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Find out who will be Canada’s Best Sommelier?

For the first time ever, oenophiles, vintners, other wine industry, and friends from all across Canada will descend upon Vancouver to find out who is Best Sommelier of Canada.

Presented by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers the day long competition takes place at Rogers Arena starting at 9am on September 5, 2017.  The live competition is open to industry and public, and finds the top three sommeliers from across the country testing their skills against each other to who will be uncorked as #BestSommCanada.  Preliminary, closed-door competitions the day prior will select the top three from the regional winners;

British Columbia
Shane Taylor, wine director,  Cin Cin Ristorante + Bar
Alistair Veen, chef & owner, Tap Restaurant
Jason Yamasaki, group sommelier, Joey Wine Group 

The Prairies
Domar Rafael, food & beverage manager, The Manitoba Club 

Ontario
Emily Pearce Bibona, sommelier, The York Club
Steven Robinson, sommelier, Atelier Restaurant

Quebec
Carl LePage Villeneuve, sommelier, Restaurant Toque
Pier Alexis Souliere, sommelier, Manresa Restaurant

Atlantic Canada
Lesley Quinn, sommelier, Barrington Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

Lunch for all guests will follow the Live Competition then the day continues with educational and interesting sponsor seminars from Nova Scotia’s Benjamin Bridge and Wines of Ontario

Dinner, at Victoria Chinese Restaurant will be preceded by a cocktail reception sponsored by Lifford Wines and Spirits and presented by the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association.  The Best Sommelier of Canada winner will be announced later in the evening. The Grand Prize will be presented to the winner by Gallo along with other prizes, including: trips to Argentina, flights around the world presented by the Vancouver International Wine Festival, a special trip arranged by Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, premium wines, spirits, fine Crystal from Nova Scotian Crystal, and more.

Winner of Best Sommelier of Canada earns the right to compete in Best Sommelier of The Americas in hopes of competing at Best Sommelier of the World.

Tickets and a full schedule are bc.sommelierscanada.ca/events

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Fringe Festival 2017 Brings Theatre to Everyone

The 2017 edition of Vancouver Fringe Festival gets underway September 7th inviting everyone to partake in 11 days of theatre.  Since 1985, Vancouver Fringe Festival has celebrated theatre of all kinds.

Uniquely, the Fringe Festival employs an everyone is welcome selection process, drawing the mainstage performance out of a hat. All artists from novice performers to veteran theatre companies,  have the chance to participate, and receive 100% of the box-office revenue during the festival.
Mainstage shows centre around Granville Island at the Revue Stage, Performance Works, and Waterfront Theatre. Other shows in the BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) category allow artists to stage their performances in unique and different venues.

With more than 100 performances over the 11 days it can be hard to select your personal program so on the evening prior to opening, join The Georgia Straight Fringe-For-All, September 6th at 8pm, a two hour performance featuring fast and furious two minute tasters to whet your appetite and help you choose your picks of the Fest.

More than just theatre, Music is part of Fringe at the Big Rock Brewery Fringe Bar located at Ocean Art Works (outside the Ocean Concrete on Granville Island) offering music performances every night, with no cover.

Vancouver Fringe Festival takes place September 7 – 17, 2017, in various venues around the city.  Explore the Vancouver Fringe Festival guide and book passes and tickets by visiting vancouverfringe.com

 

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Ce Soir Noir is back in black at Crab Park

Ce Soir Noir (This Black Night) descends on CRAB Park at Portside for the third year next Thursday, August 24th.

What began as a local counter-event to the brighter and whiter, Dîner en Blanc has evolved into it’s own east side annual event.  Dîner en Blanc, part of a well organized, ticketed, global phenomenon, offers patrons a chance to glam it up and enjoy an evening of gourmet food, high-end entertainment and experiences, whereas Ce Soir Noir is a free, casual local, dress-down event. Whichever floats your boat will be a good time for all.

