Things to do in Vancouver: Win a Dame Dinner of a Lifetime at Big Night 2013

On February 8, 2013 Vancouver Magazine will host one of Vancouver’s most exciting yearly culinary events – Big Night. The food and wine centric evening will feature top local chefs who have specially created delicious dishes to match award-winning wines from the 2013 International Wine Competition.

If the event itself isn’t enticing enough, there is now an added bonus of having the chance to win the Dame Dinner of a Lifetime – a six-course dinner with wine pairing for eight people prepared in the winner’s home by a team of Vancouver’s top female chefs. The fundraising component benefits the BC Chapter of Les Dames D’Escoffier.

All smiles from the professional ladies of Les Dames d’Escoffier BC – photo courtesy of lesdames.ca

Les Dames d’Escoffier “is a society of professional woman” whose purpose is “to promote the education and advancement of, and to supply advice and assistance to, women in careers related to food, wine, hospitality, nutrition, food technology, the arts of the table and other fields as they relate to these disciplines.”

From the press release:

(Vancouver, BC) – Not only will attendees at Vancouver Magazine’s Big Night event on February 8th, but royally wined and dined by some of Vancouver’s top restaurants, but they will also have the opportunity to win a custom-created Dame Dinner of a Lifetime valued at more than $3,000. The BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier is invited by Vancouver Magazine to hold a fundraising component within Big Night and proceeds benefit Les Dames’ Scholarship Fund and Outreach programs.

 

The year’s amazing prize of a Dame Dinner of a Lifetime, consists of a six-course dinner with wine pairing for eight people prepared in the winner’s home by a team of Vancouver’s top female chefs and served by other Les Dames members. The chef team headed by Chef Ann Kirsebom, and depending on the menu chosen, will include of the following Les Dames chef members: Karen Barnaby, Margaret Chisholm (Culinary Capers Catering), Julie Burke (Tall Order Catering), Karen Dar Woon (Secret Chef), Meeru Dhalwala (Vij’s), Stephanie Jaeger (Pear Tree), Andrea Jefferson (Quince), Mary Mackay (Terra Breads), Caren McSherry (Gourmet Warehouse), Susan Meister (Fabulous Foods), Alana Peckham (Hart House), Jennifer Peters, Alessandra Quaglia (Provence), Dana Reinhardt.

 

Wine Dames DJ Kearney, Dana Lee Harris, Leeann Froese and Annette Rawlinson will carefully pair each course with premium wines. “Rather than creating a menu in advance, we decided we would consult with the winner and create a dinner custom-designed for them. So they may want a West Coast Seafood Feast, or something Italian-themed or perhaps something South Asian. We’ll work with them to create the dinner of a lifetime for them and their guests,” says Chapter President Pam Williams.

 

Tickets to win the Dame Dinner of a Lifetime are priced at $10 for one or $20 for an arm length. The odds of winning are high as tickets are sold only at the Big Night even and the draw takes place there at the end of the evening. Vancouver Magazine’s Big Night if the magazine’s event that showcases the top ten winners from its annual Restaurant Awards and Wine Awards. This year the event will be held in a new venue, The Jewel Ballroom (on W. 8th off Granville).

 

Les Dames D’Escoffier is an international association of professional women dedicated to supporting the advancement of people in the hospitality and culinary domains as well as fostering industry excellence through educational and charitable activities. Each year it hold special events to raise funds in support of these endeavours. For more information on the BC Chapter of Les Dames D’Escoffier, visit www.lesdames.ca. For more information on Big Night and to purchase tickets (priced at $99): http://www.vanmag.com/Events/Big_Night_2013