The foodie countdown has begun, with the city’s biggest eating and drinking celebration, Dine Out Vancouver Festival (January 17 to February 2, 2020), now less than one month away. Info on participating restaurants and their menus will be released January 9, 2020.
However, now’s the time to book tickets for one of the fabulous events that will take place over the course of the festival.
Here are five Dine Out Vancouver Festival events that are bound to be fun for you and your palate:
The Great Big Taste
The grand kick-off event of the festival is the Great Big Taste, which takes place January 16, 2020 from 7 to 9:30pm at Rocky Mountaineer Station ($89 per person). The evening is in partnership with the Wines of British Columbia, with proceeds going to the BC Hospitality Foundation. You’ll get to sample bites from top establishments in town, including Forage/Timber, Cibo Trattoria, and Wildebeest. Plus, 20 BC wineries (e.g. Hester Creek Estate Vineyards), as well as breweries, distilleries, and cideries (e.g. Parallel 49 Brewing Company, Wards Cider) will be pouring samples. A DJ and silent charity auction will round out the evening’s festivities.
Get Crafty!
Photo Credit: Tara Lee
C’mon. Who doesn’t love pizza, especially when you get to roll up your sleeves and make your own with friends? On January 21, 2020, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. – Kitsilano will be hosting a series of Get Crafty! pizza making parties from 5:30pm to 9:00pm. Their Surrey location will be doing them same on January 22, 2020 and their Main Street location on January 28, 2020. You’ll start with a salad or a house made soup, and then move onto the main event: the pizza. Each of you will get a ball of dough, which you’ll roll out and then get to customize with gourmet toppings of your choice (e.g. basil, prosciutto, goat cheese). The night ends with a dessert of your choice: a warm double chocolate brownie with house made vanilla ice cream, gluten free cheese cake, or apple crumble with house made coconut ice cream. Each course comes paired with craft beer. Gluten free crust is available, as are vegan/vegetarian options.
Vancouver World Chef Exchange
The always popular Vancouver World Chef Exchange is returning. The events series involves international culinary stars coming to the city and dreaming up a menu with a well known local restaurant and chef. This year, there are four chef pairings taking place. On January 21, 2020 at 7pm ($142.14), Chef Shelome Bouvette from Chicha hosts Chef Charlotte Langley from Toronto. On January 27, 2020 at 7pm ($189.52), Wildebeest’s Chef Ian McHale welcomes Chef Ahmet Dede of Mews Restaurant in West Cork, Ireland. On January 30, 2020 at 7pm ($173.97), WildTale’s Executive Chef Francisco Higareda will welcome Monterrey’s Guillermo Gonzalez Beristain. And finally, on February 2, 2020 at 6pm ($242.05), Salmon N’ Bannock’s all-Indigenous team will collaborate with Maori Chef Rewi Spraggon from Auckland, New Zealand and Edmonton’s Chef Shane Chartrand.
Shucking Class at Fanny Bay
If you adore oysters but have been afraid to shuck them yourself, Fanny Bay Oyster Bar is holding a Shucking Class on January 20, 2020 and January 27, 2020 from 8 to 9:30pm ($119.73 per person). You’ll get to learn all about six varieties of oysters, as well as shuck and slurp them. Plus, two craft cocktail pairings will make for a perfect night of oyster education. By the end of the class, you’ll be set to host your own home party and share what you’ve learned about oyster history, shucking, and drink pairing.
BBQ, Fried Chicken & Brewery Tour
Vancouver Brewery Tours has brought together an absolutely delicious combo with their BBQ, Fried Chicken & Brewery Tour, to be held January 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 and February 1, 2020 from 4 to 7:30pm ($105.99 per person, meet inside Waterfront Station). You’ll start by gorging on fried chicken, paired with beer, at Juke Fried Chicken before heading to Memphis Blues for some serious slow cooked BBQ. The tour wraps up at Container Brewing with a flight of beer, a brewery tour, and beer making tips.
If a Coffee, Brunch, Donuts and Beer Tour is more your thing, the company is offering six dates for this option (January 18, 19, 25, 26, February 1, and February 2 from 10am to 2pm; $105.99 per person). The tour starts at Agro Roasters for coffee tasting and education, moves to the Truck Stop at Red Truck Beer Company for brunch, and then concludes with a beer flight at Brassneck Brewery and donuts at Cartems Donuts. Then, you can head home for a nap!
Further info and tickets for all events can be found on-line. These events sell out quickly so don’t delay in booking.
