The Vancouver Traveler » Food & Beverage

Vancouver Chariot Festival

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:36:03 +0000

Join the fun at the 35th Anniversary of the Vancouver Chariot Festival on August 10.
The parade will start at 11 am with three gigantic carts being pulled on huge wheels along Beach Avenue, ending on Second Beach.
At the end of the parade, you will be able to enjoy a free vegetarian feast, drama, cultural dance, music, face painting, clowns and a lot more for the whole family!
Admission is free and there will be a free shuttle bus service available along Beach Avenue.
For more information on this great family event, visit http://vanchariotfestival.com

photo credit – magnetas

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Splashdown Water Park

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:54:58 +0000

Greater Vancouver’s only water-slide park offers advanced, intermediate and children’s slides. There is a slide there for everyone depending on your experience or your “scare” level.
Their advanced slides come with names like “Oliver Twist”, the “Kamikazi” or the “Corkscrew”, all which offer 425 feet of twists, turns and thrills.
If you like speed, give the “Whipper Snapper” a try, its 395 feet with less turns and a great straight down section where you can get some serious speed!
There is inner-tubing and children’s pools which have 5 slides available.
The water is kept at a temperature between 25 and 29 degrees.
Splashdown Water Park is the place to be on those warm summer days…so why not pack up the family and spend the day having fun in the water!
Splashdown also has a full concession which features pizzas, salads, sandwiches and burgars. BBQ rentals are also avaliable, as is rentals of various sport equipment, life jackets and umbrellas (incase of one of those sudden rain showers).

Splashdown Water Park is located by the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.
For more information and admission fees visit their website at splashdownpark.ca

image credit – sxc.hu

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Favorite Cafes with Free WiFi

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:00:36 +0000

Here are my 3 favorite Cafes that offer Free WiFi…..enjoy!
(these cafes are in the downtown area)

Take 5 Cafe – 429 Granville Street
A place you can take business associates to impress them, as well as a place to hang out with your friends.
Take 5 Cafe is a cozy, trendy cafe that is a great place to relax and hang out in their comfy couches, their coffee is fantastic and why not also give their fabulous Italian food a try. You need to get your WiFi password from the staff!

Caffe Artigiano – 740 West Hastings
They have probably one of the best espresso I have had in a long time and great food!
They are also a chic traditional Italian cafe, not as big as Take 5, but still very comfy. You will need to get the WiFi password from the staff.

Trees Coffee – on Granville opposite Take 5
Trees is the original free WiFi cafe in downtown Vancouver.
The coffee is just ok, but the desserts are fantastic! Trees is a popular student hang out and has a very bohemian feel to it.

Image credit
coffee image

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Salmon Festival

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:00:21 +0000

The 63rd Annual Steveston Salmon Festival is being held on Canada Day. The day begins at 10am with a parade through historic Steveston village, which features 100 entries including floats, marching bands, celebrities, politicians, community groups, vintage vehicles and much much more.

The Official festival kick-off is on the Main Stage at 12:30 pm with the dignitaries, speeches, and the singing of O Canada. After, the stage features great entertainment all afternoon until 5pm. Some of the festival highlights include attractions such as the Japanese Cultural Show, Craft Fair, Trade Show, a Children’s Festival, Carnival rides and Midway, Martial Arts Demonstrations, Belt Sander Drag Races, Youth Festival, multi-ethnic Food Fair, Art Show and Exhibit. The main attraction is the famous salmon barbecue, where over 1200 ponds of wild salmon filets are grilled over open fire pits.

For more information call 604.718.8094

Photo Credits: Image 1 sxc.hu
Image 2 sxc.hu

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Golden Spike Days Festival

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:00:48 +0000

Calling all red necks? Are you looking for a good time…well then this is it! The Golden Spike Days Festival is a fun-filled weekend for the entire family with great entertainment, special events and activities, can can dancers, as well as great food!! June 28 is the kick off of the festival with concerts in the evening and back by popular demand: The Port Moody Idol Contest.

Visitors can enjoy family-focused events, live shows, family entertainment, sporting events, and children’s rides.

Admission by donation. Rocky Point Park, Port Moody. Check the website regularly for updates on what’s planned for this year’s festival www.goldenspike.ca

Photo Credits: sxc.hu

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Greek Day on Broadway 2008

Sat, 24 May 2008 16:59:59 +0000

The Hellenic Congress of BC has announced that June 2008 is officially named the
Greek Heritage Month in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia!

Greek Day on Broadway has enjoyed tremendous success since 2005 and this year will include more cultural activities scheduled at various locations throughout Vancouver in celebration of Greek Heritage month.
The month of celebrations will start on May 26 and conclude with the grand finale, Greek Day 2008, which will take place on Sunday June 22 along the West Broadway corridor (between MacDonald and Blenheim Streets) in the heart of Kitsilano’s Greek Town.
The festivities will start at 12 noon and continue on throughout the day and well into the evening hours.

