Fashionable chefs
Fashions Night Out on September 6 is not the night to diet. The chefs at various Top Table Group restaurants are making it impossible to resist special menus that help celebrate the new seasons trends and flavours. Heres a sampling champagne for two and a seafood platter for $45 at Blue Water Café; cocktails by design by the worlds most imaginative bartender David Wolowydnik at West; fashion-forward macarons at Thierry, which will be open till midnight to satisfy all those late-night cravings after the party; and a truffle pizza paired with signature house cocktails and wines at CinCin. TopTable.ca
Sake tasting
Mr. Sakurai-san of the Dassai Shuzo sake brewery will be flying in from Japan to join Minamis Chef Matsuoka and in-house sake specialist Miki Ellis from Blue Note Wines for a special sake dinner at the new Yaletown restaurant. The September 12 event is being billed as a tasty glutinous indulgence. The $120 includes tax and gratuity. You can buy tickets at Minami or Miku restaurants or through EventBrite.ca
Kitsilano Tasting Plates
Next on Vancouver Foodster Richard Wolaks Tasting Plates schedule is the Kitsilano Edition. Participating restaurants Atihi Indian Cuisine, BiBo, Petes Meats, Gramercy Grill, Rocky Mountain Flatbread, Thai House, Chocolate Arts Café and Establishment Lounge will offer tasting plates of their food during this self-guided roving tour. Tickets for the Sept. 12 event are $40 each, which includes a $3 donation to Farm Folk/City Folk. Go to VancouverFoodster.com for details on Tasting Plates as well as his successful Food Talks.
Concierge advice
The one-of-a-kind Betty by Blenz at 1100 Burrard (directly across from St. Pauls Hospital) offers a fresh and vibrant retro look. The friendly staff gives this store a very charming atmosphere... a diner experience with limited hot meals. The cafe is open 24 hours a day.
Irish Heather is bringing back their popular Long Table Series.Every Sunday to Wednesday at 7pm, Gastowns gastropub hosts up to 50 people at their 40-foot-long table. For only $18 (including artisan beer), you get a hearty Sunday Dinner meal that is sure to be Mom-approved. IrishHeather.com. from the BC Les Clefs dOr
Gluten-free baking
Learn to how to make quinoa salad, roasted vegetable tart and an apple galette at Cookworks (1548 W. Broadway) on Sept. 18 from 6:30 to 9:30pm. The $69 cost includes a take-home batch of sweet and savoury dough.
James Barbers legacy
James Barber once wrote, We buy cookbooks in moments of passion. We want them to bring pleasure and give pleasure, along with joy and happiness and most usually, togetherness. On Sept. 23 from noon to 5pm you can share the late Vancouver authors passion for cooking and cookbooks when his substantial library of cookbooks is offered in an informal trunk sale at Barbara-Jos Books to Cooks. As evidenced by his TV programs, columns and books, Barber brought fun and curiosity to all things culinary and his cookbook collection reflects this eclectic taste. Its a fundraiser to benefit Providence Farm, a therapeutic community on a working organic farm in the Cowichan Valley and one of Jamess special charities. Go to BooksToCooks.com for details.
Quinto Quarto at ROMA
This is one of those things that sounds better in Italian... On Sept. 26, ROMA is hosting its third Quinto Quarto dinner. Quinto Quarto refers to the fifth quarter of the animal the offal. The two seatings will be served alla famiglia at communal tables. Tickets are $49 and are available on EventBrite.com
