A new plant-based restaurant is coming to 583 Main Street in Chinatown on Sept. 10. Virtuous Pie features plant-based pizzas, non-dairy ice creams and seasonal salads, as well as local beers and wines on tap. The cultured and nut-based cheeses, along with most other ingredients, are being made in-house by executive chef Jim Vesal. The restaurant will be working with the Downtown Eastside’s Pivot Foundation, as well as Mosaic BC and Growing Chefs. VirtuousPie.com
Mensch. Jewish Delicatessen, the summer pop-up at Fraser Street and East Broadway, is now a permanent fixture. The popular deli from chef Nitzan Cohen will be open Sunday-Wednesday, 11am-3pm, and Thursday-Friday, 11am-7pm (closed Saturdays).
The poké craze continues…Pokérrito has opened at 558 Dunsmuir. The counter-service restaurant serves up the popular Hawaiian dish in burritos, bowls and salads with a Japanese twist. Pokerrito.ca
Looking for some interesting fall TV programming? The second season of Moosemeat & Marmalade is launching this week on Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN), featuring co-hosts Art Napoleon (acclaimed bush cook and Cree musician) and Dan Hayes, chef and owner of The London Chef in Victoria. The pair will continue exploring food production and sustainability around the globe while providing a unique window into First nations culture. APTN.ca/MoosemeatAndMarmalade
Chef James Walt of Araxi Restaurant in Whistler has launched his much-anticipated new cookbook, Araxi: Roots to Shoots, Farm Fresh Recipes. Designed for the home cook, the book contains 80 recipes based on popular items from the restaurant’s dining room and its signature longtable dinner events. Available at Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks in Vancouver. Araxi.com
On Sunday, Sept. 18, Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver is celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with a special afternoon tea available from 12pm to 5:30pm. Served on the sixth floor outdoor heated terrace, the meal includes barbecue duck salad steam bun, Dungeness crab Louis, emperor ham sandwich with pickled lotus root and warm sidestripe shrimp fritter, as well as various sweets and one mooncake to go. Tickets $60 per adult, $30 for children 10 years and under. Call 604-661-3321 for reservations.
Yew Seafood will launch a reverse happy hour on Sept. 19, available nightly 8pm-11pm. The five new cocktails, created by mixologist Lauren Mote, and five new dishes from executive chef Weimar Gomez, are available for $10 each. Plates include lobster bisque poutine, albacore tuna poke, tempura rock shrimp, and seafood paella arancini. YewSeafood.com
Vancouver Aquarium’spopular Toast to the Coast is back on Oct. 14. The annual fundraising gala and BC wine showcase features bites from top Ocean Wise restaurants, including Boulevard, Cin Cin, Hapa Izakaya, Minami, Miradoro, Tableau, and Yew Seafood. Participating wineries include Burrowing Owl, Hillside Winery, Tinhorn Creek, Poplar Grove and Monster Vineyard. Also look for several local breweries. The evening also includes live music, dancing and a silent auction. Tickets $150 per person. VanAqua.org/TTTC
On Oct. 15, the 17th annual Wine’d Up Gourmet Dinner & Auction will take place at Dusty’s Bar & Grill in support of Whistler Search and Rescue Society. Five of Whistler’s top chefs will each prepare a course paired with wines from California, including James Walt of Araxi and Dean Hossack of Nita Lake Lodge. Tickets $170. Call 1-800-766-0449 ext. 2. Facebook.com/WinedUpWSAR
