Coming soon an East Van community kitchen space at 477 Powell Street The Uncommissary. From what we are hearing this will be an amazing creative space. Organizers of this space, Luc and Lisa Leimanis, are on the hunt for local food companies wanting to join a community kitchen that provides some of the usual items including stoves, ovens, prep tables, walk-in coolers and freezers, storage, dishwasher and parking. That call went out and the response was swift being there is a lack of community kitchen space in Vancouver. Their plan is to have three stations within the community kitchen that is well stocked for foodie professionals to make their wares. They will also have space for two food carts and other food production companies. Also on the drawing board is a store and café called The Uncommon which will be open Monday to Friday. The store will sell the products that are made in house and where possible they will work those products into the menu in the café. The aim is to be open some Saturdays for community BBQs. The Uncommon will also be available for rent in the evenings for pop-up events as well as some in store events that they plan to host. At present, they are working through the regulatory process and renovations, but plan to be up and running (provided all goes smoothly) in June. We look forward to welcoming this new venture to East Vancouver. Watch this space for updates.
Coming Soon … An EastVan Community Kitchen Space – The Uncommissary
8 Apr
Workshop On Small Space Vegetable Gardens At Figaro’s Garden April 11th
30 Mar
Our favourite garden shop, Figaro’s Garden, 1896 Victoria Drive is hosting a hands on workshop on Small Space Vegetable Gardens. The workshop will be led by Andrea Bellamy, author of the award winning blog Heavy Petal. Andrea will be sharing her tips on small space gardening. Whether you wish to create an edible garden in a small yard, an apartment balcony or a small plot in a community garden, she will provide lots of great advice to help your garden grow. The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 11th from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. Although there is no cost for the workshop, there is a $7 fee to cover the cost of supplies, being a post, soil and seeds. To register, contact Figaro’s Garden at T: 604.253.1696 or by email at info(at)figarosgarden.ca.
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Baker’s Market Returns This Spring To SE Vancouver
25 Mar
The Baker’s Market is back this Spring! If you haven’t attended the Baker’s Market, it is a great community based event that brings together local baking enthusiasts, pastry students, mommy bakers as well as budding entrepreneurs. Some of the delicious things you will find include exquisite French macarons by J’adore les Macarons, delicious lemons squares from The Lemon Square and honestly, these are a little piece of heaven if you haven’t already tried them. Other vendors lined up include Mama’s Bake Shop with gluten free cake and cookie mixes, Chicka Bites Baked Goods, Le Mardi Cake Studio with some works of art that you can eat and Yellow Basket Baking to name just a few. Each week you will find a different group of bakers, so the offerings will vary each week, but some of the goodies you can expect to find include organic muffins, brownies, handmade chocolates, Belgian waffles, scones, preserves, breads, tarts and much more. If you have something specific in mind that you would like, we do recommend you arrive early.
The Baker’s Market will be held at Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, 7646 Prince Albert Street (60th & Fraser). Admission to the market is free, there is ample parking and our favourite part, lots of samples! So come out and support your local talented creative bakers. The market kicks off Sunday, April 12th, but if you miss the first weekend, there will be 8 more markets on April 19th, April 26th, May 3rd, May 10th, May 17th, May 24th and June 7th and June 14th. The market runs each Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. This is one sweet market you should not miss.
Photo Credit (Above): J’adore les Macarons
Photo Credit (Below): The Lemon Square
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Gourmet Warehouse Cooking Classes This Spring
16 Mar
The Gourmet Warehouse has a great line up of cooking classes coming up in April including Flavours of Vietnam, Greek Night, Cake Basics and Prawn Festival to name a few. Attending one of these classes, is certainly a fun way to spend an afternoon. Of course, there is always shopping after the cooking class as participants are offered a 10% discount for purchases made the day of your class. For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering this Spring visit Cooking Classes. We have set out a sampling of some of the delicious classes they have lined up:
Flavours of Vietnam – Saturday, April 18th 11:00 am ($59) SOLD OUT
Chef Cindy Low will introduce you to Vietnamese cuisine which is one of Southeast Asia’s best kept secrets. The emphasis will be on fresh Asian herbs and vegetables as well as bright seasonings that translate into refreshing, healthy and light cuisine. The dishes she will be making include:
•Vietnamese salad rolls with prawns, served with a spicy mango dipping sauce
•Shaking beef with arugula, served banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) style
•Chicken pho
•Stir-fried seasonal Asian greens
•Homemade Vietnamese carrot and daikon pickles
•Vietnamese coffee ice cream
NOTE: April 18th SOLD OUT so an extra date has been added Sunday, April 19th
Greek Night – Saturday, April 25th 11:00 am ($59)
Join Chef Cindy Low on another culinary journey to the beloved Greek islands with classic and traditional Greek dishes on the menu. Greek cuisine is highlighted by its distinctive, pure flavors and is satisfying in its simplicity. Not to mention, the Mediterrean diet is regarded by many as one of the healthiest in the world. Some of the delicious dishes Cindy will be preparing include:
•Horiatiki salata (Greek salad) – tomatoes, cucumber, feta, olives, green pepper, oregano,
extra virgin olive oil
•Prawns saganaki – prawns baked with tomatoes and feta
•Chicken souvlaki – tender cubes of chicken breast, marinated and grilled to perfection
•Roasted lemon potatoes
•Tzatziki – yogurt and cucumber dip
•Baklava “bites” – classic Greek dessert of nuts, honey, filo pastry
Cake Basics – Sunday, April 26th 11:00 am ($59)
You are invited to join instructor Rick Gaspard for this hands-on class. You can expect to learn the basic techniques required to decorate beautiful cakes for any occasion. You will also learn the basics of filling and frosting a cake, handling a piping bag and creating beautifully piped borders. As this is a hands-on class, registration is limited to 8 participants so early registration along with an apron is recommended.
