Foodie Friday – Rooftop Lounge, Markets & Summer Dinner Series

Hi foodie friends! We have once again curated a list of our current and upcoming culinary favourites and notable limited edition menus in Vancouver and surrounding areas, into one convenient spot for the Foodie Friday July feature. Here are our updates for all foodies alike:

Foodie Friday – Rooftop Lounge, Markets & Summer Dinner Series

New Openings

Veuve Clicquot Aqua Lounge Opening

• When: Now open – open daily from 12:00pm – 8:00pm until the end of summer
• Where: Located on the 17th floor of JW Marriott Parq Vancouver – 39 Smithe St., Vancouver
• Details: The Veuve Clicquot Aqua Lounge, is an exclusive rooftop patio experience for hotel and spa guests at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver or adjoining The Douglas Autograph Collection. This ultimate summer rooftop elevates spa and hotel guest’s experience by combining small bites (such as the Fraser Valley Wagyu Meatball, Peri Peri Brussel Sprouts, Mountain Mushroom Crostini, JW Garden Herb Burger or Brant Lake Wagyu Burger) Veuve Clicquot Rosé champagne and views of the Vancouver skyline. 
  • Guests of the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver or The Douglas Autograph Collection can call (604) 676-0888 to make a reservation or guests of the spa can call (778) 370-8700 to make a reservation.

Related: A New Skybar in Vancouver – Rooftop Restaurant to Open in May

New Restaurant, Barra Gitano, is Officially Open in Vancouver’s Davie Village

• When: Opened July 4th
• Where: 1202 Davie St., Vancouver
• Details: Casual, Mexican-inspired cuisine restaurant, Barra Gitano, has officially opened in the heart of Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood (where Mary’s used to be). Open daily at 4:00pm from Wednesdays to Sundays for dinner and late-night drinks, Barra Gitano offers seating for 100 guests in its cozy dining room and outdoor patio. They feature a unique menu of Mexican and Latin American-inspired small plates, entrées and tacos as well as a full bar showcasing handcrafted cocktails, artisanal spirits, craft beer, wine and zero-proof mocktails. The team behind the new spot is the same team known for The Flying Pig, Ophelia Cocina Mexicana and Monarca Cocina Mexicana.

Special Dinners, Dinner Series + Summer Treats

Wildlight Kitchen + Bar Fires Summer BBQ Series

• When: Starting July 14th
• Where: 5380 University Blvd. #107, Vancouver
• Details: Wildlight Kitchen + Bar has launched 3 brand new BBQ dinners this summer. The series of long-table dinners offer a fun way to taste the creative cuisine that earned Wildlight a 2023 MICHELIN Guide Recommendation and Chef Warren Chow the Young Chef award. Make your reservation here.
  • July 14, 2024 – 5:00pm: Brazilian BBQ Night – featuring grilled bison picanha and linguiça sausage, Brazilian cheese bread, cassava fries, tres leches cake and more.
  • July 28, 2024 – 5:00 pm: Korean BBQ Night – featuring Galbi short rib, Pork Jowl (Dwaeji Bulgogi), seafood pancake (Haemuljeon), pickled veggies and more.
  • August 11, 2024 – 5:00pm: Southern BBQ Night – featuring smoked brisket, baby back ribs, grilled kielbasa sausage, jalapeno hush puppies, bacon bourbon baked beans and more.

Pacific Institute of Arts Announces Return of ‘The Bear’ Dinner & Cooking Class

• When: Dinner on July 11th and Cooking Class on July 20th
• Where: Blue Hat Bistro at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, 1505 W 2nd Ave. #101, Vancouver
• Details: The culinary team at the Pacific Institute of Arts is channeling the hit TV show The Bear with a themed five course dinner on July 11th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The dinner features “The Michael Cannoli”, “Sydney’s Ravioli”, “The Seven Fishes”, “Ube Gateau Basque” and a special surprise for season 3. A limited number of tickets to The Bear Dinner are available for $125 per person plus tax here. The menu for the cooking class is “Arugula, Fennel & Orange Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette”, “Mikey & Carmy’s Mom’s Chicken Piccata”, “Sydney’s Risotto Parmigiano”, “Margie’s Candies OTT Caramel Sundae” and “The Pink Drink”. Spaces for The Bear Cooking Class are limited, so early registration is recommended. Tickets are available for purchase online here.

Summer Treats at Beaucoup Bakery

• When: Now Available
• Where: 2150 Fir St., Vancouver
• Details: Vancouver’s favourite Parisian-style bakery has released special summer menu items; such as a mango collection and a special collaboration with Disney’s Frozen. The mango collection features a Mango Passion Danish ($7.25), made with croissant pastry, passion fruit mango curd and fresh mangoes and an iced Mango Jasmine Creamsicle drink ($6.50) with mango juice and jasmine white chocolate (pictured above). For savory options, there is a brand new Pepperoni Scroll ($7.25) with pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella and hot honey on top of flakey croissant-style pastry. The Frozen options are Blue Raspberry Madeleines ($12.50), Blue Curaçao Calamansi ($6.50) and a Blackberry Cassis Macaron Frais ($8.95). Pre-orders will also be available online.

Vegan Night Market

• When: Every other Thursday
• Where: At Locarno Beach, on the west side of Jericho Park on Northwest Marine Dr between Discovery St and Tolmie St.
• Details: Learn about Canada’s first and only vegan night market here and follow along for new vendors and features.

New Markets

Junction Public Market at Granville Square

• When: June 28th to September 29th – Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, Holiday Mondays 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Where: Granville Square, steps from Canada Place & Waterfront Station
• Details: Learn about Junction Public Market’s wide variety of vendors, food and drink options and market info here.

Find New Markets on New App The Tasting Passport

Each self-guided tour on the new BC Farmers Market app, called Tasting Passport, features go-to neighbourhood spots, including places like the best local farm-to-table restaurants, popular local values-based businesses and free and accessible cultural attractions and activities. Content for the itineraries has been thoughtfully curated with support from tourism partners and Destination BC’s Co-Operative Marketing Partnership Program. The Tasting Passport lets travelers and locals share their foodie experiences and get rewarded for exploring communities across BC. Fans who check in at BC farmers’ market destinations will reach new tier levels within the app, unlock bonus badges and redeem prizes for hitting milestones.

• New Vendors to the App:
  • Maan Farms: a family-run farm based in Abbotsford offering the freshest greenhouse strawberries all year round. Find them at Abbotsford, Fort Langley, Trout Lake, Riley Park, Kitsilano, Coquitlam and White Rock Farmers’ Market.
  • Buns Out: Serving authentic Taiwanese street food at Whistler Farmers’ Market.
  • Masala Factory: Offering high-quality, authentic Indian spice blends using family recipes at Kitsilano, Riley Park, Trout Lake, Burnaby, Ambleside and Coquitlam Farmers’ Market.
  • Hearty Vegan: Serving nutritious soups and sauces at Haney and Pitt Meadows Farmers’ Market.
  • Pele’s Kitchen: Offering a variety of vegan and gluten-free baked goods at Sooke Country Market on Vancouver Island.

Don’t forget to check out last month’s Foodie Friday for local restaurants to add to your “must try” list. And check back in August for Foodie Friday! Tried one of our recent recommendations and have thoughts? Be sure to tag @miss604 during your adventures or send us your own recommendations!