Dine Out Vancouver at Wild Rice

January 27, 2012
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It’s that time of the year again when January rolls around and we feel a bit bloated from the holidays and New Years Eve shenanigans. In comes Dine Out Vancouver, an annual festival for food lovers that helps get us out of the cozy house and into restaurants we haven’t tried yet, or favourites that we can’t get enough of.

Each participating restaurant in Vancouver (this year there are a record 231) offers a fixed-priced menu of $18, $28 or $38, each course paired with wine. Last night I started off my Dine Out Vancouver experience at Wild Rice, a fusion Chinese restaurant on the edge of Chinatown. See my photo journal below of what I ate.

Reservations at Wild Rice are still open, starting at 5:00 pm every night.

For the first time this year, there was a Street Food City, where nine of Vancouver’s popular food carts gathered at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s north plaza for the past three days. Did anyone try this out? What were the best food carts?

One of the upstairs sections at Wild Rice on the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown. It is set up as a lounge and looks over the rest of the narrow restaurant.

One of the upstairs sections at Wild Rice on the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown. It is set up as a lounge and looks over the rest of the narrow restaurant.

An overview photo of Wild Rice on the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown. There are two upstairs sections, one with tables, the other set up as a lounge.

An overview photo of Wild Rice on the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown. There are two upstairs sections, one with tables, the other set up as a lounge.

Smoked Tofu Kung Po with broccoli and twice cooked peanuts on jasmine rice at Wild Rice. A bowl filled with rice, broccoli, tofu and lots o’ peanuts is a winner in my books. It also had a nice but subtle spicy kick to it. I happily took half of it home as leftovers.

Smoked Tofu Kung Po with broccoli and twice cooked peanuts on jasmine rice at Wild Rice. A bowl filled with rice, broccoli, tofu and lots o’ peanuts is a winner in my books. It also had a nice but subtle spicy kick to it. I happily took half of it home as leftovers.

Szechuan Chocolate Brownie for dessert at Wild Rice. I wasn’t sure about mixing Szechuan and chocolate, but these dense brownies with hints of orange were delicious, said my dining companion.

Szechuan Chocolate Brownie for dessert at Wild Rice. I wasn’t sure about mixing Szechuan and chocolate, but these dense brownies with hints of orange were delicious, said my dining companion.

Chocolate Banana Pudding with chocolate cookies for dessert at Wild Rice. The layer of rich chocolate on top was perfect to complement the bowl of banana pudding. An instant favourite for me.

Chocolate Banana Pudding with chocolate cookies for dessert at Wild Rice. The layer of rich chocolate on top was perfect to complement the bowl of banana pudding. An instant favourite for me.

Fraser Valley Pork Sui Mai at Wild Rice. I didn’t try these but my dining companion said they “hit the spot” and gobbled them up before I even had a chance to really look at them. I think that says it all.

Fraser Valley Pork Sui Mai at Wild Rice. I didn’t try these but my dining companion said they “hit the spot” and gobbled them up before I even had a chance to really look at them. I think that says it all.

Hot and Sour Soup at Wild Rice. This spicy soup was kickin’, spattered with giant slices of fresh mushrooms. It warmed me up from lips to stomach.

Hot and Sour Soup at Wild Rice. This spicy soup was kickin’, spattered with giant slices of fresh mushrooms. It warmed me up from lips to stomach.

Orange Braised Pemberton Beef with drunken 5 treasure quinoa at Wild Rice. I was told by both of my friends who ordered this that the beef had lots of added taste to it (not spicy but a mix of flavours), and the quinoa that I tried was a nice medley of chopped veggies.

Orange Braised Pemberton Beef with drunken 5 treasure quinoa at Wild Rice. I was told by both of my friends who ordered this that the beef had lots of added taste to it (not spicy but a mix of flavours), and the quinoa that I tried was a nice medley of chopped veggies.

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2 Responses to Dine Out Vancouver at Wild Rice

  1. Emme Rogers @ Roamancing on January 30, 2012 at 8:51 am

    Always enjoy Dine Out Vancouver. Sorry I’ll be missing it this year.

    Also love Wild Rice. Very tasty!

    As for your food cart question, I didn’t get to try them all, but I do love Fresh Local Wild.

  2. Lori Henry on January 30, 2012 at 9:50 am

    I know, what a great way to get out of the grey-sky January skies in Vancouver than by dining out! Yes, Fresh Local Wild is a definite favourite. :) Thanks for stopping by.

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