15 Vancouver food events to check out in February

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The best part about the first day of February? It means we’ve made it through January!

This means we can stop detoxing, resolution-ing, and shivering from the cold to focus on all the fun stuff coming up this month: Valentine’s Day, Groundhog Day, The Academy Awards, and the Super Bowl – the list goes on and on.

And for us foodies, there is no shortage of activities to get pumped for, in fact, here are 15 Vancouver food events worth checking out this month.

1. Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival

Taking place from January 17 to February 14, 2017, the Hot Chocolate Festival once again makes for a delectable countdown to the sweetest day of the year, Valentine’s Day, when a lot of us are definitely thinking about chocolate. The month-long event finds cafes, sweet shops, and restaurants around Vancouver serving up special cocoa-y creations. Boasting an impressive 29 participating restaurants and cafes (called “chocstars” for the event), there will be an incredible 61 flavours of the warming wintery chocolatey drink to check out this time around.

When: Tuesday, January 17 to Tuesday, February 14
Where: Check out details including participating locations here

2. Dine Out Vancouver

With an exciting 17 days of foodie events going down in Vancouver, you’re bound to want to go to at least one. Check out the impressive list of events, dinners, tastings, and brunch crawls coming up for Dine Out Vancouver this year.

When: Friday, January 20 to Sunday, February 5
Where: Participating venues across Vancouver
Price: Tickets can be purchased here

3. Unsung Heroes Menu at Blue Water Cafe

This year the Blue Water Cafe’s Executive Chef, Frank Pabst, will celebrate the 13th anniversary of his sustainable seafood festival. Unsung Heroes is a month-long event that brings awareness to local and unique seafoods. Guests in previous years have enjoyed dishes such as red sea urchin trifle, stir-fried jellyfish, and poached periwinkles. Every year, Blue Water Cafe donates 10% of the proceeds from Unsung Heroes to the Ocean Wise program.

When: All of February
Where: Blue Water Cafe 1095 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Price: For further information or reservations, please contact Blue Water Cafe via phone at
604-688-8078 or email at [email protected].

4. Fire + Whisky Vancouver World Chef Exchange Dinner

As a part of Dine Out Vancouver Chef Chris Whittaker (Forage, Timber), will team up with longtime friend Chef Ryan McIlwraith of Bellota in San Fransisco. This five-course collaboration dinner will feature Spanish and Canadian flavours. Food will be served family-style paired with whisky based cocktails.

When: Wednesday, February 1 at 6:30 pm
Where: Timber Restaurant, 1300 Robson Street, Vancouver
Price: $187, book online

5. Benny Bonanza at Joe Fortes

This February head to Joe Fortes for brunch and take part in the restaurant’s Benny Bonanza. Three varieties of bennys will be available for only $9.95 each: Classic Eggs Benedict (shaved ham, poached eggs, hollandaise, housemade biscuit), Sausage Eggs Benedict (housemade pork sausage, poached eggs, hollandaise, housemade biscuit) and BLT Benedict (arugula, tomato and bacon jam, poached eggs, hollandise and housemade biscuit).

When: Saturday, February 4 to Sunday, February 26 during brunch hours (Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 3:30 pm)
Where: Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House, 777 Thurlow Street, Vancouver

6. Explore BC Wine Brunch

Hosted by Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar., this stand-up mingler-style event lets guests taste wines from BC’s top wineries along with seafood-focused cuisine of Boulevard Executive Chef Alex Chen. This event includes a stand-up wine brunch mixer, with two wines from each of the seven participating wineries. The event takes place as part of the 2017 Dine Out Vancouver Festival.

When: Saturday, February 4 from 11 am to 1 pm
Where: Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Barat the Sutton Place Hotel, 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Price: $56.50, book online

7. Jules Bistro 10th Anniversary Menu

To celebrate its 10-year anniversary and to thank everyone for their ongoing support, Jules Bistro is offering a Table D’Hote (three-course meal) from Tuesday, February 7 to Sunday, February 12 for lunch and dinner. The authentic French bistro is offering the choice of Bistro Salad or Soup Du Jour for a starter, an 8oz Ribeye Steak, Pan Seared Salmon Provencal, or Mussels with Fries as a main, and Chocolate Terrine for dessert.

When: Tuesday, February 7 to Sunday, February 12
Where: 216 Abbott Street, Vancouver
Price: $21 for lunch and $23 for dinner (the original prices from ten years ago)

8. The Edible Museum of Canadian Food and Wine

Check out how our food scene has evolved over the past 150 years by investigating Canada’s rich culinary and winemaking history. This exhibition will be divided into vignettes depicting prominent moments in our foodie past, including origin stories of iconic dishes like poutine. Guests are invited to take a gander at Canada’s epicurean history while enjoying samples of wine and dishes by local chefs. Some of the participating wineries include Black Sage Vineyard, Nk’Mip Cellars, and Jackson Triggs.

When: Thursday, February 9 from 7 to 10pm
Where: The Permanent, 330 West Pender Street
Tickets: $22; purchase via Eventbrite (includes tastes from select VQA wines and small bites)

9. Science of Cocktails

On February 9 this exciting fundraiser will transform Science World at TELUS World of Science into Vancouver’s largest laboratory, where the city’s most talented bartenders and chefs will showcase the chemistry, biology, and physics behind preparing modern cocktails and cuisine. Each ticket includes complimentary cocktails from over 20 bar stations run by award-winning mixologists along with bites from 12 food stations. Ticket sales will help support Science World’s Class Field Trips.

When: Thursday, February 9 from 8 pm to midnight
Where: TELUS World of Science, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Price: $159 general, $289 VIP; group tickets (10+ guests): $125 general and $225 VIP, book online

10. Vancouver International Wine Festival

Enjoy 8 days packed full of incredible wine-centered events, tastings, and dinners. Check out the festival calendar and read more about the events that cover everything from bubbly to brunch.

When: Saturday, February 11 to Sunday, February 19
Where: Participating venues across Vancouver
Price: Tickets to public events can be purchased here

11. Salt N Sear Jean Jacques Kabuya ft. Tyler Paquette & Steven Lee Pop-up Dinner

Enjoy a six-course meal with local wine pairings at this pop-up dinner. A portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales of this event will be donated to Camp Moomba, a peer support and education program for youth living with/affected by HIV in British Columbia. Dishes includes smoked albacore tune, butternut squash purée, and beef tenderloin to name a few.

When: Saturday, February 11 at 6 pm
Where: De Dutch Burrard Landing, 60-1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Price: $160, email [email protected]

12. Valentine’s Couple Cooking Demo & Dinner

Enjoy a romantic evening of cooking with Tartine & Maple. Book in a pair and learn how to make warm goat cheese salad, beef wellington, and crème brûlée. Guests will enjoy a savoury snack upon arrival, and get to eat everything that is made after class with a glass of wine. Additional wine will be available for purchase during the class.

When: Tuesday, February 14 from 6 to 9 pm
Where: The Uncommon Cafe, 477 Powell Street, Vancouver
Price: $79 per person ($158 per couple), book online

13. ‘Cool Climates of California’ Dinner

Kendall-Jackson’s Winemaster Randy Ullom will be at Boulevard for the Cool Climates of California dinner as a part of the 39th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival. This dinner will pair the Sonoma Valley winery’s top varietals with a five-course feast prepared by Chef Alex Chen. Guests at this dinner will be treated to a range of Kendall-Jackson’s top wines, including four of its Jackson Estate labels.

When: Wednesday, February 15 at 6:30 to 10 pm
Where: Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Barat the Sutton Place Hotel, 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Price: $175, book online

14. Wine & Dine with Terroir Kitchen and Suvla Wines

Chef and owner of Terroir Kitchen, Faizal Kassam is teaming up with Suvla wines from the terroir of the historic Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. Guests will enjoy a seven-course dinner paired with accompanying wines. Some of the dishes for this meal include dungeness crab, grilled octopus, roasted ling cob, duck breast, and lamb shoulder.

When: Sunday, February 19 from 6:30 to 10 pm
Where: Terroir Kitchen, 2232 Marine Drive, Vancouver
Price: $175, book online

15. Parksville Uncorked

Parksville Uncorked on Vancouver Island is celebrating its 9th year. With a four-day lineup including ‘Parksville Untapped,’ the ‘Signature Swirl Wine Tasting’, BC winemaker dinners, and to finish, ‘Bubbles & Brunch’ – this is a can’t-miss February event. Tickets may be purchased individually, or combined with accommodations for the ultimate Parksville Uncorked experience

When: Thursday, February 23 to Sunday, February 26
Where: Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, 1155 Resort Dr, Parksville
Price: Tickets can be purchased here

With files from Lindsay William-Ross.