Vancouver is known for its abundance of sushi and coffee joints along with cupcake shops, unique diners, and locavore cuisine but the Quebec-classic poutine is bursting onto the scene. A staple at Fritz European Fry House and La Belle Patate, more restaurants are adding the french fry, cheese curd, and gravy-covered combo to their menus. As such, Vancouver is hosting its first Festival de la Poutine next month, presented by Francouver.
Photo credit:
Daragh on Flickr
What Festival de la Poutine
Where Hellenic Community Center, 4500 Arbutus Street, Vancouver
When Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 12:00pm
Cost Free admission for everyone until 5:30pm. $20 for the evening events starting at 6:00pm. Tickets are available for a “Poutine Crawl” around Vancouver on the same day.
Starting at noon there will be activities for families (a kids section, temporary tattoos, battle of the bands) and plenty of home-made poutine to sample. Amateur cooks can also enter their poutine recipes into a competition. After 6:00pm (until late) there will be concerts, a live DJ, dancing, and still more poutine.
Thrill The World Vancouver returns this year as dozens of cities around the globe participate in a zombie dance, on the same day, to the music of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Where David Lam Park The Roundhouse in Yaletown
When Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 7:00pm
What The world’s largest simultaneous Thriller tribute dance. Once again donations are being accepted for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. A minimum donation of $10 is suggested.
No dance experience is necessary but you can pick up the Thriller moves at one of the rehearsal sessions happening October 24th or 25th at the Roundhouse, or October 27th at Cambrian Hall. You can also get your ghoulish makeup done on-site at Thrill The World courtesy of Vancouver Film School’s Makeup Design for Film & Television students. A 2-item donation for the Food Bank is suggested for makeup service.
I have been a costume contest judge for the last two years and am happy to return again. I don’t know what the categories will be this year but in the past I’ve judged “Hungriest Looking” and “Most Enthusiastic Dancer” alongside CBC Radio 3’s Lana Gay. Spectators are very welcome to come out and enjoy the show as Vancouver zombies support a worthy local cause.
Follow Thrill The World on Facebook and Twitter for event updates.
Photo: Tourism Burnaby
If you’ve driven Eastbound on Highway 1 from Vancouver you would have surely passed the Grand Villa Casino & the Delta Burnaby Hotel and Conference Centre.
It’s quickly become a hot spot for Burnaby nightlife, casino play, and dining at EBO Restaurant & Lounge, Centro, Apetito, and Grand Dynasty. Every Thursday night in the Scala Lounge they also present Dueling Pianos.
The high-energy dueling pianos show is described as “sing-a-long and comedic entertainment all night”. The pianists, Mick Dalla-Vee and Tom Arntzen, are both legendary in Canadian music.
The Grand Villa Casino approached me to do a giveaway and have offered up two prize packages so two lucky readers can have a mini ‘staycation’ or at least a night away in the hotel with food and entertainment.
Photo: Grand Villa Casino
The prize packages each include: Two $50 gift cards that can be used for chips or slot play in the casino, one night’s accommodation in the hotel, a $40 food and beverage gift certificate for the Scala Lounge so the winner and their guest can enjoy Dueling Pianos.
I write so often about our region and rarely see it through the eyes of visitors. I realized that I’ve never actually spent the night in a Vancouver hotel even though I recommend so many to those who seek my advice. I think this is a fantastic opportunity to discover that what’s there for tourists is also available for locals to enjoy.
Here’s how you can enter to win this Night Away/Dueling Pianos contest:
- Leave a comment this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw two winners, who will each get a prize package, at random from all entries at 10:00am on Thursday, October 27, 2011. You must be 19 years of age or older to enter, win, and play at the casino. Please enjoy responsibly and know your limit, play within it. The prize packages are redeemable for bookings on a Thursday night as they are bundled with the Dueling Pianos performance. The $40 for Scala Lounge cannot be used on alcohol or gratuity.
Update The winner is Lisa! (comment from October 21) AND @DarrylAMiller.
Tonight Food Network Canada is premiering Recipe to Riches, their latest reality competition series where participants submit original recipes to see which will become the next President’s Choice retail item (along with a cash prizes for the winner).
Hosted by Jesse Palmer (former NFL quarterback and contestant on “The Bachelor”), the episodes are separated into categories: Appetizers, Cakes, Entrees, Frozen Treats, Savoury Pies, Sweet and Savoury Snacks, Sweet Puddings and Pies. On tonight’s Sweet Puddings and Pies episode, you’ll be able to catch local food blogger Mijune of Follow Me Foodie as she presents her Canadian Pie-in-a-Jar.
“I’m very excited for not just my episode, but for the entire series!” Mijune told me by email. “I’m very honoured to be a finalist (from Vancouver!) and have my recipe selected by such a team of professional judges. I couldn’t be happier regardless of the outcome! The support from everyone has been incredible and I haven’t even won anything, but I feel like I have. It’s overwhelming, but it feels great!”
A winner in each category will be decided and just a few days later, you will be able to pick up the winning recipe in Superstores across Canada. So, if Mijune wins tonight, you could be able to pick up her Canadian Pie-in-a-Jar as early as October 22, 2011.
In case you’re wondering what the Pie-in-a-Jar entails, Mijune says, “Canada is known as a melting pot of cultures, so I created the melting PIE of cultures.”
“It’s an almond crust, with cardamom and Mexican vanilla bean spiced Bartlett and Asian pears, topped with a maple cinnamon creme brulee crust.”
The very last category to air will be Entrees on November 30th and the winner’s product will be in stores across Canada as of December 3, 2011. Weekly winners will receive $25,000 (along with the production of their recipe item) and the grand prize is $250,000.
There are a few more contestants from Burnaby, Whistler, North Vancouver, and Vancouver so be sure to cheer on your home-town favourites.
Tonight’s Sweet Puddings and Pies episode will be on Food Network Canada at 6:00pm Pacific time (check local listings for exact channels). Read Mijune’s feedback about the episode tomorrow on her Follow Me Foodie blog.
Fred Herzog‘s photos of Vancouver during the 1950’s and 1960’s not only changed the way we see our city’s past but revolutionized the art of street photography. His crisp colour photos of Vancouver’s neon days give us a glimpse at days gone by along bustling downtown streets. In partnership with Vancouver’s 125th anniversary celebration, the Knowledge Network is presenting a film about Herzog’s works next month.
When Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 7:00pm
Where Goldcorp Centre for the Arts at SFU, Woodward’s District
What An advanced screening of the Fred Herzog film from Snapshot with special presentations by Douglas Coupland, Shelagh Rogers, Gary Stephen Ross, Sam Sullivan and Andy Sylvester. The event will also serve as the launch new book entitled Fred Herzog: Photographs published by Douglas and McIntyre.
If you would like to attend this event and film screening, I have two tickets to give away thanks to Knowledge. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random at 10:00am next Tuesday, October 25, 2011.
Update The winner is @kathykatcogo!