Organizers of Ce Soir Noir invite people to just show up anytime between 5pm and 10pm on August 24th.  More than just a picnic, Ce Soir Noir becomes a picnic based art installation, with everyone a brushstroke in the artwork.  If you’re hungry, pack your own picnic food to share amongst friends, bring something to sit on or just park your butts on the grass then join in the camaraderie of other picnickers.  The only caveat is that the organizers hope everyone wears black from head to toe.

This year’s event has a city permit to take over CRAB Park, but still maintains it’s free community event status.  To be good neighbours in one of East Vancouver’s few waterfront parks, visitors are asked to be mindful of what they bring and take it out with them, leaving the park as clean or cleaner to the following day.

Whether you choose the white event or this black night, both gathering of diverse communities on August 24 might be just what the world needs a little more of in these divisive times.

Ce Soir Noir takes place August 24th between 5pm and 10pm at CRAB Park at Portside, 101 E Waterfront Road at Main Street.

Dîner en Blanc also takes place August 24th at a to be announced location.

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Get Early Bird Tickets for @VanFoodster Tasting Plates UBC

It’s still more than a month away but now is the time to get your ultra early bird tickets for Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates UBC – Westbrook Village coming September 27, 2017.

Like a city within a city, Westbrook Village has blossomed over the last few years to become a destination filled with everything the UBC community needs to feed their appetites.

As new developments have popped up, the selection of food and dining options has grown with them.  Vancouver Foodster and the local chefs and eateries have partnered to show off the neighbourhood for a Tasting Plates tour.  Like all Tasting Plates, patrons are invited to visit and explore the area to taste what the Chefs have created to best show off their establishments.
Grab your family, friends and fellow foodies, to stroll the ‘hood and explore with your tastebuds.

The line-up of restaurants for Tasting Plates UBC – Westbrook Village will be revealed in early September but Ultra Early Bird tickets are on sale already, for just $29, saving you money over the full price $60 tickets.

Get your tickets now on Eventbrite:
Ultra Early-Bird Tickets: $29 per person until August 31
Early-Bird Tickets: $35 per person until September 14
Advance Tickets $45 per person until September 24
Regular $60 per person after September 24

Don’t forget before visiting UBC – Westbrook Village, Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates visits Commercial Drive on August 23rd.

 

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Richmond Maritime Festival took over Steveston

This past weekend, the 14th Annual Richmond Maritime Festival brought thousands out to the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in Steveston Village.

With the first smoke-free days after weeks of haze engulfing the city, the refreshing breeze and blue skies made for a perfect day to stroll the Fraser Riverfront, visit the historic Britannia Shipyard buildings; like the Seine Net Loft, Chinese Bunkhouse, Shipyards, or Murkani House. Intermixed with the permanent exhibits Maritime Festival zones hosted activities and entertainment for the whole family.

Music stages, games, puppet shows, historical and cultural arts and crafts.  Visitors could try their hands at paddling a Dragon Boat, tie nautical knots, learn about the cargo and work that goes on at Port Metro Vancouver and Steveston Harbour.

The highlight for many was the local and visiting boats on display along the waterfront.  Boat owners and crews welcomed visitors, young and old, aboard to explore the wooden boats, sailboats, tugs, lifeboat and more.  People scrambled up and down the decks, engine rooms and berths as they learned about the life aquatic. All the while a band of pirates in their scaled-down ships chased each other along the riverwith smoke from their cannon fire circling the sails.

Saturday evening’s entertainment was unfortunately cut short when a real fire broke out at the nearby Colonial Cannery building. Thankfully it was brought under control by the Steveston Harbour Authority, who were on site at the Festival, and Richmond Fire Department.  The Festival was able to recommence Sunday morning as scheduled, allowing even more families to enjoy the Richmond Maritime Festival.

