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We’re rolling into April, and the scent of spring-time nectar is filling the air! Along with that seasonal sweetness comes plenty of added flavour complexity as local foodie events begin heading outdoors. This month, you can expect a little friendly competition between food trucks, a celebration of BC distilleries, and a hands-on workshop for making your own cheese. Roll up your sleeves, tuck in your napkin, and let’s dig in! Food Truck Festival, April 4 – April 5 An epic food-filled extravaganza that brings an impressive lineup of 20 food trucks including live music and a local artisan market!  Vancouver UBC Commons, in front of the AMS Nest BC Distilled 2024, April 13 Celebrating its ninth year, BC Distilled brings together dozens of distilleries from across the province for the largest spirits event in Canada, highlighting over 30 local distilleries. Beyond the main event, BC Distilled is also hosting two…

A new haven for parents and kids alike has become an ideal spot for a perfect playdate. Bordering New Westminster and Burnaby is Rainbow Play Cafe—a new business that offers stress-free playtime for kids and a sense of community for their parents. In addition to—of course—a fantastic cup of coffee. “My son, he’s my inspiration,” says Xanat Guiot, owner of the nascent cafe, which opened in May 2023.The mom-preneur’s vision for Rainbow Play Cafe was born from a need she observed in her own life—a space where parents could connect with each other over a cup of coffee, while their children engaged in safe and purposeful play. Having immigrated from Mexico about a decade ago, Guiot said she struggled with postpartum depression, felt isolated, and would benefit from a place to go and meet other moms. “I didn’t have that support network. In the beginning, when you have a baby…

It’s getting close to Halloween, and for trick or treaters (and adults), Eagle Acres is a spectacular treat for spooky season. Make the trip out to the farm and you’ll find an inviting family pumpkin patch, and cute farm animals like sheep and goats who just love getting a little attention and are looking to be pet. Eagle Acres’ Erin Anderson, the main family farmhand, talked to us about sustainable farming and adding fall fun to the fields with a pumpkin patch. By Avneet Takhar It’s a family affair at Eagle Acres. Could you tell us more about the farm and its history? Brian (my partner) and I started our farm nearly 25 years ago. We were a small dairy farm with the goal to educate children about where their milk comes from. We quickly learned that we needed to educate people of all ages—not just the youth. The internet…

We look forward to Friday nights even more than ever, with Fort Langley’s popular Night Market in full swing this month.  By Catherine Dunwoody Every Friday evening from 5 – 10 PM in August, 40 local vendors gather to sell their wares at the Fort Langley Night Market, promising an evening of summer fun. Shop for wearables and cute stuff for your home from local designers, grab a bite from one of the food trucks, including local craft beer, wine, cider, and cocktails. Live music? Yes please! This market is a shopping, eating, and drinking party and the vibe only gets better with live tunes from local BC artists. Must-Visit Vendors Vendors worth checking out are plentiful, including Dirty Bird Jewellery design with their affordable pieces in silver and gold. Darn Right Foods bakes up gluten free, sugar free and vegan goodies, while Lumière Leslie Candles (a husband and wife owned…

The Township of Langley has a line-up of summer food and beverage events and festivals that are not to be missed. By Catherine Dunwoody Sun and Soil Concert Series On July 8th the Sun and Soil Concert Series, held at Fraser Valley Cider Company promises to be a dreamy, immersive summer evening sure to tickle the senses with food, drink, and music. Tickets are sold in advance, and the experience includes a 90-minute set from local musician Antonio Larosa, a shareable Tiffin Tin for Two, local bevvies, and all aimed at a 19+ crowd. The Fraser Valley, so rich with farm fresh produce, local food growers and producers, means the tiffin tin will feature local meats and cheeses, or vegan options. Cider crafted onsite right at Fraser Valley Cider Company is the perfect pairing. If cider is not your thing, not to fret, local Langley wines and beer will be…

It’s finally summer–which means festivals with live music, local breweries and international flavours are happening across Metro Vancouver. Check ‘em out here. Steveston Salmon Festival, July 1 The annual Steveston Salmon Festival is Richmond’s largest event! Enjoy the Salmon Festival parade, musical entertainment, historical and cultural programs and displays, and lots of food, including the famous salmon BBQ and festival chow mein.  Parade starts at 10AM and festival grounds are open 11AM – 5PM  Steveston Community Centre, 4111 Moncton Street  Langley Bubble Tea Festival, July 7 – 9 After a successful inaugural event last summer, the Bubble Tea Festival returns! This year’s Bubble Tea Festival theme is Taste of Taiwan, featuring Bubble tea vendors,  Food trucks with Asian street foods, outdoor movies, concerts, performances and even bumper cars for toddlers. Children 12-year old enter free (with an accompanying adult.) Swangard Stadium, 3883 Imperial Street Burnaby BC Halal Food Fest, July…

