THE DISH
David Gunawan has long been known to Vancouver diners from his executive chef stints at West and Wildebeest, but its at his first ownership, The Farmers Apprentice, where his farm-to-table, sustainably sourced dishes really come to fruition. Take the rouge detent ($15), a cool starter of wide, paper-thin slices of silky-smooth pumpkin topped with rounds of apple, dollops of buratta, and icy crumbs of beet (pictured). Its a play on texture and flavour that energizes the taste buds and prepares the palate for whats to come. If youre lucky, itll be a duck night. Gunawan prepares two to three smoked birds each week, available on a first-come, first-serve basis (market price is around $40). Smoked for almost a full sun cycle, its then stuffed with hay and roasted low and slow before arriving to the table jointed, a large platter of succulent meat and crispy, glazed skin, that can easily feed three. The only thing youll argue over is who gets to take the carcass home to make soup stock with. FarmersApprentice.ca
SCENE | HEARD
Dine Out Vancouver is back from January 17 to February 7 this year, and special event tickets and hotel bookings are available this week. Look for the full list of participating restaurants and their menus to be released January 6. DineOutVancouver.com
Advance tickets to the Vancouver International Wine Festival, running February 24 to March 2, are now on sale. This year includes some of Frances most noted winemakers from M. Chapoutier, Famille Perrin, Louis Jadot, Tattinger, and more. VanWineFest.ca
Scott Korzack, formerly of LAbbatoir, has been appointed executive chef at Bambudda in Gastown.
Wildebeest has collaborated with Road 13 Vineyards to produce limited edition house red and white wines. The red is a blend of Gamay Noir and Pinot Noir ($11 gls/$50 btl), while the white combines Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling ($10 gls/$45 btl). Wildebeest.ca
Matchstick Coffee is opening a second location in Chinatown. Theyll be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Mamie Taylors and East of Main. Look for the opening by early February. MatchstickCoffee.com
DRINK | DINE
Wild Rice is offering a New Years dumpling platter for two for $40 at the Gastown location. Includes two glasses of Backyard Vineyards Brut, duck confit and vegetarian potstickers, siu mai, and spring rolls. Seatings from 5-10pm. WildRiceVancouver.com
Ask for Luigi has expanded to offer lunch Wednesdays to Fridays, as well as take-out for lunch and dinner. Look for brunch starting in the new year. AskForLuigi.com
Meat & Bread is bringing back its Turducken sandwiches on December 23 and 24 only. Yes, its chicken stuffed in duck, stuffed in turkey. This version includes Andouille duck sausage, stuffing, fried onions, cashew butter and gravy. MeatAndBread.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 @foodgirlfriday and catch up at FoodGirlFriday.com.
