{"id":58351,"date":"2026-09-13T13:40:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T20:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodlifevancouver.com\/staging\/2138\/?p=58351"},"modified":"2026-09-30T16:15:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T23:15:57","slug":"the-sunday-edit-vancouver-food-wine-cocktails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodlifevancouver.com\/staging\/2138\/the-sunday-edit-vancouver-food-wine-cocktails\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sunday Edit: Martinis, masala and a very good pickle"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few things I ate, drank and discovered around Vancouver this week.<\/h2>\n

Some weeks have a clear flavour. This one was bright, salty, a little glamorous and unexpectedly dill-forward: an anniversary party with a martini fountain, an especially memorable Indian tasting menu, a pickle festival and a run of drinks that reminded me how much pleasure there is in a well-made glass of something.<\/p>\n

September has properly arrived, but I am not quite ready to trade every bright, social evening for a night at home. There is still time for a good party, a good cocktail and a plate that gives you something to talk about on the way home.<\/p>\n

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Where I went<\/h2>\n

The Westin Bayshore marked its 65th anniversary this week, and it was one of those Vancouver occasions that made me appreciate a hotel with real local history. The room had an easy, celebratory buzz, and the Cosmopolitan Martini fountain was a draw. I drank plenty of Cosmos before I ever watched Sex and the City<\/em>, although I still fiercely miss that show, and there is something wonderfully unabashed about a pink cocktail served with a little theatre.<\/p>\n

The food made the party feel properly generous: a gnocchi station, plus a bao bar with pork belly, chicken or tofu and all the fixings. It was the kind of fun menu item I may have to replicate for my next party. Give people a warm, make-your-own bao and a Cosmopolitan, and they will be very happy indeed.<\/p>\n

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What I\u2019m eating<\/h2>\n

I had a memorable meal at Desi Indian Lounge this week: a seven-course Himsagar tasting menu, paired with wines from Summerland. I was also happy to catch up with my friend Jane, who sampled the non-alcoholic pairings, a thoughtful parallel journey through the menu.<\/p>\n

The official wine pairings moved from Solvero\u2019s 2025 Pinot Gris and Pamplemousse Jus\u2019s 2025 Orange Riesling to Lightning Rock\u2019s Cabernet Franc Ros\u00e9, Blanc de Blancs, Cabernet Franc and 2025 Carbo Cab Franc. It was an elegant, deeply flavourful evening and a reminder of how much I enjoy a tasting menu with a clear point of view. The dishes felt celebratory without becoming overwrought, and the wine pairing gave the meal another layer of interest.<\/p>\n

I am always drawn to dinners that invite you to slow down a little. A seven-course menu can sound like a commitment on paper, but in the right room it becomes a lovely way to spend an evening: a sequence of small discoveries, a well-chosen glass alongside them and enough time to really talk.<\/p>\n

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@goodlifevancouver<\/a> <\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd52 I went to the Picklefest. #pickle<\/a> #picklefestival<\/a> #pickles<\/a><\/p>\n

\u266c original sound – Cassandra Anderton<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n