With the 9th Annual Taste of Yaletown (TOY) set to take over this popular dining and nightlife hub starting next week (October 16th), the Yaletown Business Association sought to create some buzz with local media and invited a crew of people down for a lunch hour tasting tour. Partly to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the popular food fest (wherein diners can reserve a table at participating Yaletown restaurants for a prix fixe dinner) this tour was also meant to help launch the addition of lunch as part of the 11-day festival.
Once divided into groups and appointed a tour leader, media guests were led to the Yaletown Farmers Market (on until late December) and greeted by the entire team of chefs from participating venues who handed them a canvas tote loaded with farm fresh ingredients and signature recipes as thanks for support. With appetites whet, food-touring groups then divided and headed off to several sampling destinations.
The first stop was La Pentola della Quercia, where owner/chef Lucais Syme had prepared a variety of sharable dishes from this year’s TOY menu (including special dishes featured only on their lunch offering). Parmesan soufflé, lamb shank ‘osso buco’, taglierini with squash and prosciutto were tasted and savoured… with a sweet lemon cream providing the grand finale.
Next up brought the group to Yaletown’s waterfront – and Provence Marinaside for a final few bites courtesy of Chef Jean-Francis. A light and savoury/sweet tomato and bocconcini salad was followed suit by Lois Lake Steelhead and bouillabaisse.
New this year to Taste of Yaletown is a complimentary lunch trolley that will whisk (or rather roll) guests from Downtown Vancouver into Yaletown on the following selected dates: October 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th. It’ll be the perfect way to escape the downtown bustle for a bit of a breather as you get a chance to explore the vibrant lunch scene while squeezing in a bit of retail therapy.
Coupled with this trolley option, the 9th Annual TOY is also bringing an array of special themed events into the mix. Whether it’s Split Shift Community Yoga classes (by donation at YYoga), Live Music (with Rob Fillo), or a beer, chocolate and bacon seminar at Xoxolate, the choices are endless.
From October 16th to 27th, Yaletown kitchens will offer featured menus, special tastings and innovative pairings to tempt the most adventurous foodie. With a fresh approach to fixed price menus of $25, $35 and $45, restaurants will offer any combination of food and drink or even special in-house events.
Find a full listing of all TOY 2013 events here and book tickets stat.
