What Should be on your Agenda

It’s the last week of August, which always seems scary, but I’m feeling kind of ready for the upcoming season. How about you? Fretting that it’s the last days of summer in Vancouver, or full into the fall!? I’m getting my finances organized, back working out intensely, cooking lots a home (only happens when I’m happy) and feeling a lot of creativity and clear thinking going on. Don’t know about you, but I am better off keeping resolutions at this time of year than I am in January. In any case I might finally have time to do a few more things and will be out checking out some of these in my “free” time.

2017 Best Sommelier of Canada to be Crowned in Vancouver

Now this is fun! Come out to see what it takes to run the wine programs in some of the best restaurants around the country. Hosted by The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers British Columbia Chapter (CAPS BC), Canada’s top sommeliers will convene in Vancouver at Rogers Arena (Captain’s Room, entrance gate 10) on September 5th to vie for the coveted titled of Best Sommelier of Canada at the National Competition Viewing and Lunch.

The competition is open for trade and public to spectate. Tickets to watch the finals on September 5th are available online. Doors will open at 8:45am. After an included lunch at the Encore Suite, you can take part in two wine seminars starting at 2:30 pm.

The Champions Dinner Celebration will be held at Victoria Chinese Restaurant (1055 W Georgia St, Vancouver) on the same evening at 6:30pm. The one hour cocktail reception will be sponsored by the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association with dinner to start at 7:30pm. The Best Sommelier of Canada title will be announced later that evening, to include a Grand Prize presented by Gallo to the winner along with other prizes.

Prices: TICKETS
Viewing and Lunch: $35 for members/ $45 for non-members
Champions Dinner: $80 for members/ $100 for non-members
Sponsorship Seminars: $15 for members/ $20 for non-members

The annual competition attracts sommeliers from across the country to compete for the title of National Best Sommelier through a written and practical exam. This year’s talent includes:

British Columbia
Shane Taylor, wine director, Cin Cin Ristorante + Bar
Alistair Veen, chef & owner, Tap Restaurant
Jason Yamasaki, group sommelier, Joey Wine Group
Prairies
Domar Rafael, food & beverage manager, The Manitoba Club
Ontario
Emily Pearce Bibona, sommelier, The York Club
Steven Robinson, sommelier, Atelier Restaurant
Quebec
Carl LePage Villeneuve, sommelier, Restaurant Toque
Pier Alexis Souliere, sommelier, Manresa Restaurant
Atlantic
Lesley Quinn, sommelier, Barrington Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

Trash Tiki at Clough Club

Saturday 5pm: Trash Tiki Pop-Up #1 at Clough Club

Sunday 3pm: The History of Gin in Tiki/Trash Tiki Ethos Presentation at Clough Club (please RSVP to trashtiki@fordsgin.com). Let’s BREAK THE RECORD! 42 people came to Seattle, but we can beat that!

Sunday 5pm: Trash Tiki Pop-Up #2 at Clough Club

Trash Tiki Vancouver is upon us! With Vancouver being Kelsey‘s home town, let’s get out there and support great people doing great things for our hospitality community at large! And hey, it won’t hurt us to learn about how we can make our bars more environmentally friendly. Need another hook? Might as well learn some super cool stuff about the history of Gin in Tiki while we’re at it.

No one needs another lecture on how modern society is beating the shit out of mother nature on a daily basis. What we do need is some answers and inspiration, and Kelsey and Iain hope they can be just that. Its not about overhauling your whole program, but taking the smaller steps and finding inspiration in our recipes, methods and attitude.

This isn’t going to change the world, but their recipes and style mean you will consume a lot less and still have tasty as heck drinks. If that one step can be part of, if not the beginning to, the larger conversation the food & drink world needs to have with itself about our approach to waste, then hell yeah we think we should take it.

For more information on what Trash Tiki is all about, go to: http://www.trashtikisucks.com/

 

Cinema Under the Stars at Sole Food Farms

Sole Food Farms is hosting a one of a kind outdoor screening of the documentary film, A New Economy.  Sept 6, 2017 from 7-10 pm for this very special event. Arrive early for a chance to tour our farm and for a special performance by The Carnival Band. There will be food food and beverage available for sale from Salt Spring Coffee, Biota Fermentation, and Urban Wood-Fired Pizza.

Gates open at 6:30, bring your friends and family, a blanket or chair and help support us as we prepare to relocate our downtown farm this fall. Tickets By Donation

Made With love – September 25th

MADE WITH LOVE™ is visiting Vancouver on September 25th and stopping by the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for a fun filled night of creativity and a cocktail extravaganza. The finalists will present exclusive cocktail recipes to impress a panel of judges and our guests.

The Vancouver finalists are:
Peter Johanson – Bar Oso
Dylan Robert Williams – The Westin Bayshore
Chelsea Rose Schulte – Cocktails & Canapes Catering + Events
Elson Cheng – Anh and Chi
David Bulters – Juniper
Angela Lai – Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Micah Dew – Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited
Tiffanie Marie Palmer – The Pawn Shop YVR
Daniel O’Hearn – Reflections Bar – Hotel Georgia
Cassandra Darmanovic – Mamie Taylor’s

The two crowned winners from each category will represent Vancouver at the National Finals in May 2018 to win the coveted title of best BarChef in the country and have a chance to win one of 10 amazing world trips to one of the MADE WITH LOVE™ affiliated distilleries. May the best bartender win! Buy your tickets here!

Celebrate with Chef Brian Luptak of The Acorn at Edible Canada

Brian Luptak of the Acorn is one of Canada’s leading innovators in vegetarian cuisine. To celebrate the harvest, he will be creating a vegetarian feast which will inspire you to give thanks for our local, seasonal bounty. He will be joined by Catherine Roscoe-Barr, an internationally renowned wellness expert, and will be showcasing organic produce from Hazelmere Farms. Wine pairings from Moraine winery will be complemented by cocktails created with one of the only organic vodkas in the world, Schramm vodka from the Pemberton Distillery.

The Canadian Table Dinner Series 2017 Price: $125 Tickets

Pick Up Preserves at Harvest

No time to do your own preserving this year? Harvest Community Foods is saving the best of summer with the magic of pickling, and fans of fresh produce can now pick up jars of local jams and pickles to save for winter, or to use now as delicious garnishes and relishes. Summer’s rainbow of in-season fruits and veggies, perfectly preserved, now line the shelves at the Strathcona store and eatery, and are also featured in menu items at sister restaurant Burdock & Co.

Located at 243 Union Street, Harvest Community Foods is open seven days a week, call 604.682.8851 or visit Harvestunion.ca.