Farm to Table Personified 

Over the last few years Dine Out Vancouver has blossomed into a full blown culinary festival, with a wealth of special events. That’s not to say the original intent isn’t still paramount. Just check out dineoutvancouver.com for bargains a plenty. However, it pays to remember that ‘value’ doesn’t necessarily to equate to ‘cheap.’ If you spend time cruising the $45 tier you’ll find it’s filled with just as many tasty temptations as the lower tiers.

Thursday night saw the launch of Dine Out Vancouver Festival 2020. The 18th edition yields no less than 318 participating restaurant outlets. We can talk about what’s hot on the three course menu side a little later (Ancora, for sure, would be one, and venerable Hotel Vancouver’s Notch 8 is also there.) However, increasingly the emphasis is on special events that celebrate the region’s ever growing culinary culture. 

Coming up on January 18th (at Sweetery Café and Dessert) is Farm in the City: BC Farm to Table. Judging by Thursday’s preview it promises to be as billed: ‘a collaboration of BC local farmers, growers, artisans, artistes and businesses”—all very much with a local bent.

I found myself sitting between brewer Sean O’ Reilly (Strange Fellows Brewing) and artisan woodworker Eric Riley (Vancity Live Edge charcuterie boards) and across from Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry co-owner Joe Falk. They were just a few of the producers and artisans assembled for this long table, family style preview, wrangled by the effervescent Regina Lee.

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Gaia Kitchen’s Regina Lee

The owner chef of on-line pie purveyor Gaia Kitchen, Lee’s pies took centre stage—and rightly so. From salmon en croûte, and steak stout mushroom (perfect with Strange Fellows Blackmail Stout) to Duck Cherry Goat Cheese, her butter double crust pies are superb.

Salmon en croute

Salmon en croûte on polished walnut platter by Vancity Live Edge

Fillings feature ingredients from Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, Organic Ocean, Aurora View Farms, Johnston’s pork and Forstbauer Farm. 

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The pies are served family style, on beautifully crafted platters and live edge planks with exquisite condiment bowls and spoons fashioned from salvaged wood by Vancity Live Edge, Axewood, and Galpon serving bowls. 

Steak Stout Mushroom and bone marrow

Steak & stout mushroom pie and bone marrow

Oh, and yes, and to finish, there’s superlative Smashed Berry Pavolova (berries from Driediger Farms).

Pavlova on walnut

Driediger Farms Smashed Berry Pavlova

There are still seats left for the January 18th second seating, with live entertainment by country singer Todd Richard. Book soon, as tix are going fast.

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Cherry wood spoon by Axewood

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