by Talia Kleinplatz | Imbibe Magazine declares 2016 the year of the neighbourhood bar. The chances of this portent coming true in Vancouver hovers at about 0%. Perhaps we can get some city councillors together to discuss this over beers and chicken wings.

Next up at The Greasy Spoon Diner: AnnaLena’s Chef Michael Robbins. Enjoy a four course meal of diner food done right in support of A Better Life Foundation.

There are several exciting cocktail events taking place over the next month. Enjoy a Single Malt Master Class or a veritable cocktail laboratory as Science World plays host to The Science of The Cocktail.

The Straight details some rad food events on the horizon, from Hot Chocolate Festival to Craft Beer Week.

Vancouver’s first annual whiskey festival seeks to brings together distillers and ambassadors alike and offer guests the chance to sample over 120 different brands from around the world.

Say no to a booze-free January and say yes instead to a few of these lovely, local tipples, starting appropriately with Kevin Brownlee’s “Seize The Day”.

Your complete bourbon bucket list! From Four Roses to Blanton’s, here are 15 bottles you should definitely try if given the chance. Booker’s will be easy to come by locally, but Pappy’s may take some searching (and will cost you a pretty penny).

Serena Matters shares her predictions for 2016 food trends (includes pulses, sea greens, and bugs, oh my).

Via the Vancouver Sun, Surrey’s Malaysian Hut sounds like it’s worth the trek for its plethora of amazing Malaysian flavours and distinctive dishes.

Food prices rose 40% more in B.C. than in the rest of Canada last year. And the bad news keeps coming as 2016 promises to see further increases in the face of a weakened Canadian dollar.

As our collective mourning over the loss of Bowie continues, Portland’s Voodoo shares a tribute doughnut that will allow us to drown our sorrows in sugary, jelly-filled goodness. Because we know Major Tom’s a junkie.

A high-end, Toronto restaurant gets busted for passing off skirt steak as Wagyu.

If you love beer and cookies then here’s a handy list of beer and cookie pairings for your convenience. If you don’t love beer and cookies, I’m not sure we can be friends.

Food activism in the face of the European refugee crisis: members of No Border Kitchen set up roadside stands to feed those fleeing Syria.

Drinking games are taken to the next level with Text or Shot. I think I’ll stick to beer pong, thank you very much.

Attention all chefs! No longer are your feet banished to a life filled with Crocs! Check out how two industry experts partnered with Vans to create the ultimate chef footwear!

Drinking via Instagram honours this week go to Krokodile Pear, who have us dreaming of summer citrus.

Looking for work in the industry? Check out who’s hiring.