Street-eats season heats up

The Bottle

> BY TAMMY KWAN

One of the best things about exploring different countries and cultures is getting to try their cuisines. If you live in Vancouver, then you should know that our city offers exactly what a travelling gourmand searches for: diverse food and drink options. Summertime is peak season for faroff getaways, but if you’re planning to stay in town, your taste buds won’t be disappointed. Seasonal food markets and daylong festivals will be serving up everything from Latin American bites to Asian street eats to classic Greek flavours. Here are five food events to check out around Metro Vancouver this summer.

CARNAVAL DEL SOL (88 PACIFIC BOULEVARD)

Self-proclaimed to be the biggest Latin festival in the Pacific Northwest, Carnaval del Sol returns to the city to celebrate its 10th anniversary on July 7 and 8 (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) at Concord Pacific Place. The weekend extravaganza will feature several designated plazas, each showcasing art, beer, health and wellness, and kidfriendly activities. But our eyes are set on the food zone—more than 25 vendors will be serving up delicious Latin American and Caribbean bites, and culinary lessons will be taught by local and international chefs. You’ll find authentic tacos, choripans (an Argentine sandwich made with chorizo and crusty bread), and plenty of plantains (cooking bananas) at the event. The best way to prepare for Carnaval del Sol is to arrive hungry, because you’ll need the stomach space to indulge in all the good food. For more information, visit www.carnavaldelsol.ca/.

RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET (8351 RIVER ROAD, RICHMOND)

The New York Times recently gave this summertime market some coveted press love, highlighting its prominence as the go-to destination for delicious Asian street food in Metro Vancouver. Locals have long known Richmond Night Market’s not-sohidden secret as a foodie hot spot— only tourists and out-of-towners would make a beeline for the gimmicky gadget booths. Every weekend until October, there are more than 500 kinds of food items on offer, which can be overwhelming for those who visit for the first time. Some of the most popular food choices here are pan-fried squid, hurricane potatoes, bubble tea, Taiwanese-style fried chicken, ice-cream buns, and shaved ice, among many others. Just let the scent of the food guide you— you’ll know which direction to head toward once you sniff the spices of grilled lamb skewers or the sweetness of bubble waffles in the near distance. For more information, visit www.richmondnightmarket.com/.

VANCOUVER FARMERS MARKETS (VARIOUS LOCATIONS)

Vancouver’s seven seasonal farmers markets are in full swing (running through October), which means we are getting access to the freshest local produce, meats, and seafood in town. Besides letting you grab your fruits, veggies, and artisanal cheeses for the week, the markets are also known for their array of ready-to-eat culinary offerings. From food trucks to specialty food vendors, you’ll find gourmet creations like savoury pies, handcrafted ice cream, cold-pressed juices, Chinese-style street food, grilled cheese sandwiches, apple ciders, and more. Sweet tooths will be happy to know that confections and baked goods are almost always available—think bean-to-bar chocolates and salted-caramel-and-hazelnut brownies. For more information, visit www.eatlocal.org/.

GREEK DAY ON BROADWAY (BETWEEN MACDONALD AND BLENHEIM)

Thousands of people are expected to attend Vancouver’s annual Greek Day festival on June 24 (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) along a five-block stretch of Broadway, and for good reason. The family-friendly celebration has an exciting lineup, including market vendors, entertainment, live music, and a kids’ zone with games and crafts. However, the most enticing aspect of this summer event is probably the Greek food and drink that will be showcased throughout the day. The 3 Greek Sisters, award-winning cookbook authors, will conduct live cooking demos and prepare dishes like soutzoukakia (Grandma’s meatballs), lamb burgers, and lemon loaf. Other Greek bites that will be featured include loukoumades (Greek honey doughnuts), calamari, souvlaki, and gyro (a dish made of rotisserie meat wrapped in a flatbread with tzatziki sauce). Pro tip: wear stretchy pants. For more information, visit www.greekday.com/.

