Pan Pacific Vancouver has launched a new restaurant, Oceans 999, as well as a new lounge, Coal Harbour Bar, in time with its complete renovation of all guest rooms. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as Sunday brunch buffet, and the legendary Opera Buffet will continue on Saturdays.
Cold-pressed juice company The Juicery will be opening a new location this summer, on Main Street. This makes their second Vancouver location (their first is in Kitsilano). There are also two shops in North Vancouver. Look for the Main Street opening sometime in August.
The menu has been announced for the inaugural Spot Prawn Gala at the Vancouver Club on May 13. The gala celebrates 10 years of the Spot Prawn Festival with six courses prepared by six different chefs from across Canada. This black-tie event will be co-hosted by festival founder, chef Robert Clark of The Fish Counter, with executive chef and program director at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Julian Bond. Participating chefs include Angus An of Maenam; Sean Cousins of the Vancouver Club; Ned Bell of Yew Seafood; Chris Whittaker of Forage/Timber; Anthony Walsh of Oliver Bonacini in Toronto; Matthias Fong of River Café in Calgary; Bill Jones of Deerholme Farm in Duncan; and Christine Beard of PICA. Tickets $200 via Eventbrite.
Seamus Dooley, sommelier at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, has been selected as Canada’s representative at the upcoming La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs International Jeunes Sommeliers Competition to be held August 25-26 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Seamus won the national competition held across Canada on April 2, 2016 to qualify to compete in Liechtenstein.
Vancouver Farmers Markets is kicking off summer market season on May 5 in Yaletown. This week also sees the opening of Tout Lake market on May 7 and Kitsilano market on May 8. See full market listing and schedules at EatLocal.org.
From ladybugs to high heels, Thomas Haas has created a special line of Mother’s Day chocolate sculptures and treats that include a chocolate ladybug stuffed nuts and truffles; an edible flowerpot; heart-shaped chocolate bark; casted chocolate high heel shoes; and heart-shaped strawberry shortcake.
Have a wee dram…Tickets are now on sale for Vancouver Writer Fest’s 14th annual whisky fundraiser, A Dram Come True. Taking place on Friday, May 13 at Hycroft Mansion, the event sees whiskies poured from Canada, Scotland, Taiwan, Ireland and India, as well as unique spirits from local distilleries, including oaked gin and cassis. Tickets $125.
On May 22, the fifth annual Gastown Chicken Fight will be held at the Lamplighter Pub. Restaurant team from Water Street Café, Tacofino, The Charles Bar and others will be given 20 lbs of chicken wings and a bottle of Lot 40 Canadian whisky the night before to use in their recipe. Visit the Lamplighter on the afternoon of the 22nd to taste the wings and watch the judges decide who gets the glory.
Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks is launching a series of events throughout June in honour of Italian Heritage Month, in partnership with the Italian Culture Centre. Mangia Vancouver! will feature chefs who are not Italian by birth celebrating the popular cuisine. Allison Spurrell of Les Amis du Fromage will kick things off on June 4 with an exploration of Italian cheese. Other events include a stuffed-pasta-making session with chef Robert Belcham of Campagnolo, dinner with chef Curtis Luk of Mission, pizza-making with chef Glenys Morgan and much more.
Carnivores rejoice. Tickets to the fourth annual Brewery & The Beast are now available. The annual meat extravaganza, this year on July 24 at Concord Pacific Place, will see more than 45 of Vancouver and Whistler’s top restaurants fire up their grills in support of the BC Hospitality Foundation and The Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship Foundation. Whole animal roasts, barbecue and charcuterie are just some of the items to anticipate. There will also be beer from Phillips Brewing, Mission Hill wines, Left Field Cider, sodas, iced teas and specialty coffees. Tickets $99.75. Please note this is a 19+ event.
Vancouver’s first Cheese and Meat Festival will debut on September 17. Over 40 vendors will be showcasing samples of ethically-produced cheeses and meats from around the world. Samples will be paired with wine, beer and cider. Tickets $55 and go on sale May 4.
