Embark on a flavourful trip around the world – no passport required – at Dine Out Vancouver Festival’s most anticipated culinary event. The Vancouver World Chef Exchange returns with a series of collaborative dinners starring award-winning chefs from global culinary hubs, including London, New York, San Francisco, Mexico City and Galway.
During each one-night-only event, an international and local chef will join forces to produce an incredible culinary experience at the Vancouver chef’s restaurant, taking inspiration from their respective restaurants’ most popular dishes; their own cultural influences and favourite fare; and local and seasonal ingredients.
Dine Out Vancouver Festival 2017 World Chef Exchange Pairings:
Mexico City’s Chef Jair Tellez and Vancouver’s Chef Jefferson Alvarez at Cacao
Date: January 21
Details: Chef Jefferson Alvarez of Cacao Progressive Latin welcomes Chef Jair Tellez, one of Mexico’s most influential chefs and a champion of locavorism. His roster of highly praised restaurants includes Laja, MeroToro, and recently opened Amaya, all serving delicate Baja-style dishes and organic wines. Joining Chefs Alvarez and Tellez is special guest Nidal Barake, Miami-based food writer and co-founder of Gluttonomy, a creative agency specializing in food businesses.
Galway’s Chef JP McMahon and Vancouver’s Chef Ned Bell at the Vancouver Aquarium
Date: January 22
Details: Joining Chef Ned Bell in the kitchen at the Vancouver Aquarium is Chef JP McMahon from Galway, Ireland. McMahon is culinary director of the celebrated EatGalway Restaurant Group (comprised of Aniar, Cava Bodega and Eat Gastropub) as well as founding chair and director of the Galway Food Festival. McMahon’s menus marry contemporary Irish cooking with Spanish flare.
London’s Chef James Lowe and Vancouver’s Chef Michael Robbins at AnnaLena
Date: January 25
Details: Hailing from London, Chef James Lowe joins Chef Michael Robbins at Vancouver’s AnnaLena. Chef Lowe honed his culinary skills at The Fat Duck, La Trompette and St. John’s before opening his Michelin-starred restaurant Lyle’s London in the chic Shoreditch district. Lyle’s serves up fresh and seasonal dishes peppered with international flavours.
New York & Boston’s Chef Jamie Bissonnette and Vancouver’s Chef Lee Cooper at L’Abattoir
Date: January 29
Details: L’Abattoir’s Chef Lee Cooper welcomes James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Jamie Bissonnette. Splitting his time between New York and Boston, Bissonnette heads up Boston’s Italian enoteca Coppa, and three locations of Barcelona-style tapas bar Toro (Boston, New York and Bangkok). Most recently, he opened Little Donkey in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a global-inspired small plates restaurant and raw bar.
San Francisco’s Chef Ryan McIlwraith and Vancouver’s Chef Chris Whittaker at Timber
Date: February 1
Details: Chef Chris Whittaker of Forage and Timber brings San Francisco-based Chef Ryan McIlwraith back to his Vancouver roots. Born and raised in Vancouver, McIlwraith manned the kitchen at numerous award-winning restaurants across the country before landing at San Francisco’s Bellotaas executive chef. His menus are inspired by the regional cuisines and traditions of Spain.
For details, including ticket prices, visit dineoutvancouver.com.