Hungry and super stoked on our food scene but a little strapped for cash after the holidays? Never fear, because the 10th annual Dine Out Vancouver restaurant festival – the largest of its kind in Canada – is coming up quickly. From January 20 through to February 5 (17 days!), the wildly successful Tourism Vancouver initiative will once again celebrate our burgeoning food culture in massive fashion, attracting tens of thousands of diners to the tables of the city’s greatest eateries by way of three course prix-fixe menus priced at $18, $28 or $38 per person. The fest – which was born of a desire to fill restaurant seats during winter’s slow season – has grown immensely in its ten years. How big is it now? 2012 marks a new record of 225 participating restaurants (up from 57 ten years ago!), and we can expect a record number of a diners this year, too. In 2011, Open Table counted some 54,595 covers reserved during DOV (a number that doesn’t include resos made by phone or walk-ins!), so yeah, it’s gotten big. Take a look…

As per usual, many of the menus will come optionally paired with BC VQA wines, but this year be sure to look out for Kronenbourg 1664 beer pairings as well (view all of the menus here). And because you might want to make a night of it, DOV has arranged for special hotel room rates ($78, $108 and $138) and a variety of packages that combine dining and accommodations. You can also expect an extensive line up of unique food-themed events and activities, including culinary tours, cooking lessons and a range of especially unique dining experiences. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. DOV is going all out this year, and Scout has everything that you need to know…

What’s New for 2012

First off, there’s a whole bunch of new features this year that sound really cool…

Street Food City – a three-day lunchtime gathering of some of the city’s top food carts – January 24, 25 and 26 (details below).

Dine Academy – a daily roster of ticketed food tours and educational experiences (details below).

Plated and Paired at the Public Market – Dine Out’s kick-off event at a new location, Granville Island – January 20 (details below).

Salt & Pepper – an array of dining experiences taking place in venues across the city (details below).

Brasserie Mystère is back for a second year. The free event offers a gourmet dinner prepared by a renowned chef in a secret location, paired with Kronenbourg 1664 beer. 2011’s guest chef was David Hawksworth, so you know they’re not fooling around (details below).

Say it with us: Street Food City!

DOV CONTESTS

Throughout the festival, diners can participate in the Best Bite Awards and vote for their favourite DOV experience by rating restaurants in a variety of categories, including Best Menu (for each price category), Best Service, Best BC VQA Wine Pairing, Best Kronenbourg 1664 Beer Pairing and Best Restaurant Experience. All voters are automatically entered in the Dine Out for a Year contest for the chance to win a grand prize of 52 gift certificates to participating DOV restaurants, allowing the winner to “Dine Out” every week for a year (voting opens January 20). VOTE HERE

2012 DOV Events In Detail

Act I, Eat 1. The PuSh Performing Arts Festival and the Arts Club Theatre Company present long table dining paired with guaranteed seats to award-winning theatrical performances.

• Calendar Girls (Stanley Theatre) and Cru Restaurant ($105 – includes three-course dinner at Cru Restaurant, performance (A-category seat), HST, gratuity and ticket fee.
• Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner, and the Farewell Speech (SFU Woodwards) and The Irish Heather ($50 – includes three-course dinner at The Irish Heather, performance, HST, gratuity and ticket fee.)
• Looking for a Missing Employee (The Roundhouse) and Cento Notti ($78 – includes three-course long table dinner at Cento Notti, performance, HST, gratuity and ticket fee).
• Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata (Revue Stage) and Dockside Restaurant ($78 – includes three-course dinner at Dockside Restaurant, performance (A-category seat), HST, gratuity and ticket fee).
• El Pasado es un Animal Grotesco (SFU Woodwards) and Salt Tasting Room ($50 – includes three-course dinner at Salt Tasting Room, performance, HST, gratuity and ticket fee).

Brasserie Mystère. Presented by Kronenbourg 1664, this exclusive event features a gourmet dinner prepared by a renowned chef in a secret location, and paired with Kronenbourg 1664 beer. Hopeful diners can visit www.k1664brasserie.ca and enter to win seats to the event. Winners are selected by random draw from the total list of eligible RSVPs received, and will be contacted directly with more details. (Free).

