A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

On the Coming Holiday Drink Tsunami and the Trouble With Reindeer Orgies

The Intelligence Brief is our weekly compendium of food and drink news sourced from outlets all over the world, including right here at home.

Beyond the nog: The Daily Beast explores the wonderful world of holiday drinks.

Here’s pretty much everything you need to know about the 18th annual Dine Out Vancouver festival, which is creeping up fast (January 17th to February 2nd).

A brewing company in North Carolina is in trouble for the art on its cans of Christmas Cookie Winter Ale, which depict reindeers having sex:

“We’re in a moment in our country where the president is up for impeachment, there are school shootings, there’s all this horrible stuff going on,” Sycamore co-owner Justin Brigham said. “And you know, seven-and-a-half percent (ABV) beer that tastes like cookies, with pixelated reindeer? That’s a nice reprieve I think.”

The team behind the Mackenzie Room is getting set to open a new restaurant called Say Mercy! on Fraser Street.

Good news, french fry lovers! This year’s weak potato harvest shouldn’t have a significant impact on your favourite fast food staple.

A race against the clock: Scientists around the world are gathering samples of wild crops to try to preserve genetic diversity.

“More than 100 scientists in 25 countries have been venturing out to collect wild relatives of domesticated crops — like lentils, potatoes, chickpeas and rice — that people rely on around the world. The Crop Trust has just released a report detailing the results of this massive effort, which secured more than 4,600 seed samples of 371 wild relatives of key domesticated crops that the world relies on.”

Continuing a tour of Vancouver’s best comfort foods, Scout hits up Danbo for a delicious bowl of ramen.

Under a questionable new policy, some Chipotle employees who call in sick have to speak to a company nurse to make sure they’re not just hungover. (Perhaps they just ate Chipotle.)

Up your holiday baking game with these 12 stunning cookies from the folks at The New York Times.

Drinking well in Vancouver 100 years ago meant paying a visit to the Strand Hotel.

Taking nose-to-tail to the next level, this ceramicist is making plates out of cow bones.

If you want to drink for a good cause this month, check out these 12 local bars serving up seasonal cocktails for a charity of their choice.

The folks at Bon Appetit predict your future via Starbucks orders. Turns out your grande mocha is heating up alongside your love life this month.

Once again, Canadians can expect to pay more for food next year and for the second year in a row, BC will be the only province to see above-average price hikes.

Drinking via Instagram honours this week go to @fsvancouver where your eggnog is always served in the most festive of glassware:

 

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In a not at all surprising piece of news, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association is taking issue with Vancouver’s plan to phase in a ban on plastic straws and bags.

Tractor is heading to the island with plans to open its first Victoria location in April, 2020.

This week in food podcasts, the BrainFood Show explains the origins of pizza.

How one restaurant owner is taking his family experience with dementia and creating an accessible dining experience for folks with cognitive impairment

From Martinis in Kyiv to Tuxedo Tails in New Orleans, Robert Siminson shares the top ten cocktails he drank in 2019.

Buying the only bar in town seems like a sound business investment unless that town has a population of exactly 14 people.

This group of architects, engineers and designers got into the holiday spirit by building a gingerbread replica of Venice!

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

On Believing in Chef Nicolas Cage and Hospitality Workers Living Decently

In her latest read of the food and drink headlines, Talia finds salmon in trouble and patrons who should just stay home.

On Menu Prices Going Up and Customers Fighting Amongst Themselves

In her latest read of the food and drink headlines, Talia finds fewer cooks in the kitchen and Portland lauded for its pizza.

On Suddenly Taking More Tables and Toiling Away in Potentially Lethal Temperatures

In her latest read of the food and drink headlines, Talia finds another chef being a jerk and the labour shortage grinding on.

On No More Takeout Cocktails and Chefs Worrying About the Rising Cost of Food

In her latest read of the food and drink headlines, Talia finds food security woes and new spots getting good reviews.