Powell Street Festival Homemade Japanese Canadian Cuisine: Online orders must be made by July 24

At many family reunions and social events among people whose families date back to pre-WWII immigration, you’ll find dishes that use recipes reminiscent of those imported from Japan before internment and which have been passed down through the generations.

Others have been adapted, with substitute ingredients due to the limited access to food products during internment.

One way to try home-style Japanese Canadian cuisine is to check out the food prepared and served by various Japanese-Canadian community groups at events like the long-running annual Powell Street Festival.

This year, food items made by and in support of community groups at the 45th Powell Street Festival must be ordered online in advance by tomorrow (July 24) to be picked up curbside during the festival. July 31 and August 1 at the Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue).

The street-food savory pancake okonomiyaki ($ 6) is available at the Vancouver Japanese Language School, which also offers Yakitori ($ 5 for two pieces), or grilled chicken skewers. (A combination of these items is available for $ 10 each.)

One particularly popular item that generally sells is manju ($ 5 for four pieces), or mochi stuffed with sweet red beans, by Tonari Gumi.

For a full meal, Vancouver Buddhist Temple offers two types of deluxe bento boxes: beef curry or veggie curry ($ 15 each). Each box comes with rice, two salty fries korroke (croquettes), wakame seaweed salad and two vinegar gyoza fukujinzuke (enjoy the curry).

All of these items can be ordered online at Powell Street Festival website.

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