Quite a few of the world’s best substances are the result of good blending: tea, perfume, and wine. Here are a few from the wine valley in our own provincial back yard for you to sip and savour.

Moderne Burger is back After almost a year-and-a-half of papered windows, Moderne Burger (2507 West Broadway) is open once again. Renovations have made the joint bigger, though it still has a shiny happy ’50s-style décor. The signature burger remains the same—a handmade steak patty with no seasoning whatsoever ($7.45). Everything’s made to order, from bacon to french fries, which are cut and cooked on demand.

Skip the brunch lines elsewhere in Kits and grab a chair at the Epicurean Caffé Bistro (1898 West 1st Avenue). This Italian deli charms with marble tables inside and a wraparound patio with climbing ivy outside. The menu offers one sophisticated choice after another. Try Uova alla Fiorentina, a scrumptious concoction of eggs in béchamel sauce that’s baked with bocconcini in a cast-iron pan ($10).

Reading about food is a pleasure unto itself—even if that pleasure is never consummated in the kitchen. Just to whet your appetite, try these samples ranging from Kazakh sprout-and-cabbage salad to corn hotcakes with blackberry syrup.

This is fun, and besides, you need something with bubbles after all those barbecue reds in last week’s column: an Australian sparkling Sémillon from the Bimbadgen Ridge line. This is bright and easy bubbles in a nicely weighted wine, thanks to the substance Sémillon delivers; unobtrusive natural sweetness; and a lengthy finish. The cry for more goes up as soon as the glass is drained.

Syrah gets Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma”, Cabernet Sauvignon sits well with the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women”, and Merlot goes with everything from Lionel Richie to Otis Redding, according to a new study.

As Canada celebrates July 1, patriotism dictates that everyone from coast to coast stand up and eat a hot dog. But given that this week also marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, why not indulge in a messy mass of poutine? Dig into a $5 medium-sized serving at Fritz European Fry House (718 Davie Street). Or, for nontraditionalists, Belgian Fries (1885 Commercial Drive) offers over a dozen varieties—with toppings like Tunisian spicy lamb—for $6.98 to $7.50.

Find your inner sunshine at the The Reef on the Drive, where rum is the star, with dozens of different ways to enjoy it while tucking into the rich goat turmeric-and-cumin suffused curry of a Trini roti or ackee and salt fish.

Got a wedding written down on the calendar? Nervous? Excited? Overwhelmed? And just think, you’re only the guest. The big day is full of expectations; here’s a peek behind the veil to find out what might be on the menu.

Indian food lightens up Bal Arneson will demonstrate how to give traditional Indian dishes a healthy make-over on Wednesday (July 2) at a class at the Cookshop (3–555 West 12th Avenue, 604-873-5683). Enroll in the $59 session and bring a friend for free, or take a bonus class instead, such as chef Thaung Yan’s Vietnamese Grill and BBQ on July 15.

Last week’s lot was cheap and cheerful; this week’s raises the bar a bit. There’s nothing here under $20, for all those capitalized Barbecue Situations. As always, prices—and vintages—were correct at the time of acquisition. The government adjusts these monthly.

All that summer fun sure makes you hungry. So stave off hunger pangs at food events across the city with any of barbecued lamb on a spit, Barbadian flying fish, octopus fritters or a Salvadoran pupusa.

For those who can’t get it together to pack a nutritious homemade lunch in the morning (damn you who can!), here’s an alternative to expensive takeout. An Indian mom might sniff at Chef Chopra’s heat-and-eat curries (280 grams each), but the vacuum-packed vegetarian meals are surprisingly flavourful. Options include mutter paneer (a rich peas-and-cheese curry), baingan bharta (roasted eggplant and tomato), and Bombay pulav (rice with spicy lentils).

Sitting on a log relishing a tray of crisp, greasy fish and chips is an exquisite Vancouver pleasure. Slathered in salty tartar sauce and tangy ketchup, this traditional fare has been a mainstay of Vancouver park-board menus since the 1920s.

Dancing in the streets One of Vancouver’s most fun- and food-filled celebrations, Greek Day 2008, flows onto West Broadway between Macdonald and Blenheim streets on Sunday (June 22) from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. There’ll be souvlaki-laden grills, dancing, music, and Greek vegetarian cooking demos at the Cambas Wines Culinary Cooking Tent.