Vancouver Culinary and Cultural Events to Plan For
It’s been a while since we’ve done our weekly roundups, but we’re bringing them back! Does anyone else feel that something interesting is happening almost every night and day? Here are a few things on our radar. FOMO is big, but don’t forget that feeling in the a.m. when you didn’t go out the night before. Balance is the key folks! I’m working on it!
Openings
Monarch Burger Opening May 15
Chef Robert Belcham is opening a brick-and-mortar location of Monarch Burger on Wednesday, May 15 at 3034 Main St in Mount Pleasant. Keeping to the theme of simplicity, Monarch Burger will feature only seven menu items: the Burger, the original Dirty Burger (cheeseburger), the Double Dirty (double cheeseburger), a Veggie Mushroom Burger, plus Smokey Beef Fat Fries, Poutine, and, finally, the all-dressed Spicy Loaded Poutine (with pulled pork and Wreck Peach Hot Sauce from local favourite food truck, Rosie’s BBQ & Smokehouse). These are tasty burgers made with hand ground 66 Acres Beef. You’ll find seating for 13 inside and a curbside patio with seating for 10 and more seats coming this summer.
Via Tevere
May 14 Via Tevere, some of the best pie in town, opens at 3240 Main Street! Hand-stretched Neopolitan Pizza made with either pomodoro (red sauce), Bianca (olive oil), or alla panna (cream sauce) and toppings include fior di latte, prosciutto crudo, capicola and salami along with some plant-based offerings.
Club Kitchen Food Hall
Located at 988 Expo Boulevard, Club Kitchen houses Barbarella Pizza, Hello Nori, Indi Co., Dragon Bowl, Hui Lau Shan, Chirpyhut, Thai Away Home and Pearl Castle all under one roof. You can order delivery or takeout from any number of these restaurants and you get only one bill and one delivery fee. Grab the All Things Butter Chicken from Indi Co. and head out for a picnic. The deal is Butter Chicken On: Set Of 3 Dirty Samosas + Set Of 3 Tacos + Mac n Cheese + Sandwich + Rice – Gluten Free + Poutine + 2 Mango Lassi’s and napkins & utensils – $100.00.
Spot Prawn Festival 2024 May 26
On Sunday, May 26, 2024, join the Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia for a celebration of an iconic BC product at the annual Spot Prawn Festival on Fisherman’s Wharf in Vancouver, BC.
You have THREE ways to enjoy it:
- FREE – access to the docks, view cooking demos and more
- $10 – 10 oz of Spot Prawn Bisque – to go if you want!
- $79 – Spot Prawn Brunch – grazing style with a tasting menu of 6 delicious spot prawn dishes (19 yrs+ only)
The same family-friendly festival remains with live cooking demos with some of Vancouver’s top chefs, including Shelome Bouvette! Fun for the kids! Live music! And more! While the festival is free, to enjoy any of the delicious food prepared by our chefs, tickets are required. This is the Chefs’ Table Society’s main fundraising event so it can continue to provide education, mentorship and sustainability initiatives across the province.
Asian Heritage Month – Steep and Scoop Ice Cream Pop-Up
In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, Foo Hung Curios presents “Steep and Scoop”, a Keb’s Makes Ice-Cream Pop-up!
Foo Hung Curios – 168 East Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6A 1T3
An afternoon of tea and ice cream tasting with Keb’s Makes Ice-Cream! Featuring Foo Hung Curios’ museum blend Gold Mountain Tea-infused creations and unique Asian-inspired flavoured ice cream by local ice-cream maker Keb’s Makes Ice-Cream.
Your free ticket includes Gold Mountain Tea tasting, tea-inspired snacks, tasting “flights” of ice cream and half-priced entry to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre.
Get ready to meet Kevin, Vancouver’s own ice cream guru! With roots in Taiwan and a flair for flavour, Kevin’s scoops are a delicious blend of culture and creativity. His flavours will take you on a familiar but also fantastically foreign journey!
Raymond is an avid cook and passionate educator of food and culture. He believes that “countries have borders, but flavours will cross cultures.” Cooking with Raymond involves learning to make heritage Asian dishes from around the world, and celebrating the rich culinary traditions of the Asian Diaspora.
Ice Cream Tasting Menu:
Gold Mountain Tea – Strong floral flavours with a punch of bergamot perfume in the beginning and a jasmine finish that lingers
Winter Melon – Earthy, brown sugar and gentle caramel flavours
Pei Pa Koa – Traditional Chinese cough remedy, honey, herbal, with a minty finish
Soho Lychee – Bright, tropical fruity flavour similar to fruit loops
