Dining Out for Life
February 17, 2009
Not to be confused with the great culinary tradition of Dine Out Vancouver, Dining Out for Life is a fundraising event to help the fight against AIDS.
Here’s how it works: you go out to eat at one of the participating restaurants on March 12, 2009. The restaurant then donates 25 percent of the food revenues to A Loving Spoonful and Friends for Life.
If you’re not familiar with A Loving Spoonful, it is a non-profit organization that provides free, nutritious meals to people who have HIV/AIDS. It’s a very important service, because 80 percent of AIDS deaths are caused by malnutrition, not the disease, since it causes people to lack physical endurance and the resources to feed themselves.
The Vancouver Friends for Life Society is a wellness centre. It offers yoga, naturopathic medicine, massage therapy, healing energy, social programs and more to those living with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, HIV, ALS, and CF.
If you can’t make it out to dinner, you can still participate. Sumac Ridge Estate Winery is sponsoring the event and will be donating $1 of every bottle purchased in BC at restaurants or liquor stores — during the entire month of March! There is no better time to try one of its tasty wines, such as its Sparkling Shiraz or the delicious Stellar’s Jay bubbly.
Even those on a tight budget should be able to spring for a bottle of their Gewürztraminer ($13.99). It’s a very aromatic, zesty white with some tropical fruit and floral components. It would pair well with spicy Thai or Indian food. If you’re limiting your spending, why not do some take away from Thai Away Home, a participating restaurant, and grab a bottle at the liquor store?
To whet your palate, here’s a small taste of some of the participating restaurants: A Kettle of Fish, Boneta, C Restaurant, the Cannery, Chow, Cibo, Gastropod, Hy’s Encore, La Brasserie, Raincity Grill, Rodney’s Oyster House, The Smoking Dog French Bistro, Tapastree, Trafalgars Bistro, and Wild Rice.
<Pictured above: chefs of select participating restaurants toast to Dining Out for Life. They are surrounded by restaurant managers, Sumac Ridge officials and representatives of the charities.>
My Tipsy Valentine
February 4, 2009
Can’t afford to whisk your Valentine away to Paris for a spontaneous night of romance? Not to worry, there are plenty of things to do right here in BC.
If you book quickly, you might be able to get in on the Aphrodisiacs and Wine four course meal with wine pairing hosted at CRU restaurant by the South World Wine Society. It takes place February 11th from 7pm and tickets go for $100 (which includes food and wine).
If your date is a little more dangerous, check out Salt Cellar‘s My Bloody Valentine 3. It’s a three-course meal at $56 per couple. Add $15 each to pair three sparkling or three pink wines with the food. Be sure to call ahead, as it will sell out fast.
Or maybe you and your lover are looking for a private party. Book into the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. It’s offering overnight accommodation for two, some chocolate truffles to nibble on, and a $30 food and beverage hotel credit (in case your hunger is not satiated by truffles alone). It’s also throwing in complimentary self-parking. This deal is available for Valentine’s: February 12 to 16 from $209.
Thinking about a little weekend getaway, you sly devil? If you’re heading east to wine country, make sure to stop by Tinhorn Creek Vineyards in Oliver. It’s hosting an afternoon of indulgence with red wine and chocolates. A harpist will set the mood.
You can also do the wine and chocolate thing without leaving the city. Drop by Taylorwood Wines in Yaletown (1185 Mainland St., Vancouver) between 4:30 and 6:30 on Thursday, February 12. The staff will be on hand with tips for pairing chocolate and wine. You can pick up a bottle and repeat the pairing on the 14th at home. Or if you’re single, you might want to buy a ticket ($35) for their Singles in the City food and wine event on Saturday night.
Procrastinators need not worry. Village VQA Wines in Kits promises to pour “a sexy variety of amourous wines” between 2 and 5pm on Saturday the 14th.
For a woman taking the reigns this V-Day, you might earn some ‘cool’ points by asking him to Beer My Valentine. For a $35 ticket, you get beer and chocolate samples at Granville Island Brewing Company. The event is from 7pm until midnight.
Champagne tastes? West Coast Wine Education is offering a champagne and chocolate educational pairing in Maple Ridge. Wine expert John Gerum will lead you through matching sparkling wine, dessert wine and gourmet chocolates. You can tantalize your taste buds from 1:30 until 3pm. You have to register in advance through Ridge Meadows College. It’s $47 for one or $84 per couple.
Singles in the city should keep this event in mind for next year (as it’s already sold out for 2009). The Singles Fraser Valley Winter Harvest Winery Tour is a daytime event on the 14th for unattached wine lovers to enjoy Merlot and mingling.
However you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, I wish you romance!
BC Wine Tour Ideas
February 1, 2009
There is no better way to get to know an area’s wines than to go there. See the soil, check out the vines, talk to the winemakers and grape growers and, of course, taste the wines!! Better bring your credit card.
I’ve recently reviewed a bunch of wineries and I thought I’d include the links here to help you plan your next Okanagan or Similkameen wine tour.
The Okanagan Spring Wine Festival is quickly approaching: it’s April 30th to May 9th 2009. Time to get organized!
South Okanagan Wineries
In the Osoyoos/Oliver area and thirsty? I’ve got you covered! Check out 15 stops you should make. Also make sure to keep in mind the Romancing the Desert evening at the Osoyoos Desert Centre — a moonlit stroll along the 1.5-kilometre boardwalk that meanders through the desert as you drink local wine with food pairings.
Wineries in OK Falls/ Penticton/ Naramata
The Naramata Bench isn’t the only place for wineries in this area!
Similkameen Wineries
Si-milk-a-where? Keremeos and Cawston are making some great vino, you should drop into these places! Really nice people in this area as well. Also check out my article The Similkameen Shines.
Don’t have time to leave Vancouver? Not to worry. I thought of that too. Try my list of Best Places to Drink Delicious Wine in Vancouver.
You can’t afford to pay the mark up on wine in a restaurant. I feel for you, and made a list just in case. Cheers to wine: Places to score tasty bottles in Vancouver.
