The Steveston Salmon Festival has been held on Canada Day every year since 1945. It's hard to believe but I've never been! So with friends in tow, I decided to go and experience Canada's biggest little birthday party on Monday. I drove there and arrived in the area just past 10am...and the traffic was horrendous. And all the street parking was taken. Thank goodness, after driving around for half an hour, we got one of the last spots of paid parking (only $5!) and was very close to the festival site, so it all worked out!

The parade started at 10am, I was afraid we'd already missed it but it was still going on and continued on after 11am. We arrived just when the floats came down the street. There were a lot of pirate themed ones! We didn't watch the whole thing mainly because we wanted to get in line for the salmon feast!

This was the food area. We saw a lot of people carrying plates of chow mein. Apparently very popular!

Ah we found the salmon BBQ! Every year over 1200 pounds of wild salmon filets are grilled over open fire pits. You can see the line long line up in the background, that isn't even half of it!


The line up keeps on going past us and around the building. I overheard someone say this isn't bad! Probably because the parade was still on. The line goes fairly quickly. I'd say we waited about 10mins. 


Wild Sockeye salmon cooking over an alder wood fire.


You get to choose from a white, whole wheat or multigrain dinner roll. I was bad and chose white. XD

Mmm delicious! That's two pieces of salmon! I was stuffed! The salmon isn't seasoned or anything but they have salt and pepper you can add on yourself. It had a nice smoky taste to it and smells really good!

W, M and I walked around after. There were a lot of booths to look at, a large kids area, and also a small trade show and flower and garden competition!


It was really fun! We left the area to see the tall ships after this. I'll write another post about that soon.

Don't you love four day work weeks? It's almost the weekend again! The big event this time is the annual EPIC Sustainable Living Festival that is happening at VanDusen Botanical Garden! If you haven't gotten tickets yet, consider entering my contest to win a pair. It's the last day! There are a lot of other cool things happening such as the Indian Summer Festival. Some of their events cost money but there are a lot of free dance lessons on every day! Carnaval del Sol is on downtown Vancouver celebrating all that is Latin America - lots of food stuffs to try out! Oh and the second HWKRS MRKT at East Van Studios will be on this Saturday! Lots of fun things to choose from!

Friday, July 5, 2013

Take-Off Fridays at YVR Airport
9:00 am to 3:00 pm every Friday July 5th to August 30th, 2013
Vancouver International Airport, Domestic, International & USA Terminal, Departures Level 3
Treat your inner tourist this summer with a trip to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Stop by any Friday from July 5th to August 30th for the fourth annual Take-Off Fridays and enjoy delicious goodies, free entertainment, and fun for the whole family.   Whether you’re looking for a fun new activity for you and your friends, or in search of entertainment the whole family will enjoy, YVR has something for everyone: visit any Friday this summer from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for a full day of free samples, great music, and exciting prizes. Enjoy live entertainment and rockin’ beats from the Lower Mainland’s hottest DJs in the Domestic, International, and USA Terminals, and peruse the shelves of YVR’s world class retail shops to take advantage of great deals on food, products and services. There will be lots of kid-friendly activities like face painting, paper airplane making, and YVR mascots to meet. Plus, with the first ever paper airplane competition taking place on July 12th, this year’s Take-Off Fridays is soaring to all new heights.

Bollywood Grooves
7pm
Woodward’s Atrium (opposite London Drugs) • 111 W Hastings St., Vancouver
Part of the Indian Summer Festival. Classes led by the dynamic Shiamak Davar Vancouver Dance Team. Shiamak Davar is an Indian contemporary dance choreographer known for his trendsetting work in Bollywood blockbusters and for changing the the way the world looks at Bollywood dance. Shiamak’s mission is to spread the joy of dance and his schools are now a worldwide phenomenon, across India, the UK, Australia, and the U.A.E., as well as three schools in Canada. Vancouver is Shiamak’s second home, and headquarters of his international operations. As part of Indian Summer, his talented and high-energy dance team will lead free outdoor classes in the Atrium open space.

Indian Summer in the Park
7 - 9pm: Bollywood Dance Class with Shiamak Davar Vancouver Dance Team, Laughing Yoga Class with Nish Thaver + music and food truck deliciousness 
Dusk: Screening of “Little Zizou”
Victory Square Park, Corner of Cambie St. and W Pender St, Vancouver
Part of the Indian Summer Festival. What better way to get your summer weekend groove on than an evening of food, music, dance, film and friends in the park?  Come to historic Victory Square Park in Gastown on Friday July 5th with family and friends. Activities kick off at 7pm with OMNI emcee Pawan Deol. Have a hearty chuckle with Laughing Yoga masters, and limber up with the electric Shiamak Davar Vancouver Dance Team, and grab a bite to eat at Vij’s Railway Express. Then settle down on a blanket/chair (bring your own!) or on the green grass at dusk and watch the hysterically funny outdoor screening of Little Zizou. It doesn’t get any better! 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Come Out and Play with the Fun of "Despicable Me 2"!
10am - 12pm
Home Depot, 2700 Sweden Way, Richmond, BC
Wait until you see the surprise craft that The Home Depot & "Despicable Me 2" have in store for you!      A great free activity for children ages 4-12     Kids will build a surprise craft and receive a FREE certificate of achievement     Check out "Despicable Me 2", only in theaters, starting July 3, 2013, from Universal Studios