Dine Academy. A daily selection of culinary classes, demonstrations and insider tours led by seasoned professionals. On the menu:

• Chinatown Culinary Tour (Edible Canada). Participants are guided through the historic streets and hidden alleys of Vancouver’s food-centric Chinatown district, providing information about historical buildings and heritage landmarks. Along the way, participants visit and sample from herbal stores, meat shops, bakeries and more. ($30 – includes two-hour tour and samples. HST not included).
• Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour). Guests are offered a taster of Gastown’s burgeoning craft beer scene during this beer-focused adventure. Each stop reveals another tidbit about beer culture in Vancouver, the brewing process, proper beer and food pairings and more. ($85 – includes four beer tastings, food pairings, guided walking tour and HST. $4 handling fee not included).
• Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada). During this two-hour journey, participants are taken to the best places to shop and sample on foodie-centric Granville Island. ($25 – includes two-hour market tour and tastings, tote bag, tips on food selection and preparation, a bottle of water and 10% off purchases at the Edible Canada retail store. HST not included).
• Hawaiian Cocktail and Waikiki Pupus (Quince Handcrafted Cuisine). Participants learn how to make three Waikiki dishes, including North Shore fish tacos, Ahi tuna poke, a Hawaiian cocktail and more. ($40 – 1 hour, HST not included).
• Indian Bar Snacks (Quince Handcrafted Cuisine). Participants learn how to make popular Indian snack foods, including peanut masala, buttermilk pakora, an Indian cocktail and more. ($40 – 1 hour, HST not included).
• Japanese Izakaya with Chef Phong Vo of Electric Owl (Quince Handcrafted Cuisine). Participants learn how to make Japanese pub- style food, including Asari sake miso soup, prawn tempura and more. ($95 – 3 hours, HST not included).
• Pearls & Cocktails (Swallow Tail Supper Club). Descend to an underground bar and learn the art of cocktail mixing and oyster shucking courtesy of Swallow Tail Supper Club, Curious Oyster Catering and experimental bartender Ludzu ($89 includes cocktails and four oysters, cocktail and shucking instruction and takeaway syllabus with cocktail recipes and information on oysters. ?HST and ticketing fee not included.)
• Plugged-In Culinary Tour of Granville Island Market (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts). Led by an internationally trained chef instructor, plug in a headset and work up your appetite wandering through the Granville Island Public Market. ($48 – includes a personal 1.5 hour chef-led walking tour, hot beverage and fresh-baked treat, canvas tote and a three-course lunch at Bistro 101, with optional BC Wine flight. HST not included).
• Year of the Dragon – Chinese Dim Sum and Japanese Sake class (Quince Handcrafted Cuisine). Participants learn how to make traditional dim sum dishes, including steamed BBQ pork buns, shrimp dumplings, artisan sake pairings and more. ($40 – 1.5 hours, HST not included).

Plated & Paired at the Public Market (Granville Island). During Dine Out Vancouver’s opening event, live jazz adds to the ambiance as guests experience the unique night-time atmosphere of the Granville Island Public Market. The experience includes tantalizing tastes prepared by the Island’s talented chefs and suggested pairings with BC VQA wines. ($38 – 2 hours. Six participating restaurants, 11 participating wineries. Includes HST and ticketing fees).

Secret Supper Soirée (Swallow Tail Supper Club). Participants hop aboard a double-decker bus for a culinary tour that features two secret locations. A sold out event last year. ($129 – includes five courses, four drinks, transportation. HST not included).

Street Food City (Vancouver Street Food Cart Association). This event brings Vancouver’s top food carts together in one convenient location, allowing diners to sample from the city’s best. (Location TBA).

