Italian Job Ready, set, dial. Dine Italia, back for Year 3, has dining deals for days—well, from Monday (September 1) to September 15 at least, at a raft of Lower Mainland restaurants. Try old faves like Quattro, Papi’s in Steveston, and Burnaby’s Vita Bella, or Fourth Avenue newbies Trattoria Italian Kitchen and La Quercia. Multicourse menus range from $20 to $50. Find them and other restos at www.iccbc.com/page200.htm .  

Phat and phatter The previous tenant at 1859 West 4th Avenue, Cheesecake 101, is gone, but we’re thinking that PHAT—short for pretty, hot, and tasty—is in for the long haul if it follows the success of its Yaletown sib. PHAT finds include excellent Montreal smoked meat, Reubens, barbecue beef brisket, all-day breakfast bagel bennies, and more. Do takeout or grab a seat at the massive communal table.

Blast from the past On Saturday (August 16), Kitsilano restaurants will be spilling out into the street. That’s because West 4th Avenue between Burrard and Balsam streets will be car-free for the Summer of Love festival. Browns Social House (2296 West 4th Avenue) will be flipping burgers on an extended patio next to the festival’s main stage at Vine Street, and many eateries will offer walk-up specials. The fest runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chinatown party Take in this weekend’s ninth annual Vancouver Chinatown Festival (August 9 and 10, noon to 6 p.m.) by joining food tasting and heritage walking tours, and exploring buildings not usually open to the public. There’ll be Chinese arts and crafts demos, “super sale” booths, and a children’s play area. Stick around for the night market or have dinner at one of Chinatown’s restos (vcbia.brinkster.net/CF/Festival.htm ).

Hotcake happiness Like ’em stacked? Get your maple on with the annual Terry Wallace Memorial Breakfast fundraiser, held outside at Davie and Bute streets on Saturday (August 2) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in honour of one of Vancouver Pride’s founders. Local choirs and live music will accompany this by-donation breakfast of pancakes, fruit, sausages, juice, and coffee.

Proud around town Kick-start Pride celebrations with Saturday’s Picnic in the Park (July 26, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park, complete with a high-heeled-shoe toss, live music, and a beer garden. Fancy things up on Sunday (July 27) at Dine With Pride at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel for an auction and awards dinner honouring outstanding community members. Tickets are $100 at vancouverpride.ca/

Urban eats Get ready to gorge on globetrotting treats at Citytv’s Taste of the City, on Saturday (July 19) at the PNE. Admission is free. Featured restos include Brasas Peruvian BBQ, Big Al’s Soul Food, Cassis Bistro, Mona’s Lebanese Cuisine, and many more. Taste tickets are 50 cents, and food samples are $1 to $4. More? CityCooks’ main stage features Simi Sara and chef demos ( www.citytvtasteofthecity.com/ ).

Dine for design Diners at Boneta (1 West Cordova Street) can end their meal on Sunday (July 13) with rhubarb cheesecake and a good feeling. That’s because half of the ticket price for the $65 three-course dinner goes to Lu’s Pharmacy for Women. The Downtown Eastside project, slated to open in September, was designed by a team of UBC architecture students, who have paired with Boneta for this fundraiser. For reservations, call 604-684-1844.

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.

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.

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.

King of the grill If your pop doesn’t qualify for this moniker, sign him up for the first of Morton’s the Steakhouse’s master classes, Grilling 101 ($99) on June 22. Chef Lee Milton leads the edible demo, while participants score tips and techniques—fuelled by beer and wine—before diving into the resulting steak and seafood lunch. Dads walk off with goody bags, grilling cheat sheets, and more. Reserve at 604-915-5105.

Here's the beef Slide into Hamilton Street Grill (1009 Hamilton Street) between June 5 and 15, and help celebrate the resto’s 11th birthday with a killer $11 eight-ounce sirloin-steak dinner deal. Reservations are a must (604-331-1511). On tap on Tuesday (June 10) is HSG’s Peller Estates Wine Dinner (seven courses, $62.50) with rising-star winemaker Stephanie Leinemann.

Main's on the move Giving busy 4th Avenue a run for diners’ dollars, Main Street’s latest addition is sweet spot Grub (4328 Main Street). With just 30 seats, this modern room has a “fresh board” of market-inspired daily entreés, antipasto, and thin-crust pizzas. A third Burgoo is slated to open mid June at 15th and Main, while across the street Brewery Creek Cold Beer and Wine Store is in expansion mode.

A swish set to dish about If you thought that dining at YEW restaurant + bar (791 West Georgia Street) at the Four Seasons was a bit dear and too much of a scene, think again. Stop in Sunday and Monday evenings and a three-course dinner’s a swell $35. Plus, they’ll open any of the 150 wines on the list if you buy two glasses. Check it out at www.fourseasons.com/vancouver/dining.html