ssssss5

Archive for the ‘Festivals’ Category

Highlights at Eat Vancouver 2013

May 30th, 2013 admin

This past weekend I visited the Eat Vancouver exhibition at BC Place Stadium and found it to be a very organized event with a lot of different food and drink to taste. Since this is a food festival geared towards consumers I expected to encounter crowds. I visited on the Saturday and went about an hour after the show opened and was easily able to visit most of the booths before the crowds set-in making for an enjoyable time to chat with chefs and taste the different dishes in the food court area as well as the booths in the exhibition.

Some of my highlights during my visit is what I tasted and these are the ones that I loved.

Dark Chocolate Mojito Truffle

 Dark Chocolate Mojito Truffle at the Secret Location booth created by Pastry Chef Kira Desmond

Ginger Molasses Cookie

Ginger Molasses Cookie with chocolate chunks at the Kitchening booth created by Carly Wintschel

Chicken Satay Roti

Chicken Satay Roti at the EBO Restaurant booth made by Chef John Chang

Indian plate of Butter Chicken, Spinach and Chick peas

Indian plate of Butter Chicken, Spinach and Chick peas made by Siddharthas Indian Kitchen

Persian crackers and cookies

Persian crackers and cookies made by North Van Saman Bakery

Dark Chocolate Coffee Caramels

Dark Chocolate Coffee Caramels from In The Oven baking

Coffee Cakes Cookies at the Italian Consortium booth made by Caprici del Pellegrino in Noicattaro, Italy

Eat Vancouver takes place annually in Vancouver.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Festivals, Latest Tags: , , , , , No Comments »

Feast of Fields at Golden Ears Cheese

September 13th, 2012 admin

Emma Davison – Golden Ears Cheesecrafters

One of my favourite food events of the year is Feast of Fields which always takes place in September at a different farm around the lower mainland. This past Sunday, this tasty event was held in an open field at Golden Ears Cheeseworks where over 1,000 people joined in eating, drinking and mingling festivities!

Shelome Bouvette – Executive Chef at Lolitas with her Ceviche

Chef Tom Lee of Edible Canada with his Curry crusted Seared Scallops, avocado puree, charred Hazelmere organic farm corn salsa, fried corn tortilla

Student Chefs from Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts with there Thyme and Birch Syrup infused watermelon

Chef Dan Craig of EBO Restaurant with his Apple Walnut Loaf

Terra Breads serving their Flatbread topped with Klippers Organics Squash, Onions & Sage

Chef Wendy Boys of Cocolico and her Fig & Honeycomb Ice Cream Sandwich with a Toasted Hazelnut Sable

One of my favourite desserts at the feast was made by Chef Wendy Boys and she has made her recipe for her Fig & Toffee Ice Cream Sandwiches With Roasted Hazelnut Sables And Cocolico’s Salted Butter Caramel Sauce available to the public here is her recipe.

Cedric & Kaeli serving Tea Sodas at Namasthe Tea Co

Pastry Chef Lisa Perkins of Vancouver Club with her Apricot Cheesecake Popsicles

Chef Todd Bright (L) of Wild Rice with their Yarrow Meadows Duck Confit

Salt Spring Coffee Co and their Byron’s Maracaturra cold brew coffee with Cawston Cherry Purée

Roasted Corn on the Cob from Krausse Berry Farms

30 component Dungeness Crab Slaw from Vancouver Club

Mark Simpson of the Artisan Food & Beverage Group

Grilled Duck Sausage Pizza by Seasonal 56 Restaurant

Chef Ann Kirsebom and her delicious Cranberry & Onion Confit

Pearl Urban Bistro with their Tempura Bacon

Live music

My Feast of Fields favourites are shown above. This was my third visit to Feast of Fields, last year was the 2nd visit and my first visit was Feast of Fields at UBC Farm in 2009. This wonderful annual event is organized by Farm Folk City Folk and is their annual fundraiser.

I am already looking forward to attending next year’s event scheduled for September 8, 2013.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Festivals, Latest Tags: , , , No Comments »

2nd Annual Best of the West

August 18th, 2012 admin

Last week I attended this wonderful event for the 2nd year in a row hosted by the Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver along with House Wine. Again the event was filled with wonderful bites from many of West Vancouver and the North shore’s restaurants as well as BC Wine for guests to sip.

