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Apr26

2013 Chef Meets BC Grape

Posted in: Dining, Events, Vancouver, Wine

[ORU poached lobster salad]

The 9th Annual Chef Meets BC Grape wine and food tasting fundraiser will be held this year on June 5. For the first time, the BC Wine Institute will partner with the Arts Club Theatre. More than just a tasting, this is a great opportunity to talk directly with local winemakers and sample VQA wines from over 75 select BC wineries. Chef Meets BC Grape is aimed at wine enthusiasts and foodies alike, as the evening also celebrates the talents of over a dozen chefs who will create food pairings that illustrate the dining diversity enjoyed here in BC.

Participating restaurants will include:
Beta5 Chocolates
Cibo Trattoria
The Dirty Apron Cooking School
Edible Canada at the Market
The Flying Pig
Forage
The French Table
Le Gavroche
ORU Cuisine
2b bistro & bar
The Patio at Nk’Mip
Provence Restaurants
Seasons in the Park
SoL Sun Belt Cookery
The Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Tableau Bar & Bistro

Click here for the list of participating BC wineries.

Chef Meets BC Grape
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 7 to 9:30 pm
Venue: Vancouver Convention Centre East, Ballrooms A & B, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Tickets: $80 (available online) or via phoning 604.687.1644
Groups of six or more: $75 per ticket (group tickets must be purchased under one account)

All event proceeds will support Arts Club Theatre’s productions, youth education, and community outreach programs.

There’s also a couple of winery dinners scheduled for that week definitely worth checking out:

Best of BC Dinner
Date: Thursday, June 6, 6 pm
Venue: MARKET by Jean-Georges at Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver, 1128 West Georgia Street 
Tickets: $165 (includes $85 charitable tax receipt); via email: specialevents [at] artsclub [dot] com or phone: 604.687.5315, ext. 248

BC is home to over 200 wineries, dedicated to producing complex wines that rank amongst the best in the world. This dinner will showcase wines that will have just made Maclean’s list of top Canadian wines by region. Master of Wine, Rhys Pender, will host an evening honouring both BC VQA winemakers and wine proprietors.

Mission Hill Family Estate Dinner
Date: Monday, June 10, 6 pm
Venue: Provence Mediterranean Grill, 4473 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver
Tickets: $165 (including a $85 charitable tax receipt); via email: specialevents [at] artsclub [dot] com or phone: 604.687.5315, ext. 248
*Attend both dinners for $300 per person (includes $145 charitable tax receipt).

Mission Hill was awarded both Winery of the Year and 2011’s Canadian Winery of the Year. The iconic winery is one of BC’s pioneers in crafting superb wines from the finest grapes of the Okanagan Valley appellation. Provence Restaurant will prepare an adventurous meal to match Mission Hill Family Estate’s premium wines.
Apr23

Rare Finds 2013 at VanDusen Garden

Posted in: Charity, Cocktails, Dining, Events, Fundraising, Vancouver, Wine

[Executive Chef Dana Hauser, Pastry Chef Stephanie Greenslade at 2012's Rare Finds]

Rare Finds is an annual fundraising cocktail party to benefit the Rare Disease Foundation. The 2013 event will be held at VanDusen Botanical Garden, hosting many of Vancouver’s top chefs and pastry artists in a naturally beautiful setting. Now in its fourth year, this popular event will include both a silent and live auction, delicious bites, and open wine and rare martini bars. I attended last year—it was a fabulous night on the town. Here’s a photo set from that memorable evening as well.

The Rare Disease Foundation is committed to growing and developing a community that provides a new approach for rare disease research and care. The organization provides funding to inspired clinicians and scientists for their patient-focused projects.

These studies directly impact the care and the quality of life of a child affected by a rare disease. Event proceeds will benefit these extraordinary children.

As a media sponsor this year, I chose to highlight a few of the chefs that will be creating their rare finds at the upcoming event.
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Jan30

2nd Annual Sing-a-Long Concert

Posted in: Events, Fundraising, Music, Vancouver, Yaletown

Join the Children’s Hearing & Speech Centre of BC (CHSC) for the 2nd Annual Sing-a-Long Concert on April 13. Last year’s packed event featured a fun-filled room with mascots, a clown balloon artist, and face painting sessions. Award winning Vancouver bilingual children’s musician Will Stroet will entertain the children again this year. Expect goodies for the kids and fun time for all.

[Musician Will Stroet with the kids]

At Vancouver’s CHSC, children who are deaf and hard of hearing are taught to both listen and speak.

And while sign language was once considered the most common and visible option for deaf and hard of hearing children, today a deaf child may begin to wear a hearing device while in infancy, learning to talk and sing like a hearing child. The combination of technology, education, and therapy makes this dynamic a reality.