Prawn Festival – Saturday, May 9th 11:00 am ($69) SOLD OUT
Well if you love prawns, this is the class for you. This cooking class coincides with the International Prawn Festival and to celebrate Chef Cindy Low will demonstrate how to cook prawns perfectly. Some of the dishes she will be showing you include:
•Prawn and mango amuse bouche
•Prawn and lobster bisque
•Prawns with chorizo and garlic, Spanish tapas-style
•Prawns and smoked salmon pasta in a cream sauce with herbs
•Wok-fried crystal tiger prawns with snow peas and asparagus
•Dark chocolate-dipped strawberries
If you are interested in any of the cooking classes, be sure to register early to avoid disappointment, classes do sell out. Bon Appetit!
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2nd Annual Cider and Gluten Free Beer Tasting Event At Wise Hall March 21st
13 Mar
You are invited to CiderWise taking place at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street, Saturday, March 21st. This delicious tasting event is brought to you by CAMRA Vancouver. As many know, there are a number of people that are gluten-intolerant, sensitive, allergic or choose to omit gluten for health reasons. Whatever the reason it makes drinking beer and other alcoholic beverages a little challenging. Even more so with the growing craft beer industry right here under our noses in East Vancouver. So we are pleased to see this event back at the Wise Hall to showcase gluten-free beers and ciders. Some of the participants lined up for this event include Txotx Basque Imports, Merridale Cider, Sea Cider, Left Field Cider Co. and Howling Moon Craft Cider. Want a bite of something to eat in between tastings? Food trucks will be set up outside the Wise Hall for your snacking pleasure with gluten free options of course. Tickets for CiderWISE are available at Eventbrite for $20 for CAMRA, WISE and Vanbrewers Members and $25 for non-members. Event kicks off at 1:00 and goes till 5:00 pm.
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East Van GoGos 7th Annual Jazz Brunch March 22
10 Mar
The East Van GoGos invite you to their 7th Annual Jazz Brunch Sunday, March 22nd. What is a GoGo? Gogo is a Zulu word meaning “grandmother”. The Greater Van Gogos which includes chapters in various parts of the Lower Mainland are grandmothers and ‘grandothers’ working in groups to support African grandmothers raising a generation of children orphaned by AIDS. This network of grandmother groups in south western BC are dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign and the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
In March 2006, Stephen Lewis, a Canadian humanitarian and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, issued a call to Canadian grandmothers to bond with their African counterparts. In his travels, Lewis noticed the phenomenal grandmothers who had buried their adult children and stepped in to raise the orphans left behind. They needed money for school fees and uniforms, food and other necessities. In the Vancouver area, three women answered the call. They invited a few others and launched Greater Van Gogos in the summer of 2006 with four groups. Although grandmothers in Africa’s many countries are addressed in different ways – ja ja in Uganda, sho sho in Kenya or nyana in Zambia – the word gogo felt right. Many years later, there are 20 groups registered with approximately 600 members from Vancouver and the surrounding areas. Together they have raised more than $1 million for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The funds are distributed to community level projects supporting grandmothers and the children in their care in 15 sub-Saharan African countries.
The brunch on Sunday, March 22nd is a fundraiser for the East Van GoGos which will feature a musical performance by What It Is! The group consists of Mimi Beyene, Cass King, Patti Powell and Carol Wiedemann. We hear that these four unique voices are quite the powerhouse and have a captivating sound with a cappella soul. Their distinct arrangements are steeped in the soulful sounds of such greats as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Etta James, and Laura Mvula. They will be bringing East Van Soul to a whole new level.
Brunch will be provided along with coffee, tea and juice. Suggested donation is $25. To order your ticket contact Sharon at T: 604-254-4071 or eastvangogos@gmail.com. The brunch takes place from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm in the Grandview Room at the Trout Lake Community Centre, 3360 Victoria Drive. The music gets under way at 12:15 pm. Come out and support these great GoGos!
