New Gastown eateries, single foodie meetups, and weekday dinner specials in this week's food and dining events.

Beer tastings, sake samples, and Steveston salmon in this week's food and dining events.

Spring-roll eating contests, Italian hideaways, and chocolate for charity in this week's food and dining events.

Garden parties, summer night markets, food security talks, and a cocktail contest in this week's food and dining events.

The return of farmers' markets, patio openings, and new Thai restaurants in this week's food and dining events.

Restaurant openings, liquor specials, and the start of farmers market season in this week's food and dining events.

Mother's Day meals, the Stone Soup Festival, and strong Turkish coffee in this week's food and dining events.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations, Mother's Day suggestions, and 007 dining in this week's food and dining events.

Cheap Thai treats, Burnaby benefits, and canned art projects in this week's food and dining events.

This week's food and dining events include classes on feasting and fasting, good dining deals, and a lecture on psychology of eating behaviours.

The scoop on heritage grains, fine French cheeses, and Easter brunch in this week's food and dining events.

Egg hunts, Easter treats, and the 100-mile diet on the small screen all in this week's dining wrap-up.

Late night eats, reopened butcher shops, and pork pig outs in this week's food and dining events.

We're barely into 2009, and the words frugal food are being tossed around. Sounds a bit dire, even a little stingy.

Vancouver is blessed with a sweet assortment of bistros and over the past year, several newcomers—keepers, all—have made their mark.

Absinthe tastings, kids' cooking classes, and the 2009 Wine and Beer Festival in this week's food and dining events.

Irish breakfasts, Francophone celebrations, and a piece of Vancouver’s dining history in this week's food and dining events.

There has been an influx of serious talent on Vancouver's culinary scene, with an exciting, younger, under-the-radar crew that’s sparking our interest.

Seedy Saturdays, Thursday wine tastings, and Sunday specials all in this week's dining events.

Mardi Gras celebrations, Oscar alternatives, and Granville Island festivals all in this week's food and dining events.

New restaurants, new locations, and early evening dinners all in this week's food and dining wrap-up.

This week's food and dining events may see you transform your eating habits, sample delicious desserts, or celebrate Valentine's Day with beer.

This week's events include Valentine's suggestions, sweet February deals, and some re-tweaked favourites.

This Sunday (January 25) marks not only the eve of Chinese New Year but also Robbie Burns Day.

If you missed the mayhem when Tourism Vancouver’s Dine Out Vancouver 2009 Web site went live on January 5, take heart. There are still tables available at many participating restaurants.

This week's foodie events include last-minute tourtières, new restaurants, and epic New Year's dining.

Cooking lessons for kids, alternatives to the Christmas turkey, and charitable dining options in this week's food and dining wrapup.

As the demand for bottled water goes down, some Vancouver restaurants are becoming mindful of offering alternatives to customers—including good, old-fashioned tap water.

Vegan cooking classes, French-Canadian goodies, wine tastings, and more in this week's food and dining wrap-up.

Wine and beer tastings, a new chocolatorium, a farmers' market, gingerbread houses, breakfast with Santa, and restaurant openings—who knew late autumn was so delicious?

Lunching after the midday rush means waiters, cooks, and you will be all the more relaxed. The following are some tested and true recommendations for lingering lunches, from casual to luxe.

Lunching after the midday rush means waiters, cooks, and you will be all the more relaxed. The following are some tested and true recommendations for lingering lunches, from casual to luxe.

Modern Greek dining, a French fête, a restaurant rename, and your chance to sound off on Vancouver's late-night dining laws in this week's dining events.

Prep your palate for three-course dinners, oyster festivals, Russian edibles, homemade cassoulet, and Jewish recipe demos with this week's dining wrapup.

French foods, an aquarium fundraiser, and ethical eating all in this week's not-to-be-missed dining events.

Transylvanian fare, dinner deals, enterprising women, chocolate making, and more in this week's dining wrap-up.

Uncooking classes, interactive suppers, celebrity dim sum, beer and wine tastings, and a farewell party for Malone's are all on this week's menu.

Love them apples, Va va voya, Save room for baklava, Les deux crocodiles, Theatrical thinking, Ready, set, nosh, Italian interlude, and Curtains for savory coast.

For those panicking over their pastry, take heart. There’s still time to learn the perfect technique this Saturday at the Cookshop & Cookschool.

Neptune Food Service's Brandon Owen is helping restaurants switch from trucked-in to local ingredients one plate at a time.

Thanksgiving to the fore in our weekly roundup of tasty local treats, including getting someone to do the whole shebang for you.

Hail to the harvest Just one week to go until the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival, happening next Thursday (October 2) to October 12 this year. More than 160 wine-soaked events will take place against a backdrop of foliage and the grape harvest. For info, see www.owfs.com .

With fruit and vegetables at their glorious multicoloured peaks, there are temptations everywhere at the markets. Three leading Vancouver chefs show you how to make a great menu without emptying your wallet.

Five food and dining events happening this week.

Eight food and dining events happening this week.

Chock-a-block party It wouldn’t hurt to bring an empty stomach to the fifth annual Davie Day this Saturday (September 6). Pedestrians—who’ll rule the street between Burrard and Broughton from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.—can munch on festival food like mini doughnuts, corn on the cob, and fish and chips from Mr. Pickwick’s. Pubs like the Fountainhead and the Majestic will be extending their patios onto the road, and Moxie’s will be barbecuing burgers alfresco.

Italian Job Ready, set, dial. Dine Italia, back for Year 3, has dining deals for days—well, from Monday (September 1) to September 15 at least, at a raft of Lower Mainland restaurants. Try old faves like Quattro, Papi’s in Steveston, and Burnaby’s Vita Bella, or Fourth Avenue newbies Trattoria Italian Kitchen and La Quercia. Multicourse menus range from $20 to $50. Find them and other restos at www.iccbc.com/page200.htm .  

Phat and phatter The previous tenant at 1859 West 4th Avenue, Cheesecake 101, is gone, but we’re thinking that PHAT—short for pretty, hot, and tasty—is in for the long haul if it follows the success of its Yaletown sib. PHAT finds include excellent Montreal smoked meat, Reubens, barbecue beef brisket, all-day breakfast bagel bennies, and more. Do takeout or grab a seat at the massive communal table.

Blast from the past On Saturday (August 16), Kitsilano restaurants will be spilling out into the street. That’s because West 4th Avenue between Burrard and Balsam streets will be car-free for the Summer of Love festival. Browns Social House (2296 West 4th Avenue) will be flipping burgers on an extended patio next to the festival’s main stage at Vine Street, and many eateries will offer walk-up specials. The fest runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chinatown party Take in this weekend’s ninth annual Vancouver Chinatown Festival (August 9 and 10, noon to 6 p.m.) by joining food tasting and heritage walking tours, and exploring buildings not usually open to the public. There’ll be Chinese arts and crafts demos, “super sale” booths, and a children’s play area. Stick around for the night market or have dinner at one of Chinatown’s restos (vcbia.brinkster.net/CF/Festival.htm ).