Loblaw’s has begun selling a “Naturally Imperfect” line of produce at its stores, including Real Canadian Superstore, for 30 per cent lower than regular prices. Think crooked carrots and misshapen bananas; all perfectly good to eat, but less visually appealing.
After years of being on the “not recommended” list by Ocean Wise, thanks in part to the impacted habitats of ground-dwelling fish by bottom-trawling fishing methods, certain species of BC rockfish are back on the recommended list. Yellowtail, yellowmouth, silvergray and canary rockfish are now Ocean Wise-approved thanks to the midwater trawling method, which involves a towing a net in the water column above the sea floor and allows targeted fishing of rockfish in those areas.
The Critics’ Choice winners of the 2016 Chinese Restaurant Awards have been announced. The 15 winning dishes include the salt-and-pepper crusted Dungeness crab at Landmark Hotpot House, steamed egg with clams at Shroom, and the charcoal grilled duck at Chef Tony, among other.
BiBo, the popular Kitsilano eatery, has opened a second location at McArthurGlen Outlet Mall in Richmond. A third location is coming to the Olympic Village this summer.
TopTable is set to publish two new cookbooks this summer and fall. Chef James Walt of Whistler’s Araxi Restaurant will be publishing his second cookbook, Araxi: Roots to Shoots, Farm Fresh Recipes this August. And, in October, chef Andrew Richardson of CinCin will be publishing his first cookbook, featuring the wood-fired Italian cuisine the restaurant is known for. Both books will be published by Vancouver’s Figure 1 Publishing.
A new Cora franchise has opened in BC and is the first in Vancouver. The all-day breakfast eatery, located on Robson, originated in Montreal in 1987 and focuses on fresh fruit art, crepes, cheese, cereal, omelettes and French toast.
Running now until March 23, Siena is hosting a Dungeness crab seafood festival. Festival dishes are available in addition to the regular menu, and include crab ravioli with smoked salmon cream, crab and saffron risotto, crab and steelhead fritters, and tagliatelle with crab, fennel, citrus and basil.
Royal Dinette has announced has announced the guest chef for its fourth Ugly Duckling dinner on March 22. Chef/owner Jesse McCleery of Galiano Island’s Pilgrimme, will join Royal Dinette head chef Jack Chen to create another menu celebrating the cast-offs, off-cuts and scraps of the culinary world. Dishes include celery root with herring head garum, sablefish collar with dried Galiano corn ear dashi, chewy grain and duck yolk, fermented potato skin bread, and more. Tickets $79 per person. RoyalDinette.ca
On March 23, Bauhaus will host a special winemakers’ dinner with Painted Rock and Intersection. The five-course dinner will include eight wines from the two wineries, as well as the winemakers themselves. Tickets $120. Bauhaus-Restaurant.com
Railtown Catering is offering “Easter-to-Go” dinner packages March 26-28. Available for pick-up or delivery, as ready-to-eat or ready-to-bake, a portion of the proceeds from dinner package sales will be donated to DTES charity, Mission Possible. Each package includes two mains, a range of seasonal side dishes, and a dessert. Available for four to six people ($189) or 10 to 12 people ($299). Choose from honey-glazed ham with creamed horseradish or lemon-rosemary leg of lamb, side dishes such as cucumber salad, scalloped potatoes with gruyere, braised red cabbage, roasted root vegetables with spring onions, mushrooms and white asparagus, and more. Dessert is a rhubarb crumble with house-made vanilla ice cream. RailtownCatering.ca
On Sunday, March 27, Yew Seafood and Bar will once again host their annual Easter brunch buffet. The massive offering includes breakfast pastries; a raw bar of seasonal seafood including fresh-shucked oysters and seafood charcuterie; a carvery with roast leg of lamb, glazed ham and Wagyu ribeye; hot brunch items made to order, soups, salads, sides, kids’ meals, a build-your-own float and sundae station, and other desserts. Tickets $79 for adults and $38 for children ages six-12. YewSeafood.com
On Sunday, April 17, Eastside Boxing Club will host Beer Wars at the Caprice Nightclub to raise funds for at-risk youth via Eastside Boxing’s Vancouver Roving Leaders Program. Key players in the Vancouver craft beer industry will duke it out in the ring, and participating breweries are donating product to sell at fight night to raise money for the cause. There will also be several fundraising events in the run-up to Beer Wars. ApronsForGloves.com/Eastside-Boxing-Club
