It’s back!

The 2013 Taste of Yaletown is gearing up for their biggest year yet – this time with a new focus: taking back lunch! For the first time in its history, participating restaurants will be offering lunch tasting menus as well as dinner.

This year’s event will take place from October 16-27, and it has a record number of participating restaurants, offering a variety of menu combinations at set prices of $25, $35 and $45.

“Taste of Yaletown has remained one of the most popular dining events in the city for the past 9 years, and we are dedicated to continuing to push the envelope on delivering a unique experience for diners. This year we have introduced a few exciting changes that we are confident will make it even easier and more exciting than ever to attend Taste of Yaletown,” states Annette O’Shea, Executive Director of the Yaletown Business Improvement Association. “The fact that we have a record 30 restaurants on board this year is a testament to TOY’s continual growth and strength.”

I had a chance to preview the tasting menu of one of the participating restaurants – Hurricane Grill
For $25 guests will have a choice of appetizer such as the Autumn Squash Soup – an oven-roasted butternut squash and taro creamy soup that’s perfect for the chilly October nights.

If the soup doesn’t tempt you, another choice of appetizer is the Quinoa Salad – Peppers, red onion, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro tossed with warm quinoa and dressed in balsamic vinaigrette topped with feta.

For main dishes, Chef Lino Vargas has created three entrees:

Bourbon Arctic Char – Maple bourbon-glazed pan-seared Arctic Char. Wilted kale, cherry tomatoes and brown rice pilaff. The kale was perfection on this dish. I usually don’t like kale, but I couldn’t stop eating this one.

Cordon Blue – Dijon-glazed boneless half chicken, stuffed with Black Forest ham, Edam and spinach. Roasted baby potatoes and vegetables. A perfect fall dish.

Veal Marsala – Veal cutlets, pan-fried with wild mushroom and marsala demi. Roasted garlic mashed and vegetables. This was my favourite. Paired up with carrots and chinese broccoli, I loved the marsala demi glaze.

Save room for dessert – the staff at hurricane Grill have created  a wonderful concoction for your dining pleasure:  Homemade Chocolate Mousse Cake – Coconut crust, Mousse cake stuffed with profiteroles, topped with chocolate ganache and roasted almonds. This dessert is also gluten-free.

Hurricane Grill is only one of many restaurants participating this year – The list of participating restaurants for TOY 2013:

1. Bistro Sakana
2. Brix Restaurant and Wine Bar
3. Cache Bistro & Lounge
4. Cactus Club Café
5. DD Mau Bahn Mi
6. El Azteca
7. George Ultra Lounge
8. Glowbal Grill
9. Good Wolfe Kitchen and Bar
10. Hamilton Street Grill
11. Hapa Izakaya
12. Honjin Sushi
13. Hooker’s Green
14. Hurricane Grill
15. Kibo Restaurnat and Lounge
16. La Pentola della Quercia
17. Milestones Grill + Bar
18. Minami Restaurant
19. The New Oxford
20. The Parlour
21. Paulie’s Kitchen
22. Provence Marinaside
23. Raw Canvas
24. Romer’s Burger Bar
25. Society
26. Urban Fare
27. Urban Thai Bistro
28. West Oak
29. Yaletown Brewing Company
30. Yaletown L’Antipasto

Click here for the restaurant’s menus.

New this year, hop aboard the lunch trolley, sponsored by The  Vancouver Trolley Company

This FREE trolley will be taking guests from Downtown Vancouver into Yaletown on Thursdays & Fridays (October 17, 18, 24 and 25).

For more information, follow @Iyaletown on Twitter.