If you are thinking about trying your hand at growing food at home, Figaro’s Garden Centre is hosting the perfect workshop for you. On Tuesday, April 8th, you are invited to join them for Start An Edible Garden From Seed workshop. You will learn how to start a garden and harvest fresh herbs, fruits and veggies throughout the summer season. This a 1 hour workshop that kicks off at 6:00 pm. The cost is $34.94. To purchase your ticket, or get more information, visit Eventbrite. If you can’t make this workshop, they will be hosting another one on Small Space Edible Gardening on April 29th.
The summer season for Vancouver Farmer Markets kicks off on Saturday, April 6th. Trout Lake Farmers Market is back, as is the perennial favourite Riley Park Farmers Market. Both markets feature an array of local vendors offering fruits, vegetables, flowers, beverages, baked goods, pre-made meals, soups, condiments and so much more. We encourage you to stop by and support our local producers. To see a full listing of all markets hosted by Vancouver Farmers Market and which vendors will be attending each week, visit eatlocal.org.
Trout Lake Farmers Market 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Every Saturday: April 6, 2024 – October 26, 2024 Location: Lakewood Drive & E 13th Avenue
Riley Park Farmers Market 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Every Saturday: April 6, 2024 – October 26, 2024 Location: 30th Avenue and Ontario Street
The Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival kicks off January 13th and runs till February 14th in various locations around Metro Vancouver. For 2024, there are a total of 105 locations participating in the event which will offer some 162 different types of hot chocolate. Organizers have created a great virtual map so you can see all the spots participating as well as an alphabetical listing which sets out which locations are offering vegan, dairy free and gluten free options. In East Van, you’ll see a number of spots clustered in Mount Pleasant and in the Main Street/Riley Park area. In SE Vancouver, you will find a new participant Boketto Tea Bar located in River District which is a great little spot if you haven’t been. You will also find hot chocolate offerings in the Grandview Woodland area at To Live For Bakery & Cafe and Mah Milk Bar. Be sure to check out the map and some of the delish offerings and support these great local spots.
As part of the Dine Out Vancouver Festival, Vancouver Foodster aka Richard Wolak, invites you to join him on a self-guided tour to experience some delicious dumplings. The East Van Dumpling Fest Crawl is set for January 17, 2024 with a starting point at Grandview Park at 6:00 pm. From there you will visit a variety of restaurants and be offered a Tasting Plate of dumplings at each stop. They have quite the variety of eats lined up including Chinese dumplings, Italian gnocchi, Nepalese momos, Mexican tamales, Japanese gyoza and more. This is a great way to check out a variety of different spots with other like minded folks. Tickets for this event are now available with early bird pricing available until December 24, 2023 at $69 per person. After that, tickets are available for $79 per person until January 14, 2024. Not only would this be a delicious event to attend, it would make a great gift of experience for the food lover in your life. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Gourmet Warehouse has added more delish cooking classes heading into the Fall season. If you haven’t already experienced one of their classes, it is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with some like-minded food lovers. If you have participated, you know it’s a great way to pick up some knowledge and some great tips in the kitchen. Added bonus is after each cooking class all the participants are offered a 10% discount for purchases made the day of your class. We have set a few of their upcoming classes that caught our eye. For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering visit Cooking Classes. Heads up, do you see a class you like? We encourage you to book your spot, we some classes already selling out.
TRADITIONAL DELIGHTS: A JOURNEY THROUGH PERSIA – October 10, 2023
Chef Sarah Kashani invites you to experience a culinary adventure through Iranian cuisine in this exclusive cooking class. Chef Kashani will teach you about the rich flavors and aromas of Persian cuisine. This class will help build you skills to tackle classic dishes with confidence. The menu for the upcoming class is set out below:
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• Maast o Moosir, quintessential Persian yogurt dip served with Fresh Handmade Pita • Tahdig and Barberry, Persian Rice with Saffron • Khoresh Fesenjan, Beef Stew with Walnuts and Pomegranate • Zereshk Polo, Chicken in Traditional Sauce, Persian Rice
DATE NIGHT IN PARIS – October 25, 2023
Chef Deniz invites to participate in this hands-on cooking class. You will be guided step-by-step through each recipe to bring classic Parisian favourites to life. Indulge in warmed cheese, decadent duck breast, and mussels cooked and enjoyed after class. The menu for this upcoming class is set out below:
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• Chèvre Chaud Salad with Crispy Goat’s Cheese Fritter, Marinated Fall Beets with Vin Cotto and Sweet Spices, Mille Feuille and Roasted Hazelnuts. • Moules Marinières, Light Stew of Local Mussels with Leeks, Celery and Coarse Cracked Black Pepper, Warm Sourdough. • Crispy Duck Breast with Sauce Bigarade, Roasted Endive, Steamed Fingerling Potatoes, Fall Greens.
