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Gourmet Warehouse Customer Appreciation Day Saturday, May 4th

3 May

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There are two places in this city, I could get lost in for hours. The first would be any library or bookstore,  the second is Gourmet Warehouse. I love good food, making it, eating it, or just thinking about making or eating it. Gourmet Warehouse has pretty much everything a cook, baker or entertainer could want or need.  There is the cook ware, the bake ware, sauces, snacks, prepared foods, frozen foods, small appliances, gift ware, aprons, cookbooks, candles, every utensil you could imagine and wine glasses. And of course storage containers to help you organize your kitchen so you can find what you need when you need it! This is just the short list.

So if there is anything you want or need, this Saturday, May 4th is the day to head down to Gourmet Warehouse, 1340 East Hastings Street, for their Customer Appreciation Day.   Everything in the store is 10% off from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The first 120 customers to make a purchase will receive a free Epicurean Cutting Board.   There will also be a draw for a SodaStream machine. Like most Saturdays in the store, there will be delectable goodies for tasting. Yum!

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River District Farmers Market Starts Saturday, May 4th

29 Apr

RiverDistrictFarmersMarket2013 River District Farmers Market begins this Saturday May 4th at the foot of Kerr Street in SE Vancouver (8683 Kerr Street).  If unfamiliar with the area, you only need to travel one block South of SE Marine Drive along Kerr Street and you are at East Kent Avenue.  Once there, you will see Romer’s Burger Bar to your right and just beyond it a view of the Fraser River.

After an inaugural first run last year, this Farmers Market is back for another season every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. until October 26th.  There will be more vendors on hand with fresh local produce, prepared food, local artisans showcasing  handmade products as well as musical entertainment.

This is a great scenic spot to cycle or walk along the riverfront, or stop in at Romer’s Burger Bar situated right next to the market for brunch, snack or early dinner after the market. I know burgers are their specialty, but if you don’t try their Whiskey Doughnuts, you have missed something truly heavenly. I must confess I have lived along the Fraser River in SE Vancouver for many years and this is a unique and special place.  If you haven’t already checked out this secret little oasis tucked away in East Vancouver, the Farmers Market is a perfect time to make your way down.

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Federico’s Supper Club

19 Apr

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The home of Federico’s Supper Club at 1728 Commercial Drive, has a long history of entertainment dating back to the 1920s.  Federico’s Supper Club is located on the same site as the former Grandview Theatre which is pictured to the left in all its former glory.   In later years, this property housed Luigi Moka’s Ristorante where Federico Fuoco grew up watching his father, Gianni Fuoco, entertain the patrons of Luigi’s with his band.

In 1999, Federico Fuoco established his supper club which has predominantly been a venue to dine and dance the night away.   In recent years, Federico’s Supper Club has been offering up a greater variety of events.  Some of the those events include live music featuring the likes of legendary blues musician, Wes Mackey.

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Wes Mackey will be performing next Wednesday, April 24th at 8:00 p.m.  Not a show to be missed for any blues lover.  Prior to the show, come early and enjoy $9 pasta dishes during their Pasta Hour Special which runs from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. as well as 50% off select wines.   Pasta Hour Special is offered every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Also, on these days, you have the choice of the Chef’s Tasting Menu which offers you a 6 course Tasting Menu for $49.

This Friday is the return of the Dinner, Comedy and Dance Nights which is a co-production with Jeff Turner Entertainment Group. This is a once a month event. Stay tuned to Federico’s website for upcoming shows. On deck this evening, is Patrick Maliha at 9:15 p.m.  Whether you are coming to dine and dance with a group, or dinner with the family after work,  the food and service at Federico’s Supper Club just can’t be beat.

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Neapolitan Pizza At Via Tevere Pizzeria

17 Apr

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There are many pizza places to choose from on, or near, Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. I recently had the pleasure of finally trying Via Tevere Pizzeria, 1190 Victoria Drive.  I have attempted to go before, but the line ups were a regular sighting which obviously said something about what was waiting within. So one Sunday evening, our group came prepared to wait, but the wait wasn’t long at all.

