Cooking with Rodrigo at the Startlight Casino + Contest for Dinner for 2

Cooking with Rodrigo is one of the Starlight Casino’s monthly shows that occurs on the last Tuesday of every month with limited seating for up to 60 people. Chef Rodrigo Fereira has been the executive chef at Redbar Lounge restaurant at the Casino for the last two years and has worked in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Bahamas, United States. You may have seen him on Celebrity Cruises as well. I had the opportunity to get a taste of the show last month on April 26, 2011, thanks to the Starlight Casino.

The dinner and show is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours in length and combines cooking demonstration and food plating while you enjoy a 5 course meal with BC wine pairings. Parts of the meal can also be prepared easily at home, which is demonstrated by Chef Rodrigo, who is comical and entertaining, but also personal as he walks around and speaks with guests between dishes. He also explained that they cannot predict anything that goes wrong once the show starts, because the cooking and the plating are all performed in front of the audience – one of the portable burners did not work right off the bat.

 

  

Menu

Starters

Cream of Tomato Soup with Roasted Mozzarella Croutons

White Asparagus and Truffles

Entrees

Lobster Thermidor

Kids Style Rocca Priora (Italian Rack of Lamb)

Dessert

Mini Mousse Cake & Peach Mascarpone Tart

The food, including wine pairings and entertainment is well worth the $50 ticket price for this event. The White Asparagus with Truffles was not a favourite and the dessert was premade or mass produced. However, the two entrees were delicious. The Lobster Thermidor was a lobster tail tossed in a bechamel sauce and served with spinach and tomatoes, that were sauteed on stage. The lobster was cooked perfectly and the portion was a good size. The rack of lamb was also cooked to perfection. Chef Rodrigo taught the audience how to sear the lamb and cook creamy polenta, while the dish was plated. The menu changes on a monthly basis, so please check with event website for more information.

MORE PICTURES >>

Enter to win 2 tickets to Cooking with Rodrigo (May 31, 2011)!

How to Enter: Tweet or Retweet on Twitter

 “I’ve entered to win Dinner for 2 at Cooking with Rodrigo @StarlightCasino via @VancouverSavvy http://bit.ly/mGYAxR #StarlightCasino”

Contest Closes: Monday May 23, 2011 (11:59 PST)

Winner must be 19 years of age or older and tickets have no cash value.

Location: 350 Gifford Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 7A3 (map)

More Info? http://www.starlightcasino.ca

Dine Out Vancouver 2011

Dine Out features some of Vancouver’s most popular restaurants, where Vancouverites can enjoy 3-course prixe fixe menus for $18, $28, or $38 from January 24 to February 6, 2011. The line-up includes restaurants from the Glowbal Group, the Thai House Restaurant Group, the BoatHouse Restaurants, and many other well-know restaurants in the city. Several restaurants offer lunch menus and most restaurants are accepting reservations now.

More Information & Menus: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/dining/dineout.php

Re-Up BBQ (@ReUpBBQ): Pulled Pork Sandwiches for $1

On Thursday October 28^th, GoodNews.com is partnering with Re-Up BBQ Foodcart, who will be selling their addictive pulled-pork sandwiches for $1 (regularly $6.75). Re-Up BBQ is one of the new food carts that hit the city during the summer months. Apparently, it’s a small cart, they sell out fast and the line-up is long, which only means, these sandwiches are a must try!

The best part of this deal is the full amount of each purchase will be donated to Grind for Kids which supports the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation!

Location: 700 Hornby Street, Vancouver (map)

SkyTrain Stop: Burrard Station, Granville Station, and Vancouver City Centre Station

2010 Summer Night Market in Richmond

This year’s summer night market is bigger than ever. The grounds are packed full of food and retail vendors, the biggest the night market has ever been. New additions to the food vendors include:

• Rice burgers
• Fried Cheesecake
• Fried Chocolate bars
• Pizza
• Rollies
• More variety in Korean & Vietnamese food

PICTURES OF THE 2010 SUMMER NIGHT MARKET

Event Dates: May 21st to September 26, 2010; hours

Location: 12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond, BC (map)

Getting There: From Vancouver, highway 99 to Bridgeport Road or South on Knight Street. Parking is $5 around the event area. 

SkyTrain Stop: Bridgeport Station, Bus #407

Price: FREE admission; Food $1.00-$10.00

More Info? http://www.summernightmarket.com

Vancouver’s First Cupcake Challenge!

One of my favourite food bloggers, Mijune (FollowMeFoodie) is inviting you to Vancouver’s First Cupcake Challenge.  The event is FREE, so mark it on your calendar and don’t forget to check it out!

Event Date: Sunday June 20, 2010

Location: 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver (map)

SkyTrain Stop: Yaletown Roundhouse Station

Price: FREE

More Info? Invitation // Reserve Tickets

The Main Event: featuring restaurants on Main St.

Photo Credit: Daniel St.Pierre

“The Main Event – East meets West” is being held from January 18 to January 24th, 2010. Restaurants along main street will be offering three-course tasting menus for set prices from $25-$45. A percentage of food sales will be donated to The Great Vancouver Food Bank. All restaurants will also be accepting food donations. Here is your chance to dine out for a cause (in other words, another good excuse to eat out). Restaurants and some menus are posted on the event’s website.

More Info? http://www.themaineventvancouver.com/

Taste of Yaletown is on Now! (October 15-31st, 2009)

Get your chance to try some top notch restaurants at the Taste of Yaletown with affordable tasting menus! The best thing is, most restaurants allow online reservations.