COZY CLASSICS FOR TWO – October 26, 2023
Chef Deniz will share some incredible recipes for All Clad Gratin Dishes perfect for your next family dinner or party. The dishes inspired from around the world take you on a journey through Europe and the Mediterranean. If that isn’t enough, this class also comes with a special Gift With Purchase. Each attendee with receive a set of 2 All Clad 6″ Stainless Steel Gratin Dishes valued at $90. The menu for this upcoming event is set out below:
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• Baked Camembert in Crispy Pastry with Spicy Cranberries. • Charred Leek and Cauliflower Gratin with Fresh Herbs, Tallegio and Roasted Hazelnuts. • Classical Chicken Pot Pie with Wild and Cultivated Mushrooms, Crispy Mille Feuille Top, Pomme Puree and Warm Radishes. • Pasteis de Nata, Warm Traditional Portuguese Egg Tart.
To see all the classes being offered and or to register, we invite you to visit GourmetWarehouse.ca.
The very delicious Greek Summerfest on Boundary is back! If you haven’t checked this event out, it is a true culinary experience you don’t want to miss. Along with great food, they have lots of great entertainment lined up including performances by Jim Byrnes, Johnny & The Walkers, Heart and Sole and Alpha Video and along with many others. Food includes souvlaki, BBQ lamb, spanakopita as well as delicious Greek donuts (loukoumades) which are an absolute must try. We understand vegan options have been added to the menu line up. Greek Summerfest on Boundary takes place at 4541 Boundary Road at 29th Avenue, close to Moscrop Avenue on the Burnaby side. Admission is free. To learn more, visit them online at Vancouver Greek Summerfest.
The Vegan Night Market hosted by Peaces is back at the Waldorf Hotel, 1489 East Hastings Street this summer. This will be a bi-weekly market throughout the summer kicking off this Thursday, June 8th. You can expect to find loads of vendors with all things 100% plant based as well as selection of food trucks. The market happens indoors and outdoors from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Admittance is by a suggested $4 donation or by bringing canned goods, clothing or pet food. Kids are free and dogs are welcome.
Gourmet Warehouse has a great line up of delish cooking classes year round. If you happen to have a budding chef in your midst, or are looking for ways to keep your kids entertained this summer, Gourmet Warehouse has something for you. They are again offering a week long cooking class Kids Can Cook to teach kids a host of skills in the kitchen. The first session is already sold out, but there is currently space available in their Slide Into Summer Class happening July 17 – 21, 2023. Classes are designed for kids aged 7 to 12. They will learn how to cut, cook, mix and bake some great recipes. This is a hands-on class led by a trained chef, Deniz Tarakcioglu. Kids will learn to make a variety of dishes including handmade samosas, lemon meringue pie, chili and much more. We’ve pasted in the full menu below. To register, visit Gourmet Warehouse online.
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MONDAY, JULY 17 / DAY ONE • BC Sungold Tomato Salad with Fresh Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella • Chicken Schnitzel with Spatzle and Sweet Snap Peas • Gooey Peanut Butter Cookies with White Chocolate and Jam
TUESDAY, JULY 18 / DAY TWO • Handmade Fresh Samosas with Spiced Potato Filling, Fresh Mango and Chili Chutney • Butter and Tomato Curry with Paneer and Vegetables, Steamed Basmati Rice • Fruit Kebobs with Chantilly Cream
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 / DAY THREE • Dreamy French Toast with Brioche, Fresh Berries and Whipped Cream • The Ultimate Beef Chili with Guacamole and Cheese Quesdilla, Sour Cream • Muddy Buddies with Cereal and Peanut Butter
THURSDAY, JULY 20 / DAY FOUR • Crushed Cucumber Salad with Nuoc Cham Dressing, Crispy Onions, Cilantro and Peanuts • Handmade Pork and Vegetable Dumplings, Aromatic Scallion Dipping Sauce, Sweet Soy • New York Style Cheesecake with Mango, Assorted Exotic Fruit
FRIDAY, JULY 21 / DAY FIVE • BC Summer Vegetable Coleslaw with Sesame, Light Citrus-Honey Dressing, Fresh Herbs • Traditional Paella Valenciana with Chicken and Garlic Sausage, Vegetables, Saffron • Classical Lemon Meringue Pie
All the participants are offered a one time 10% discount on purchases made during the week of the class. For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering, visit Cooking Classes.
