his is the week to get out. You must simply ignore the rain and explore or you’ll miss some of Vancouver’s most talented food and beverage wizards dishing out their secrets, as well as some of the best meals this city has to offer.

You have three days to work up a healthy appetite while perusing the aisles at the Vancouver Interior Design Show held this year from October 11-14, 2007 at BC Place Stadium. While they’ll be plenty of opportunities to learn how to make both you and your house beautiful (from hair blow drying services from Blo Salon and the Get Wired exhibit showcasing the ultimate in electronics), the Food Stage is where you should be hanging out this year. To inspire your inner domestic diva, be sure not to miss:
-BC Wine and Food Pairing Seminar: Friday October 12 at 7:30pm
-BC Wine 101 Seminar: Saturday October 13 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm
-Entertainment Tonight: October 13 at 11:30am - learn how to entertain at home with one of BC’s top culinary couples, Sarah and Murray Bancroft
-Bar Stars: Saturday at 3:00pm West Restaurant’s David Wolowidnyk with his “Old Fashioned” cocktails and at 4 pm Chambar’s Josh Pape with tea inspired drinks.
Full more info on chef’s demo times, salmon sampling, bar stars, and cookbook releases visit www.vancouverhomeshow.com

While the installation of the Canada Line unfortunately keeps some Cambie businesses rather slow, the newcomer to the area, Firefly Wines and Ales is doing a brisk business on Cambie in the Plaza 500 Hotel. Firefly entices shoppers with their vast selection of beer wine as well as their convenient valet parking (now if only the would drive you home as well after one too many glasses of vino!). On Saturday, October 13, join Colin Jack from Just Here For The Beer as he hosts the Oktoberfest Granville Island and pours plenty of Hacke-Pschorr Munich Edelhell Bier, while giving you a brief beer education. Sip and learn, but more importantly, sip.

More beverage sampling can be had at Gastown’s Salt Tasting Room throughout October as the restaurant hosts “Sommelier Sundays”. Between 6:00pm-9:00pm you can visit for some food and drink and wine director Kurtis Kolt will serve up new wines and actually ask for your opinion (and judge you based on his own private conclusions). Fill out a ballot to win a gift certificate and vote to get your new favourites on their wine list. And don’t forget all that wonderful cheese and charcuterie to be had. In Blood Alley.

With the holiday season just around the corner why not channel your inner Martha and start baking (sleep is for the weak anyways). Julie Van Rosendall breezes into town to present her newest cookbook, One Smart Cookie, on Monday October 15 at 6:30pm. She’ll be teaching you guiltless recipes at Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks. Who doesn’t love homemade cookies?

If baking isn’t your calling perhaps you would prefer to just dine and relax. A dinner at C Restaurant might be more your style. Executive Chef Robert Clark and Chef de Cuisine Quang Dang have put together a menu to celebrate C’s ten years in business. Appropriately called “10 courses to celebrate 10 years”, the dinner will feature products from then and now. Try Sablefish, Sea Urchin and Geoduck throughout the month of October for $130 per person.

Whistler is also hosting its own version of dining and unwinding with the promotion of the resort’s “Whistler Dine and Unwind”. Head up to the village for reduced rates on rooms, adventure and spa packages. Don’t miss the three-course prix-fixe menu’s start from $12 and heading not far past the $50 mark. Go for the full luxury at Après Restaurant, the Bearfoot Bistro, or award-winning Araxi.

It’s also time to start thinking about Whistler’s eleventh annual food and wine celebration – Cornucopia 2007. Act now to get tickets to exclusive wine dinners, wine tastings and seminars. The best sell out quickly. Call 1-800-WHISTLER.

It looks like you won’t be able to stay home this week no matter what the weather. Remember your umbrella and take a cab to stay both dry and out of trouble.