Big news for local wine, beer and spirits producers…the BC Ministry of Justice has announced that wineries, distilleries, breweries and cideries with licensed lounges or special event areas can now sell liquor they did not produce, meaning you can now order a cocktail at a brewery, or a glass of wine at a distillery, should you so desire. The announcement was made last week at Odd Society Spirits in East Vancouver.
International gourmet burger chain Big Smoke Burger (founded in Toronto), has opened its first West Coast location in Vancouver at 500 West Broadway.
Hubbub Sandwiches and Salads has opened a new location at 2325 Cambie, near West Broadway. This is the third location for the local business, which focuses on housemade salads, sandwiches, iced teas, lemonades, sides and soups.
Fable chef/owner Trevor Bird has partnered with President’s Choice to create some summer picnic-friendly recipes using PC products, including a burger, layered salad, and ice cream float. Find out more at PC.ca.
Due to some licensing issues, The Golden Dumpling Cook-Off and Derby will now be held at The Food Truck Fest, located at 215 West 1st, on Aug. 9, 1pm-5pm. Seventeen of Vancouver’s top restaurants, including last year’s champion, Maenam, will throw down to claim the Golden Dumpling trophy for this year.
Tickets are still available for Les Dames’ Summerdine event on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Dozens of restaurants and cooking schools are donating one table for a concurrent dinner party, with all proceeds going to support the scholarship and outreach programs of Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Chapter, as well as supported initiatives like Project Chef and Growing Chefs. All tickets are $79. Visit LesDames.ca/Summerdine for a list of available locations.
Time to feel like a kid again…White Spot’s annual Pirate Pak Day fundraiser is back on Aug. 12. On this one day, Adult Pirate Paks will be available, and for every Pirate Pak sold, White Spot will donate two dollars to Zajac Ranch for Children, which provides once-in-a-lifetime summer camp experiences to children and young adults with life-threatening illnesses and chronic disabilities.
Wines of Argentina will be holding free consumer tastings at the 39th and Cambie BC Liquor Signature store on Aug. 13 and 14, 2:30pm-6:30pm. Wines on offer come from Bodega Catena Zapata, Casa Bianchi, Dominio del Plata, Graffigna and more. Further tastings will be held at various BC liquor stores throughout the month of August.
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar has expanded its sold-out Sunday Seafood Boil supper series with additional suppers on Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27. Each dinner includes a glass of Haywire “The Bub” Sparkling Wine, iceberg wedge salad with crumbled blue cheese, chives, and pickled cherry tomatoes, bacon and jalapeno jack cheese cornbread skillet, dessert, and, of course, a seafood boil of crawfish, jumbo prawns, clams, mussels, Dungeness crab, potatoes, and corn. Tickets $49 per person, two-guest minimum.
The 10th annual Well Seasoned BBQ Off the Bypass is back on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 10am to 4pm in Langley. This free public event includes live music, food and drink vendors, children’s activities and delicious barbecue samples from the competitors in one of the biggest BBQ competitions in the Pacific Northwest.
Whistler’s 19th annual Cornucopia, the ultimate Sea-to-Sky food and drink festival, will be back Nov. 5-15 with over 200 events across 11 days.