Duck Rilette and Saskatoon berry mostarda tart by Fraiche

Roast Suckling Pig with mashed potatoes by La Regalade

Pier 7 Restaurant chefs

Pan Seared Spring Salmon, chanterelle mushroom and bacon saute and pea shoots by Pier 7 Restaurant

Prawn Jalepeno Wrap with asian slaw and chili mango drizzle by Zen Japanese Restaurant

Dale Ferris Catering

Louis Gervais Fine Foods and Catering

Mesquite smoked, Pemberton Valley flat iron steak by Louis Gervais Fine Foods

The setting for this event is beautiful, it was held on the pier on the water at Ambelside, guests were treated to delicious food from restaurants that included, Fraiche Restaurant, Beachside Forno, Pier 7 Restaurant, Carmelo’s, Restaurant Chez Michel, Zen, Mangia E Bevi, Larson Station, The Observatory Restaurant, La Regalade, Dundarave Fish Market Restaurant, Dale Ferris Catering and Louis Gervais Fine Foods.

The delicious food, wine and the trio playing jazz made for a beautiful evening on the pier!

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Festivals, Latest Tags: , , , No Comments »

Vancouver Craft Beer Week Opening Night

May 21st, 2012 admin

Cheers

The opening event for the 3rd Annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week got off to a roaring start on Friday on May 18th. The room was filled with beer lovers who mixed and mingled over tastings from many of the regions breweries including Howe Sound Brewery, Elysian, Lighthouse, Russel, Red Truck and more.

John Mitchell

I met John Mitchell who was the founder of Craft Beer in BC 32 years ago Known as the “grandfather of micro-brewing in Canada”. In 1980, John Mitchell and Frank Appleton pioneered North America’s first modern craft brewery at Horseshoe Bay on BC’s spectacular Howe Sound.  This began what has become known as the “craft brewing renaissance”. In 1996, John Mitchell helped design the Howe Sound Brewery and worked as their first brewer developing their initial recipes.

The Beerthirst guys --Leo (left), Hannan (middle) & Scott (right)

Howe Sound Brewery

Red Truck Beer

60 events are being offered in this year’s Vancouver Craft Beer Week that includes 9 Headliner events, 6 Opening Acts, 36 Neighbourhood Gigs, and 12+ week-long specials dedicated to all things craft beer.

Make sure to check out their 60+ participating Breweries.

Paul Done of Epic Media showing off Street Meet Food Truck's Smoked Beef Poutine

Of course there were a selection of eats being served both inside and outside the building. Inside Darby’s Pub was handing out platters of sliders. Outside the Street Meet Food Truck was offering a selection of eats for purchase including their popular Smoked Beef Poutine.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Festivals, Latest Tags: , , , , , No Comments »

Feast of Fields at Krause Berry Farm

September 12th, 2011 admin

Lolita's Ceviche Habanero

Yesterday I tasted my way through Feast of Fields out in Langley at Krause Berry Farm,  organized by Vancouver’s FarmFolk/CityFolk. It was a beautiful day of fun, food, and drink in the hot sunshine, here are some photos from the day of festivity and libations.

The owners of Meat & Bread

 

Mark Simpson - Brewmaster of Dockside Brewing

 

John Jandera making pizzas in the Terra Breads drum oven

 

Chef Sean Cousins of The Vancouver Club serving their Duck Confit Pizza

 

The long line-up at Go Fish

 

Summerhill Wine in a box

 

Chefs of Beachside Forno

 

Chef Todd Bright of Wild Rice making Chinese Bbq Duck Confit

 

Manager of Aphrodite's with their Baked Beet Crisps

 

Chef Adrian Beaty of Seasonal 56 making his Duck Club sandwiches

 

Federico's Supper Club and their Risotto ai Funghi

 

Lee Murphy (l) of Vista D'oro Farms making Peanut Butter & Jam Sandwiches

 

Isabelle Ranger of Namasthe Tea Company serving Ice Tea

 

The Vancouver Club and their Ginger Snap Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

 

Wendy Boys of Cocolico and her Caramel Apple Tarts

 

Chef Chris Whittaker of O'Doul's Restaurant with his Golden Ears Cheeseworks Nuefchatel Cheesecake

 

Musical Entertainment at Krause Berry Farm

Over 800 tickets were sold to this sold out event at one of the most beautiful farms just outside of Vancouver.

My Feast of Fields favourites were:  Meat & Bread’s Pemberton Meadows Beef Chuck Roll Sandwich; The Vancouver Club’s Duck Confit Pizza; EBO Restaurant’s Roasted BC Salmon Sliders; Lolita’s Ceviche Habanero; Wild Rice Restaurant’s Chinese Bbq Duck Confit; Seasonal 56 Restaurant’s Duck Club; Terra Breads Wood Fired Pizzas; O’Douls Restaurant’s Golden Ears Cheeseworks Nuefchatel Cheesecake; Cocolico’s Caramel Apple Tarts; and The Vancouver Club’s Ginger Snap Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches.

