day a little brighter with a scrumptious treat. Register your participation at NationalCupcakeDay.ca.
Anya Levykh has been writing about all things ingestible for over a decade. Hear her every Monday on CBC Radio Ones On the Coast, follow her on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and catch up at FoodGirlFriday.com.
