Time to Dine: November’s Best Food and Drink Events in Vancouver

There’s nothing demure about November’s best foodie events. We’ve rounded up 14 for you, including a Pad Thai battle, a Little Mermaid drag show alongside a sustainable seafood feast, a Southern-style cookout (suckling pig!) with cocktails by LA’s Thunderbolt, and a meat-and-cheese festival with 90+ vendors. 

The Little Mermaid Drag Show at Fanny Bay Oysters 

Oysters and mermaids—a match made in heaven. Spice up your Wednesday with a sustainable seafood dinner and some Little Mermaid themed drag characters working the room. This one-night-only show is presented in collaboration with OceanWise, which champions the protection of our oceans; don’t forget to bring cash tips for the performers.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 20
WHERE: 762 Cambie St.

Winterlust at H Tasting Lounge

Dine snowglobe-style at one of The Westin Bayshore’s five outdoor domes, all heated and bedazzled with evergreen fronds, sparkling lights and Alpine decor. This seasonal experience is the ultimate party-of-six night out—even moreso if you order a Tomahawk steak or seafood tower for the table. 

WHEN: November 1–March 16
WHERE: 1601 Bayshore Dr.

Thunderbolt Bar Takeover and Cookout with Alden Ong from Basta Barbecue

When one of Vancouver’s sexiest bars brings up one of North America’s top 10 for a takeover, you go. For one night, Meo will host LA-based, Southern-inspired Thunderbolt to shake, shake, shake it behind the bar while Vancouver chef Alden Ong cooks up dishes like char sui pork ribs and suckling pig with his Basta Barbecue pop-up.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 20
WHERE: 265 E. Pender St.

Vancouver Cheese and Meat Festival 

The name says it all—well, there are also spirits, wine, and chocolate aplenty at this annual celebration of artisanal food. Sample over 90 products from beloved local vendors including Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, Cioffi’s Meat Market and Deli and Sheringham Distillery.

WHEN: Saturday, November 2
WHERE: 115 Victory Ship Way, N. Vancouver

Battle of the Pad Thai 

To mark World Pad Thai Day, the chefs at New Westminster’s Longtail Kitchen and Granville Island’s Sen Pad Thai will participate in the second annual Battle of the Pad Thai, each creating a limited edition flavour—one has grilled tiger prawns, the other has BBQ pork ribs, both sound incredible. Eat them, then vote for your favourite to be entered to win free Pad Thai for a year.

WHEN: November 7–21
WHERE: 810 Quayside Dr., New Westminster & 1689 Johnston St, Vancouver

Suyo con Amigos Dinner with Masayoshi

This Japanese-meets-Peruvian culinary collab will see Chef Masayoshi Baba, of his eponymous Michelin-starred omakase restaurant, join Suyo’s Chef Ricardo Valverde for the final instalment of the delicious Suyo con Amigos chef collaboration dinner series.

WHEN: Monday, November 18
WHERE: 3475 Main St.

 

Celebrate Sherry at Como Taperia

Sherry on tap? Yes, please. Celebrate International Sherry Week at Como Taperia, where you can order Tio Pepe on-tap—it’s served from the world’s only Tio Pepe tap handle, custom-made just for Como—or grab a bottle of their other 20-odd varieties at 35% off. Pair it all with a flan del Catalan or BBQ octopus, leave as happy a clam.

WHEN: November 4–10
WHERE: 201 E. 7th Ave.

Locanda dell’Orso’s Hibernation Harvest

If you’ve never had black garlic tiramisu (just us?) now’s your chance to try it. Dine family-style on a five-course feast at Hibernation Harvest, which includes a mushroom tart, pasta dish, stuffed lamb saddle, and that aforementioned dessert made with black garlic eggnog, coffee kombucha and a liquorice glaze.

WHEN: Monday, November 18
WHERE: 350 W. Pender

Lavantine’s Bordeaux Winery Dinner

Walk, run, Uber—just don’t drive—to this seven-course wine-paired dinner atop the Azur Hotel’s luxe rooftop restaurant, Lavantine. The menu is a meaty and delicious one, including Wagyu aburi tartare, slow-roasted pork belly, and Sungold lamb chops and Fraser Valley duck, all paired with world-renowned Bordeaux wines. 

WHEN: Friday, November 8
WHERE: 833 West Pender

Pacific Institute of Culinary Art’s Taste of Global Japanese Cuisine Cooking Class 

Learn how to properly serve sake and handcraft tuna tostadas, seared hamachi crudo, and more as Chef Katsuhito takes you on a journey to Italy, Mexico and America to learn how international flavours have been incorporated into Japanese cuisine.

WHEN: Saturday, November 2
WHERE: 1505 W 2nd Ave.

Dockside Restaurant x Granville Island Brewing’s Longtable Dinner

Warm up your Saturday with this inaugural event, which sees two Granville Island fixtures come together for a West Coast meal, paired and cooked with seasonal brews. A sample: beer-braised beef infused with Lions Winter Ale, sided by creamy polenta, kale and root vegetables and a glass of hearty English Bay Ale. 

WHEN: Saturday, November 23
WHERE: 1253 Johnston St.

Botanist’s Dia de los Muertos Celebration

Straight from Mexico’s Bajío region, new bar-resto Vertical Comedor Evolutivo will team up with Botanist for a weekend of cultural celebration honouring the Day of the Dead. Festivities including an industry seminar and bar takeover on the Friday (resos recommended) at The Lobby Lounge with a cocktail menu inspired by Dia de los Muertos, continuing with an immersive pop-up on Saturday including live music. 

WHEN: November 1–3
WHERE: 1038 Canada Pl.

Yes Shef at the Fairmont Pacific Rim

Hosted by the WORTH Foundation, this event sees a star-studded line-up of local culinary talent and student apprentices cook up a storm for guests in the Pac Rim’s Star Sapphire Ballroom, all to celebrate and elevate women in the food and beverage industry. Enjoy food (and wine, beer, and cocktail) tasting stations galore from far too many esteemed chefs to list—a few include Meeru Dhalwala and Shira Blustein from Lila, Eleanor Chow Waterfall from Cadeaux Bakery, and Malindi Taylor from Fanny Bay Oysters—followed by an awards celebration and silent auction. 

WHEN: Wednesday, November 6
WHERE: 1038 Canada Pl.

Whistler’s Cornucopia

For 11 days, Whistler plays host to its annual celebration of food and drink, Cornucopia. This non-stop sip-and-savour party is always a remarkable feat in event planning, with winemaker’s dinners galore, spirit tasting seminars, a murder mystery night, silent disco, and more. Be warned: tickets sell out fast.

WHEN: November 7–17
WHERE: Various locations in Whistler, BC