National Family Dinner Night: M&M Meat Shops invites Canadians to turn off all their electronic devices and enjoy an unplugged dinner with family and friends Thursday, Sept. 15. Register your participation at www. nationalfamilydinnernight. com and M&M Meat Shops will make a $1 donation to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada up to a maximum of $100,000.
Ambleside Farmers' Market runs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until October 30 in the parking lot behind the police station on Bellevue Avenue and 13th Street in West Vancouver. Info: www. artisanmarkets.ca.
Lonsdale Quay Farmers' Market runs Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until October 29 at the East Plaza, 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver. Look for traditional and organic produce, baking, crafts and more. Info: 604-628-8226 or www.artisanmarkets.ca.
EAT! - The Fraser Valley Food and Cooking Festival will take place Sept. 16-18 at the TRADEX Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1190 Cornell St., Abbotsford. There will be over 100 food vendors, distributors, manufacturers and retailers at the festival. On the Food Network Celebrity Stage there will be appearances by chefs Chuck Hughes, Rob Feenie and Graham Kerr. Admission: $12/$10/$6. For event hours, stage schedule and tickets visit www.eatfraservalley.com.
Wine and Food DNA: An inaugural event benefitting the B.C. Cancer Foundation will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 6: 30 to 9: 30 p.m. Participants will sip, sample and learn about the DNA of food and wine pairing at tasting stations throughout the cellar of Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Winery, 829 Douglas Rd., Kelowna. Tickets: $49 plus HST are available from the winery at 2507698803 or by emailing sales@ mtboucheriewinery.com.
Kettle Valley Winery will host two dinners in celebration of their 20th vintage on Sept. 19 in Victoria at Lure Restaurant at the Ocean Point Resort and Sept. 20 in Vancouver at Boneta Restaurant. The dinners will include wine pairings with current wines and library tastings going back to the early 1990's. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased by calling 250-496-5898 or emailing info@kettlevalleywinery.com.
Monthly Regional Dinners: Cibo Trattoria presents their fall lineup of four-course dinners, with optional wine pairings, that cater to specific geographical regions of Italy. A Tuscany dinner will be featured on Wednesday, Sept. 21 starting at 5 p.m. Guests can choose from the dinner for $48, dinner with Tuscan wine parings for $96 or dinner with Chardonnay isle e olena, Sassicaia, Solaia, Vin Santo wine pairings for $149. Umbria will be featured on Oct. 12 and Lombardy on Nov. 9. Cibo Trattoria is located at 900 Seymour St., Vancouver. Reservations: www.cibotrattoria.ca or 604-602-9570.
ChefmeetsGrape: The B.C. Wine Institute presents the seventh annual celebration of BC VQA wines and local food on Thursday, Sept. 22, 7-9: 30 p.m. at the Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1005 Canada Place. Over 75 B.C. wineries will be sharing their new fall releases paired with inspired dishes from 12 Ocean Wise partner restaurants. Admission: $85 with 10 per cent of all proceeds going to the Ocean Wise program at the Vancouver Aquarium. Tickets: www.ticketstonight.ca or 604-684-2787. Info: www.winebc. com/chefmeetsgrape. The Seventh Annual Food and Wine Festival in support of SOS Children's Village B.C. will take place Thursday, Sept. 22, 6-10 p.m. at Eaglequest Coyote Creek Golf Course, 7778 152nd St., Surrey. There will be local and international wines, gourmet food from local restaurants and artisan food merchants, a silent auction and live entertainment. Admission: $60. Tickets: www.sosbc.org.
Culinary Apprentice Dinner: On Friday, Sept. 23 culinary apprentices from Fairmont's Pacific Northwest region will prepare a six-course dinner for 280 guests and their culinary mentors, Fairmont's executive chefs. The dinner will take place at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street. The evening will kick off with a reception and hors d'ouvres at 6 p.m. followed by a six-course meal paired with wines at 7 p.m. Cost: $109 per person. Reservations: 604-443-1815 or apprentice. dinner@fairmont.com.
Wild Rice will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Friday, Sept. 23. From 6 to 8: 30 p.m. will be a five-course Back to the Future Dinner. Past and present chefs will create a meal that will be paired with special wines. Price is $60 for the dinner alone with an additional $15 to add the wine pairing. The restaurant will then be transformed into party central for part two of the evening - a Cocktails and Canapés Party starting at 9: 30 p.m. The price of $5, which is being donated to the charity Growing Chefs, includes two drink tickets plus passed canapés and entertainment. Wild Rice Modern Chinese is located at 117 West Pender St., Vancouver. Reservations: 604-642-2882. Info: www. wildricevancouver.com.
Fall Cooking Class: Cooking instructor Maureen Goulet of Ambrosia Adventures hosts fun and educational cooking classes in West Vancouver. The class on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 6: 45-9: 30 p.m., will feature Alana Peckham, executive chef of Cru Restaurant. Classes are held at Y Franks store, 503 15th St. Cost: $75. Info: www. ambrosiaadventures.com or 604-218-2084.
Soiree 2011 - A Wine and Food Affair: The Whistler Film Festival Society will hold a culinary fundraiser in support of the Rainbow Theatre renovation Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. The event will be hosted by restaurateur Jack Evrensel at Whistler's Araxi Restaurant and Bar. The evening will begin with a champagne reception followed by a fivecourse dinner with award winning wines. Admission: $500 which includes a $250 tax receipt. Tickets: www. whistler filmfestival.com, events@whistlerfilmfestival. com or 604-938-3254.