Salt & Pepper. This spicy selection of food-centric events is guaranteed to add flavour to your festival experience. Events include:

• The Chef’s Table (Culinary Capers Catering Kitchen). The 2011 International Caterers Associations’ Chef of the Year, Margaret Chisholm, prepares a feast in her commercial kitchen at Culinary Capers providing a rare insider look at one of the world’s top catering chefs in action. ($150 – 3 hours, includes five course dinner, wine pairings and gratuity. HST not included).
• Classic Childhood Favourites. Take a taste down memory lane with dinners just like Mom used to make, served with cocktails modelled after neighbourhood juice stands. ($35 – 2.5 hours, HST and gratuity not included).
• Farmer, Butcher, & Chef. Join a farmer, a butcher and Fraiche Restaurant’s very own Chef Jefferson Alvarez for an evening devoted to top quality meats from local farms, butchered in-house and cooked to perfection. $65 – 3 hours, includes butcher demonstrations, three-course dinner and a glass of wine. HST/gratuity no included).
• Pop-Up Salsa (Provence Mediterranean Restaurant). Savour flavourful Cuban dishes, then dance the night away. ($45 – 3 hours, includes dinner, tax and gratuity).
• Pop-Up Social Feed (Save On Meats). The newly restored Save on Meats hosts a pop-up long table dinner. A “nose-to-tail” menu will be served family style to facilitate sharing at the 40 seat communal table. A complimentary craft beverage will be paired with the menu. Check www.thesocialfeed.com for details ($48 – 2 hours, includes dinner, first beverage, HST and gratuity).
• Sausages and Rosés (Abigail’s Party). Enjoy handcrafted sausages from B.C.’s best sausage makers, paired with exquisite BC VQA rosé wines. ($30 – 3 hours, includes eight handmade sausages with paired accompaniments and eight BC rose wine tastings. HST/gratuity not included).
• From Vineyard to Table (Legacy Liquor Store). Sample some of the finest BC VQA wines, perfectly paired with delightful canapés and appetizers. ($60 – includes five wine tastings and paired canapés, HST and gratuity. Ticketing fee not included).

2012 DOV Event Timetable

Monday, January 9

Restaurant reservations open to the public!

Friday, January 20

Dine Out Vancouver Festival begins
Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Plated and Paired at the Public Market (Granville Island)

Saturday, January 21

Dine Academy: Pearls & Cocktails (Swallow Tail Supper Club)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Chinatown Culinary Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Salt & Pepper: The Chef’s Table (Culinary Capers Catering Kitchen)
Secret Supper Soirée (Swallow Tail Supper Club)

Sunday, January 22

Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)

Monday, January 23

Dine Academy: Chinese dim sum and Japanese sake class (Quince Handcrafted Cuisine)
Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)

Tuesday, January 24

Dine Academy: Japanese Izakaya (Quince Handcrafted Cuisine)
Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Street Food City (Vancouver Street Food Association)

Wednesday, January 25

Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Salt & Pepper: Classic Childhood Favourites Dinner (The Charles Bar)
Salt & Pepper: From Vineyard to Table (Legacy Liquor Store)
Street Food City (Vancouver Street Food Association)

Thursday, January 26

Act I, Eat 1: Calendar Girls (Cru Restaurant / Arts Club Theatre Company)
Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Salt & Pepper: From Vineyard to Table (Legacy Liquor Store)
Street Food City (Vancouver Street Food Association)

Friday, January 27

Act I, Eat 1: Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner, and the Farewell Speech (The Irish Heather / PuSh Festival)
Salt & Pepper: Pop Up Social Feed (Save On Meats)
Dine Academy: Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)

Saturday, January 28

Act I, Eat 1: Missing Employee (Cento Notti / PuSh Festival)
Dine Academy: Pearls & Cocktails (Swallow Tail Supper Club)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Chinatown Culinary Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Secret Supper Soirée (Swallow Tail Supper Club)

Sunday, January 29

Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Salt & Pepper: Pop-Up Salsa (Provence Mediterranean Restaurant)
Salt & Pepper: Sausages & Rosés (Abigail’s Party)

Monday, January 30

Act I, Eat 1: Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata (Dockside Restaurant / Arts Club Theatre Company) Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)

