A group of students from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Torino, Italy (pictured below), are currently touring several local food centres in Metro Vancouver, Victoria and the Cowichan Valley during a two-week visit to Canada. The university, founded in 2004 by international non-profit Slow Food in cooperation with the Italian regions of Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna, focuses on international research and education for those working on renewing farming methods, protecting biodiversity, and building an organic relationship between gastronomy and agricultural science. Hosted by Slow Food Vancouver (SlowFoodVancouver.com), the delegates will learn about Vancouver food culture and methods of sustainability as they visit Fresh Choice Kitchens, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, UBC Farm, Woodland Smokehouse and Commissary, Britannia Community Centre (with Home on the Range Farms and Guerrilla Cheese), Edible Vancouver at Latin Organics Café, Daily Catch, Espana, Granville Island Market, Le Marché St. George, Winter Farmers Market, food carts, Barbara-Jos Books to Cooks, Chambar, Young Agrarians Society, Harvest, SOLEfood Farm and Verticorps. They will also help out on the Sharing Farm and volunteer during a meal at Gilmore Park United Church. With all theyll see, we might be asking them for advice on where to eat! For more information, visit UNISG.it/en/
In France, a chefs reputation can be made (or lost) with his or her interpretation of cassoulet not that some chefs think you can tamper with the classic dish of white beans and smoked meats. This weekend only, you can taste-test Oyama Sausages version. A $14.99 form feeds two and you can also add duck confit, Toulouse sausage and Parisienne a lail. They suggest pairing it with a Beaujoulais Nouveau from their Granville Island neighbour, Liberty Wines.
Jean-Edouard de Marenches, who traces his family ties to Burgundy to 1452, will be leading a wine Tour de France at Bowen Islands Gallery at Artisan Square on Nov. 24. A special event for the Bowen Island Arts Council, tickets are $65 and can be purchased at BIAC.ca.
Think of this as a pub crawl for people in the market for a new home. On Nov. 29, Briefed magazine is joining forces with Jordan and Justin Macnab, two local realtors, for a tour of for-sale apartments in Vancouver. The evening will begin and end at a local pub and in between, the 30 participants will be shuttled in luxury vehicles to five apartments, where the present owners will be greeting guests with food and drinks (and a list of reasons why the participants should buy their place.) For details go to CribCrawl.ca or TheMacNabs.com
On Nov. 24, Tangos Gourmet Meats will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary on Denman Street by offering special deals and nibbles of its favorite products. With every purchase over $10, you can spin the wheel of deals for even greater savings. 865 Denman,604-681-2121.
Chengdu Szechuan Bistro is a modern twist of classic Chinese cuisine and adds a little heat to these early winter days. Its tasty Szechuan-inspired dishes fuse the past and present together at 792 Denman.
Mark Durland thought he was out of the restaurant business when he sold the last of his five Kitsilano restaurants in 2010. But when the new owner of the Flying Tiger realized that he wanted a change, he returned the restaurant to Durland. On Nov. 21 hes opening Left Coast Bar and Bistro 2958 W 4th near Bayswater. Chef Shaun Snellng, whos worked at Lift, Opus, Bin 942, Cru. and Fraiche, joined in to offer casual comfort food including duck poutine, Moroccan chickpea fritters, chicken wings, duck confit crepes and grilled Kalbi shortribs. There will be DJs on Saturday nights and open mike nights on Sundays starting in early December, Call 604-737-7529 for reservations.
Although demands on the Greater Vancouver Food Bank have grown by almost seven per cent, theres also been a 10 per cent decrease in food donations over the past two years. Loblaw (Real Canadian Superstores, No Frills and Extra Foods) is trying to help fill the gap. Customers are invited to drop off food donations at the store from Nov. 23 to Dec. 13 and, if customers buy the specially designed $5 Blue Menu macaroni and cheese pack, Loblaw will make a $1 cash donation. Donations made within Metro Vancouver will stay in Metro Vancouver.
Is there a special someone on your Christmas list who wants to learn how to be a better chef? Or, if youre that special someone and want to drop gentle hints about the perfect Christmas present, go to Quince.ca and look at the new list of studio classes for 2013. It starts with Hawaiian cocktails and Waikiki pupas on Jan. 22, continues with the nine-day basics (intensive techniques for the serious amateur) and goes on to such things as Indian bar snacks, soul food and culinary seduction (for Valentines day.)
When Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté flew into space, what amazed him was the huge expanse of water covering the earth. Yet how, with all that water, is it that some people cannot easily access safe drinking water? Hes joining forces with Seaspan to try to raise $1 million at La Soireé One Drop at Amalunas Big Top at Concord Pacific Place on Nov. 23. But the night of magic doesnt come cheap tickets are $1,000 each. Funds raised will enable One Drop to finance a range of projects improving access to water andpromoting responsible water management in developing countries.
Over the last 10 years, local butcher Zul Suleman, owner of Market Meats on West 4th, has seen a steep jump in the number of American expats who are ordering their turkeys for American Thanksgiving.He expects to easily sell 300 birds. The love for a turkey dinner seems to cross all boundaries.
