Your Table Is Set: Inside Dine Out Vancouver’s Most Delicious Season Yet

With the full list of restaurants and menus now revealed, Dine Out Vancouver Festival is officially ready to take over the city’s dining scene once again. As one of Canada’s most anticipated food festivals returns, we caught up with Lucas Pavan, Manager of Membership & Culinary Programs at Destination Vancouver, to talk about what’s new this year, how the festival continues to evolve, and why this season’s lineup reflects exactly how—and where—Vancouver loves to eat right now. —Noa Nichol

If someone could only book one Dine Out experience this year, what kind of diner would have the hardest time choosing—and why? (Hint: is it the Michelin lover, the value seeker, or the adventurous eater?)

All three types of diner has no shortage of options to choose from.  Between the 456 restaurants offering multi-course menus and the tasty events happening this season, there are so many options to choose from.  Diners can use the filters on the website to narrow down their search by neighbourhood, cuisine type and pricepoint.  While we don’t have a filter for Michelin-rated restaurants, there are over two-dozen Michelin-rated restaurants on the list, including two one-star establishments. The lowest pricepoint is $25 for three-courses – and over 100 restaurants in the lowest pricerange category below $40.  As far as adventure, any one of the culinary events could satisfy those desires.

With more than 450 restaurants participating, what does this year’s lineup say about where Vancouver’s food scene is right now?

The number of participating restaurants speaks to the power and popularity of the festival.  It works as intended – to drive reservations in restaurants during a traditionally slow season for spending, and is a fine representation of the variety of dining options in our city.

Dine Out has become a January ritual for locals—what’s one way this year’s festival feels noticeably different or elevated?

We continue to set records – a record number of participating restaurants and similarly, a record number of tasty events.  We’ve even added value offers for attractions which is new and expands the power of Dine Out into a city-wide event for both locals and visitors.

The price tiers make Dine Out so accessible. Where are you seeing the biggest “wow for the money” moments on menus this year?

Value is different for every diner.  There are incredible opportunities to explore Vancouver’s dining scene during the festival

From Michelin-starred restaurants to hidden neighbourhood gems, how do you recommend first-timers approach planning their Dine Out schedule without getting overwhelmed?

We provide an easy filter to navigate the long list of participating restaurants.  Choose your neighbourhood, your price point, your preferred cuisine type and more to help you choose.

The World Chef Exchange is celebrating its 10th anniversary—why has this event become such a standout on Vancouver’s culinary calendar?

It is a one-of-a-kind experience.   Unique in that it pairs chefs together based on their relationship with eachother – mutual respect, friendship, admiration –  which ultimately translates beautifully from how they collaborate in the kitchen to what the guest experiences on their plate.  The pairings are exquisite – especially this year with two, two-Michelin Star chefs coming to Vancouver.  This isn’t an event where the visiting chefs are paid, they are here out of their own volition, simply based on the relationship they’ve forged with the host chef in Vancouver.

Street Food City is back again this year—what does its popularity say about Vancouver’s love affair with casual, creative dining?

Street Food City is a festive way to liven up your Vancouver winter day with food.  It happens once a year – during Dine Out.

We’re seeing more hands-on and experiential food events this year—from pasta-making to kids’ cooking sessions. Why is food education and interaction such a big focus now?

People are curious about where food comes from and how it’s made.  We’re thrilled to provide festivalgoers with opportunities to expand their knowledge and have a fun time doing it.

If you were hosting an out-of-town foodie friend during Dine Out, what kind of three-day eating itinerary would you build for them?

I’d recommend booking a food tour in one of Vancouver’s most popular neighbourhoods, such as Granville Island or the Shipyards. In addition to sampling exceptional local fare, you’ll also learn about the area’s history.

Next, head to Mount Pleasant to explore the “Michelin Mile” (also known as Main Street), home to 13 Michelin-recognized restaurants spanning a wide range of cuisines.

Finally, be sure to check out one of the Tasty Events happening across the city. From long-table dinners to hands-on cooking classes led by some of Vancouver’s most esteemed chefs, there’s truly something for everyone.

Dine Out is the opportunity to experience a vast array of restaurants and events that are testaments to the variety and quality of our city’s dining scene.  Vancouver is blessed with a location, environment and climate that provides for an abundance of fresh and local ingredients – from the ocean to fields and farms to forests and vineyards. We have it all.  Add the multitude of cultures represented in our restaurants and flavours, and participants will re-discover how incredible Vancouver’s culinary ecosystem really is.

At its heart, Dine Out Vancouver is about more than meals. What do you hope people feel—or discover about the city—when they dine their way through the festival?

Dine Out is the opportunity to experience a vast array of restaurants and events that are testaments to the variety and quality of our city’s dining scene.  Vancouver is blessed with a location, environment and climate that provides for an abundance of fresh and local ingredients – from the ocean to fields and farms to forests and vineyards. We have it all.  Add the multitude of cultures represented in our restaurants and flavours, and participants will re-discover how incredible Vancouver’s culinary ecosystem really is.