This was my second visit to Feast of Fields, my first visit was Feast of Fields at UBC Farm in 2009.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Festivals, Latest Tags: , , , No Comments »

Best of the West

August 5th, 2011 admin

Last night I attended a wonderful event hosted by the Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver along with House Wine that was filled with wonderful bites from many of West Vancouver and the North shore’s restaurants as well as BC Wine for guests to sip.

Alain Raye (R) of Le Regalade

Beef Shortribs in peppercorn sauce from La Regalade

Mangia E Bevi

Prawn & Grapefruit Ceviche from Beachside Forno

Dungeness Crab Terrine from The Observatory Restaurant

Fraiche

Fois Gras Tart from Fraiche

Such a spectacular setting for this event, it was held on the pier on the water at Ambelside, the lucky 200 guests at this sold out event were treated to delicious food from restaurants that included Chez Michel, Fraiche, Beachside Forno, Carmelo’s, Zen, Mangia E Bevi, The Observatory Restaurant, The Beach House, La Regalade and Louis Gervais Fine Foods.

Loved the food, wine and the trio playing jazz in a setting that was bar none!

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Festivals, Latest Tags: , , , No Comments »

Greek Day in Kitsilano

June 27th, 2011 admin

Making Calamari

I spent the afternoon yesterday in Kitsilano at the Greek Day festivities that were held on Broadway from Macdonald Street going West 5 blocks.

Tasting at the Krinos tent.

Jenny Siormanolakis, chief organizer of the festival gave me a bit of a tour of some of the eats, I tasted the Krinos Spinach Twisters, Feta Cheese, Sheeps Milk Cheese and Olives.  Jenny introduced me to Krinos founder and President Alexander Georgiadis whom I then had the pleasure to interview in their VIP tent and to enjoy some of their Greek specialties.

Krinos VIP Tent

Alexander told me that his company is the largest importer of Greek foods in Canada and they also have operations in the USA and recently opened in Shanghai, China. They sell to retailers and food service, they also make all of their cheese products and yogurt in their own dairy in Canada as well as Phylo and Twisters. I asked him about opening in Shanghai and he said it was quite the experience to open there and it was a lot more work than he anticipated.

Hellenic Experience

I then sampled some of the Greek Coffee and candies at the Hellenic Experience Tent.

Each of the event tents had Chicken and Lamb Souvlaki on the grill and people were lined-up for their Greek favourites.

The sunshine filled day saw upwards of 100,000 people attend the annual festival. The line-up for the Loukoumades was far too long for my liking, so now I`m craving Loukoumades.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Festivals, Latest Tags: , , , , No Comments »

Panache – A Night of Chocolate

October 17th, 2010 admin

Chef Thierry Busset

I attended the opening event for the West Coast Chocolate Festival on Friday October 15th, this event was called “Panache” and was held at the top of the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel. It was an elegant affair with canapes and appetizers made by Chef Kevin Greehy being passed around, glasses of Prosecco and wines being poured, along with a walk around Vistas with a 360 degree view of Vancouver while indulging in all things chocolate.

Chocolatier Greg Hook

The room was filled with chocolatiers, chefs, vodka purveyors, wineries, pastry chefs, and many passionate chocolate lovers including yours truly.

Chocolate Macarons, Pistachio filled Chocolates, Soucees by Chef Thierry Busset

Belgian Chocolate in raspberry by the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel

Chocolatier Hodie of Xoxolat

Cardemon Crème Brulee Chocolates by Xoxolat

My favourites were Chef Thierry Busset’s (of CinCin and soon to be Thierry) Chocolate Macarons and his Pistachio filled Chocolates and his Soucees, I also loved Greg Hook’s (of Chocolate Arts) Pumpkin Chocolate Squares, the Belgian Chocolate in raspberry (by the Renaissance chefs) was divine as was the Chocolate Tini made by XFour Vodka, and I always love seeing Hodie Rondeau (of Xoxolat) and indulging with her Cardemon Crème Brulee Chocolates.

Bernard Callebaut Chocolate Ganache

Handcrafted gelato from Bella Gelateria

Many more events to come through November 10th for the West Coast Chocolate Festival and you can see them online here.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Chocolate, Festivals Tags: , , , , No Comments »
« Older Entries

  • Our Events

    eventbrite 1

    Purchase tickets here!

  • Sponsors

  • General Info

echo get_option('motion_footer') . "\n";