Seafood Events for Feasting in Vancouver

Due to Vancouver’s location, the city’s restaurants have access to some of the finest seafood in the world. Summer especially is a quintessential time to enjoy a bountiful seafood boil, as well as an al fresco salmon meal.

If you’re reaching for your bib and a fork, here are events in the city this month that will satisfy all your seafood cravings:

Wild Salmon Celebration

The very popular Wild Salmon Celebration, a collaborative effort of the BC Salmon Marketing Council and Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia (CTS), returns August 25, 2018, from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the dockside of picturesque False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf. This charming outdoor event involves visiting six stations where you’ll be able to sample delicious local chef-created dishes that showcase sustainable wild BC salmon, all donated by family-owned seafood supplier Grand Hale. These dishes are paired with BC wines, and also accompanied by live music from local musicians.

So far, participating chefs include Mariana Gabilondo from La Mezcaleria, Darren Clay from Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson from Hawksworth Restaurant, and TJ Conwi and Bruce Nollert from Ono Vancouver. Based on previous years, their creations promise to be inventive and delectable, a real spotlighting of local ingredients. Last year, for example, the menu included a smoked salmon Johnny cake with savoury whipped cream, maple syrup, and chives; as well as cured salmon on top of risotto with a pickled field cucumber. Tickets are $59 per person (plus taxes and fees) and are available on-line.

Sunday Seafood Boils at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar

For the month of August (August 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2018), Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar continues their sumptuous al fresco weekly seafood boil (now in its fourth year). The boil takes place on Boulevard’s patio with a bounty of fresh seafood (eg Dungeness crab, crawfish, jumbo prawns, clams, and mussels) served on butcher’s paper, along with potatoes, corn, drawn garlic butter, spicy remoulade, green goddess sauce or crumbled chorizo sofrito. Bacon and jalapeño jack cheese cornbread also accompanies the feast. The evening starts off with Haywire’s “The Bub” sparkling wine, moves onto a baby gem salad with wild rice and almond crunch, shaved crudités, crispy egg, house pickles, buttermilk ranch dressing; and ends with beignets with blueberry compote and lemon balm ice cream. Tickets are $65 per person (plus tax and gratuity) based on a minimum of 2 guests and are available on-line.

Lobster + Crab Boil Dining Series at YEW seafood + bar

You can’t beat the celebratory and communal feel of YEW’s lobster and crab boils (tickets still available for August 12 and 19, 2018). Guests sit at a long table together and dig into a truly lip-smackin’ meal. The night begins with an heirloom tomato salad before the main event of boiled lobster and Dungeness crab with curried aioli, confit garlic butter, lemon and caper relish, as well as Chilliwack corn, blistered green beans, lemon poppy popover, heirloom tomatoes, roasted mushrooms, and grilled sweet mini peppers. And don’t forget the last course of fresh cherry clafoutis and dulcey chocolate and apricot tarts. The meal also comes with a complimentary glass of wine for toasting the summer. Tickets are $78 per person and available on-line.

Backyard Seafood Boil at Sea to Sky Gondola

Every Thursday until the end of August, Sea to Sky Gondola is hosting at their Summit Plaza at 6pm a seafood boil that celebrates local and seasonal produce and ingredients. The menu features southern-style ice tea, crusty bread, homemade pasta salad, Caesar salad, corn on the cob, potatoes, and fresh seafood, such as mussels, shrimp, and soft shell crab. The evening finishes with berry crumble. There’s also a child option of mac ‘n’ cheese or a hot dog. Tickets are $37.50 per person for passholders or $49.99 for non-passholders ($7.50 and $9 for the child’s menu respectively). Tickets are available on-line.