Must eat out night
Now an annual fixture, Dining Out for Life on Thursday (March 27) once again will get 25 percent of your food bill into the hands of the folk at Friends for Life and A Loving Spoonful. A full list of participating eateries is at www.diningoutforlife.com .

Edible blossoms
One of the season’s coolest events is the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (www.vancouvercherryblossomfestival.com/) and some of spring’s best eating is fleeting, like the blossoms on Vancouver’s thousands of cherry trees. Scoot into Café Pacifica at the Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel (300–999 Canada Place) for chef Daryle Nagata’s fanciful Japanese Cherry Blossom Luncheon Buffet ($25), March 27 and 28, and Cherry Blossom Sunday Brunch on March 30 ($26 to $52). For details, call 604-895-2480.

French for a really good deal
Marking its 30th successful year, Le Gavroche (1616 Alberni Street) is offering a three-course table d’hôte of classics for just $30 from now through the end of May. One possible combo: caesar salad followed by steak frites with brandy peppercorn sauce, and chocolate mousse to finish.

Expanding roots
Vancouver’s not-so-lowly SPUD (Small Potatoes Urban Delivery), which started in 1998, is now operating in six North American cities after its acquisition of two San Francisco organic-food delivery services. The cities it covers include Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, and Seattle.

Take eight
The newest Take 5 Café at 2278 West 4th Avenue is the eighth for Caffé dé Medici’s Dean and Steve Punzo. Swell surroundings, leather armchairs, table seating, window counters, stools, and free Wi-Fi are only part of the draw. Prep of all edibles—salads, soups, panini, pastas, sweets, and more—is overseen by Caffé dé Medici’s young wiz executive chef, Aron Zipursky. See www.take5cafe.com for more.

Sipping up a sunny state
The Arts Club Theatre Company may be the official beneficiary of April 2’s California Wine Fair at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre (999 Canada Place), but so are ticket holders who pony up $60 to taste 250 of California’s best wines. Call 604-687-1644 for tickets, and see who’s coming at www.calwine.ca/CaliforniaWineFair_Participants2008.xls.

Another side of sweet
Known for her sweets, Food TV Canada’s Anna Olson is turning her attention to local fare and community life. Okay, her locale is Ontario, but the approach translates easily to B.C. Upcoming shows feature food for a shower, pie judging, and French bistro dishes. Schedules are at www.foodtv.ca/.