Tuesday, January 31

Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Hawaiian Cocktail & Waikiki Pupus (Quince Handcrafted Cuisine)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Salt & Pepper: Farmer, Butcher & Chef (Fraiche Restaurant)

Wednesday, February 1

Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Salt & Pepper: From Vineyard to Table (Legacy Liquor Store)

Thursday, February 2

Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Indian Bar Snacks (Quince Handcrafted Cuisine)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Brasserie Mystère: location to be announced
Salt & Pepper: From Vineyard to Table (Legacy Liquor Store)

Friday, February 3

Act I, Eat 1: El Pasado es un Animal Grotesco (Salt Tasting Room / PuSh Performing Arts
Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)

Saturday, February 4

Dine Academy: Pearls & Cocktails (Swallow Tail Supper Club)
Dine Academy: Plugged-in Culinary Tour of Granville Island (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Chinatown Culinary Tour (Edible Canada)
Dine Academy: Gastown Craft Beer Culinary Tour (Vancouver Food Tour)
Dine Academy: Secret Supper Soirée (Swallow Tail Supper Club)

Sunday, February 5

Dine Academy: Granville Island Culinary Market Tour (Edible Canada)

Participating Hotels

$78 (room only)

• Best Western Plus Downtown Vancouver
• Best Western Sands Hotel
• The Burrard
• Comfort Inn Downtown
• Days Inn Vancouver Downtown
• Delta Burnaby Hotel and Conference Centre
• Empire Landmark Hotel
• Happy Day Inn
• North Vancouver Hotel
• Quality Hotel Downtown – “The Inn at False Creek”
• Ramada Inn & Suites Downtown Vancouver
• Ramada Limited Downtown Vancouver
• Sandman Hotel Vancouver City Centre

$108 (room only)

• Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites
• Georgian Court Hotel
• Granville Island Hotel
• Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton
• Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites North Vancouver
• The Listel Hotel
• Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier
• Rosellen Suites at Stanley Park
• Sandman Suites on Davie
• The Sutton Place Hotel
• Time Square Suites
• Vancouver Airport Marriott
• Westin Grand Vancouver

$138 (room only)

• Carmana Plaza
• Delta Vancouver Suites
• Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver
• St. Regis Hotel Vancouver
• Westin Bayshore Vancouver

Packages

• Comfort Inn Downtown ($96): Three-course Dine Out dinner at Doolins, Legacy “Farm to Fork” packages (available Jan 25-26, Feb 1-2), or purchase event tickets separately for $60.

• Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites ($149): Three-course dinner at Brasserie Bistro, complimentary parking, Internet.

• Delta Vancouver Suites ($199): Accommodation in Signature Club Suite, Dine Out dinner at Spencer’s Resto Lounge, deluxe continental breakfast, complimentary parking.

• Fairmont Waterfront ($239): Dinner at Herons West Coast Kitchen & Bar, valet parking.

• Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver ($330): Accommodation in Premier City View room, dinner at Yew, health club access.

• Hotel Le Soleil ($185): Three-course dinner at Copper Chimney Restaurant, complimentary parking.

• Hyatt Regency Vancouver ($199): Early check-in and late check-out, three-course meal at Mosaic Bar & Grille.

• The Listel Hotel ($229): Accommodation in Deluxe Gallery room, Dine Out dinner with wine pairings.

• Pan Pacific Vancouver ($245): Three-course dinner at Café Pacifica, late check-out and complimentary parking.

• Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport ($134): Three-course dinner, complimentary parking.

• Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier ($169): Dinner at Lobby Restaurant.

• Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver ($329): Three-course Dine Out dinner at Market by Jean-Georges, breakfast for two, welcome amenity, valet parking.

• Sheraton Guildford Hotel ($159): Accommodation in deluxe room, three-course dinner at Fresh, complimentary parking.

• The Sutton Place Hotel ($238): Two-course dinner, chocoholic buffet.

• Wedgewood Hotel & Spa ($236): Dine Out dinner at Bacchus, complimentary parking.

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