Carnaval del sol 2013
Sat 11:00am - 8:00pm
Sun 11:00am - 6:00pm
Granville Street, between Smithe and Hastings, Vancouver
The 4th Annual Carnaval del Sol, the day we all shine together Vancouver's Latin American Celebration of Art and Culture, present by LatinCouver, the Latin American plaza in Vancouver is a two-day, highly publicized cultural festival attracting more than 50,000 children and adults.

EP!C Sustainable Living Festival - $18.90 online, $21 at gate
Sat & Sun 10:00am - 9:00pm
VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC
Vancouver's largest sustainable lifestyle event, the annual EP!C Sustainable Living Festival will be on July 6th & 7th! Entering its 7th year, this is the event to learn about organic, sustainable and local products. Live musical performances, Food Truck Alley, Gardening Workshops, Sip & Savour Garden, Sustainable Living Marketplace, Kid Zone.

Tanabata Festival - $3
11:30am - 2:30pm
6688 Southoaks Crescent Burnaby, BC
Tanabata is a traditional Japanese holiday based on the legend of the Weaver Princess and the Cowherd Prince.The story says that once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th month, the prince and princess are granted their wish to be reunited from across the Milky Way. At Nikkei Centre’s Tanabata Festival, write YOUR summer wish on a colourful paper streamer, decorate and take home a “sasa” bamboo branch, and enjoy bon odori dancing and taiko drumming. Loads of family-friendly activities and games, including water balloons, fishing, ring toss and more! Enjoy cotton candy, shaved ice, hotdogs, takoyaki and more! Recommended for families with children aged 3-10. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets & information: 604.777.7000 or info(at)nikkeiplace.org *Advance ticket purchase required. Space is limited.

11th Annual Bocce by the Beach - $25 (includes ticket to EP!C Festival)
12pm - 4pm
5251 Oak Street Vancouvcer, V6M 4H1
The 11th Annual Bocce by the Beach is part of this year's Epic Sustainable Living Festival.  For festival details please visit: http://epicfest.ca/. Held the second Saturday of July, the Bocce by the Beach is a long standing tradition of heated ball battles, hearty drinks and loads of fun in the sun. This year's tournament will be limited to 64 teams of two. Teams will be vying for the coveted trohpy as well as cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, best placing all female team AND best dressed. So pack your trash talk and dress for success!  Bocce.ca is looking forward to a wonderful tournament and maybe, just maybe a new venue and tradition?  Please note that the $25 entry into the bocce tournament includes a day pass to the festival.  This represents $19 of value.

The Unprecedented & The Signature Bow Shopping Party
12pm - 4pm
208 east 12th (Main St, Vancouver)
Personal Style Bloggers Randa from The- Unprecedented. and Leonie from the The Signature Bow are throwing a shopping party with Shoppalu and you are invited! The event will take place at Flagship Lifestyle Inc. on Main Street (Vancouver) this Saturday July 6th from 12 - 4 pm!  Shop for some new goodies, get styled by the bloggers and sip on refreshing drinks.

Earth Walk: St George Rainway & Street Walking Tour - by donation
1pm - 3pm
Meet at St. George's and Kingsway at Robson Park by the Storyteller's Cob Bench.  
Greta Borick-Cunningham, part of the Rainway group and Chair of the False Creek Watershed Society, will be leading a walk north from Robson Park along St. George's to describe where the creek went and what the plans are for the daylighting; bringing the creek back to life. At 7th and St. George's she will stop to discuss the new mural!

Hip-Hop Yoga Class
5pm 
Woodward’s Atrium (opposite London Drugs), 111 W Hastings St.
Part of the Indian Summer Festival. This class is a fusion of a jazzy warm-up, standing “Yoga Flows” to music, core work, hip hop technique and some “funky” and fun choreography. *Please wear comfortable shoes, no mats are needed.

