What’s Good This Week in and around Vancouver
It’s a little too hot for me these days in Vancouver and I’ve got the fan blasting in my ear in an attempt to remain coolish. This week you might be catching the fireworks, watching some Improv (I’m actually on stage – yikes), eating some Canadian Food or catching up with BC’s beer scene. Don’t forget to celebrate PRIDE and sample some tasty pride-themed treats!
Food Day Canada
What are you doing on July 30, 2016? We know you always choose a ton of Canadian food products when shopping and dining out, but on this day it’s a must as it’s the official Food Day Canada. This special day is a chance for Canadians from coast to coast to celebrate our farmers, fishers, chefs, researchers and home cooks, and for us that means local pork will be on the menu.
On West Coast there are many restaurants that you can head to for a special Food Day Canada Menu. Restaurants in Vancouver include Burdock, Campagnolo, Bishops, The Fish Counter, West, L’Abattoir, Forage, Royal Dinette, Timber, Cafe Medina, Juniper, Boulevard and more.
Since I’m the BC and Alberta Pork Ambassador, I’ve sussed out some of the menus where you can sample local pork.
Fable Kitchen – Pork and Scallop – Seared corn chowder, clams and truffle oil
West – Duo of Fraser Valley Pork –braised pork cheek, crispy pork belly, Swiss chard, bone broth
Araxi – BC Surf and Turf – Fraser Valley Pork Belly with Island octopus, heirloom tomatoes and basil pistou
Cafe Medina – Food Day Canada Frittata – Skillet frittata of spicy smoked pork sausage with locally-grown leeks, potatoes, red spring onions, sweet corn and brie cheese.
Boulevard – Smoked Paradise Valley Pork Shoulder, Creamy Polenta, Zuchini, Pea Tip Salad, Chicharrones
Firecracker July 28
On July 28 I am the guest! Yikes! Come see me make a fool of myself (as usual). Special Guest Cassandra Anderton – Good Life Vancouver, Wine/Food Writer, Life-style Commentator
Firecracker! Dynamite ladies. Explosive comedy. Our all-female show featuring some of the best improvisers in Canada. The resulting comedy is inventive, unpredictable, uproarious and sure to spark your funny bone.
Watch out Vancouver as we light a fuse to Vancouver’s comedy scene – shattering stereotypes and sparking a lot of laughs. Firecracker! features an all-star cast of female improvisers. It’s a different improv experience from mixed-gender casts – women take more risks and play on the edge more when they play with only other women. The resulting comedy is inventive, unpredictable and uproarious. As in all VTSL productions, audience suggestions play a huge role in determining and driving the improvised action.
Coquitlam Kinsmen Craft Beer Festival July 30/31
Welcome to the 1st. Annual Coquitlam Kinsmen International Craft Beer Festival 2 Days – July 30th & 31st, 2016 (BC Day Long Weekend) at the Coquitlam Town Centre Park – South Field This festival is brought to you by the Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam as part of the official Coquitlam 125th Anniversary Celebrations, and looks to become one of the West Coasts must see yearly events on the ever growing craft beer circuit. Tickets
Pride Weekend Treats – Get Out and Sample Some! 
Lucky’s Doughnuts ‘Layers of Pride’ doughnut
Lucky’s Doughnuts has partnered with local charity A Loving Spoonful for their second-annual pride-inspired doughnut. All proceeds from the sale of these beautifully crafted, vanilla bean-glazed rainbow treats will help ALS offer healthy meal programs to men women and children living with HIV/AIDS in the Lower mainland. You can get your hands on one (or two, or three!) of these between 11am and 2pm at the BMO on Denman Street on Pride Day (July 31) while supplies last.
What: Lucky’s Doughnuts ‘Layers of Pride doughnut
When: Sunday, July 31 from 11am-2pm (while supplies last)
Where: BMO Denman St. branch (958 Denman St.)
Cost: minimum $5 donation
Chambar’s “La Diversité”
Vancouver’s favourite Crosstown haunt has specially crafted a refreshingly bubbly cocktail to accompany the numerous Pride celebrations on July 31. An effervescent blend of gin, Fernet Branca and house-made herbal rhubarb grapefruit soda, La Diversité is a little sweet, a little bitter and a whole lot of fun.
What: Chambar’s “La Diversité” Pride-themed cocktail
When: Available during Pride weekend (July 30 – August 1)
Where: Chambar Restaurant (568 Beatty St.) Cost: $14
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar’s Pride Week Rainbow Cocktails
Boulevard’s Beverage Director J.S. Dupuis will be featuring a festive “rainbow of cocktails” for Pride Week. Their pride cocktail menu has a drink in every colour:
- Cosmopolitan (red) – Absolut Citron, Cointreau, cranberry juice, lime. $12.
- The Seeker (orange) – Lemon Hart Blackpool Navy Spiced, pineapple juice, cinnamon syrup, lime, Angostura bitters. $12
- Sidecar (yellow) – Hennessy VS, Cointreau, lemon juice. $14
- Last Word (green) – Gin, Chartreuse, Maraschino, lime. $14
- Blue Hawaiian (blue) – Vodka, Blue Curaçao, pineapple. $12
- Aviation (purple) – Gin, Maraschino, Violette liqueur, lemon juice. $14
What: Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar’s rainbow cocktails
When: Available during Pride Week
Where: Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar (845 Burrard St.)
Cost: $12-$14
Basil Pasta Bar’s “Naughty Penne”
All Pride Week, Basil Pasta Bar’s Davie Street location will be serving up – wait for it – phallic-shaped pasta. The penne dish is made with Alfredo sauce, veggies and your choice of protein. As for the garnish? Pieces of penis-shaped pasta. $1 from each “Naughty Penne” dish will go to Vancouver Pride Society.
What: Basil Pasta Bar’s “Naughty Penne” Pride pasta
When: July 24 – 31
Where: Basil Pasta Bar (636 Davie St.)
Cost: $9.69
Beach Bay Café ‘Pride Collins’ Cocktail
Beach Bay Cafe & Patio’s award-winning Bar Manager Adrian Lindner is introducing a new Pride-themed cocktail that they’ll be mixing up during the festivities on July 31. The aptly named Pride Collins is a summer-forward sipper made with rhubarb, lemon shrub, gin and soda – best enjoyed al fresco overlooking the water on Beach Bay’s bustling patio.
What: Beach Bay Café’s “Pride Collins” cocktail
When: Sunday, July 31
Where: Beach Bay Café (1193 Denman St.)