The sun is shining (or at least the rain is warm) and everything is fresh and in season. If you love local, sustainable baked delicacies and goods and the incredible abundance of vegetables and farm fresh ingredients in summer, then Metro Vancouver’s farmers markets are a special treat that are definitely worth making time for. From food trucks and coffee to music and locally-made jams and dips among the vegetables and fruits, there are wonderful farmers markets on weekly in summer in Surrey and Langley. Grab your basket and let’s go! Surrey Surrey Urban Farmers Market Taking place on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in the parking lot, the vibrant, multi-cultural non-profit Surrey Urban Farmers Market is located next to a huge park, so you can bring the family to hang out, play and picnic while you peruse stalls with local farmers big and small, food producers, artisans,…

Summertime is synonymous with weekend visits to the local farmer’s market. Picture this: it’s a weekend morning, the sun is shining, and the farmer’s market is abuzz with shoppers and vendors selling artisanal honey, boisterous gleaming vegetables, and crusty loaves of pungent sourdough. You’ve got a wagon full of goodies in one hand, and an iced lavender latte in the other. Maybe your dog is leashed around your wrist, wiggling their nose as they pass by the cheese table. Not to get too Nancy Meyers about it since farmer’s market weekends don’t have to be a fairy tale – but there are many scattered across Metro Vancouver just waiting for you to visit and have your best weekend ever. By: Brittany Tiplady North Shore Markets Lonsdale Quay Farmers Market “In addition to the talented bakers, jam makers, and honey gatherers, the Lonsdale Farmers’ Market welcomes some of the province’s most…

Come in from the rain and sit down to a steaming pot of tea and an afternoon of bite-sized delights with friends or loved ones. Originally a British tradition, afternoon tea (and high tea) has crossed oceans and now spans cultures, bringing more variety to the tea pot and your platter. While there’s a range of delectable variations on afternoon tea, a traditional ‘high tea’ usually features a towered platter with both savoury and sweet nibbles–so you can spend an afternoon sipping and snacking. From cute and quaint to delicious and decadent, here are six afternoon and high tea spots in Metro Vancouver that will have you thinking: this is just my cup of tea.  By Marisa Chandler H Tasting Lounge  Inspired by the Victorian and Belle Époque eras of England and France, H Tasting Lounge’s Afternoon Tea is playfully named “Let Them Eat Cake!” Available only on weekends from…

By Brittany Tiplady  In Cooked, journalist and author Michael Pollan explores the continual and timeless necessity of fire, water, air, and earth, as critical creators and sustainers of food, and how we make it.  In his book and documentary of the same name, Pollan profoundly shares that “all cooking is alchemy– it’s transformation. But bread is the greatest alchemy of all. Take a small amount of food and turn it into a large amount of food that can feed a lot of people, literally out of thin air.”  Throughout history, flour, water, salt, yeast has been kneaded into many iterations – feeding religions, cultures, and diasporas across the globe, weaving together our singular need for nourishment.  Bread is the great connector.  And to celebrate that, The Coquitlam Heritage Society invites you to break bread with them. On until June 30, 2023, the Breaking Bread exhibit at the Mackin House is…

Spring has sprung! And with all the new shoots and blossoms comes a fresh crop of exciting food and drink events in Metro Vancouver. Check ‘em out here. Soup & Bread: Tour, Passover Cooking Demo & Lunch, April 8  Enjoy a tour of Coquitlam Heritage’s current Breaking Bread exhibit (running until June 30) focusing on the historical and cultural importance of bread followed by learning about the process of making Matzo ball soup and Matzo Kugel during the Jewish festival of Passover in this mini-workshop and lunch with Chef Victoria Paikin. Details and tickets on the event page. Coquitlam: Coquitlam Heritage at Mackin House, 1116 Brunette Avenue Easter Egg Hunt at Township 7, April 9  Sip on award-winning local wines while the kids enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt, scavenging the vineyard, and enjoy activities such as Glitter Tattoos, a petting zoo by the 4H club, and more. Adults can join…

For people nostalgic for the arcade, those who love busting out board games at the cabin, or even if you simply don’t know how to sit still when there’s a lull in the conversation, barcades and board game bars are here to make sure you and your whole table are entertained. If you and your friends are tired of playing against each other online, make your next game night a social one. Whether you like to roll dice, or you’d rather show off how you earned your pinball champion crown, there’s a bar for you and your game-loving friends. Come for the drinks and snacks, and stay to play! Here are a few of our favourite game bars that are great for your whole crew (or even just a match of one on one) across Metro Vancouver. By Marisa Chandler Burnaby The Rec Room  Serving up burgers and fries with…

Ah February, the month of love. And there’s nothing we love around here more than food. So may we present February, the month of food-love, and all the ways to celebrate it around Metro Vancouver. Hot Chocolate Festival, now to February 14th Greater Vancouver’s “sweetest” celebration returns for its 13th year, larger and more creative than ever, in support of small businesses, local charity organizations and of course, all things hot and chocolate. The region’s best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, and ice cream makers are joining forces to elevate the humble hot chocolate into something like drinkable art. Check out the interactive map and see how many you can sip before they’re gone! BC Ale Trail x Dine the Line Tasting Passports, February 1st-28th Grab a Tasting Passport and collect stamps at breweries across Metro Vancouver for your chance to win one of five getaway packages from the BC…