Chinese Tapas Take Gastown
Brand-spanking new Terracotta Modern Chinese Restaurant (52 Alexander Street) is now open in Gastown. Beijing-trained chef Michael Zhou’s menu features nontraditional Chinese “tapas” like short-rib sliders, Emperor Qin’s chicken knees, white radish cake, Beijing fried rice, and Shanghai noodles ($6.50 to $10.75). Best sip? Terracotta’s signature drink, Chivas Regal and green tea.

Italian Reborn on Haro
Adesso Bistro has moved into L’Altro Buca’s former space at 1906 Haro Street, one of the prettiest locations in Vancouver. If the name seems familiar, owners Carol Gadsby and Luciano Loi operated a previous incarnation of Adesso in Kitsilano. The Italian menu focuses on Ligurian regional dishes. Must-tries include arancini (rice balls, $8), prosciutto pizza ($14), linguine Genovese ($12/$18), and poached halibut acqua pazza ($22).

Clove Takes on a Japanese Spice
Lime Restaurant (1130 Commercial Drive) closed when its lease was up earlier this month, but chef Masa Kudo is now at the helm of sister eatery Clove (2054 Commercial Drive). Clove’s Indian-Asian tapas menu is being phased out, and by July the restaurant will be renamed Japanese Kitchen and will have a menu similar to that of Lime but at a lower price point. The menu will consist of sushi and small plates ($6 to $12), such as tuna gomaae.

VCC Makes Top Toques
The head of Vancouver Community College’s culinary arts department, John-Carlo Felicella, was recently named chef of the year by the Canadian Culinary Federation. The chefs’ organization bestowed the honour at its national convention in Windsor, Ontario, in early June. At the same conference, VCC’s student chefs beat out contingents from Nova Scotia, PEI, and Quebec to become Youth Team Canada. The VCC team will represent the country in the Junior category at the International Culinary Olympics, which will be held in Germany in the fall of 2012.

Farm Education Beyond Old MacDonald
June 12 saw the season opener of the UBC farm market (6182 South Campus Road), which continues every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This Saturday (June 19) is Family Day, with tours highlighting farm biodiversity and activities for children on offer. See landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/ for info.

Cupcakes Showdown
Love cupcakes? Then spend a few hours on Sunday (June 20) from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. sampling your heart out at Vancouver’s first Cupcake Challenge at Yaletown’s Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews). Entry is free, and Lower Mainland cupcakeries such as Cake Tease, Tracycakes Bakery Café, Big City Cupcakes, Cupcake Couture & Catering, and more will be there. Vote for your fave and see if the judges agree.