HWKRS MRKT at East Van Studios  - $10
7:00 PM - 2:00 AM
East Van Studios, 870 East Cordova Vancouver
Hawkers Market is a montly recurring underground evening food marketplace in Vancouver.  We support local vibrant food entreprenuers and give them a place to conduct pop up food stalls (or hawker stands) to sell thier food or products. They are chefs, artisans and dreamers and they know thier food!  Expect a diverse selection of things to eat at the market and take home to try. The market acts as a dining, shopping and social experience.  Hawkers Market takes place from 7pm until late, along with the food you can expect music from Chapel Sound http://chapelsound.com, lights and mingling with people.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Yaletown's 5th Annual Dog Day Afternoon
11:00am–2:00pm
Coopers Parkm 1020 Marinaside Crescent Vancouver, BC
The Roundhouse presents a spectacular dog-centric day of fun!  Come and meet other dog owners and check in with local, dog-friendly organizations. Meet us at Cooper’s Park! 1020 Marinaside near the Cambie Bridge  Alpha Dog Training • City Of Vancouver Animal Control • Sparky Snacks • Emergency Management NEPP • Marney-Rose Edge Pet Portraits • Bosley’s Pet Food Stores • Last Chance Animal Rescue • The Urban Puppy Shop • Kiss Photographer • Sparkle Bark

Vancouver Comicon - $4
11am -5pm
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, Vancouver
Admission: $4.00 Kids under 14: Free  Comics for Classrooms: Donate a new or gently-used school-appropriate graphic novel for free admission to this show. Books collected will be donated to Vancouver schools. 

Carnaval del sol 2013
Sat 11:00am - 8:00pm
Sun 11:00am - 6:00pm
Granville Street, between Smithe and Hastings, Vancouver
The 4th Annual Carnaval del Sol, the day we all shine together Vancouver's Latin American Celebration of Art and Culture, present by LatinCouver, the Latin American plaza in Vancouver is a two-day, highly publicized cultural festival attracting more than 50,000 children and adults.

EP!C Sustainable Living Festival - $18.90 online, $21 at gate
Sat & Sun 10:00am - 9:00pm
VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC
Vancouver's largest sustainable lifestyle event, the annual EP!C Sustainable Living Festival will be on July 6th & 7th! Entering its 7th year, this is the event to learn about organic, sustainable and local products. Live musical performances, Food Truck Alley, Gardening Workshops, Sip & Savour Garden, Sustainable Living Marketplace, Kid Zone.

Bhangra Moves
5pm
Woodward’s Atrium (opposite London Drugs), 111 W Hastings St.
Part of the Indian Summer Festival. 
Bhangra is a very lively form of folk music and dance that originated in the Punjab region of India. While Bhangra began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it eventually became a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and New Year celebrations. During the last thirty years, Bhangra has surged in popularity worldwide, both in a traditional form and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, and reggae.

Reoccurring:

River District Farmers Market
10:00am - 3:00pm every Saturday from May4 - Oct26
Kerr Street Plaza – on Kerr Street, one block South of SE Marine Drive, Vancouver
This one-of-a-kind farmers market is the only riverfront market in Vancouver. Come shop for fruits and veggies, prepared foods, and handmade products produced farmers and artisans. Enjoy the waterfront, playground and pier.


Shop for organic and conventional product, meat, cheese, seafood and plants as well as tasty baked goods, beautiful crafts while being entertained by local musicians. Hot coffee and hot food available on site each week.

Shangri-La Farmers Market
every other Sunday, 11am to 3pm from May 19 - Sept 22
Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver, 1128 W Georgia St Vancouver
Join us in the plaza between the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver and Urban Fare for the Shangri-La Farmers Market. Sample fresh local produce and products every second Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Live cooking demos at 12 noon by Executive Chef Wayne Harris.

Food Cart Fest - $2
12pm - 5pm from June 23 - Sept 22
215 West 1st - between Olympic Village & Cambie Bridge
Food Cart Fest is a gathering of over 20 of Vancouver’s top Food Carts presented by Arrival and The Streetfood Vancouver Society. Join us every week this summer for food, fun, and sun complemented by community markets, live music and DJs, craft food vendors, kids activities, and more. Food Cart Fest launches on Sunday, June 23 and takes place every Sunday from 12pm-5pm until September 22. Admission is $2. Children 13 and under get in free. Max rate for families is $5. Vancity members get in free.

Chinatown Night Market
6pm - 11pm Fri, Sat, Sun May 17th to Sept 8
Keefer Street between Main & Columbia, Vancouver
This summer, the Chinatown Night Market is bringing a heady mix of time-honoured tradition and new school flavour to the festivities on Keefer Street. Live music, storytelling, and Mahjong; new vendors, more food, and some other stuff that wasn’t here last year like outdoor classic movie screenings and epic ping pong tournaments. See some photos from last year here.

