Vancouver chefs clear their kitchens for Les Dames d'Escoffier's culinary garage sale Saturday
Top restaurants donate cookware, vintage cookbooks, and estate pieces to the annual fundraiser — early birds get first access starting at 9 a.m. at LaSalle College Vancouver.
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Vancouver cooks, cookbook collectors, and anyone drawn to a well-stocked kitchen sale will want to arrive early Saturday — the Les Dames d'Escoffier BC Chapter Culinary Garage Sale returns with fresh inventory and a new home at LaSalle College Vancouver.
The free annual sale runs Saturday, August 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an Early Bird Power Hour from 9 to 10 a.m. offering first access for $15 in advance or $20 at the door. What makes this different from a neighbourhood rummage is the source: items donated by chefs, restaurants, and food professionals. This year's contributors include Bao Bei, Fanny Bay Oysters, Maenam, St. Lawrence, and Stem Japanese Eatery, plus chefs Bruno Feldeisen and Karen Barnaby.
Shoppers will find everyday kitchen essentials and unusual pieces with culinary history: dishes, coffee and tea sets, glassware, bar equipment, knives, utensils, pots and pans, bakeware, serving platters, boards, linens, and working small appliances. Estate and vintage collectibles anchor the selection.
For cookbook lovers, the real draw sits on tables filled with new, used, vintage, signed, and collectible cookbooks — award-winning titles and culinary biographies that usually command retail prices. The sale has long drawn professional and home cooks, but it's become an essential resource for culinary students looking to equip their kitchens without the full retail hit.
Proceeds support Les Dames d'Escoffier BC Chapter scholarships and educational initiatives for women working and studying in British Columbia's culinary, beverage, agriculture, and hospitality industries. Chef Mandy Vial, LaSalle College Vancouver's facility lead and head baking and pastry instructor, received a Les Dames scholarship earlier in her career and is now helping the organization raise money for future recipients. "I received a Les Dames scholarship to advance my culinary career, and my participation now allows me to express my gratitude and raise funds to help other B.C. women develop their careers," she said.
The best treasures tend to leave with the early birds — best to set an alarm.
Good to know
When is the Les Dames d'Escoffier culinary garage sale?
The sale takes place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an Early Bird Power Hour from 9 to 10 a.m.
Where is the culinary garage sale held?
The Les Dames d'Escoffier BC Chapter Culinary Garage Sale is held at LaSalle College Vancouver.
How much does early bird access cost?
Early bird access for the one-hour power hour costs $15 in advance or $20 at the door. General admission to the main sale is free.
What items are sold at the garage sale?
The sale features kitchen essentials and vintage pieces donated by Vancouver chefs and restaurants, including cookware, glassware, knives, utensils, bakeware, small appliances, and a large selection of new, used, vintage, and collectible cookbooks.