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Blim Market At The Heritage Hall March 8th
4 Mar
Blim Market takes places this Sunday, March 8th at the Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street. There will be 48 local vendors on hand with an array of items including handmade accessories, jewellery, vintage items, pottery, cards, gifts and sweet treats. A few of the vendors we hear that will on site include first timer, Rescued Clothing Co., with their collection of upcycled t-shirts. There will also be favourite Blim Market vendor Galit Mastai Design, Product of Science and Art with beautiful natural soaps. As well, Barefoot Books will have a great selection of children’s books. Entry for the Blim Market is by donation and the event runs from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Hot food will be on hand by Open Sesame. Also, if you time it right, there will be two free raffle draws at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm for $25 Blim Gift Certificates.
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Vancouver Farmers Market Returns To Hastings Park March 8th
2 Mar
Vancouver Farmers Market is pleased to announce the Hastings Park Farmers Market is returning this Spring. As many will recall, it had a 9 week trial run this past winter at this location and by all accounts it was a great success. So it’s back starting Sunday, March 8th every weekend until April 26th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The market will again be located at Hastings Park between the Forum and the Agrodome. You will be able to stroll down tree-lined pathways under twinkling lights and wander through the Italian Garden. There is a playground close at hand for those coming with little ones. The market will, of course, feature many great local vendors and will have a great selection of produce, fish, meat & dairy, artisan prepared foods, baking & treats, coffee, local crafts and of course some hot food trucks. The market runs rain or shine. See you at the market!
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Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates Coming To The East Village March 11
25 Feb
Richard Wolak of Vancouver Foodster is bringing his next Tasting Plates event to the East Village. What is Tasting Plates? It is basically a culinary roving tour that takes place at different food and/or beverage establishments. You register for the event at the designated spot in this case, Pallet Coffee Roasters, 323 Semlin Drive, one block East of Victoria Drive just North of East Hastings Street. You show your printed or digital tickets that you purchased online and in turn receive your Tasting Plate Cards. Thereafter, you wander whether by bike, foot, car or transit to the various venues and nibble away to your hearts content. Each location will have specific menu items on offer for the Tasting Plates.
Now the East Village is an area we enjoy hanging out in. So many great places on this stretch of road near Nanaimo and East Hastings. As it happens, Richard will be featuring some of our favourites in his upcoming Tasting Plates. On March 11th, he will start the event at Pallet Coffee Roasters where you will obtain your Tasting Plates Cards. Pallet Coffee Roasters is a great little spot to check out for coffee and/or lunch whether as part of the Tastings Plates or next time you are in the area. Next up on his list is Windsor Meats, 2276 E. Hastings Street. This is a great meat shop and oh, last time we checked in, I believe they boasted some handsome butchers. So you may get a sense of humour along with your visit. We are thrilled to see Di Oliva Tasting Bar participating in this event. This new olive oil & balsamic vinegar tasting bar is a must try. Next up on the tour is Jackalope’s Neighbourhood Dive which has been serving up some delicious brunch items. Then there is Platform 7 Coffee which spot is designed after a railway station and if you are lucky and the weather is nice, check out the garden tucked in the back. We see Richard will be making a stop at our favourite distillery, Odd Society Distillery, at 1725 Powell Street, the makers of East Van Vodka, Crème de Cassis and Wallflower Gin to name just a few of the spirits they make. Oh and they make some seriously good cocktails! There’s a lot to love on this foodie tour. We are sure you won’t be disappointed. Tickets for this event are $45 and available online at Eventbrite. The event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. and goes till 10:00 pm.
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Hawkers Market Returns To The Independent Saturday February 28
23 Feb
The Hawkers Market is back this Saturday, February 28th at the Independent, 188 Kingsway. If you have not checked out this event, you are missing a delicious treat. This underground foodie event has a different group of vendors each month, so each market is unique. Lots of samples available and small affordable portions for purchase so you can taste your way around the room.
This weekend you can expect something completely different with the Edible Bug experience and tasting with Chef David George Gordon who makes his way up from Seattle. Also lined up for this weekend are locals 33 Acres Brewing Co, Fife Bakery teaming up with Churn with handcrafted butter, Dickie’s Ginger, Electric Jelly Doughnuts, The Salty Cookie Company, Notch Coffee, Flip Flop Food Truck, Disco Cheetah and we are hearing about bacon and bourbon shortbread cookies by Whipped Baked Goods and the list goes on. We also hear Juno Kim will be on site which I’m sure will be a delicious treat. Juno Kim is a self taught cook who has been doing some delicious pop up dinners at 33 Acres Brewing on Monday nights. Come tantalize your taste buds and help support young local entrepreneurs. Tickets are $10 in advance and available online at Eventbrite or you can purchase tickets at the door for $15. Event gets underway at 5:00 pm. For a full rundown of all the vendors, visit Hawkers Market online.
ILiveInEastVan.com 