Vancouver Farmers Market kicked off its summer season with the popular Trout Lake Farmers Market at John Hendry Park. This market happens every Saturday from April 1st to October 28th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Riley Park Farmers Market also officially kicked off its summer season on Saturday, April 1st at 50 E 30th Ave & Ontario Street. Riley Park Farmers Market runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. As of Sunday, May 27th, the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market kicks off and will run every Sunday at Dude Chilling Park at 8th Avenue and Guelph Street from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm until October 29, 2023. All the markets feature awesome local vendors with fruits, vegetables, flowers, beverages, bread, condiments and a selection of food trucks and so much more. Be sure to stop by and support your local producers. To see a full listing of all markets hosted by Vancouver Farmer Markets, visit eatlocal.org.
Gourmet Warehouse has some great new cooking classes lined up this Spring. If you haven’t already experienced one of their classes, it is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with some like-minded food lovers. If you have participated, you know it’s a great way to pick up some knowledge and some great tips in the kitchen. Added bonus is after each cooking class all the participants are offered a 10% discount for purchases made the day of your class. We have set a few of their upcoming classes that caught our eye. For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering visit Cooking Classes.
Pleats & Eats: Dicky’s Dumpling Workshop – April 5, 2023
You are invited to join Pearl and Dickson, the creators of Dicky’s Dumps, as they show you how to effortlessly make your new favourite dumplings. You will learn various different dumpling folds and pinches to create beautiful and authentic treats that are perfect for sharing. This class will focus on three unique fillings and different cooking styles to expand your dumpling mastery. The menu for this class hasn’t been announced yet, but we’re pretty sure that it will be delicious! We also hear each class participant will be leaving the evening with a gift.
Date Night – Dreaming Of Amalfi Coast – April 20, 2023
If you have never been to the Amalfi Coast, we recommend putting it on your Bucket List. If you have been, you know how magical this part of Italy is. We encourage you to treat yourself and that special someone in your life with “Dreams of the Amalfi Coast” and discover the beautiful fresh flavours of one of the most famous coastlines in the world. Amalfi cuisine is encapsulated by fresh seafood, sparkling lemon, and perfectly ripened vegetables to fill your stomach and your soul. The menu for this class is set out below. Note: tickets for this class are being sold in pairs.
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• Huacatay Vinaigrette Quinoa Salad with Mango, Avocado, Roasted Pepper, and Rocota Chili • Verduras Causa – Whipped Beetroot and Potato, Lima Bean Puree, Aji Salsa, Pickled Beet, Huacatay, and Yam Chips • Nikkei Ceviche – Wild Sockeye Salmon, Ginger, Avocado with Passion Fruit Ponzu, Wasabi Aioli, and Nori • Lomo Saltado – Skirt Steak with Onion, Tomatoes, and Peppers with Kennebec Fries
Pasta Like A Pro – Spring In The South – April 27, 2023
Chef Deniz Tarakcioglu invites to join him to explore the regions of Southern Italy dish-by-dish, making each course yourself with expert guidance from our chefs. Roasted vegetables, classical pasta shapes, and delectable sauces will take you along the Mediterranean coastline of one of Italy’s historic regional cuisines. The menu for this class is set out below.
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• Roasted Local Asparagus with Vin Cotto, Mortadella and Pecorino Romano, Fine Olive Oil • Hand Shaped Orecchiette with Fresh Herbs, Olive Oil, Zucchini and Bottarga • Maccheroni al Ferretto with Fennel Sausage Ragu, Spring Peas and Sheep’s Cheese • Lemon Cream with Preserved Berries
To see all the classes being offered and or to register, we invite you to visit GourmetWarehouse.ca.
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