Some of the highlights at this years celebration will include:

Carnarvon Street Music Stage
Culinary Cooking Tent featuring local and celebrity chef’s
Krinos Mediterranean Tent
Free Children’s Rides
Free Children’s Arts & Crafts
Interactive Displays
Lots of delicious Food Kiosks
Young Teens Photo Project
Trutch Street Entertainment Stage
Plus lots more fun for the entire family

More information for this great event is available at www.greekday.com

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Mother’s Day on Grouse Mountain

Thu, 01 May 2008 22:29:05 +0000

Mother’s Day is fast approaching.
The big day is May 11 … and what better place to spoil mom then by taking her to the top of Vancouver!

Mother’s Day bruch on top of Grouse Mountain is a yearly tradition for many Vancouverites.
You can make the day of it and enjoy the many activities they have to offer, as well as enjoying the spectacular view.

The seating times are:
Observatory – 9am, 11:30am & 2pm
Altitudes Bistro – 10am & 1pm

Adult – $45
Youth – $35 (13 to 18)
Child – $25 (5 to 12)

Tickets price includes the Skyride admission and activities at the top of Grouse Mountain.

This event sells out every year, so make sure you make your reservations soon!

For more information, menu selection and to make reservations check out:
Mother’s Day Brunch on Grouse Mountain

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

The Richmond Night Market

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:44:09 +0000

The Richmond Night Market is a multi-cultural Asian market event!
The market contains rows of open stalls with a huge array of items for sale including clothing, books, jewelry, purses, electronics, car accessories and Asian DVDs.
My favorite reason for going to the market is the unbelievable variety of ethnic foods including dim sum, imitation shark-fin soup, Taiwan-style bubble tea, Korean rice rolls and Japanese takoyaki, just to name a few!
The food is simply amazing and is well worth the hassles of trying to find parking and the crowds you have to maneuver your way through. I highly recommend getting there early, it makes the parking situation a bit easier and you are able to browse around for a little while without so many people around.
Another point to mention is to make sure you have cash on you. None of the merchants in the market have debit or credit card, there is an ATM at the market but the line-ups are usually extremely long and there is a $2 fee for using it.
The market opens mid-May and runs Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays until October, it opens at 7pm and is open until midnight Friday and Saturday and until 11pm on Sunday and holidays.
Enjoy!

Photo credit -first image – sxc.hu
second image – sxc.hu

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Grilled Wild Pacific Sockeye Salmon

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:00:14 +0000

One of the best things about living on the west coast of Canada, is the abundant supply of wild sockeye salmon.
When visiting, you will find salmon available in almost all of the finer restaurants around the city.
If you want to try “grilling” up your own pacific salmon…here is a recipe you might want to try!

Ingediants:
2 sides wild sockey salmon (3lbs)
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 tsp. chopped fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup chicken or fish stock
1/2 cup of white wine
2 large springs of fresh dill
fresh grating of nutmeg
1-1/4 cups of heavy cream
1 tsp. saffron threads, pounded to a powder
squeeze of fresh lemon juice
fresh dill sprigs for garnish

Directions:
Season the salmon with salt and pepper . Set aside.
To make the sauce, in a pot, combine the shallot, ginger, garlic, stock, wine, dill and nutmeg. Bring to a boil and reduce by half. Strain through a fine sieve. Return sauce to the pot and add the cream and saffron. Simmer until sauce is thick enough to coast the back of a spoon. Season to taste and finish with the squeeze of lemon. Set aside until serving.
Preheat oven to 400F. Place the seasoned salmon on a cookie sheet, skin side down. Roast until cooked through.
Ladle the warm reserved sauce onto each serving plate, place salmon on top and garnish with the fresh dill spigs. Serves 6

Photo credit – sxc.hu

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Adventures in Dining

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:22:26 +0000

The Dockside Restaurant in the Granville Island Hotel is an amazing place to unwind with friends, take that special someone out for an amazing dinner, or even enjoy a couple of drinks after work.

The Dockside is split up into the restaurant, then a lovely patio, restaurant bar, lounge, and the brewery. The patio has incredible views of False Creek, the Vancouver skyline and the Coastal Mountains, can you image all of this surrounding you while you enjoy your dinner.

If you do not belive me, be sure to visit the Dockside’s website and take their virtual tour. Or visit their website at www.docksidebrewing.com

You can find the restaurant at 1253 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver BC. Email address is info@docksidebrewing.com and their telephone number is 604.685.7070

Photo Credit: SXC.COM

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler