Vancouver Italian culture and food on display in June

If you were anywhere near Vancouver's Commercial Drive Sunday, you probably already know: June is Italian Heritage Month across Canada.

Italian Day on Commercial is probably Vancouver's biggest attraction of the month, but On The Coast food columnist Gail Johnson says there's plenty still happening in the city as restaurants participate in the Mangia Vancouver Festival.

"A whole bunch of the city's best Italian restaurants are putting on special menus this month: Campagnolo, Siena, La Pentola, Al Porto, Federico's Supper Club are just a few ofthem," she told On The Coast guest host Gloria Macarenko.

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Johnson says other highlights are a class for making pizza on the grill on June 18 at Barbara-Jo's Books To Cooks in Kitsilano and the introduction of what Johnson believes is the only vermouth made in Canada.

"I am so excited about this. France has a long history of vermouth production, but the drink is originally from the kingdom of Sardinia," she said. "It's an aperitif, so it readies the palate. It's exactly what you want to sip before all that amazing food."

"Odd Society Spirits down on Powell Street is making an Italian-style vermouth. Some vermouths are extremely bitter, or they start out bitter and then taste sweet. But this one starts out sweet and then ends with a bitter note."

Finally, Johnson says Vancouver's Italian Cultural Centre, Il Centro, is driving Italian Heritage Month and the Mangia Vancouver Festival and will host several events in June.

With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast