6 Food and Drink Events Around Vancouver That You’ve Gotta Try This April

Happy April! Along with those puffy pom-poms of pink and white cherry blossoms, and the cork pop of first patio drinks, one of my favourite signs that winter is very nearly in the rear view mirror is the re-opening of Trout Lake and Riley Park farmers’ markets. Gobble up all the new-season halibut and look out for the first asparagus and rhubarb to make their welcome appearance, too.

Don’t forget napkins, it’s gonna get gloriously messy this month.

Devour an Ube Éclair

It’s a café kind of month, and I’m back at another of my favourites, Doe, this time to check out their killer bakery program. Their ube éclair is a thing of pure creamy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside beauty. Go have one, it’s SO GOOD. If you’re a daily café goer, it’s definitely worth checking out Doe’s monthly pass, $89.95 + tax for unlimited classic menu drinks, free flavour adds, free alternative milks, plus 15% off pastries, coffee beans and merch.

Read More: Where to Find Dubai Chewy Cookies in Metro Vancouver

Check Out Chai Wagon

I was charging my car up on Main and took the chance to swing by Chai Wagon to check out their specialty drinks. Forget pretty much every single other chai in the city and go try theirs. The ginger chai in particular absolutely SINGS with spicy flavour! They have a whole raft of tasty snacks, too. Chomp your way through delights such as flaky aromatic samosas and a punchy chickpea curry.

Celebrate BC Wine Month

April isn’t just cherry blossom season, oh no, it’s BC Wine Month, too. New spring releases are hitting stores (and wine clubs) right now. My current favourites include: Quail’s Gate 2025 Dry Riesling, a gorgeous whoosh of guava and apricots on the nose, this is pure sunshine in a glass; Stoneboat’s 2025 Rosé which is wonderfully crisp with lashings of pink grapefruit notes; Hester Creek’s 2025 Old Vines Pinot Blanc which is a perfect day-drinker, all fresh, bright and notes of lemon and apple pie; and Adega on 45th’s 2025 Rosé which hits all the right raspberry-cherry notes with a tongue-tingling finish. Go, sip in the sun!

Read More: 7 Fresh B.C. Wines to Sip This Spring

It’s Halibut Season

I inhaled a fillet of new-season halibut the other day, and oh my gosh, off-the-boat deliciousness can’t be beat. I cooked mine simply: I patted it dry and sprinkled it with Maldon salt, seared it in butter for about a minute each side, then cooked it in the oven for six minutes at 350 degrees. Let it rest for a couple of minutes, then dive in. Yes, it was $25 for two fillets, but oh my gosh, it was worth it. Everyone has halibut specials on right now, so support your local restaurants and dive in.

Coast is truly getting into the spirit with a terrific all-halibut menu featuring tasty delights such as halibut ceviche, halibut dumplings, seared halibut in a cioppino broth and halibut en papillote.

#TreatYoSelf to Butter Baked Mini Floral Cupcakes

Never usually one for desserts, I have folded like a lawn chair over these freaking adorable mini floral cupcakes over at Butter Baked Goods. I picked up a dozen for an event the other day, and truly, it was one of the proudest moments of my life that I didn’t lay waste to the entire box on my drive over. Go! Spoil yourself or someone you love.

CHOMP! Salted egg yolk chips

New chip alert! These chips from The Golden Duck are the absolute bomb: salty, a little spicy, sweet and crunchy. Go get ‘em at T&T. Warning. Your fingers will be caked in chip-dust—worth it.