May Food Events in and Around Vancouver

Credit: Flickr / Rob Friesel

fiddleheads mean spring has finally sprung in Vancouver

Night markets, farmers markets, spot prawns and beer. Could Vancouver get any better than this?

Though there’s still a chill in the air, the return of fiddleheads to my dinner menu means that spring is definitely here. The Winter Farmers Market has officially finished and Trout Lake and Kits will be re-opening soon. May is also Asian Heritage Month, which coincides beautifully with the return of the Richmond and Vancouver Chinatown Night Markets. Ooh, and don’t forget Craft Beer Week and Spot Prawns!

Food events coming up in May

May 6–14 — Vancouver Craft Beer Festival

May 7 — 5th Annual BC Spot Prawn Festival

May 7 — Flatbread Frenzy

May 13 — Richmond summer Night Market re-opens

May 14 — East Vancouver’s Trout Lake summer farmers market re-opens

May 15 — Joy of Feeding

May 20 — Vancouver Chinatown Night Market re-opens

May 22 — Kitsilano summer farmers market re-opens

Vancouver Craft Beer Festival

Vancouver’s Craft Beer Week is back at over 70 venues around Vancouver. This year, there are 55 local and foreign craft breweries participating. Check out the Vancouver Craft Beer Week site for specific details (and for the hilarious flashdance-esque video).

5th Annual BC Spot Prawn Fetsival

The spot prawn season gets under way again in Vancouver with Canada’s largest Spot Prawn boil, the BC Spot Prawn Festival. Head down to False Creek’s Fishermen’s Wharf (west of Granville Island) to celebrate and help out The Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia (Cost $10).

Flatbread Frenzy at UBC

Part of the UBC Farm Growing Season Workshop Series, the Flatbread Frenzy workshop focuses on learning to make flatbreads from around the world (with Andrea Potter, formerly of Feenie’s and Radha). Saturday, May 7, 1–4 p.m. at Tapestry Residences, 3388 Wesbrook Mall. (Cost $55 + $2.37 reg. fee). Make sure you bring a notebook and containers to take things home.

Richmond Summer Night Market

With over 300 vendors and more food than you can poke a chopstick at, the Richmond Summer Night Market is a summer institution and is perfect for entertaining visiting friends or for a weekend dinner. Friday & Saturday (7 p.m.–12 a.m.) and Sunday (7–11 p.m.) at 12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond.

Trout Lake Farmers Market

The return of the summer farmers markets means more than just a location change. Be on the look out for leafy green vegetables, fiddleheads and smiles. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. each Saturday. North parking lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake.

Joy of Feeding

Organized by Meeru Dhalwala (co-owner/chef of Vij’s) and Mary MacKay (co-owner/head baker of Terra Breads), the Joy of Feeding event is a fundraiser for the UBC Farm and its children’s programs. The community cooking event includes stories from 15 women from different cultures about the role food plays. Sunday, May 15, 1–4 p.m. at UBC Farm, 6182 South Campus Rd. (Cost $50. Children under 12 are free — 1 per paid ticket). Tickets on sale at Lower Mainland Choices Markets and online.

Vancouver Chinatown Night Market

Chinatown comes to life this summer with the return of the Vancouver Chinatown Night Market. More than just food, there’s dancing and singing, electronics and clothes. Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 6:30–11:00 p.m. at Keefer and Main streets, Vancouver.

Kitsilano Farmers Market

The return of the summer farmers markets means more than just a location change (it also means that the weather is beautiful, so I’m going to cut and paste more so I can get outside sooner). Be on the look out for leafy green vegetables, fiddleheads and smiles. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. each Sunday. 2690 Larch St. at 10th Avenue, vancouver.

Restaurants opening soon