From hands-on workshops and an intimate dinner series with some of B.C.'s best chefs to an all-day hospitality symposium and a weekend-long food expo, it's safe to say that EAT! Vancouver is Canada's largest (and most delicious) food and cooking festival.
EAT! Vancouver is a foodie's playground to learn, explore, shop, taste and discover food and beverages from around the globe. The festival takes place in Vancouver each spring, with dates this year from April 26 to May 3, 2015.
If you can sign up for one of the hands-on workshops or dinner series, you absolutely should. These events get you up close and personal with skilled and well-known national and local chefs like Mark McEwan, Anna Olson, Rob Feenie, Susur Lee, Hidekazu Tojo, Vikram Vij, Ned Bell, Pino Posteraro, Connie Desousa, Jessica Pelland and Andrea Carlson, to name just a handful.
The workshops and dinners cover a variety of options, and there's something for everyone.
Enjoy dishes like this at the dinner series and hands-on workshops — Photo courtesy of EAT! Vancouver
On Thursday, April 30, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Canadian Flavours Gala is hosted at Vancouver's Terminal City Club. Here, you'll enjoy local dishes prepared by Canada's top chefs and wash it all down with wines from the Naramata Bench Wineries Association.
Over at BC Place from May 1 to May 3 is the food expo, where over 250 exhibitors set up shop under one roof, including celebrity chefs, local restaurants serving up tasty bites that encompass flavors from around the world, wineries, food and beverage manufacturers, cookbook authors, retailers, artisans and many more.
Whether you're looking to source hard-to-find ingredients or pick up a special gift, EAT! Vancouver's got it.
For the adults, Craft Beer Alley awaits. Explore craft brewers from all over British Columbia; there's a good chance you'll recognize some familiar brews, and be pleasantly surprised by new offerings.
EAT! Vancouver takes over BC Place — Photo courtesy of EAT! Vancouver
After all that walking around, take a load off at the Celebrity Chef Stage, where you can catch some cooking demos and friendly competitions that are sure to get your mouth watering.
On Saturday and Sunday, there are demos geared towards kids, making EAT! Vancouver ideal for a family outing.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, and there's so much more to explore at EAT! Vancouver. One thing's for sure: wearing stretchy pants is a good idea, as there's so much to taste and sip while you're here.
Festival hours at BC Place include the following:
Friday, May 1, 2015 | 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, May 2, 2015 | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, May 3, 2015 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tickets for the dinner series and hands-on workshops can be purchased online, and they sell out fast. So it's best to get them as soon as possible.
You can purchase general admission tickets to EAT! Vancouver at BC Place Stadium at Gate A or at EAT! Vancouver's website.
