I have to admit that I have been engaged in a love affair for many years…with food. It may be the reason that I will never be skinny, but good food makes me extremely happy. If I had more time to cook, I would, but school and extracurriculars always seem to stand in my way with their arms crossed, shaking their heads. (In fact, they do that for a lot of things. They don’t like me having a life.)

Nevertheless, Dine Out Vancouver starts next week and I’m pretty excited about it. If you are a Vancouverite and don’t know about this – shame! If you’re not, then perhaps you can be forgiven. Dine Out Vancouver is an event where restaurants have fixed course menus (appy, dinner and dessert) for either $18, $28 or $38 dollars. It’s usually a good idea to look up the menus beforehand and figure out where you want to go, because when there’s over 200 different restaurants to pick from you need to be selective.

I know I will gain fifteen pounds and lose a lot of money from my bank account if I visit all of the ones I want to, but after clicking through some of them, I’ve found a few ones that definitely appeal:

Society – $18
APPETIZER
Sweet Potato And Pulled Pork Croquette tarragon aioli, granny smith apple-green onion slaw
or
Spinach Salad shaved fennel, red onion, orange segments, candied pecans, brûlée “riopelle” cheese with orange vinaigrette
ENTREE
Veal Piccata thyme roasted polenta, roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic white wine reduction
or
Prawn Linguini lobster bisque sauce, garlic butter toast
DESSERT
Chocolate Smore “Flambe” Crème Brûlée (table side)

Refuel – $28
APPETIZER
potato & leek soup croutons
or
warm mushroom & spinach salad grana padano, bacon
or
pork rillettes pickles, mustard, rye toast
ENTREE
crispy polenta kale, chanterelles, crème fraiche
or
wild bc salmon braised leeks, lentils, frisee
or
sloping hill farm pork shoulder terrine caramelized brussels sprouts, white bean puree
DESSERT
peanut & chocolate parfait honeycomb, vanilla ice cream
or
warm apple crisp maple sorbet

Beachside Forno – $18
APPETIZER
Caramelized Onion and Chicken Soup onion flan, crispy cheese
or
Fraser Valley Pork Pate chilled sweet pea puree, vanilla raisin compote
or
Wild Greens and Baby Herb salad forno roasted pears, pickled shallots, sunflower seeds, onion and dill vinaigrette
ENTREE
House-made Parmesan Gnocchi rutabaga, brussel sprouts, arugula, truffle vinaigrette
or
Braised Peace Country Lamb Orechiette lamb bacon lardons, roasted onions, “cafe au lait” sauce
or
Salt Spring Island Mussels and Fries house-made chorizo sausage, tomato puttanesca broth, scallion
DESSERT
Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait strawberry ice cream, graham cracker
or
Orange Creme Brulee coconut macaroons

Goldfish Kitchen – $38 (bit of a stretch)
APPETIZER
ARUGULA & WALNUT SALAD blue cheese, sundried blueberries, pear, herb vinaigrette
or
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP pressure cooked pine nuts, roasted squash
or
VODKA CURED SALMON arugula, creme fraiche, crispy potato
ENTREE
FISH & CHIPS Granville Island beer battered ling cod, triple cooked chips, tartar sauce, minted peas
or
SALTSPRING ISLAND LAMB SHANK saffron mash, green beans, roasted baby tomatoes, natural jus
or
SEAFOOD PAPPARDELLE local scallops, prawns, mussels, clams, arctic char, ling cod, cherry tomatoes, basil
DESSERT
CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE
or
CREME BRULEE

So, if anyone wants to take me out for dinner….

And if that wasn’t enough – there’s a hot chocolate festival beginning now until sometime February. I love my city.