SNEAK PEEK: TOURISM VANCOUVER’S 10TH ANNUAL DINE OUT VANCOUVER FESTIVAL
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January 20 to February 5
Tourism Vancouver’s annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival, Canada’s largest restaurant event, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with an explosive mix of mouthwatering food, sultry spirits and tantalizing culinary events. Taking place over 17 days, the highly anticipated festival features three-course, prix-fixe menus at more than 220 restaurants around the city, along with special hotel offers and flash-in-the-pan foodie events.
On the schedule for this year are old favourites (such as Kronenbourg 1664’s Brasserie Mystère, a three-course mystery dinner whipped up by a celebrity chef at a secret location, and paired with Kronenbourg beer), fresh additions (including Street Food City, which involves Vancouver’s top food carts converging in one location so visitors can sample the city’s rich street food culture) and "condimentary" dinners, tours and demonstrations known as "Salt and Pepper" events.
All dinners are priced at $18, $28 or $38, while hotel packages are priced at $78, $108 or $138. For more information and to receive updates on Tourism Vancouver’s 2012 Dine Out Vancouver Festival, visit www.tourismvancouver.com/dov.
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RAISE YOUR GLASS FOR TALES OF THE COCKTAIL VANCOUVER 2012
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February 12 to 14
For the second year running, the world’s premier cocktail festival has scheduled a Vancouver stopover. Held annually in New Orleans, Tales of the Cocktail brings together the world’s most influential cocktail professionals for an exploration of the region’s rich cocktail culture and cuisine. Organizers debuted a mini-festival in Vancouver last year, and were so impressed by the city’s "spirits" that they immediately planned a return trip for the festival’s 10th anniversary in 2012. This year’s Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver will feature three days of seminars and demonstrations, along with tasty teasers of what’s in store for Tales of the Cocktail’s summer birthday celebrations in New Orleans.
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, local mixologist Jacob Sweetapple, who currently manages the bar at Vancouver’s award-winning Chambar restaurant, recently won a Canada-wide competition to determine the mini-festival’s official cocktail. Sweetapple’s Roaming Buffalo Punch was selected from more than 50 submissions by the country’s best mixologists, and will be featured throughout Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver. The brew contains simple yet sophisticated ingredients like roasted almond-infused Buffalo Trace, ginger beer and barrel-aged Cointreau, and is garnished with star of anise, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Ready for a taste? Click here for more information about Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver 2012.
www.talesofthecocktail.com
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HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
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January 23
Upcoming celebrations for Chinese New Year are sure to be a roaring good time as families usher in the Year of the Dragon. During the 15 days leading up to the holiday eve, traditional festivities abound in Vancouver: children collect envelopes stuffed with lucky money, fireworks light up the night and market stalls are laden with cakes, mandarins and other tempting treats. Most importantly, families and friends gather at each other’s homes to share stories, cook meals and wish each other good fortune in the year to come.
Consider ringing in the Year of the Dragon at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver’s Chinatown neighbourhood. The garden commemorated its 25th anniversary in 2011, and birthday festivities will come to an explosive finale on January 29 during its annual Chinese New Year celebrations. This year, featured events include a dragon exhibit, red lanterns, traditional games and more. Another reason to celebrate: the venue was recently named the world’s top city garden in National Geographic’s new book, Secret Journey of a Lifetime.
www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
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VANCOUVER HOTELS DOMINATE CONDE NAST TRAVELER SURVEY
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Vancouver’s top accommodation properties, including the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver, the Opus Hotel, the Pan Pacific, the Metropolitan Hotel, all three Fairmont hotels and more, were touted as among the world’s best in Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2011. The annual survey invites readers to rank hotels, cities, cruise lines, airlines, resorts and islands visited in the past year, with results published in the magazine’s November issue. This year, a record 28,876 readers took part, casting a combined eight million votes for their favourite global destinations. From among the numerous Canadian properties that were recognized, 13 Vancouver hotels made the list of the country’s top 40 hotels. Vancouver was also honoured in the survey, achieving second-place ranking for best city in Canada. View the full list of award-winners here. |
GEAR UP FOR GROUSE MOUNTAIN’S 24 HOURS OF WINTER CELEBRATION
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February 18 to 19
At last – a sleepless night you can actually enjoy! On February 18 and 19, Grouse Mountain will open to the public for a full 24 hours so skiers, snowboarders and hot chocolate-drinkers can indulge in winter festivities to their hearts’ content. The 24 Hours of Winter event was introduced three years ago to commemorate Grouse Mountain’s decision to stay open 24 hours every day throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The move was intended to showcase Vancouver’s finest snow sports and alpine recreation to international visitors and media from all time zones – and now, locals and visitors alike can enjoy the same experience year after year. Activities scheduled for this year’s event include midnight ice-skating, sunset snowshoeing, dining and dancing, a torch relay and more.
www.grousemountain.com
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SEA TO SKI IN VANCOUVER AND WHISTLER WITH PAN PACIFIC HOTEL PACKAGE
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Snowbunnies rejoice: Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel recently launched a new "Sea to Ski" vacation package that invites skiing and boarding enthusiasts to experience the award-winning slopes of Vancouver and Whistler, along with both cities’ culinary and entertainment delights. Though Vancouver is already known as a culinary mecca and cultural hotspot, it’s also one of the world’s few major cities that offers three ski areas within 30 minutes of downtown – and with Pan Pacific’s new package, visitors are invited to experience it all. After setting up camp at the luxury hotel’s Vancouver location, guests can choose to spend the day at Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain or Mount Seymour, or explore the city and hit the slopes for nighttime skiing. Visitors interested in checking out the offerings at Whistler can then head up to either of Pan Pacific Whistler’s two resort properties for more snow and city fun. The "Sea to Ski" package includes accommodation, transfers, ski/snowboard rentals, ski passes, a pre- or post-ski massage and more. For more information or to book, click here.
www.panpacific.com
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NEW YEAR’S EVE ROUND-UP
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Vancouverites know how to throw a party any day of the year, but New Year’s Eve reveals the city’s real razzle-dazzle: come December 31, city streets are buzzing with revelers and romantics. Thanks to these special New Year’s Eve packages offered by various Vancouver hotels, visitors and locals alike can immerse themselves in the all-night festivities without missing a single sparkler.
• New Year’s Eve Party by the Seaside at Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier. Break out the bubbles and ring in the New Year at the hotel’s Lobby Restaurant. Package includes accommodation, four-course dinner for two and complimentary parking. Starting at $249 (plus tax; based on double occupancy). www.pinnaclepierhotel.com
• Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Style at the Granville Island Hotel. Feast on the hotel’s Gold or Silver Dinners, featuring multiple courses, party favours and complimentary champagne for a special midnight toast. Premium package includes accommodation and two Gold Dinner tickets; deluxe package includes accommodation and two Silver Dinner tickets. Starting at $379 (plus tax; based on double occupancy). www.granvilleislandhotel.com
• New Year’s Eve at the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver. Whether you’re in the mood for romance or excitement (or a little bit of both), the Met is the ideal place to ring in 2012. Package includes luxury accommodation, sparkling wine welcome amenity, breakfast for two and complimentary parking. Starting at $220 (plus tax; based on double occupancy). www.metropolitan.com/vanc
• Take the Elevator Home at the Moda Hotel Vancouver. After a full night of celebrating, you won’t have far to tumble (or stumble) when staying at this chic, centrally located hotel. Package includes accommodation in a deluxe room and complimentary parking. Starting at $89 (plus tax; based on single/double occupancy). www.modahotel.ca
• Hidden Temptations New Year’s Eve Party at The Westin Grand. Spend your New Year’s Eve at The Westin Grand’s all-night food, wine and beer gala. The evening features DJs and live music, a chocolate indulgence buffet, dance floor and more. Single event tickets start at $100. Rates for accommodation plus two tickets start at $369 (plus tax; based on double occupancy). www.westingrandvancouver.com
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THIS MONTH’S FEATURED VANCOUVERITE: CHEF ROBERT BELCHAM
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Featured Vancouverite: Chef Robert Belcham
Occupation: Restaurateur and Executive Chef at Refuel and Campagnolo restaurants
How long have you been a Vancouverite? 10 years
Favourite place in the city: Any booth at Moderne Burger on West Broadway.
Top picks for local ingredients: Albacore tuna, BC spot prawns, Hawkshaw salmon, Sloping Hill pork, Stoney Paradise Farm tomatoes, Sapo Bravo Farm quince.
Top insider tip for dining in Vancouver: Dine after 9pm and you can snag a table almost anywhere.
Sneak peek of Campagnolo and Refuel’s Dine Out Vancouver Festival menus: For Campagnolo, think crispy ceci (chickpeas with chilies, mint and citrus), rigatoni and terrina di cioccolato. Refuel will feature Sloping Hill Farm rillettes, crispy polenta (with kale, beets, chanterelles and crème fraiche) and a peanut and chocolate parfait.
Favourite Seasonal Cocktail: "The Parang," created for Refuel by barman Jesse Walters. In Trinidad, locals use the term "parang" to describe merrymaking, and this cocktail is based on the Trinidad Sour. Using half an ounce of bitters, it’s a smooth drink with hints of pungent winter spice, orange peel and herbs – winter in a glass!
The Parang Cocktail Recipe:
0.5oz Angostura bitters
0.5oz Lillet Blanc
0.5oz lemon
5oz Turbinado syrup
Flamed Chartreuse from an atomizer to finish
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