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Mixology Night On The Pier Crowns A Cocktail Champion

Ambleside Pier

Last night, Harmony Arts Festival presented the 2nd Annual Mixology Night On The Pier, a celebration of cocktail culture.  Eight of Metro Vancouver’s top mixologists crafted unique cocktail creations for the Mixology Night guests to sample and enjoy.  After tasting, guests were invited to vote for their favourite to be crowned top bartender.

Under an amber sunset the Ambleside seaside pier twinkled with light as it filled with patrons enjoying bites catered by Cocktails and Canapes, Memphis Blues and Mamie Taylors while sipping the cocktail creations by the competing bartenders (in alphabetical order);

Chelsea Schulte, Cocktails and Canapes
Better Of Red : Campari, Tarragon infused Lillet Blanc, Sparkling Cucumber & Green Apple Juice, Raspberry Lemon Sherbet

 

 

 

Justin Darnes, Mott 32 & Trump Hotels Champagne Lounge
Blood & Champagne : Sparkling Wine, Clarified Orange & Egyptian Geranium Blossom Cordial, Negroni Pearls

 

 

 

 

Katie Ingram, L’Abattoir
Pachamama : El Gobernador Pisco, Amaro Nonino, Giffard Elderflower, Lemon Juice, Bittered Sling Western Haskup

 

 

 

 

Max Borrowman, Juniper Kitchen + Bar
The Cascadian : Grand Marnier, Lime Juice, Pear Puree, Maple Pecan Syrup, Egg White, Smoked Pear Bitters

 

 

 

 

Philipp Karatsyupa, Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio
Voila Venezuelan Festivus : Diplomatico Reserva, Charred Pineapple Shrub, Lionello Stock Rosso Vermouth, Cuvee Jean Louis Bubbles Top Up, Green Strawberry Bitters, Odd Society Creme De Cassis, Caviar Garnish

 

 


Robyn Gray ,Prohibition at Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Toki Ice Tea : Suntory Toki Whisky, Genmaicha Tea, Honey, on the rocks with a Shiso Leaf Garnish

 

 

 


Sabrine Dhaliwal, UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar
Evening Whispers : Belvedere Vodka, Lemon Juice, White Port, Aperol, Jasmine Green Tea, Bittered Sling Sulus Cherry Bitters

 

 

 

 

Sergio Grandolfo, Cacao Vancouver
La Tierra Del Fuego : El Gobernador Pisco, Corn Syrup, Lemon Juice, Spicy Extract, Sorel Molecular Foam, Edible Petals

 

 

 

 

Guests voted by ballot for their favourite cocktail and bartender plus a chance to win a Helijet roundtrip flight.  After the votes were counted, Winner Sergio Grandolfo from Cacao Vancouver was crowned the people’s choice for top cocktail. A trip will also be awarded to Sergio.

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Get your tickets for Tasting Plates Commercial Drive – Aug 23

Commercial Drive is known for it’s diverse restaurant scene, experience it for yourself on August 23rd with Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates  Commercial Drive.   

As usual with Tasting Plates, patrons will get to explore the neighbourhood with their friends and fellow foodies, while sampling what Commercial Drive chefs have prepared for the evening.  Vancouver Foodster invites chefs to create a tasting plate of unique or curated from their menu morsels.
Tasting Platers will check in at the welcome desk to collect their Tasting Plates cards and maps then hit the streets with their taste buds at the ready.

Tasting Plates Commercial Drive on August 23rd has so far included the following restaurants in the line-up;

Federico’s Supper Club, 1728 Commercial Dr
Rosemary Rock Salt, 1350 Commercial Dr
Falconetti’s East Side Grill, 1812 Commercial Dr
77K Freeze Iceberg Lounge, 2240 Commercial Dr
Famoso Neapolitan Pizza, 1380 Commercial Dr
Turks Coffee Lounge, 1276 Commercial Dr

Tickets for Tasting Plates Commercial Drive are on sale now

Early-Bird Tickets: $35 per person until August 8
Advance Tickets $45 per person from August 9-20
Regular $60 per person after August 20