October’s Top Food Events in Vancouver: Where to Eat and Drink this Month

If not now, when? We’re talking about entering your first pumpkin pie-eating contest (there’s $300 up for grabs), sipping a Memento Mori at a spooky-season cocktail pop-up or treating your fave person to one of the many winery dinners happening this month.

Black Lagoon at Butcher and Bullock

Mixology meets macabre at Black Lagoon, an immersive Halloween pop-up bar that’ll hit 35 cities across the US, Canada and Mexico this October, landing in Downtown Vancouver at Butcher and Bullock. Order devilishly creative cocktails like Memento Mori, Siren’s Song and Nightmare Fuel—not to mention shots of Paranoia and Psychosis—at this award-winning annual sip-fest.

WHEN: October 1–31
WHERE: 911 W Pender St.

Pie-Eating Contest at Metropolis at Metrotown

The Met’s Grand Court will be the site of an old-fashioned pumpkin pie-eating contest—no hands allowed!—as well as a pop-up pie shop courtesy of The Pie Hole. Feeling brave? Register yourself, or show up to watch it all go down (literally) as winners go home with $50 gift cards to The Pie Hole and the grand prize winner snaps up a $300 Metrotown gift card.

WHEN: October 19
WHERE: 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby

Bacchus Flavours of Fall Afternoon Tea

The old-world Venetian decor of Bacchus Lounge in the Wedgewood Hotel can’t be beat, making it a sublime spot to snack on tiny cucumber sandwiches. Indulge in all that and more—pumpkin spice profiteroles, premium teas—at this ultra-decadent afternoon tea. Still hungry? Add a seafood platter and a glass of sparkling wine, because life’s short.

WHEN: October 2
WHERE: Weekends until November 4

 

Le Vieux Pin and LaStella Winery Dinner at Botanist

Two words, when placed together, bring us great joy: winery dinner. Lucky for us, Le Vieux Pin (Oliver, BC) and LaStella (Osoyoos, BC) are coming to town with their managing partner Severine Pinte along for the ride. While you sip, the acclaimed winemaker and viticulturist will speak to Okanagan’s unique terroir. Rest assured executive chef Hector Laguna’s dishes (think uni, venison, striped sea bass and Iberico pork) will be beautifully paired to each vintage. 

WHEN: October 9
WHERE: 1038 Canada Pl.

H2 Kitchen + Bar x Johnnie Walker Whisky Distiller’s Dinner 

The only thing better than a foie gras appy and sticky toffee pudding dessert are those dishes paired with whiskies; Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve and Johnnie Walker Aged 28 Years, respectively. You can expect these, plus all the in-between courses, at this long-table dinner helmed by JW brand expert Roberta Renda who’ll share tasting notes along the way. 

WHEN: October 23
WHERE: 1601 Bayshore Dr.

Hawksworth and McKinley Collaboration Dinner

Seven glorious courses await at this powerhouse dinner featuring chef David Hawksworth and Toronto’s chef Ron McKinlay of Canoe. The meal includes dishes we had to Google (wild mushroom pithivier; turns out it’s a French pie, which we love the sound of) and dishes we didn’t (chanterelle ice cream sandwich—mmm).

WHEN: October 2
WHERE: 801 West Georgia St.

Austin Hope Wine Dinner at Riley’s Fish and Steak 

Honestly, this five-course menu has us drooling: spot prawn bisque, squash tortellini, smoked brisket, whole-roasted porterhouse, and a housemade ‘Twix’ bar for dessert all paired with cool chardonnay or warm cabernet sauvignon (and more) from Austin Hope, a Paso Robles, California-based winery.

WHEN: October 10
WHERE: 200 Burrard St.

Southlands Long Table Harvest Dinner

A red barn will provide the cover for this farm-fresh meal crafted by chef Ocean Yoo—currently of Combine Cafe and Bar in Surrey, he previously worked at restaurants such as Michelin-starred Daniel in New York. Expect a multi-course feast, including this delicious main: Rossdown Farms chicken wrapped in Southlands cabbage and served with rainbow carrots, potato flowers and ginger jus. Vegan/veggie options are available too.

WHEN: October 19
WHERE: 6333 Market Ave., Delta

Bar Susu’s Baker Hsu x Vish Mayekar Collab Dinner

The future chef of much-anticipated Elem, Vish Mayekar, and Bar Susu’s new exec chef, Baker Hsu, will team up to create an a la carte menu for lucky guests at Bar Susu. Fun fact: both chefs were part of the opening team of Elio Volpe, so perhaps some pastas are in the cards (the menu is currently under wraps, but promises to include never-before-seen creations). 

WHEN: October 6
WHERE: 209 E. 6th Ave.

10 Year Alumni Dinner at Boulevard

To celebrate a decade of Boulevard, the restaurant is throwing a kitchen reunion, and you’re invited. For one night, a team of current chefs and past alum—including Jasper Cruickshank (Wild Blue), Brittney Lygo (Homer St. Cafe), and Connor Sperling (June on Cambie)—will turn out a menu featuring award-winning dishes from the past alongside innovative new creations.

WHEN: October 9
WHERE: 845 Burrard St.

Bonus Foodie Fun

These don’t involve actual food, but they hit the theme. Don’t miss seeing the almost-sold-out The Chef and the Daruma at VIFF this year (Oct 3, 5, 6), about beloved Vancouver chef Hidekazu Tojo, as well as Foodways, a contemporary art exhibition about how food influences our personal and collective narratives, at Richmond Art Gallery (Oct. 19 to Dec. 31).