As with Christmas and Hanukkah, there are some treats you can only find at certain times of the year.
It’s the same case with Pride Week in Vancouver when, for a limited time only, rainbow-hued confections, colourful cocktails and sugared buns are showcased for a brief, almost ethereal moment. So, the motto of this story is, get your Pride treats while they’re hot — or cold — if it’s a cocktail.
Rainbow Buns
Fairmont Pacific Rim
These Rainbow Buns are tiny pillows of joy stuffed with rainbow cream filling and are available daily until Aug. 5. These colourful buns can be pre-ordered for $7 each, with $1 from each sale dedicated to the Dr. Peter Aids Foundation.
Ice cream pop up shop
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Citrus ice cream bars with a white chocolate shell and a rainbow drizzle are available at the Notch8 Pride stand on Burrard Street adjacent to the hotel entrance. These bars are served daily from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for $3.50 each — with partial proceeds from every bar sold donated to the Dr. Peter Aids Foundation. The pop up is happening daily until Aug. 3.
Notch8 is also offering a special Pride cocktail. The “Bear it All” includes Botanist gin and tonic, with gummy bears frozen in ice cubes and a rainbow sugar belt.
Pride donut macaron
Imagine a donut-sized macaron filled with rainbow butter cream and baby macarons — in all the colours of the rainbow and topped with sprinkles. That’s the creation the Lazy Gourmet is offering for Pride 2019.
The “monuts” as I’ve decided to call them, are $9 each, start with a minimum order of three, and need 48-hours notice to be perfectly created.
Pride cake and cocktail
Honey Salt, the Victor, B.C. Kitchen & D6
Taste the rainbow at Parq Vancouver from July 29 to Aug. 2. Inspired by the infamous Society Cake at Honey Salt, Parq’s Pride Cake is made up of multiple layers of delectable vanilla cake, separated by rich vanilla mousse, finished with a smooth layer of icing and garnished with a multi-coloured slice of white chocolate.
Perfect for sharing — but you don’t have to. Then cool off on a hot summer night with the Pride Cocktail — the Watermelon Granita. Made with Stolichnaya vodka, rosé wine, watermelon juice and citrus, this cocktail comes complete with a rainbow cup and garnished with a fresh slice of everybody’s favourite summer fruit.
Luau Brunch & Freedom Fizz
In a nod to Pride in Vancouver, H2 Rotisserie & Bar at the Bayshore is launching a colourful Sunday Luau Brunch menu Aug. 4. The move also pays homage to the property’s original Polynesian eatery Trader Vic’s. The brunch menu features the dynamic flavours of Hawaii and the Philippines with the likes of pineapple barbecue ribs, Huli Huli chicken with banana-leaf-garlic shrimp, Loco Moco, fried mahi mahi with sweet rice and wasabi mayo, and vegan-friendly Beyond Meat ‘Waikiki’ meatballs with soy-ginger glaze.
Refreshing lighter fare includes prawn ceviche, a selection of creative salads and a build-your-own açai Bowl bar. These Polynesian favourites rotate weekly and complement H2’s brunch buffet staples for those who prefer to stick with traditional Western options.
Top it off with a tiki-inspired cocktail, including the Punch Drunk (featuring three types of rum, peach schnapps, pomegranate syrup and pineapple and orange juices), and end the journey with indulgent desserts such as guava cake and banana spring rolls.
As well, the hotel’s elegant seaside oasis, H Tasting Lounge, favoured for its hand-crafted cocktails and local tasting plates, is honouring Pride by introducing the Freedom Fizz, crafted by bartender Chiara Fung.
The Freedom Fizz includes rum, spiced vanilla syrup, lemon juice, soda and vegan foam. This creation pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York, where this year’s WorldPride festival was held. Available from Aug. 3 to 31, the Freedom Fizz “celebrates liberation, expression and freedom.” Proceeds from drink sales will be donated to the Dr. Peter Aids Foundation.
Lady in Red Ball with Kendall Gender
Pacific Ballroom
Whether it pays homage to Fairmont Hotel Vancouver‘s infamous “Lady in Red” ghost or drag queen superstar Kendall Gender, the Lady in Red Ball fundraiser will return and this year and takes place in the elegant Pacific Ballroom.
The evening will be emceed by Kendall Gender and includes cirque performances by NZR Productions, music by Stephen Scaccia and disc jockey Man About Town. The fundraiser also includes a silent auction and wine wall, canapés and a welcome cocktail. Tickets, available at notch8-dining.com, are $89 with a $10 donation to Dr. Peter Aids Foundation.
Butterfly Kisses cocktail
Fairmont Waterfront
The bright and bubbly Butterfly Kisses at ARC include Prosecco, lemon juice, honey syrup from the hotel’s bees, and gin infused with butterfly pea flowers by Wayward Distillation House. Butterfly kisses are done with partners close together, eyes almost touching with eyelids fluttering — much like being kissed by the delicate wings of a butterfly.
1181 cocktail
Fairmont Vancouver Airport
The 1181 served at Jetside Bar at Fairmont Vancouver Airport gives a nod to the iconic Davie Village institution known for their inclusive welcoming vibe. Made with Empress gin, Fort Berens rose wine and lemon juice, the drink is shaken and served in a coup glass.
Drag queen bingo
Entertainers Mina Mercury and Carlotta Gurl will host drag queen bingo at Tacofino’s Gastown location Aug. 2 beginning at 5 p.m. for a suggested cash donation of $10. Meanwhile, partial proceeds from its specialty ‘Te Amo’ cocktail, served at all Tacofino locations, will be donated to Vancouver Friends For Life Society, which provides support services to people living with life-challenging illnesses, and the Foundation of Hope, an organization that offers financial assistance to other charities actively supporting LGBTQTS+ asylum seekers, refugees and newcomers.
The cocktail includes lavender and butterfly pea-infused Cazadores Blanco, Aperol, house-made blueberry syrup and soda. For reservations for drag queen bingo, email [email protected].
SoCIAL Lite Vodka tastings
Various locations
SoCIAL LITE Vodka is kicking off three years as the official “vodka/soda” of Vancouver Pride and will be celebrating with samples and drinks at a number of locations. Staffers from SoCIAL LITE Vodka will also be marching in the Pride Parade.
Davie Village Pride Promenade: samples July 26 from 5 to 11 p.m.
Davie Village Promenade bar at Davie and Bute: Samples or for purchase Aug. 2 to 4
Sunset Beach Festival: Samples or for purchase in the 19+ zone Aug. 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pride sushi roll
From July 29 to Aug. 4, $1 from each Pride roll sold will be donated the Dr. Peter Aids Foundation.
‘Raye Sunshine’ cocktail
Inspired by, and named after, popular Vancouver drag queen and friend of Juke’s, the ‘Raye Sunshine’ mingles Cointreau, Odd Society bittersweet vermouth, grapefruit juice and sparkling wine for a swoon-worthy Pride sipper. The cocktail will be available from Aug. 2 to 5 and partial proceeds from each cocktail will be donated to Rainbow Refugee.
Rainbow macarons
Bon Macaron Patisserie is supporting Pride with this rainbow macaron box.
Rainbow cake set
Buttermere, which recently opened in Chinatown, is celebrating pride with a rainbow "cake" set.
@sthomas10
