A new tea shop has opened in Hastings-Sunrise. The Capilano Herbal Apothecary offers traditional First Nations herbal teas that are all either foraged or grown locally. Owned by two mother-daughter pairs, the shop also offers an in-house herbal medicine expert, as well as herbal sodas, with indigenous foods down the road.
The Chinese Restaurant Awards have announced the winners of this year’s Diners’ Choice categories. Over 33,000 votes were cast by the public in categories ranging from Best Har Gow (shrimp dumpling) to Best Service. Notable winners included Kirin Restaurants for Best Har Gow and Best Dim Sum, and Chang’An for Best Fine Dining. View full results at ChineseRestaurantAwards.com.
L’Epicerie Gourmande on Granville Island has launched a “gourmet-to-go” service, offering both ready-to-eat and frozen dishes for delivery to your home or office. Delivery area includes Vancouver and the North Shore.
Vikram Vij has announced he is leaving CBC’s Dragon’s Den to focus on the relocation of Vij’s to its new south Cambie location, as well as the launch of his new concept in the current Vij’s space in South Granville.
It must be spring…Joe Fortes has announced that their famous rooftop patio is now open for the season, weather permitting.
Glowbal Restaurant Group has announced that James Olberg will be the new culinary director and executive chef at Coast Restaurant. Current Coast EC Pedro Gonzalez will be moving to take over the reigns at the new Glowbal Grill opening this summer at the Telus Garden development.
Sai Woo has officially opened its doors at 160 East Pender St.
Friday, April 17 is the fifth annual Malbec World Day. Free tastings of Malbecs and Malbec-blends will be offered at both private and select BCLDB stores. The private stores will also be serving samples of Argentinean food. Check out Everything Wine locations on April 11, Legacy Liquor Store on April 17, and Marquis Wine Cellars on April 18.
On April 5, Dockside Restaurant will once again be offering its Family Traditions Easter Buffet with market-themed food stations celebrating local bounty. Two seatings are available, at 10am and 1pm. Adults $64.95, kids six-12 $29.95 (under five eat free). Reservations required.
On Friday, April 3 and Sunday, April 5, Market by Jean-Georges will offer a $48 three-course a la carte brunch featuring shrimp agua chile, coconut soup, pandan waffles, French toast, crab and egg scramble, grilled flat iron steak, buttermilk panna cotta and more. A children’s menu is also available.
On April 15, join chef Adair Scott of Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos, along with Derek Uhlemann of Covert Farms, for a four-course farm-to-beach Guest Chef Market Dinner at Edible Canada on Granville Island. The menu will showcase the culinary treasures of the Okanagan, carefully paired with Covert Farms wines. Tickets $80.
On April 16, Minami will be hosting a special evening of sake and oysters. Featuring the sakes of Japan’s renowned Hakkaisan paired with Kumamoto, Komo Gway, KwaK’wala, Beau Soleil, Royal Miyagi and Kushi oysters. Tickets $45.
In other Minami and Miku news, both sister restaurants will be once again offering special Sakura-themed rolls and a cocktail in celebration of the ninth annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. The special sakura rolls and cocktail will be available during the month of April.
EAT! Vancouver Food & Cooking Festival is back April 26 through May 3, with a full event line-up that includes celebrity chefs Susur Lee, Mark McEwan and Anna Olson, Ned Bell and more. Don’t miss Speed Rack, an international cocktail competition featuring top female bartenders in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Society (BC/Yukon Region). See the full line-up at Eat-Vancouver.com.
