Photo: Rocky Mountain Flatbread presents Get Crafty
The New Year brings a ton of exciting ways to experience and learn about Vancouver’s delicious food scene during Dine Out Vancouver Festival (DOVF). Running January 17 to February 4, 2024, this annual food and drink celebration features not only prix-fixe menus (reveal on January 9), but also diverse tasty events, ranging from a celebration of dumplings in Chinatown to a tour of the city’s craft distilleries.
Here are 10 DOVF events to kick off 2024 in a fun way. Don’t delay in booking to avoid disappointment. Dates listed are subject to availability:
Chinatown Dumpling Masterclass
Photo: Historical Chinatown Tours
If you have a passion for dumplings and getting to know Vancouver’s Chinatown, the Chinatown Dumpling Masterclass ($125 per adult, running January 17 to February 2, 2024, from 5pm to 8pm) is the event for you. Judy Lam Maxwell of Historical Chinatown Tours will begin by taking you on an insider gourmet tour of the culturally-rich neighbourhood, introducing you to food shops where ingredients for Cantonese cuisine can be found. The remaining two hours will be spent making dumplings and feasting on them.
Chinatown Walk, Historical Talk, and Dim Sum
Photo: Historical Chinatown Tours
Judy Lam Maxwell of Historical Chinatown Tours is also offering Chinatown Walk, Historical Talk, and Dim Sum events ($100 per adult, running January 17 to February 2, 2024, from 12pm to 3pm). This unique, educational, and delectable walking tour will involve a stroll through the historical neighbourhood, learning about its cultural significance and its gastronomical highlights, while also sampling treats, such as Chinese pastries, and enjoying a meal of dim sum together.
Chinatown: Dim Sum Discovery
Photo: Canadian Craft Tours
This year’s DOVF features numerous ways to gain a deeper appreciation for the culinary offerings in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown. Canadian Craft Tours is hosting Chinatown: Dim Sum Discovery ($90 + tax inclusive of guide gratuity per person, with availability January 19-21, 26-28, February 2, 2024, from 11:45am to 3pm), which begins at the iconic lion statues at the Chinese Cultural Centre gates. During the walking exploration, you’ll experience the beautifully serene Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, in addition to many of Chinatown’s food specialities: dim sum, crispy roast pork, pastries at the beloved New Town Bakery, and tea at the Chinese Tea Shop.
Sunset Dinner Cruise
Photo: Harbour Cruises
Harbour Cruises is featuring a very memorable and scenic Sunset Dinner Cruise ($139 + tax and gratuities per person, with availability February 3, 2024, from 7pm to 9:30pm). This 2.5-hour experience will have you touring Vancouver’s harbour, soaking up views of the cityscape and the natural surroundings as the sun sets. You’ll also sup on a lavish dinner buffet that showcases Pacific Northwest cuisine.
Pie in the Sky: Pizza and Beer Tours
Photo: Canadian Craft Tours
What goes better than pizza and beer, particularly if it’s Vancouver craft beer and artisanal pizzas? Canadian Craft Tours is taking groups on Pie in the Sky: Pizza and Beer Tours ($110 + tax, including gratuity per person, with availability January 19-21, 26-28, February 2-3, 2024, from 3:45pm to 7:30pm). In this educational and lively tour, participants will learn about the process at a local brewery, savour flights at multiple breweries, and dine on their own pizza (meat and vegetarian options available).
Spirit of Vancouver: Distillery Tour
Photo: Canadian Craft Tours
For those who want to taste craft beer and distilled spirits, Spirit of Vancouver: Distillery Tour ($125 + tax, including gratuity per person, with availability January 19-21, 26-28, February 2, 2024, from 11:45am to 3:30pm) is the ultimate experience. The tour encompasses a craft brewery and two distilleries. You’ll learn about the distillation or brewing process from experts and taste premium local spirits, such as gins and vodkas, as well as a flight of beer and a cocktail.