Richmond Night Market - $2
Fri-Sat  7PM - 12AM 
Sun & Stat Holidays  6PM - 11PM 
Sat (Jul & Aug) 7PM - 1AM
8351 River Road, Richmond BC
Lots of food, live entertainment and vendors. $2 fee for regular admission (Subject to changes). FREE admission for children 10 & under and FREE admission for Seniors 60 & up. $10 and $20 Zoom Passes are available for purchase. Check out my photos from last year here.

International Summer Night Market
7pm - 12am Fri, Sat, Sun, May 10 - Sept 8
12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond BC
6th annual Summer Night Market in Richmond starting May 10, 2013! Lots of food, live entertainment and vendors. Check out my photos from this year here.

The second season of Farmers Market Kitchen kicked off last Sunday at the Kitsilano Farmers Market with Chef Trevor Bird giving us an informative demo on cooking with wild BC salmon. Trevor Bird is chef and owner of Fable Kitchen and also runner up of Top Chef Canada Season 2.

It is Trevor Bird's mission to make cooking as simple as possible. He said that he wanted to demo something that we could make for dinner the same day. He decided to show us a simple way to cook wild BC salmon so that it is never overcooked, accompanied by radishes and mixed greens.

Fresh Sockeye salmon donated by Blue Comet Seafoods. "You might think it is ewww for the fish to sit out like this but it is important to temper your fish. Fish cooks at really low temperatures"

Yummy raspberries were put into the salad dressing. They were so delicious, Trevor Bird couldn't stop eating them. "Maybe there will be no raspberries in the dressing"

Foolproof way to cook salmon (or any fish) without overcooking it: poach in oil at around 47 degrees (like the temperature of a hot tub, you should be able to stick your finger in and hold it for about 5 sec and not get burned). Apparently fish should never be hot. If you get a hot piece of fish on your plate, chances are that it is overcooked. Heat the oil to 47 degrees then you just put the fish in a pan with oil and let it sit until it is cooked, which you can tell when there are little bubbles that appear on it.
 
Poaching in oil at a low temperature will ensure the fish doesn't overcook and retains its moisture. That's because like attracts like. If you poach in water, the water in the fish will exit into the surrounding water. With water doesn't like to mix with oil, so the water in the fish will stay inside to avoid the oil. 

Low tempurature - that's key. High temperatures denature proteins a lot quicker and makes meats tough and also dries it out. "Science, man. Crazy!" It was almost like a science lesson!

An alternative to oil poaching is a 200 degree oven. Again, low temperature!

Little bubbles on the fish indicate it is done. And because the oil is at a low temp, you can leave the fish in there for a long time and it will never overcook! Slow cooking at low temps!

Trevor Bird's BBQ tip: Keep one side of BBQ on high, one side off. Sear the meat on high then move to the other side and close lid. Slow cooking the meat. You'll never overcook meat on the BBQ again! The worst it can be is medium. 

Next, Trevor Bird prepared some radishes. He first added some butter in a pot. Cook in foaming butter. Cooking in butter also keeps moisture in. It makes the radishes have an interesting texture - a kind of pop! Add a little salt in there. "Make it rain" =) He likes to use kosher salt or sea salt. "Table salt is the devil!" That's because when you compare a pinch of table salt vs a pinch of kosher salt, it's amazing in the difference in the amount. With table salt you can end up putting in crazy amounts.  

You know when the radishes are done when they become slightly translucent.

For the salad, Trevor Bird made a raspberry vinaigrette. 3 parts of oil to 1 part of vinegar! He told us that he loves sugar so he also put in equal parts of sugar or honey to vinegar. Usually he doesn't use all white vinegar. He likes to mix it up with another kind like grape seed oil just so it's not so harsh.


After the audience were treated to samples of the fish, radish and salad.


 Trevor Bird was right. The salmon was so moist and tender. Delicious!

 Trevor Bird and the Market Kitchen team.


There was a great turnout and I learned a lot from the demo!

After the demo, I walked around the market searching for things to purchase. Lots of people at this market. It was really sunny and hot!

Mmm so many yummy vegetables and fruits in season!

The first thing that caught my eye was the heirloom tomatoes! I think this was the first I've seen them this year.





Radishes, the featured ingredient of Trevor Bird's demo. I never thought of eating radishes before. Didn't think they could be that tasty!





 The raspberries were looking very delicious.

I also found some gooseberries!

 And currants!

All sorts of kale still found at the market.



Mmm sea asparagus. These are delicious and go well with any seafoods.

The Kitsilano Farmers Market is held every Sunday, until October 20, 2013 from 10am - 2pm each week 2690 Larch Street at 10th Avenue, in the parking lot of the Kitsilano Community Centre. There's parking on the other side of the market if you are driving there.


The next Farmers Market Kitchen is on July 28 with Chef Chris Whittaker of Forage! I'm looking forward to that. Hope he does something with mushrooms. =D The recipes will be posted on the Farmers Market website.