What’s Good In September? So many delicious events in and around Vancouver!

Thanks to Fiona Forbes and CKNW for having me on to talk about the fall events. Clip here.

Top Drop Wine Tasting – Sept. 8

Annual grand tasting featuring all international, terroir-focused wineries, craft breweries, cideries, food purveyors and more!

Event proceeds proudly go to the BC Hospitality Foundation. For a full list of participants, click here! Tickets $78

Feast of Fields 22nd Annual – Sept. 11th

I won’t be missing this one this year, last year I was away and had severe fomo.  From 1-5 pm at Laurica Farm in Aldergrove wander through the farm and chat with farmers, chefs, winemakers and artisans. Live music, lots of BC wine and beer and gourmet creations from BC top chefs.

Supercar Weekend – September 10/11

Unveiling the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Wraith. A few years back I test drove the Wraith, I wonder if they’ll let me take this one up to Squamish? Black Badge is an intoxicating new incarnation of the Rolls-Royce marque; the most powerful Rolls-Royce, will make its first appearance in Canada at Luxury & Supercar Weekend.  180 innovative automotive designs will be displayed
at the 7th annual Luxury & Supercar Weekend. 11-5 pm at Van Dusen Gardens. At the gardens: Jaguar Land Rover presents “Restaurants in the Round” featuring some of the finest Chefs and gourmet experiences. Tickets

+ Ancora and Executive Chef Richardo Valverde
+ Bamboo Grove Restaurant and Executive Chef Ming Yeung
+ Dynasty Seafood Restaurant and Executive Chef Sam Leung
+ Juniper Kitchen & Bar and Executive Chef Sarah Stewart
+ La Pentola and Excutive Chef Travis McCord
+ Peninsula Seafood Restaurant and Executive Chef Kenji Ikeda
+ The Greek by Anatoli and Executive Chef Chris Krys

Hawksworth in the Garden
David Hawksworth, in association with Luxury & Supercar Weekend, is offering a unique al-fresco culinary experience in the heart of VanDusen Garden. Brunch & Lunch seatings will be taking place on September 10 & 11.  Reservations are now being taken, please contact Hawksworth Group at 604.605.3326 ext.1 or email events@hawksworthrestaurant.com to secure your table.

More Celebrity Chefs in the VIP (Adult 19+) Lounge:

• Bauhaus Restaurant and Executive Chef Stefan Hartmann in the Dilawri section
• Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar Lounge and Executive Chef Alex Chen
• Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver’s Market by Jean Georges and Executive Chef Ken Nakano at McLaren VIP lounge

Chefs’ Table Society of BC’s Slow Fish Dinner – September 18

The evening starts with PICA culinary student-prepared canapés, and libations including BC wines. Next, attendees move through the school’s eight professional teaching kitchens to meet the visiting chefs, who will each offer a tasting-sized portion of local sustainable seafood delicacies paired with wines from Salmon Safe wineries: Culimina Family Estate Winery, Haywire Winery, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate, Kalala Organic Estate Winery, Sage Hills Winery, Seven Stones Winery, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards with more to come! The event will end with gelato from Bella Gelateria.

The event is presented by The Chefs’ Table Society of BC, whose mandate is to support sustainable food production and BC producers. Leading the event is Chefs’ Table Society chef Darren Clay, executive culinary chef instructor at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. Other participating chefs include:Lisa Ahier, SoBo, Karen Barnaby, Albion Farms and Fisheries, Ned Bell, Oceanwise/The Vancouver Aquarium, Sean Cousins, The Vancouver Club, Meeru Dhalwala, Vij’s/Rangoli, Bruno Feldeisen, Semiahmoo Resort, Roger Ma, Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar, and Thompson Tran, The Wooden Boat.

The intention of the event is to raise awareness for Slow Fish Canada (a Slow Food initiative) and its role in protecting our oceans. The quality and variety of the ocean’s bounty will be in the spotlight at this special dinner.  Tickets.

Garagiste Wine Tasting including Dames Wine – Sept 18

Canadian Tire Garden Market- PENTICTON
Sunday, September 18, 2016, 2 – 4:30 pm.  An awesome wine tasting experience that includes small bites by Gregor’s Gourmet & live music from Chicken Like BirdsTix available on Eventbrite- click for TICKETS HERE  OR purchase at the Canadian Tire store in Penticton
*TRADE TASTING is from 5 – 6:00 pm. Trade please RSVP to:  
winepartycanada@gmail.com
Find more info on the festivals at: garagistenorth.com
Chefs’ Table Society of BC’s Slow Fish Dinner Returns.
Act Fast to secure your Slow Fish Dinner tickets! 

