• Tacofino is opening a massive flagship location, called Taco Bar, in Gastown at in early January. The new space will feature an 80-seat dining room with a 20-seat bar and a 420-square-foot patio. Look for mezcal and tequila-based cocktails, local beers on tap, cerveza, both local and Mexican, by the can and bottle, and a full menu of Mexican-inspired fare. There will also be a separate take-out entrance for grab-and-go burritos and tacos.
• Vancouver’s first non-GMO food show is coming to Vancouver this January. The event will take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre on January 17 and 18.
• Odd Society Spirits has now released their Bittersweet Vermouth, after obtaining a winery license. The 375 mL bottles are available now at the distillery for $22, as well as at select private retailers and restaurants.
• It’s never too cold for ice cream…and Gastown will have the chance to prove that theory come January, when Soft Peaks opens and premieres the first organic milk soft-serve ice cream in Vancouver. Made from Avalon’s organic milk and topped with local ingredients like Okanagan honeycomb.
• Chef Angus An of Maenam is offering a celebratory menu for NYE featuring a family-style, with options for each of the four courses. Choose from crab-and-pomelo betal leaf wrap, chicken and lobstern in golden egg nests, hot and sour Muslim oxtail soup, green mango salad with crispy softshell crab, braised beef short rib salad, and more. $60 per person ($50 for vegetarian menu).
• Wildebeest is offering a five-course NYE menu that includes bison carpaccio, lamb tartare, pan-roasted sablefish, beef striploin with bone marrow, and more. Tickets are $69 and available online.
• Blacktail is offering the best of both worlds with the option of a seven-course tasting menu for NYE ($100 per person), as well as the standard a la carte menu and service. No tickets necessary, but reservations strongly recommended.
• For those looking for Christmas Day dining, The Irish Heather will be open all day and offering pints and specials to all holiday orphans.
• La Pentola is also offering a NYE dinner, with two seatings. The early seating from 5-7pm features five courses for $60. The late seating starts at 8pm and offers seven courses for $95. Offerings include champagne upon arrival, Kusshi oysters, caviar, lobster salad, hand-made pasta, sablefish, tenderloin and foie gras.
• Looking for a more family-friendly NYE option? Rocky Mountain Flatbread is throwing family-friendly parties at both its Kitsilano and Main Street locations, with pizza making for kids, child entertainers, face painting, and, of course, pizza.
• Chef Jefferson Alvarez is launching his themed dining adventures for 2015 with a tasting menu featuring Spain from January 5-17. Following will be Italy January 19-31 with guest chef Pino Posteraro. Stay tuned for future menus. Each dinner is $95 per person and includes cocktail and wine pairings.