2nd Annual Sing-a-Long Concert featuring Will Stroet and the Backyard Band
Date: Saturday, April 13, 10 am to noon
Venue: The Performance Centre, Roundhouse Community Arts, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
Early Bird Tickets: $12 adults; $10 kids 17 and up; $40 family ticket including 2 kids under 17
*Early bird pricing in effect until Feb. 28

All funds raised will benefit the Audiology Program at the Centre.
Jan28

A Benefit for The Kitsilano Showboat

Posted in: Events, Fundraising, History, Music, Vancouver

Come join local rockers 4oh4 with special guests Chapter 11 at Vancouver’s The Kozmik Zoo on Saturday, Feb 16 to benefit Vancouver’s perennial summer entertainment showcase, The Kitsilano Showboat.

This landmark spot was founded in 1935 as a community project, a place where entertainers could display their talents. It grew annually, attracting more and more talented entertainers each year while bringing joy to the audience.

In late 2012, a super high tide (aka King Tide) in combination with high winds caused major damage to the Showboat stage and facilities located at the Kitsilano outdoor pool. As a non-profit, self-supporting, volunteer organization, The Kitsilano Showboat will need to raise funds to make necessary repairs before the 2013 season gets underway.

[Kits Showboat organizer/Captain Bea’s son, Barry Leinbach, featured on a 2012 Kits Me banner]

With help from the public (that’s you), 2013 will be The Showboat’s 77th year in providing free entertainment to Vancouver.   Enjoy a great evening of food, refreshment, and live music to celebrate and support this iconic outdoor Vancouver entertainment venue by the sea.

A Benefit for The Kitsilano Showboat
Date: Saturday, February 16, 7 pm
Venue: The Kozmik Zoo, 53 West Broadway, Vancouver
Tickets: $10; RSVP to KitsilanoShowboat [at] hotmail [dot] com or phone 604.734.7332
Dec17

Jim Byrnes and Babe Gurr in Concert

Posted in: Events, Fundraising, Music, North Vancouver

[Jim Byrnes]

Coming next month will be a rare chance to see two of Canada’s finest recording artists, Jim Byrnes and Babe Gurr, perform their songs in an intimate setting. A special fundraising concert is set for January 25 and 26 at the North Shore’s Deep Cove Shaw Theatre. The last three years have seen sold-out shows. The 2013 concert will benefit the First Impressions Theatre.
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Dec4

12 Bands of Christmas Food Drive

Posted in: Charity, Events, Holidays, Vancouver

On Friday, December 14, the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel will once again host SHORE 104.3′s second annual 12 Bands of Christmas Food Drive. Vancouverites are invited to enjoy a full day of music and festivities as well the chance to support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

From 7 am to 7 pm, The Lobby Lounge at Fairmont Pacific Rim will showcase 12 hours of non-stop musical performances from some of Lower Mainland’s top talents.
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Nov6

St. Paul’s 15th Annual Lights of Hope

Posted in: Events, Fundraising, Holidays, Vancouver

[Photo credit: RayVanEng on Flickr]

Each year, St. Paul’s Hospital provides care to over 380,000 patients throughout the province. World-leading research and medical teaching initiatives form part of this valuable institution’s core. St. Paul’s was the first BC hospital to treat AIDS patients as the disease took form in the early 1980s. As primary care provider to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside residents, St. Paul’s serves the majority of the city’s most severe mental health emergency patients.

St. Paul’s is also responsible for some of Vancouver’s most complex medical and surgical conditions through the following programs:
- Surgery
- Medicine
- Intensive care
- Palliative
- Maternity
- Highly specialized clinics
- Same-day surgery
- Emergency services

For the 15th year running, the elaborate Lights of Hope display will grace the façade of St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver. This year’s lighting will include a family-friendly celebration. Arrive at 6:30 at Burrard between Helmcken and Davie, in time for the lighting and fireworks; stay until 8 pm for an outdoor community event.

[Photo credit: dons projects on Flickr]

The Lights of Hope display is a tradition that Vancouverites either look forward to or consider a Vegas style overkill. Either way, it’s part of our city and a project that takes months of planning together with over 100 volunteers. It all starts early on a Saturday morning, when the team meets rain or shine to get the display assembled. About six hours later, the creation is ready to greet the city’s residents!

Here’s a glimpse of last year’s lighting festivities via YouTube:

St. Paul’s 15th Annual Lights of Hope
Date: November 15, 6:30 to 8 pm
Venue: St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street

The Lights of Hope campaign raises funds to support the hospital’s greatest challenges, enabling them to meet urgent needs for equipment, research and enhanced patient care, when and where they arise. You can help realize their goal of raising $2 million by donating online.

