Food & Drink

Welcome the New Year With Vancouver’s January Food Events

January is no time for post-holiday dieting. Here are some reasons to carry on eating.

By Michael Robertson /

Credit: Flickr / Roland Tanglao

Haggis filled won tons for Gung Haggis Fat Choy

above: Haggis filled won tons for Gung Haggis Fat Choy

 

For many, January is a time for dieting and purging; others of us have no choice but to keep eating… and eating

 

On top of the farmers market, which is still going strong every Saturday, there’s a good range of events happening this month, from Vancouver-made Scottish-Chinese festivals to meet-ups for vegans and gluten-free eaters. Make sure you book early if you want seats for Dine Out or the Secret Soiree.

 

Food events coming up in January

Jan 8 – Winter Farmers Market

Jan 11 – Living Gluten-Free Community Meet-Up

Jan 11 – Two Block Diet

Jan 14 – Secret Supper Soiree

Jan 15 – Vegan Meet-Up

Jan 15 – Winter Farmers Market

Jan 18 – Taste BC

Jan 22 – Cheese making workshop

Jan 22 – Winter Farmers Market

Jan 24–Feb 6 – Dine Out Vancouver

Jan 25 – Backyard Chicken Workshop

Jan 29 – Winter Farmers Market

Jan 30 – Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

Jan 30–31 – BC Food Service Expo & Hot Competition

 

Winter Farmers Market

Still going strong, you’ll find the Winter Farmers Markets every weekend by Nat Bailey Stadium [map]. Check out this list of market vendors.

 

Living Gluten-Free Community Meet-Up

Living Gluten-Free Community is a group designed to bring together those who live a gluten-free lifestyle. They hold monthly meetings and events to educate and empower people with the tools and confidence that they need to live a healthy, safe and delicious gluten-free life. Jan 11, 7–9 p.m. at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.

 

Secret Supper Soiree

A secretive air covers this aspect of 2011’s Dine Out Vancouver. Swallow Tail Canada presents the Secret Supper Soiree, a culinary speakeasy tour that will see enterprising diners carted away in a Vancouver Trolley to a selection of undisclosed pop-up restaurants with food from talented Vancouver chefs.

 

Fridays, 6–10 p.m. Jan 14, Jan 28, Feb 4.

Saturdays, 4–8 p.m. Jan 15, Jan 29, Feb 5.

 

Pick up location: Pacific Central Train Station. $119 with wine; $79 without wine. Vegetarian menus are available.  

 

Vegan Meet-Up

It’s not often that vegans get to pig out (or whatever the vegan equivalent is) at a buffet. It’s labelled as a vegan meet-up and I’m sure a lot of like-minded people will be here. Annapurna’s All-You-Can-Eat buffet is $13 per person (including HST, tip and “meet-up fee”). It’s cash only and exact change is preferred.

 

Taste BC

Taste BC, as you’d expect, features food, wine, beer and spirits from around the province. On top of tickling your tastebuds, it’s also a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital-Oak Tree Clinic. This year it’s at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Tickets can be purchased at Liberty Wine Merchants locations for $49.99. Jan 18. 4:30–7:30 p.m.

 

Dine Out Vancouver

In its ninth year, Dine Out Vancouver is Tourism Vancouver‘s a citywide celebration of food and BC wine. It’s a fabulous opportunity to check out Vancouver’s hot restaurants, new eateries and neighbourhood favourites for an easy to swallow prix-fixe. Jan 24–Feb 6.

 

Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

Celebrating the homegrown (and completely made up) festival of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, the fundraising dinner celebrates BC Scottish and Chinese pioneer culture and benefits the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop, Ricepaper magazine and Historic Joy Kogawa House. Originally created to mark the timely coincidence of Robert Burns Day (Jan 25) with the Chinese New Year, it features a 10-course feast, entertainment and raffle prizes. Admission includes a one-year subscription to Ricepaper magazine. Jan 30, 6–9 p.m. at Floata Seafood Restaurant, Vancouver. Doors open at 5 p.m.

 

BC Food Service Expo & Hot Competition

If you’re not in the industry, read no further. I mean it. Top secret. Shhh. The Expo is available only to persons in the industry as this is an insider show. The British Columbia Chefs’ Association will present the Annual Hot Competition [pdf] at the Vancouver Convention Center as part of The BC Foodservice Expo. Over Jan 30–31 competitors from all levels of cooking, including Professional, Team, Apprentice, Post-Secondary and High School categories will duke it out.
 

Restaurants opening soon

If you’re constantly on the lookout for the newest place to eat, you can either stalk me or check out Vancouver Foodster’s blackboard of upcoming restaurant openings.