May Food Events in Vancouver: Where to Feast This Month

This just in: May’s gonna be a banger. We’ve got a cocktail collab with Athens’ hottest bar, a Drag Brunch to take Mother to, the return of one of the city’s best burgers and a Nicaraguan rum distillers’ dinner (better book an Uber). Plus, we’ll tell you which Whistler restaurant just added the world’s rarest Wagyu steak to its tasting menu.

Honey Salt’s Artist Dinner Series: Lucas Beaufort 

Take home a piece of original art after Honey Salt’s next artist dinner, featuring French skateboarder-artist Lucas Beaufort who will create a large-sized masterpiece while you dine. The menu has an artsy vibe, too, featuring dishes like First Flower (a gazpacho tart) and The Ocean (BC wild spring salmon with asparagus sweet corn tortellini). 

WHEN: May 8
WHERE: 39 Smithe St.

The Living Room’s Mother’s Day Drag Brunch

There’s a ton of quiet, classic Mother’s Day brunches happening all over town, but why not mix it up this year? Drag Brunch is the perfect occasion to invite someone you call Mother, or just a crew of friends to eat, drink and be merry while The Real Human Girl does camp-comedy drag accompanied by guests like Canada’s Drag Race Season 1 trans and indigenous icon, Ilona Verley.

WHEN: May 12
WHERE: 654 Nelson St

The Annual Spot Prawn Festival

We love spotlighting this annual fundraiser put on by the Chef’s Table Society of BC. It all kicks off at Fisherman’s Wharf near Granville Island with cooking demos and educational moments, where you can learn about these sweet Pacific Ocean delicacies with a super-short season (four to six weeks). Snag a bowl of rich Spot Prawn Bisque or go all-in for the grazing-style brunch.

WHEN: May 26
WHERE: 1505 West 1st

Sidecut Steakhouse’s Rare Wagyu Menu

Let’s cut to the steak. Premium A5 Olive Fed Wagyu, sourced from special cattle on Shodoshima Island in Japan, has been called the “rarest steak in the world.” Now, the only place to get it in Canada is on the recently-launched Chef’s Tasting Menu at the Four Seasons Resort Whistler’s Sidecut. Menu highlights include that aforementioned Wagyu with seared foie gras and black truffle, and an opulent starter of Hand-Cut Prime Beef Tartare with cured quail egg yolk, Kristal caviar, and 24-kt gold leaf.

WHEN: Thursday to Saturday, until June 20 (book 48 hours in advance)
WHERE: 4591 Blackcomb Way

“Into The Forest With Emily Carr” Afternoon Tea: A Culinary Tribute

An Emily Carr–inspired journey lands late-May at Notch8 in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, continuing through the summer. Foodie bites will reflect Carr’s spirit, taking diners on a culinary journey of the province, and cocktails will highlight some of her iconic signature works.

WHEN: May 29–September 8 (Wednesday through Sunday)
WHERE: 900 W. Georgia Street

Botanist x The Clumsies Collab Cocktail Dinners

Two all-star nights will shake up the Fairmont Pacific Rim mid-month when Botanist welcomes World’s 50 Best Bars-ranked The Clumsies from Athens, Greece. The first, a cocktail-pairing dinner on May 15, features a six-course Mediterranean tasting menu from Botanist Exec Chef Hector Laguna. The next night, The Clumsies team will lead a discussion on global cocktails and spirit trends, followed by a four-course cocktail-pairing dinner at Botanist Bar.

WHEN: May 15 & May 16
WHERE: 1038 Canada Place

H2 Kitchen + Bar x Flor de Caña Rum Distillers’ Dinner

Travel to Nicaragua (kind of) at a rum-paired Distillers’ Dinner that celebrates the spirit’s rich history. Flor de Caña’s own Sam Fitch will guide every sip as you dine your way through H2 Chef Homer Baisa’s five-course menu. Highlights include a Crispy Pork Belly with Mojo Verde (paired with Flor de Caña Centenario 12yr) and Koji-Aged Wagyu Beef Striploin with smoked bone marrow jus and lacto-fermented pineapple bbq sauce, complemented by Flor de Caña 18yr.

WHEN: May 23
WHERE: 1601 Bayshore Dr.

 

Five Sails’ Château Pesquié Winemaker’s Dinner

French vino with a view of the North Shore Mountains? Sign us up. Indulge in Rhône Valley wines with that signature Five Sails view at the one-night-only Château Pesquié winemakers dinner. Third-generation winery family member Frédéric Chaudière will speak to the vintages and history, you’ll dine on five courses dreamed up by Culinary Director Alex Kim and swill curated pairings.

WHEN: May 7
WHERE: 999 Canada Pl.

Wildlight’s Mother’s Day Rosé Pasta Kit 

It’s not an event per se, but we love this. Cook for mom with guaranteed results by pre-ordering a special pasta kit from UBC’s Wildlight that includes everything you need for make-at-home success, including pancetta, peas, herbs, and Chef Warren Chow’s pre-batched rosé sauce. Add on a bottle of rosé wine or a half-dozen roses to get your gifts in the bag, too.

WHEN: Pick up May 11–12 (Pre-order starting May 1)
WHERE: 5380 University Blvd #107

Superflux x Birdies YVR Peruvian Cookout

A Sunday Funday beer-and-paella cookout? Now we’re talking. There’s no ticket required for this one-off East Van brewery event where Birdies—known for their Peruvian-style charcoal-grilled chicken—will use Superflux Lager and Superflux Gold Lager for brine.

WHEN: May 5
WHERE: 505 Clark Dr.

Monarch Burger’s Return to East Van

Remember the iconic Dirty Burger served at Robert Belcham’s Campagnolo Upstairs, which then re-appeared at The American, then disappeared entirely from sight? Well, this month the burger gods smile upon us as Monarch Burger opens up permanently on Main Street mid-month. Mark your calendar now, thank us later. 

WHEN: Opens May 16
WHERE: 3034 Main St.