Today we were gathered at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre for a sneak peek look at what guests can expect at the 6th annual Light Up Chinatown festival happening Saturday, August 8, from 11 am to 7 pm, and Sunday, August 9, from 11 am to 5 pm.
This is the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation’s festival and fundraising event. The weekend includes live music, cultural performances, street-side art, as well as exclusive pop ups. However thanks to years past they have grown to be known as a food festival in their own right. This is thanks to exclusive food collaborations from some of Vancouver’s most popular chefs, restaurants, and bakeries. And today we would be getting a curated look at what to look forward to this coming weekend.
The popular tag team of MAMA in the Kitchen x Chef Will Lew are back with their Hawkers stall featuring popular Chinese street bites, made using MAMA in the Kitchen‘s line of premium sauces. Today we tried the Chilli Chicken Wontons made with her Shrimp Garlic Chilli and HK Curry Fish Balls with her curry sauce. Both of which were classically delicious, but elevated with toppings like micro greens, crispy shallots, and chilli threads.
On the day of you can also find Spring Rolls and Num Num Chicken Wings made with MAMA in the Kitchen‘s newest product line, that has yet to be officially released.
Other foodstuffs you can expect at this year’s hawker’s lane includes noodle bar, Asian fusion burgers, skewers, and fish cakes.
Ember HK BBQ and Holy Duck chilli have teamed up to bring back their Build Your Own Noodle Bowl Bar from last year. You can customize your own bowl of noodles with chosen saucy and meaty toppings.
Chef Deseree “Dez” Lo, Top Chef Canada Season 10 runner-up has teamed up with both Eatfish and Holy Duck Chilli for some seafood snacks. Fish & Chips, Lava Salted Egg Takoyaki, and BC Smoked Fish Cakes.
Chinatown’s Vietnamese spot DD MAU is doing a Saigon Snack Set.
And Asian fusion sando spot Street Hawker is offering up their unique line of quality beef and chicken burgers featuring popular Asian ingredients. Expect to see their Seoul Crusher and All-Canadian burgers. With names like these it is safe to assume one will have kimchi and the other bacon and maple.
For drinks we got to sample the locally made TAO Hard Seltzer, as the festival’s official beverage sponsor. They are a line of ready to drink canned cocktails. Each can 5% ABV in flavours like lychee, grape, and HK ice tea. The grape tastes juts like muscat shine grapes. The other two reminded us of childhood juice boxes, but spiked. Really easy drinking and available for purchase in four packs at privately owned specialty liquor stores.
Not just limited to the festival area, the following are the food collaborations available within Chinatown’s neighbourhood restaurants, only on either August 8 or 9th.
The popular partnership of Beaucoup Bakery and Chinatown BBQ are back with another savoury pastry item. This year expect a Roasted Pork Quiche with Chinatown BBQ’s crispy roasted pork in Beaucoup Bakery’s flaky pastry. This is the first time they are doing a limited-edition quiche with savory custard, cheese, herbs, and a hoisin glaze. Get this one at Chinatown BBQ from 12pm until sold out.
Say Hey Cafe, better known as Chinatown’s sandwich shop is teaming up with local dumping purveyors, Dicky’s Dumps for a Meatball Dumpling. This is Say Hey Cafe’s signature meatballs in Dicky’s Dumps signature dumplings. All smothered in San Marzano tomato sauce, confit garlic mayo, pickled serranos, chili garlic oil, and parmesan. Italian meats Chinese and only available at Say Hey Cafe from 11am until they sell out.
And for a caffeinated and dessert focused beverage, you can visit DD Mau for The Chinatown Affogato, made in partnership with New Town Bakery and Keem Ice Cream. Creamy brown butter pineapple bun ice cream swirled with fluffy whipped Vietnamese coffee and topped with a crunchy pineapple bun crumble. This one is available starting 11:30pm, also only until they sell out.
We got to try Foo Hung Curios (the storytelling centre’s gift shop) collaboration with Buttermere. They use to have a bakery in Chinatown, but the owner took time off 5 years to travel and hone her skills through the experience of exploring other cultures. Their exclusive item is a White Rabbit Bubble Tea Roll with Earl Grey sponge and ganache with a chewy White Rabbit panna cotta and brown sugar boba centre, finished with a signature White Rabbit chocolate piece. Despite the longer list of ingredients, the flavoured all got along in harmony. A mix of textures and tastes allowing each bite to be varied, all wrapped in such a spectacular presentation. Please note, this is only the tasting version, the actual slice is larger and great for sharing. This one will be offered inside Foo Hung Curios from 12pm until they sell out.
So be sure to stop by Chinatown next weekend, if not to support the community then to feed your belly with all these unique and exclusive treats.
