Last Friday, I was invited to check out a Pop-Up Dinner Party at the Vancouver Home and Design Show. The show is celebrating it’s 30 years, which is an amazing milestone for a trade show!

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This Pop-Up dinner featured dishes from Chef Curtis Luk of the Parker, Chef Jeff MacIntosh of Boneta and Jackie Ellis from Beaucoup Bakery.

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Sommelier Kurtis Kolt took us through a couple of wine tastings from Road 13 Vineyards, we started off with the Road 13 2013 Jackpot VRM, a nice , slightly sweet wine that I enjoyed.

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There was a bit of a hiccup when the stove was malfunctioning so instead of our appetizer being served first, our main came out. Our main dish was the slow braised beef short rib served alongside a lemon potato pave, oyster mushrooms, heirloom carrots and fried parsley. When I read the lemon potato pave, I was a little put off, but the lemon is just a hint that compliments the slight creaminess of the pave.

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We were then served the appetizer, which is a chawanmushi served with pine mushroom broth and a yaki onigiri on the ice.

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The chawanmushi as Joyce of VanFoodies explained to me is a popular Japanese warm egg custard dish.

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This dish felt comforting with the warmth and depth and the yaki onigiri on the side that was slightly salty complimented the dish.

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Finally, we ended off the evening with a Gingerbread cake, served with roasted pears, salted caramel sauce and a spiced ice cream. This was served with the Road 13 2010 sparkling Chenin blanc – a great, light and crisp bubbly. The gingerbread cake was absolutely to die for, but what isn’t from Jackie and Beaucoup Bakery? I hope this will be in store for the upcoming holidays!

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The Vancouver Home and Design Show is always a great draw for those looking to renovate their homes or even looking to design it. It happens every year around this time, so be sure to check it out next year!