When it comes to “concept dining”, my favourite way of eating food is definitely tapas style. Located in Blood Alley in Gastown, adjacent to Salt Tasting Room, Judas Goat Taberna is a 28-seat tapas bar which serves small plates influenced by Spain, Italy and France. Despite the foreign food pairings, the environment of Judas Goat reminds of me a family grocery store. A viewable food preparation station and high countertops close enough to make small talk with the patrons sitting beside you. Square yellow stools huddle around small tables.

Similar to its sister restaurant, The Salt Tasting Room, Judas Goat combines a variety of flavours and textures and teases the pallet with its small portions. I love the option of nibbling on a variety of food and sharing dishes. Between the two of us, we ordered 7 items, which included two “hot” dishes, two “pressed, potted, or cured” dishes and a salad. Agreeing with everyone I have spoken with, what you pay for the portions is not really worth the price; but then again, “concept dining” is about the experience of “trying something new”, right??

Hapa Izakaya Yaletown’s (1193 Hamilton)  patio is now open and the restaurant is serving lunch, Monday through Friday, from 12 pm straight through until dinner at 4pm. Plus Hapa Yaletown will open for dinner on Saturdays and Sundays at 4:00 pm all summer long. Hapa Izakaya Yaletown is the newest of the three Hapa Izakaya restaurants. For reservations, please contact Hapa Yaletown at 604.681.4272.

The crispy pear freshened up the salad, while the generous portion of walnuts gave me something to crunch on.

…the Sapphire Sangaree – a colorful gin cocktail, with fresh berries, reminding me of a sunny day sangria.

I remember back in the day, before I started drinking “real” coffee, a Starbucks Frappuccino blended beverage was my way of drinking a grown up’s coffee drink, but disguised as a milkshake. Now, Frappuccinos have become a Starbucks staple, with a huge variety of new flavours – from strawberry to green tea. Furthermore, with their newest beverage promotion, Starbucks is encouraging its customers to personalize their drinks and customize their Frappuccino. Choose from any of their syrup shots (vanilla? hazelnut? caramel?) and get it blended with cream. Get it light or get it with a double shot of espresso. The possibilities are only limited to your tastes and imagination! Join Starbucks for happy hour between 3pm and 5pm and enjoy a half priced Frappuccino blended beverage from now until May 16, 2010.
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At Starbucks, on April 15, 2010, bring in a reusable travel mug and get a free brewed coffee.

Dine Out Vancouver is back! Typically in February, this year, Dine Out Vancouver has been postponed to April 26 to May 6. The list of participating restaurants will be released on Monday April 19. Restaurants will begin accepting reservations at that time. Stay tuned!

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from April 19 to 25, 2010. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. The featured theme regions for 2010 will be Argentina and New Zealand with the global focus of rosé. The festival features a week of special events including a gala auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. To purchase tickets online, click here.

The Gastown location of the Old Spaghetti Factory is celebrating their 40th Anniversary on March 22 and to celebrate they’re offering 1970s Prices with Meals Starting at $1.75! You can view the whole menu here. featuring their original 1970 menu, not a single menu item (entree, salad, bread, dessert, coffee, tea, etc.) is more than $1.95! Proceeds will be donated to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.
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Saturday March 20, 2010 marks the first day of Baker’s Market in Vancouver this year. Located at 408 East Kent Avenue South (back door at #115), this indoor market unites bakers and foodies, with yummie baked goods for sale including fresh artisanal breads, soft German pretzels, butter croissants, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, marchmallows, cakes, muffins and more!
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