Lobster Festival is back until March 31 at Le Gavroche, 1616 Alberni St., Vancouver. Guests can enjoy a lobsterpacked three-course dinner for $39. To complement this special menu, guests can purchase Provençal wine pairings for an additional $25. Reservations: www. opentable.com/le-gavrochereservations-vancouver or 604-685-3924.
Market Dinner: Memphis Blues Barbecue House owners Park Heffelfinger and George Siu will headline a culinary showcase Friday, March 23, 7-10 p.m. at Edible Canada, 1551 Johnston St., on Granville Island, Vancouver. The locavores will use fresh vegetables, locally sourced meats and a vodka that was produced in Pemberton. Complementary wine, beer and cider will be paired with the menu. Tickets are $85 and can be purchased at 604-558-0040 or events@edibleanada. com.
Taste of Talent Benefit Dinner: Canada's top chefs will gather at Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Monday, March 26 at 6: 30 p.m. to raise funds for international culinary competitions. Chef Ken Nakano will be joined by the Canadian Culinary Federation's National Culinary Team, the Junior National Culinary Team, Culinary Team British Columbia, the Bocuse d'Or competitor and the America's WACS Global Challenge Chef to create a special dinner. All of these chefs will be representing Canada and British Columbia in international culinary competitions during the next twelve months. Tickets are $290 each or $2750 for a table of ten and can be purchased at www.taste-of-talent. eventbrite.com. Rosewood Hotel Georgia is located at 801 West Georgia St., Vancouver.
Edible Canada Market Dinner Series: Multi-course seasonally inspired dinners prepared right in front of your eyes paired with select B.C. and Canadian wine, beer and spirits. Chef Todd Howard of CinCin will be featured Wednesday, March 28. Cost: $85. Chef Derek Dammann of DNA, Montreal will be featured Thursday, April 5. Cost: $150. Dinners will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at Edible Canada at the Market, 1551 Johnston St. on Granville Island, Vancouver. Info: www.ediblecanada.com. Reservations: 604-558-0040.
En Famille Dinner: Provence Marinaside at 1177 Marinaside Cres., Vancouver will celebrate the arrival of spring and their 10 year anniversary with a dinner Wednesday, March 28 for $30. Reservations: 604-681-4144. Info: www. provencevancouver.com.
Book Signing: Meet Montreal Chef Martin Picard over snacks and good cheer Thursday, March 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Books to Cooks, 1740 West Second Ave., Vancouver. Picard will be signing his new book Sugar Shack which celebrates the rustic traditional foods of maple sugar shacks. Tickets: $85 which includes a signed copy of the book. Registration: 604-688-6755. Info: www.bookstocooks.com.
Dining Out for Life will take place Thursday, March 29. A record 250 restaurants in Vancouver and Whistler will participate with 25 per cent of food sales going to support people living with HIV/AIDS through Friends for Life and a Loving Spoonful. A list of participating restaurants can be found at www.diningoutforlife. com/vancouver/restaurants.
Girls' Night Out in Your Backyard: Neck of the Woods Winery at 2033 232nd St., Langley is the place to get together with girlfriends Thursday, March 29 from 7 to 10 p.m. The evening will include a complimentary glass of award-winning bubble, wine and food pairings, tapas, a choice of a glass of VQA wine from Neck of the Woods, complimentary spa treatments and a $20 gift certificate from MiCasa Spa. There will also be a tour from the onsite winemaker. Cost: $40. Reservations: 604-539-9463. Info: www.neckofthewoods. ca.
Japanese Cooking Classes will take place Thursdays, March 29, April 12 and 26 from 10: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by an Osaka Supermarket tour Wednesday, May 2 from 10 to 11 a.m. All classes include hands-on teaching, recipes and all the ingredients and will be held in Edgemont Village, North Vancouver. Fee: $150 per person. Registration and exact location: Kimiko, 604-727-5331 or kimiko@ kimikoskitchen.com.
Winemaker's Dinner: ORU Cuisine will host an exclusive four-course dinner featuring the wines of Quail's Gate Thursday, March 29 at 6: 30 p.m. The special menu is a collaboration of Executive Chef Darren Brown and Chef Roger Sleiman of Old Vines Restaurant at Quail's Gate. Cost: $105. ORU is located in the Fairmont Pacific Rim at 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver. Reservations: www.orucuisine. com.
East Meets West: Winemaker, Johannes Selbach of SelbachOster Winery in the Mosel region of Germany will pair up with Vikram Vij of Vij's and Rangoli restaurants for an afternoon of east meets west food and wine pairing Saturday, March 31, 3-5 p.m. at Books to Cooks, 1740 West Second Ave., Vancouver. Selbach will pour his awardwinning Riesling and will speak about his winemaking process and winery. Vikram will pass morsels from Vij's and Rangoli restaurants while sharing insight about how Rieslings are the perfect wine to pair with spicy, complex Indian flavours. Tickets: $75 which includes a copy of either Vij's or Vij's at Home. Registration: 604-688-6755. Info: www.bookstocooks.com.
Taste Washington: A twoday event that will showcase 200 wineries along with top restaurants and wine seminars March 31 and April 1 at CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle. Corresponding hotel packages are available. Admission starts at $75. Tickets and info: www. tastewashington.org. Arts Club Spring Wine Dinner: The West Restaurant team will hold a wine and cocktail dinner for an Arts Club fundraiser Tuesday, April 17, 6: 30 p.m. at 2881 Granville St., Vancouver. Six of California's wineries will be paired with a five-course menu. Cost: $195. Tickets: 604-687-5315, ext. 248 or [email protected].
