The 2015 EAT Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival Is Right Around the Corner

OK, technically it’s been underway since April 26, but most of the preliminary culinary events have been sold out for some time now. The main festivities, EAT! Vancouver at BC Place, take place Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3, 2015.

The EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival is now in its 13th year. It’s grown into Canada’s biggest annual food festival, proudly showcasing Vancouver and the country’s diverse culinary culture and talent.

Weekend events at BC Place (777 Pacific Blvd. in downtown Vancouver) feature hundreds of food, beverage, and cooking exhibits, along with samples of international cuisines, celebrity chef presentations, culinary demos from some of the city’s best-known chefs, cooking classes from Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts instructors, cheese and pairing seminars, “Craft Beer Alley,” and more.

EAT! Vancouver at BC Place Highlights: Friday, May 1

Festival hours are from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Some of the day’s events include:

• Celebrity Chef Throwdown with Jackie Ellis, Anna Olson, and Jonathan Chovancek; a fun culinary competition judged by Rob Feenie, Carolyn Ali, Erin Ireland, and Sophie Lui; 8:00 pm
• 4 separate Celebrity Stage events with Anna Olson, Michael P. Clive, Ned Bell, and Rob Feenie
• Explore the World of Coffee at JJ Bean Training Facility; 10:00 am to noon
• 5 separate Talk and Taste Master Classes with chefs Joël Watanabe, Ned Bell, Chris Whittaker, Jonathan Chovancek, and David Robinson
• Culinary classes presented by the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
• SIPS Tasting Classes
• Dinner series at Tojo’s restaurant with Susur Lee and Hidekazu Tojo; 7:00 pm

EAT! Vancouver at BC Place Highlights: Saturday, May 2

Festival hours are from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Some of the day’s events include:

• Speed Rack, Canada National Finals; an all-female bartending competition to benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• 6 separate Celebrity Stage events with Dr. Greg Chang, Anna Olson, Susur Lee, Ned Bell, Rob Feenie, and Michael P. Clive
• 8 separate Talk and Taste Master Classes with chefs Tim Bedford, Alana Peckham, Mike Mikoda, Michele Genest, Trevor Bird, Angus An, Ned Bell, and Ryan O’Flynn
• Culinary classes presented by the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
• SIPS Tasting Classes
• Dinner series at Dirty Apron Cooking School with Anna Olson and Jackie Ellis; 6:30 pm

EAT! Vancouver at BC Place Highlights: Sunday, May 3

Festival hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Some of the day’s events include:

• 5 separate Celebrity Stage events with Dr. Greg Chang, Mark McEwan, Michael P. Clive, and two with Vikram Vij
• 5 separate Talk and Taste Master Classes with chefs Alana Peckham, Ned Bell, Andrea Carlson, Lucais Syme, and Wesley Young
• Culinary classes presented by the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
• SIPS Tasting Classes
• Dinner series at Cioppino’s restaurant with Mark McEwan and Pino Posteraro; 6:30 pm