We have curated a list of our current and upcoming culinary favourites and notable limited edition menus, into one convenient spot for the Vancouver Foodie Friday March feature. Here are our updates for all foodies alike as we welcome spring:
Vancouver Foodie Friday – Annual Curry Cup, New Dinner Series and More
Around the World: Exclusive Dinner with Chef David Hawksworth
When: Thursday March 14, 2024 at 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Where: Terminal City Club, 837 West Hastings St., Vancouver
Details: Enjoy an indulgent evening for a great cause, featuring a four-course meal of global flavours curated by guest Chef David Hawksworth with wine pairings, canapés, a sparkling wine reception, an opportunity to purchase a fine bottle from the wine wall and a chance to win a luxury travel prize from Seabourn Cruises and Air Canada. Learn more.
Western Canada’s most sustainable meal kit delivery service, Fresh Prep, has just launched a collab with world-renowned Vij’s, one of the most well-known and recognized restaurants not just in Vancouver but across the country. You can enter to win the chance to try this tasty pairing for yourself!
Fresh Prep x Vij’s Collaboration
Fresh Prep was the first Canadian meal kit delivery service to deliver recipes in reusable Zero Waste Kits, which significantly reduces the need for single use plastic. They offer 14 delicious recipes each week, including vegetarian and vegan options, plus a variety of ready-to-eat meals, sides, salads, desserts and more. All ingredients arrive packed in reusable, insulated cooler bags with reusable ice packs.
Fresh Prep has been collaborating with some of the city’s top chefs and restaurants, so customers can bring world-class culinary experiences to their own kitchens. Previous collabs include Café Medina, Nuba, and Anh & Chi among others.
Vij’s has been recognized by the New York Times as “easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world.”
The Vij’s collaboration features two recipes: One “meaty” dish, and one vegan dish: Vij’s Chickpeas, Potato & Coconut Curry with Spiced Peas, and Vij’s Masala Chicken Curry with Spiced Cauliflower.
“I wanted one “meaty” dish and one vegan dish to start,” says Meeru Dhalwala, the culinary force behind Vij’s Restaurant in Vancouver. “While I do have a beef curry on my menu, I treat beef like a special occasion meat we don’t need to eat much. Its carbon footprint is too huge and it’s not good for our arteries. In my home, we eat meat once a week. When I was growing up, mom mostly made chicken (or goat) curry on Saturdays and we couldn’t wait. But we don’t eat just meat curry—it’s always accompanied by vegetables. Fun fact, goat is leaner and healthier than chicken. But goat also takes hours to cook. I’m not sure why goat hasn’t taken off in North America as a healthy meat option, but it’s a big seller on my Vij’s menu.”
“Another beauty of Indian cuisine is that we don’t eat as per diets. We eat because it tastes satisfying and delicious. Indian cuisine is vegan friendly but it isn’t vegan on purpose. We are vegan/vegetarian at home except for our once a week meat. Indian cuisine has such a perfect balance of taste, health/nutrition, ingredients, if done right. So my chickpea and coconut curry is my ode to the rich beauty of vegan curries, even for those who aren’t vegan.” (Read the full blog with Dhalwala here).
The hope is that with these meal kits, home cooks who maybe aren’t as familiar with Indian Cooking will be introduced to delicious Indian curries that are simple to prepare, with absolutely no food waste. Recreate these recipes at home without the hassle of sourcing exotic spices or spending hours in the kitchen. Each 2-serving meal kit is $31.90, available to order until the end of March.
Enter to Win
You can enter to win one of these meal kits! Here’s how:
Head to the Fresh Prep menu to order Vij’s exclusive recipes. These meal kits are only available to Fresh Prep customers. If you haven’t signed up yet, try now to enjoy these limited-time Vij’s collaboration meal kits, plus weekly recipes, salads and more.
This weekend in Vancouver enjoy a variety of events, from Women’s Day celebrations and pop-up markets, to Oscars viewing parties, rollerskating, tours, and festivals.
BC Annual Pass holders must reserve an entry time prior to visiting.
Capilano Suspension Bridge will host special Easter-themed activities featuring fun, seasonal photo-ops and more during Spring Break and beyond. Complete Echo Eagle’s Eggsploration to win a prize and say hello to the beautiful hawks, owls, and falcons of Raptors Ridge on-site daily.
Raptors Ridge is an educational facility committed to educating the public about raptors—birds of prey such as owls, hawks and falcons—and to wildlife conservation. Every evening the birds that visit the Park return to the Raptors Ridge facility and different birds visit the next day. When they’re not at the park, the birds enjoy an open, free-flight environment.
Shop the Trading Post’s over 6,000 square feet of custom branded goods, gifts, keepsakes, souvenirs and treats, and stay for lunch at the Cliff House Restaurant or grab a snack at the Loggers Grill.
Get there in a breeze with the free shuttle that’s available from Canada Place.
Please note, during Hoppy Heights, Treetop Adventure will be closed for maintenance. All other regular attractions will remain open during the event. Visitors get 10% off during the Treetops Adventure tune-up closure.
Take part in an Easter Egg Hunt, watch the 102nd Chilliwack Plowing Match, and explore the Sweet Spring Flower and Animal Festival at Greendale Acres this Spring for fields of family fun.
The roots of Greendale Acres were planted in 1999 when John and Diane Bruinsma teamed up with Lloyd and Wendy Taekema. They began transforming the old Bruinsma dairy farm into Canada’s first corn maze as part of an effort to connect the community with agriculture. Now, the farm is operated by John and Diane’s three daughters along with their husbands and nine small children who all share in the labour of love and the common goal of reconnecting people with nature and agriculture.
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Events at the Farm in Chilliwack
Easter Egg Hunt | Friday, March 29 to Sunday, March 31 from 9:00am to 4:00pm Greendale Acres is starting the spring season off with an Easter Egg Hunt. Enjoy a sprawling egg hunt in the apple orchard, pictures with the Easter Bunny, baby animal displays, egg chutes, fire pit rentals, food specials and more. Every participating child receives an Easter goodie bag for their efforts.
Chilliwack Plowing Match | Saturday, April 6 from 9:00am to 3:00pm The fun continues with the annual Chilliwack Plowing Match – a good old-fashioned day on the farm celebrating the area’s rich farming history. Tickets are on sale online and at the gate and include access to all attractions, animal displays, spectator viewing areas, tractor wagon rides (weather-dependent), and more. There will also be a by-donation pancake breakfast with funds benefiting the Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society.
Sweet Spring Flower and Animal Festival | April 7 to May 6 The Dutch flower festival-inspired event features an array of beautiful photo ready opportunities with over 50,000 hand-planted flower bulbs. Bask in the picturesque gardens in full bloom throughout the property. New this year is Lily’s Barnyard, which offers guests one-on-one meet and greet with Lily the lamb. Additional attractions include a jumping pillow, pedal cart track, hay-bale maze, and so much more.