SHIPYARDS NIGHT MARKET (138 VICTORY SHIP WAY, NORTH VANCOUVER)

If there is anything besides beautiful hiking trails that will attract people to the North Shore, it’s the Shipyards Night Market. The weekly event kicked off in May and runs every Friday night (5 to 10 p.m.) until the end of September, offering an abundance of craft goods, arts and entertainment, and live music. In terms of food offerings, attendees will find more than 35 food trucks in the “hot food alley”, serving paella platters, rice bowls, cannoli, mac and cheese, wood-fired pizza, artisan frozen pops, and more. If you feel like you need to quench your thirst after all the indulging, check out the (adults only) beer garden that pours local craft beer, ciders, and handcrafted vodka and gin. Hop on a Seabus and make your way to this outdoor market if you’re looking for a fun- and food-filled way to start your next weekend. For more information, visit www.northshore greenmarkets.com/.-

Bay on July 28, August 1, and August 4 to take in the annual international fireworks competition. If you’re one of the many who will be attending parties to see South Africa, Sweden, and South Korea—this year’s competitors—light up the sky, it seems only right to have a little sparkling on hand to enhance the festivities.

Villa Conchi Brut Selección Cava (Penedès, Spain; $16.99, B.C. Liquor Stores) is a traditional-method sparkling composed of 30 percent Xarel·lo, 30 percent Parellada, and 30 percent Macabeo, those being three of the most traditional Cava varieties, with Chardonnay making up the balance of the blend. After the second fermentation, the wine spends a minimum of 12 months in the bottle before disgorgement, resulting in a toasty character that rounds out fresh apple, pear, and citrus notes, all of them zippy and fresh. An easy match for everything from popcorn and potato chips to salads and spring rolls.

Of course, you could be one of the lucky ones to snag a seat on the patio of Cactus Club Cafe’s English Bay location. If so, it’s easy to keep with that sparkling spirit with adorable 200-millilitre bottles of Segura Viudas Cava, a similar blend and style as the aforementioned wine, at a mere 12 bucks a pop. It’ll handle pretty much anything on the menu, from the tuna-stack starter to chef Rob Feenie’s classic butternutsquash ravioli with prawns, truffle butter, pine nuts, and crispy sage.

Another perennial summer favourite for Vancouverites, Bard on the Beach, is once again in full swing on the edge of Vanier Park in Kitsilano. The popular Shakespeare festival with jaw-dropping sunsets and mountain views is hosting occasional Wine Wednesdays: on July 11 and September 5 alongside performances of Macbeth, plus August 8 and 22 tethered to performances of As You Like It. The preshow tastings feature winemaker Karen Gillis’s Red Rooster Wines from the Okanagan Valley’s Naramata Bench, with cheese pairings provided by Les Amis du Fromage. Tickets are $25, and more information can be found at www.bardonthebeach.org/. On the other side of town, perched

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Olympic Village’s Hinge Park, and Vancouverbased Maskull Lasserre’s Acoustic Anvil: A Small Weight to Forge the Sea in Leg in Boot Square. Montreal-based sculptor Michel de Broin installs his absurdly funny, bike-route-parodying Diversions in both Devonian and Charleson parks later that month. And September brings massively celebrated Aussie artist Patricia Piccinini’s hyperreal human-animal sculpture hybrids to a 90-day show at the Patricia Hotel. Snapshot: Vancouverites’ jaws dropping as they examine Piccinini’s fleshy, freakily lifelike forms close up. Essential Accessory: For Piccinini’s show, an in-demand ticket.

(At Malkin Bowl from July 4 to August 18) Two rags-to-riches musicals—rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella and the Broadway song-and-dance classic 42nd Street—alternate this summer at Stanley Park’s tree-enveloped open-air Malkin Bowl. Snapshot: Cinderella’s magical Fairy Godmother appearing to conjure a squirrel or raccoon from the surrounding enchanted forest. Essential Accessory: Picnic dinner, bug repellent, jacket.

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS

(At various venues from July 5 to 15) Driven by the theme of mythmaking, the contemporary, multi-arts, culturebridging event brings flute master Hariprasad Chaurasia for a concert in the Orpheum on July 14, with the Allegra Chamber Orchestra and Mohamed Assani paying tribute to Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Nights at the Ismaili Centre the next day. And look for PAUSE, a new free series at a pavilion in Vanier Park, with performances, talks, food, and visual arts. Snapshot: On July 6, artist in residence Sandeep Johal and Musqueam weaver Debra Sparrow will unveil a collaborative work against the backdrop of the Vancouver cityscape at PAUSE. Essential Accessory: Your global mindset.

INDIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL

DANCING ON THE EDGE (At the Firehall Arts Centre and other venues from July 5 to 14) The contemporary-dance fest fetes 30 years with a roster that includes veteran Montreal artist Paul-andré Fortier’s final one-man creation, SOLO 70; Toronto-born, Brussels-based Liz Kinoshita’s retro-dance-infused look at the explosion of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull, Volcano; and Montreal’s Lara Kramer Danse’s