Via Tevere Pizzeria has been open just over one year now. It is the making of two brothers, Dom and Frank, whose family roots are tied to Naples, Italy. They make true Neapolitan pizza translation very thin crust and I will add now delicious!  Their pizzas are 12” size and are perfect for sharing which is exactly what we did with all four of them. You know the brothers must be doing something right to be featured on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here which aired on April 12th.

The restaurant has character from the heritage building it is housed in, to the funky yellow 1969 Fiat 500 mini-car parked out front with Via Tevere branded on the side of the car. Then there is the wood fire brick oven, amazing chandeliers and not to mention the staff. The restaurant has a warmth to it and is very family friendly.  Via Tevere Pizzeria is open for dinner Tuesday to Thursday 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Sundays from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and closed Mondays. If there is a wait, I promise it will be worth it.   Bon appetit!

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Earnest Ice Cream – Seriously Good Ice Cream

12 Apr

EarnestIceCream Bike PhotoSeriously good ice cream is quite a statement and I can assure you that they don’t exaggerate when they use that phrase. Who is they you might ask? That would be Ben Ernst and Erica Bernardi, the master minds behind Earnest Ice Cream. These East Vancouver residents launched their business less than a year ago.  So far, seriously good ice cream.

Ben and Erica make their ice cream from scratch emphasizing fresh local ingredients, translation no chemical stabilizers, artificial colours or flavours. The ice cream is then packaged in reusable pint sized mason jars which sell for $10 each at the Farmers Market with $1.00 returned when you return the jar.  Their passion for ice cream is obvious by the creative array of flavours. Some of their seasonal choices include Strawberry Basil, Blackberry Pepper and Pumpkin Pie.   Readily available now is my personal favourite Whiskey Hazelnut.  This is the flavour that got me hooked, although I am currently working my way through a jar of Salted Caramel ice cream which is delicious in its own right.

This weekend you will find Ben and Erica at the Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium, 30th & Ontario, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  They will have on hand some of the favourites including Salted Caramel, Whiskey Hazelnut,  Oatmeal Brown Sugar, Milk Chocolate, Cardamom and Lavender along with a few others. They will also have on hand their now famous ice cream sandwiches. Ben and Erica are at the Farmers Market about every 2nd weekend and do post on their Facebook Page when they will be at the market next. If you aren’t able to make it to the market, Earnest Ice Cream is available at Woodland Smokehouse & Commissary, 485 Commercial Street, (just South of East Hastings Street) and about a dozen other retail locations.   To learn more about Earnest Ice Cream and the retail locations where their ice cream is available, check out their website at www.earnesticecream.com. Bon appetit!  You won’t be disappointed.

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Wine Seminars at Vancouver Urban Winery Starting Sunday April 14th

10 Apr

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Have you wanted to learn about wine and wine pairing in a fun, informative environment? If the answer is yes, you are in luck. Vancouver Urban Winery is offering their version of Sunday School. A series of four ‘informal and irreverent wine seminars’ which will be hosted by Sommeliers David Stansfield and Lisa Cook. Both sommeliers have extensive experience with wine. The aim of these seminars is to demystify wine and make it a fun and engaging evening for everyone.

There will be a series of 4 seminars starting this Sunday, April 14th. The initial seminar is titled #101 – A World Tour of Wine. The second seminar held on April 28th is titled #102 – BC vs. The World which will be an interactive evening with brown-bag, blind tasting. The third seminar being held on May 12th is #103 – Better Know A BC Winery – Joie Farms which will include back vintages and barrel samples presented by winemaker and owner, Heidi Noble.  And if you are going to know a BC winery, this is one to know.  This award winning winery just cleaned up at the 2013  Great Northwest Wine Competition in Washington state where it was awarded thirteen medals. The last seminar in this series is being held on May 26th  is titled #104 – How To Buy Wine and Influence People. The view of this seminar is to assist people in deciphering wine labels and understanding wine scores.  All four seminars will be held at Vancouver Urban Winery, 55 Dunlevy Avenue. The cost is $35 per class or $120 for all 4 classes. Tickets can be purchased through the winery or by visiting www.vuw.eventbrite.com.  Classes run from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., but doors open at 6:00 p.m.  Everyone is encouraged to come early and meet their hosts and tour the winery. Cheers!