Les Dames d’Escoffier honours Lidia Bastianich – September 23

I’m a proud member of the BC Chapter of Les Dames and we are honouring Emmy award winning TV personality, cookbook author and restaurateur, Lidia Bastianich. Renowned as the Nonna of Italian cuisine, Lidia’s four New York acclaimed restaurants, Felidia, Becco, Esca and Del Posto along with Lidia’s Pittsburgh and Lidia’s Kansas City showcase her indisputable roots peppered with family recipes and signature dishes. Sante! Check out the chefs collaborating, stellar menu and tickets here.

Reception Lidia’s Octopus Salad on Potato
Frico, Moscato Poached Pear, Black Pepper Mascarpone
Gnocchi with Rosemary Brined Walnut, Roast Squash and Brown Butter
Margaret Chisholm, Culinary Capers Catering
Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne

DinnerAlbacore Tuna Tonnato
JC Poirier, Ask for Luigi, Pizzeria Farina and Pourhouse
Tightrope Winery Riesling 2015

Grilled Sea Scallops, Cauliflower Salad and Green Herbs Coulis
Weimar Gomez, YEW seafood + bar, Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Cannelloni of Chocolate with Duck Confit
Pino Posteraro, Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca
Tenuta Olim Bauda Rocchette Barbera D’Asti 2013

Mixed Mushroom Carnaroli Risotto
with Truffle, Parmesan, Cherry Reduction, Arugula Pesto
Les Dames alumni and Season 2 Chopped Canada champion, Alana Peckham,
Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver/Alligga
Marimar Estate Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir 2008

Lo Stock Farms Squab, Painted Mountain Corn Polenta, Lacinto Kale, Anise
Robert Belcham, Campagnolo and Campagnolo Roma
Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso 2014

Primo Bistecca Tagliata
Jean-Claude Douguet, Gotham Steakhouse & Bar
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot 2013

Chocolate Almond Torte, Poached Pears, Pecan Wafers, Blackberry Ice Cream
Rhonda Viani, West
Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny Port

After Lounge Artisanal Limoncello Cheesecake Gelato
James Coleridge, Bella Gelateria
Terra Serena Prosecco – D.O.C. Treviso and Gillespie’s Fine Spirits Lemoncello

Each guest receives a signed copy of Lidia’s cookbook, Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine as a memento of the evening. All funds raised benefit the outreach and scholarship programs of the BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, including Project Chef and Growing Chefs. Seating is limited for this one special evening and once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet an iconic personality and fellow New York based Les Dames d’Escoffier member, Lidia Bastianich. Come join us for a delicious evening and a taste of Italy. Seating is limited for this sell-out event so register now.

Les Dames d’Escoffier Gala
September 23, 2016
Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC  V6C 2V4
Reception: 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Dinner: 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm
After Lounge: 11:00 pm onwards

Chefs’ Table Society Brings Chef Collaboration to Yaletown – September 13

Tickets include food samples from the eight participating food trucks, as well as, wine and beer samples from Nichol Vineyard, Lock and Worth Winery and Brassneck Brewery.

A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

Participating food trucks and chefs include:

Community Pizzeria with guest chef Angus An (Maenam)

Feastro with guest chef Lucais Syme (Cinara)

Fliptop with guest chef Vikram Vij (Vij’s)

Kafka’s Coffee Truck with guest chef Christophe Bonzon (Chez Christophe)

Mom’s Grilled Cheese with guest chef Travis McCord (La Pentola)

Roaming Dragon with guest chef Scott Jaeger (The Peartree)

Le Tigre with guest chef Erik Heck(WildTale)

Via Tevere with guest chef Phil Scarfone (Nightingale)

New Westminster Feast on the Fraser 10 Days. 10+ Events.  1 Mouth-Watering City – September 23+

Feast on the Fraser is a 10-day culinary experience that pairs food and fun with a signature event each day. New Westminster has emerged as an exciting destination for food, arts, culture, and entertainment within Metro Vancouver. Through the collaboration of local businesses and organizations, Feast on the Fraser is sure to ignite everyone’s palate.

RiverFest September 24 – Fraser River Discovery Centre Free Event

Shucking & the Samson V September 24 – Samson V & Boathouse TBA

12^th Street Foodie Tour September 25 – 12^th Street Buy Tickets – $45

Beats & Eats September 26 – Hub Restaurant Buy Tickets – $25

Cooking Demo & Dinner with Chef Dante September 27 – Wild Rice Bistro Buy Tickets$65

Paint + Sip Nite September 28 – 100 Braid Street Studios Buy Tickets – $65

Royal City Farmers Market Longtable Dinner September 29 – Tipperary Park Buy Tickets

$45 Pizza & Beer Night September 30 – Boston Pizza & Steel + Oak Buy Tickets – $25

Dinner Cruise October 1 – Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours Buy Tickets – $65

Rise & Shine October 1 – Good to Go TBA

An Ode to Lulu October 2 – Match Eatery & Public House