The Lights of Hope display can be enjoyed nightly from November 15 to January 10, 2013.
Oct15

Aquarium Fun at Toast to the Coast

Posted in: Events, Fundraising, Vancouver, Wine

[Tunes by Buddha Sax, DJ Leanne, and Percussionist Pher]

Last Friday evening in the heart of Stanley Park, Vancouverites had the chance to dress up and enjoy some of the city’s favourite restaurants while sipping BC wines at Toast to the Coast.

This fun annual gala raises needed cash to help the Aquarium fund several key programs. Over 500 guests attended the sold-out event while music and a silent auction kept everyone entertained.

[One of several silent auction tables]

For a $25 donation, guests got a 50% chance at winning a set of pearl earrings at the Pearls of Gratitude “Diving for Pearls” station.

All seafood served at the event was Ocean Wise-sanctioned.

[Hillside Bistro's spiced carrot apple soup; Fish House's Rainbow Dungeness crab California roll]

[Savoury Coast's pepper crusted seared albacore tuna, tomato gelee, crispy onion ring]

[Wild Rice's smoked kabocha squash, braised shitake mushrooms on a sesame cracker]

[YEW's Albacore tuna burgers, truffle brioche, pear and golden raisin relish, honey aioli, avocado]

Food, wine, and craft beer (courtesy of Granville Island Brewing) was interspersed around both levels of the aquarium, letting guests mingle amongst the colourful aquatic displays. As always, an oyster bar is one of my go-to spots for any event. Oyster Seafood & Rawbar shucked up some nice bivalves amongst the fish tanks.

[Oyster Seafood & Rawbar at Toast to the Coast]

Hotel stays, fine jewellery, a 16GB Samsung Galaxy S III, and beauty packages were a few of the numerous items up for bid at the silent auction. CTV’s weatherman Michael Kuss kept the evening flowing as emcee.

Here are several photos I took during the course of the evening. Congratulations to both the Ocean Wise and Toast to the Coast organizers for putting on another wonderful evening full of gourmet food and BC wine, while bringing together the food and wine-loving community, all in support of a great cause!
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Oct3

Caneles Fest at French Made Baking

Posted in: Bakery, Charity, East Vancouver, Events

This year, Mount Pleasant’s French Made Baking has brought another French delicacy to the forefront in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Canelés! Featured in the recent issue of Edible Vancouver, canalés are front and centre on the foodie radar and quickly approaching macaron status!

You’ve got until 6:30 this evening to pick up a few of these delicious, moist, amazing little treats to help support the Canadian Breast Foundation of BC and Yukon. Each suggested toonie donation buys you a mini canalé. There’s also samples of other baked goodies at the counter, such as Pumpkin Pie and Opéra.

Bring some home for coffee!

25% from the sales of pumpkin pies and pumpkin macarons from October 3 to 7 and of canelés today will be donated to the Foundation.

[French Made Baking's pumpkin macarons]

French Made Baking is located at 81 Kingsway Street in East Vancouver.
Aug29

Vancouver Aqua: Toast to the Coast

Posted in: Dining, Education, Events, Fundraising, Vancouver, Wine

[Wild salmon at C Restaurant]

Mark your calendars for Vancouver Aquarium’s annual Toast to the Coast on Friday, October 12. Next to the Night at the Aquarium, this is one of Vanaqua’s signature fundraising events, directly supporting the Aquarium’s conservation, research, and education programs.

[Penguin Point]

Join over 500 of Vancouver’s foodies and wine lovers to celebrate aquatic conservation in style as the Vancouver Aquarium is transformed into a magical after-hours experience.

[YEW Restaurant + Bar Executive Chef Ned Bell with Ocean Wise's Mike McDermid]

Set against the magical backdrop of the Aquarium at night, this year’s Ocean Wise partners include new participants Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek and Wild Rice, joined by some of Vancouver’s favourite seafood restaurants C and YEW Restaurant + Bar.

Enjoy pours from BC’s Quail’s Gate Estate Winery, Blasted Church Vineyards, and Hillside Estate Winery.

[Hillside Estate Winery]

Here’s just a few of the fantastic silent auction items that will be available:

- Overnight stay for two in a Diamond Room at Magnolia Hotel & Spa, including a sumptuous continental breakfast
- Le Creuset Café Collection, including French Press, cream and sugar set, and two mugs
- Stamford Spa & Salon’s pampered spa package
- Yves Behar-designed ergonomic chair courtesy of Herman Miller Canada Inc.

Toast to the Coast
Date: October 12, 7:30 pm
Venue: Vancouver Aquarium
Tickets: $95, available online; proceeds directly support the the Aquarium’s conservation, research and education programs