YALETOWN HIDEAWAY
Three months in and teensy Fuse Pan Asian Express in the Yaletown Galleria (1078 Mainland Street—entry is on Helmcken Street) is something of a local secret, and Yaletown worker bees like it that way. Eat in, take out, or drive by, it’s all about convenience and healthy eats with ready-to-go nicely spiced Asian wraps, salad rolls (chicken, prawn, or tofu), and salads, as well as cooked-to-order hoisin-braised short ribs, stir-fry noodles, and plenty more.

By Judith Lane, October 11, 2007
SMOOTH MOVE

New beanery on the block, 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters, coffee supplier to Artigiano and other cafés, has set up shop in sleek Italianate surroundings at 2152 West 4th Avenue. In addition to excellent espresso-based coffee drinks, Clover coffee, teas, and fresh-baked dolce, find whole beans, grinders, and cupping sessions for restaurateurs and serious coffee geeks.

YALETOWN HIDEAWAY
Three months in and teensy Fuse Pan Asian Express in the Yaletown Galleria (1078 Mainland Street—entry is on Helmcken Street) is something of a local secret, and Yaletown worker bees like it that way. Eat in, take out, or drive by, it’s all about convenience and healthy eats with ready-to-go nicely spiced Asian wraps, salad rolls (chicken, prawn, or tofu), and salads, as well as cooked-to-order hoisin-braised short ribs, stir-fry noodles, and plenty more.

HOME GROWN
Top draw in our books at the Vancouver Home?+?Interior Design Show, from today until Sunday (October 11 to 14), is the cooking stage with food, drink, and entertaining demos, tips, and secrets courtesy of a host of top chefs and star bartenders. Not to be missed are the B.C. Wine and Food Pairing Seminar 101, Aurora’s Jeff van Geest’s Elegant Dinner Party, and Pino Posteraro’s recipe demonstration from his just-published Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill (Douglas & McIntyre, $60).

CHEESEY DOINGS
If cheese makes you melt, you’ll want to get in on Les Amis du Fromage’s 20th-anniversary celebration, October 15 to 21, when almost everything’s 10 to 15 percent off. Spend $50 and you’ll get a cool insulated cheese bag. Check locations and details at www.buycheese.com/.

READY, SET, EAT
Back for a burping-good third year, The Taste of Yaletown, October 12 to 28, aims to bring food glamour to the hip ’hood. You’ll have to eat at a few of the 21 participating restos to suss that one out, but that’ll be easy enough when three-coursers are priced at $25, $35, or $45, with partial profits aiding Greater Vancouver Food Banks. See www.yaletowninfo.com/ for places and menus.

CHOCOLATE AND CHEESE
That’s about the only combo not on the menu at the Tri-cities West Coast Chocolate Festival, October 14 to 27. There are 14 events, including chocolate and beer pairings, ditto Scotch and chocolate; wine, liqueurs, and chocolate; chocolate-chip pancake breakfast, and even a chocolate poetry contest. Details from www.chocolatefestival.ca/.

AND MORE CHOCOLATE
The 16th annual Port and Chocolate Festival is back today (October 11) at the Vancouver Rowing Club in Stanley Park, a fundraiser for amateur sports at the club. Be prepared to tackle mountains of chocolate and more than a dozen ports. Tickets are $29.99 at Liberty Wine Merchants shops (www.libertywinemerchants.com/?).

SHE’S NUMBER ONE
Props to Vancouver sommelier Barbara Philip, senior instructor and department head of the International Sommelier Guild, on achieving her hard-won Master of Wine designation. Philip, one of seven global candidates to make 2007’s cut, brings the number of MWs to 265. She is Canada’s first female MW (there are 60 worldwide) and the second Canadian to hit the mark.

Source: Straight.com