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Silk Road Dishcrawl on Commercial Drive April 16th

3 Apr

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What is Dishcrawl you might ask?  The concept is billed as “food, fun and exploration”.   Dishcrawl emerged in San Francisco in 2010 and is expanding to a number of major cities including Vancouver.  Each city has an Ambassador that organizes culinary walking tours.  The Ambassador takes the group from restaurant to restaurant to try dishes chosen for their tour.

In the upcoming tour taking place on April 16th, Vancouver Ambassador, Yana Kim, will take you on a Silk Road Adventure.   The tour highlights restaurants along Commercial Drive. You will be visiting 4 restaurants which are currently being kept secret.  Ssshh … but hint they are being announced on Dishcrawl’s Twitter account (Twitter@DishcrawlVan) if you wish to sign up for the latest details.  One restaurant has been announced which is  Carthage Café, 1851 Commercial Drive. Carthage Cafe features French and Tunisian cuisine.   Dishcrawl promises an unforgettable evening for the senses which will take you from India to Europe.   To participate in this exotic gastronomic adventure, tickets are $60 and can be purchased online at Dishcrawl.

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East Village Chocolate Tour Saturday, March 30th

26 Mar

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Who does not love chocolate?   Well if you wish to experience chocolate in a whole new way, consider taking the East Village Chocolate Tour.  Bonnie and Alexis of Off The Eaten Track offer a number of culinary tours on the East side of Vancouver.  This weekend, it is all about chocolate.  For $45, you get a 2 hour walking tour in which you will learn about chocolate from the experts.  This one time event starts at Steam Tea House where you get to sample 2 chocolate infused teas.  After that, they will take you to Black Rook Bakehouse for their famous Black & Tan cake which I’ve learnt was featured in Vancouver Magazine’s 25 Things to Taste Before You Die.  Then you are off to Campagnolo Roma for an exquisite Italian tiramisu.  The tour ends at Schokolade Café where you sample hand made chocolates with an award-winning Chocolatier.  The tour starts at 4:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. Meeting place is Waterfront Station at 601 West Cordova Street. To buy your ticket, or to learn more about the other culinary tours Bonnie and Alexis offer,  check out their website at www.offtheeatentracktours.ca.

Photo Credit: Off The Eaten Track

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Winter Farmers Market In Photos

24 Mar

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It was a busy day in the beautiful sunshine at yesterday’s Winter Farmers Market. In case you missed it, here is a sample of what will be in store when they do it all again next weekend, March 30th. Same time 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., same place adjacent to Nat Bailey Stadium at 30th & Ontario. For more information as to which vendors are at the market next week, checkout their website www.eatlocal.org.

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Award Winning Marmalade At This Weekend’s Winter Farmers Market

22 Mar

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I recently had the pleasure of attending an artisan bread making class presented by local artisan bread maker, Chris Brown, of Rise Artisan Bakery.  Chris sells his delicious artisan breads at the Winter Farmers Market held at Nat Bailey Stadium. He will be there in good form this Saturday, March 23rd along with his hot cross buns just in time for Easter.  What is notable is that Chris also makes world class orange Seville marmalade and I do mean world class.  Chris recently entered his marmalade  “The Bitter End” in the World’s Original Marmalade Awards held in Penrith, England.  There were over 1,500 entrants from around the world. Chris made away with the Silver Medal in the Artisan Category.  I can attest that the marmalade is really that good, in my humble opinion.   The award winning marmalade will also be available at this weekend’s Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.   To learn more about Rise Artisan Bakery, check out their Facebook page. Congratulations Chris!

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