By taking two Honduran coffees Juan Evangelistas La Maravilla and Miguel Enamorados Los Robles the coffee roasters at 49th Parallel Roasters have come up with their 2012 Holiday Celebration Blend ($18). Perfect for that person in your house who wakes up at four in the morning to see whats in their Christmas stocking! Another gift idea is the coffee subscription. At the beginning of every month, youll get three bags of coffee, with the first one arriving in a cedar box with the 49th Parallel logo. Subscriptions start at $170.
On Dec. 2, the Santa Claus parade will pass right in front of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Youre invited to drop by for complimentary hot chocolate or apple cider while you listen to Christmas carols and marvel at the twinkling Christmas trees, gingerbread houses and festive flower displays. Children are encouraged to post their letters to Santa, who will be paying a visit to the hotel, which first opened in 1927. Donations will be accepted for the CKNW Orphans Fund and heritage hotel tours will take place every 30 minutes from the lobby.
Each of the Christmas trees in the downtown hotel will sparkle with decorations from a sponsor to raise funds and awareness for the BC Childrens Hospital Foundation. From now until Jan. 1, visitors can vote for their favourite tree by submitting a donation and entering a draw to win one of three sponsor prizes. While there, you can pick up one of the 2,500 traditional stollen cakes that Yews pastry chef, Bruno Feldeisen, will bake with legendary baker Gerhart Weitzel. The cakes sell for $22 each and if you want more than one loaf, its suggested you phone 604-692-4939.
Its going to be a real team effort when the Union Gospel Mission hosts its 72nd annual Christmas dinner celebration on Dec. 8. More than 3,000 meals will be served from 10:30am to 4pm, requiring 150 turkeys, 1,500 pounds of potatoes, 700 cherry pies and 400 litres of ice cream! Once again, Clearly Contacts is partnering with UGM to donate and distribute eye glasses to those in need; optometrists will be onsite to assist guests with more complex issues.
A cooking class for two with Top Chef Canada finalist Trevor Bird. A wine and canapés cruise on an 87 mahogany yacht for 18 people. An Okanagan Crush Pad VIP weekend. These are some of the prizes up for offer in the British Columbia Hospital Foundations first Bid to Give online auction. The foundation supports individuals within the hospitality industry who are coping with severe financial difficulties arising from a serious health or medical condition. To make your bid go to
As much as many people want to help those in need, theres sometimes a worry that a monetary donation wont be used to buy food. By purchasing Save On Meats new meal tokens, you can give the gift of a nutritious hot meal while supporting Save On Meats social mandate of helping Vancouvers Downtown Eastside. The tokens are $2.25 each and can be redeemed for a hot breakfast sandwich at the Gastown eatery by whomever you chose to give one to. You can purchase tokens at SaveOnMeats.ca.
Got your ticket for The Big Harvest Draw yet? Its the Vancouver Farmers Market annual fall fundraiser and your chance to win one of 20 prizes of $250 in Market Money.Tickets are $5 and for sale at The Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario), every Saturday from 10-2 until Dec. 1. Only 3,000 tickets are printed. Good luck! EatLocal.org
Twelve of Vancouvers top chefs vied for the honour of making the best seafood chowder in the annual Vancouver Aquarium OceanWise Chowder Chowdown. Not only did Chris Whittaker who just opened Forage impress the panel of judges, his recipe also earned him the Peoples Choice Award. His creamy spot prawn chowder with poached egg and smokey chicharon also featured white wine, leeks and bacon. Chef Dana Hauser of Herons West Coast Kitchen at the Fairmont Waterfront won the award for best chowder and beer pairing. Her roast Powell River sturgeon chowder was paired with Granville Island Brewery English Bay Pale Ale.
The Choices grocery store in Kitsilano (2627 W.16th) is celebrating its 22nd anniversary. Stop by on Saturday, December 1st from 11am to 3pm when it hosts a donation barbecue, serves fresh brownies and coffee and offers many in-store specials.
Vancouver Foodster is going crazy over noodles. His next Tasting Plates is a culinary tour of Vancouver eateries that specialize in all types of noodles, from chow mein to spaghetti, to ramon, udon, pad Thai and more. You buy a ticket and then, on Jan. 13, travel to the participating restaurant which will serve up tasting plates or bowls. If you buy your ticket before Dec. 4, its $20. Between Dec. 4 and Jan. 10, tickets are $30. After that, tickets are $40. Noodle Mania tickets are available at EventBrite.ca
Coco Cake is one of the vendors at Nandemo Kandemo and Friends holiday sale at The Skinny (600 Campbell) on Dec. 1. From 11am to 4pm there will be yummy treats, original artwork and holiday gifts on offer while Mimis Ami entertains the shoppers.
Its Aussie rules for House Wines Australia Day celebration. Its throwing a party with more than 40 different wineries and 120 wines from across Australia so everyone can raise a glass to the countrys birthday. The party isnt until January 25 at the Stanley Park Pavilion, but you can buy tickets for $45 (as opposed to $55) if you order them before Dec. 25. HouseWine.ca