Vancouver Foodster’s Tasty Events: Dumplings, Noodles, Brunch, and Art
Photo: Tara Lee
Vancouver Foodster has developed a reputation in the city for organizing and hosting some of the best tasting events in the city. The events are self-guided roaming experiences in which you visit a diversity of food and drink establishments, feasting on a special sampler plate they’ve created just for attendees or sipping a unique beverage. The events are a great way to get to know Vancouver’s food scene as well as its various neighbourhoods. Each event also has a VIP option, which starts earlier and includes an exclusive guided experience and an elevated tasting.
This year, Vancouver Foodster is offering four different curated tasty events for DOVF. The first is an East Van Dumpling Fest Crawl ($79 + tax and processing fee per person through to January 14, 2024; $129 + tax and processing fee per person for VIP Experience, subject to availability), taking place January 17, 2024, from 6pm to 10pm. You’ll have the chance to experience dumplings representing a variety of cultural cuisines. So far, participating restaurants are Vivace on the Drive, Maizal, Di Oliva Tasting Bar, and Jamilla’s Afghan Cuisine.
Next, is the Dine Out East Van Brunch Crawl ($79 + tax and processing fee per person through to January 19, 2024; $129 + tax and processing fee per person for VIP Experience, subject to availability) on January 21, 2024, from 10am to 2pm. You’ll enjoy brunch classics as well as some innovative dishes that reimagine brunch possibilities. Restaurants taking part are Jamjar Canteen, Vivace on the Drive, Pizzone Pizza, Di Oliva Tasting Bar, and Yuan Coffee.
If you want an event that combines your love of Asian noodles and dumplings, Dine Out Asian Dumplings and Noodles Fest ($79 + tax and processing fee per person through to January 21, 2024; $129 + tax and processing fee per person for VIP Experience, subject to availability) will be very satisfying. Set for January 24, 2024, from 6pm to 10pm, you’ll be touring a variety of establishments tasting dishes like noodle soups, steamed dumplings, and stir-fried noodles—all Asian-style.
And finally, Art, Eat & Sip Mount Pleasant ($99 + tax and processing fee per person through to January 24, 2024; $129 + tax and processing fee per person for VIP Experience, subject to availability) is a cool hybrid of the cultural and the culinary, taking place January 25, 2024, from 6pm to 10pm. During the four-hour period, you’ll use a digital passport map to visit artist studios and sample food and drink.
Gelato 101
Photo: Uno Gelato
It’s always a good time to enjoy and learn about the art of gelato-making. Uno Gelato is featuring Gelato 101 ($79.99 + taxes and gratuities, with availability January 17, 24, and 31, from 6pm to 7:30pm). Class is limited to 6 participants so that you get lots of individual attention as your instructor teaches you about how to make gelato and sorbetto. During the event, you’ll sample 10 flavours of gelato and sorbetto, as well as get a cone or cup to enjoy. And you’ll get to leave with a pint of what you made (e.g., rum raisin gelato or pistachio sorbetto).
Get Crafty
Photo: Rocky Mountain Flatbread
Rocky Mountain Flatbread will be putting on interactive pizza nights called Get Crafty ($54.99 per person, running January 23 and 30, 2024, from 5pm to 8pm). You’ll spend the 3 hours making your own pizza, which you’ll get to enjoy for dinner, in addition to a soup or salad to start and your choice of their house-made desserts to close the evening. Even better, you’ll be served craft beer paired with each of your three courses.
Art Dinner Series
Photo: 1931 Gallery Bistro
There are many special dinner events to choose from among DOVF’s tasty events. One to consider is an Art Dinner Series ($185 per person, running January 18, 25, February 1, 8, 2024, from 6pm to 8:30pm) presented by 1931 Gallery Bistro in the Vancouver Art Gallery. During the evening, you’ll dine on a five-course menu with optional wine pairings and have access to the Vancouver Art Gallery from 4pm to 8pm. A guided tour of Emily Carr – A Room of Her Ownwill be held at 6pm on the fourth floor.
So, don’t delay in booking the DOVF tasty events that most interest you! A full list of DOVF’s offerings can be found here.
