LIVIA Presents: "Petiscos & Paixão" — A Portuguese Snack and Wine Pop-Up
Livia is shifting its Friday nights to celebrate the deep, storied heritage of our own Jordan Pires. Jordan's Portuguese blood runs through Macau & Hong Kong, shaped by the early shipping roots created by the Portuguese spice trade. The food is a reflection of the coming together of cultures, flavours, and journeys. Designed to extend to a shared experience at the Livia table with you, lovely humans.
For a limited time, we're opening our doors to a celebration of migration, memory, and the vibrant flavours of the Portuguese Diaspora — and inviting you to be part of it.
Event Details
When: Every Friday Night (For a limited time)
Time: 5:00 PM until Late (or sold out)
Where: 1399 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Service: Walk-ins only. Come as you are, find a seat among friends — old ones and new ones — and let us share the soul of Jordan's kitchen with you.
The Story
This isn't just a menu — it's a map. And you're invited to follow it together.
Jordan's heritage is a beautiful tapestry woven through the Portuguese Diaspora, tracing the Spice Route back to the coast of Portugal and the Atlantic islands. To bring this story to life, Claire Livia has crafted a menu that explores how culture evolves when it travels — blending traditional techniques with the aromatics and bold heat that defined global trade centuries ago.
Commercial Drive has always been a street built by people who brought their tables with them. This pop-up is our way of honouring that spirit. Pull up a chair. The more the merrier.
The "Petiscos & Paixão" Menu Crafted by Claire Livia
Petiscos are Portugal's answer to the question: why eat alone? Every dish lands in the middle of the table — meant to be passed, shared, and talked over. As always, our menu evolves week to week. Expect something close to what's below, with a few surprises.
To Start & Share
Azorean Marinated Carrots | $8 Garlic, cumin, and a bright vinegary punch. The kind of thing that disappears fast — order two.
White Bean + Cilantro Salad | $12 A simple, herbaceous classic of the Portuguese table. Humble, and exactly right.
Local Green Salad | $16 The best of our local soil, dressed with Portuguese olive oil and flor de sal. A nod to the neighbourhood that feeds us.
The Heart of the Table
Peri Peri Shrimp | $16 Wild shrimp kissed by the heat of the trade routes. Pass the napkins.
Chorizo Stuffed Clams | $16 Smoky, briny, and bold — the perfect bite to share over a cold glass.
Queijo de Vaca | $16 Creamy cow's milk cheese topped with Azorean chili, served with a house-made Portuguese bun for dipping. This one sparks conversation.
White Wine Clams & Pork | $24 The quintessential Alentejana-style surf-and-turf — rich, aromatic, and deeply comforting. Jordan's favourite. We think it'll be yours too.
Something Sweet
Pastel de Nata | $6 Livia's take on the iconic custard tart. Order one for yourself. Order a round for the table. Best enjoyed with a glass of Port and good company.
The Pours Cocktails by Holly Hryhoruk & Jordan Pires
Jordan and Holly have poured their own connection to this story into the glass. Natural bottles sourced especially for this series, and a rotating cocktail menu built from the same instinct that drives the food — curiosity, warmth, and a love of bringing people together.
Uivo 'Alvarinho Branco' (Vinho Verde) | $60 (Bottle) Grown at 700m elevation in the Douro — not your typical coastal white. Sharp, precise, and alive with lime zest, white peach, and a salty finish. Unfined and unfiltered. The kind of bottle that gets ordered twice.
Uivo 'Renegado' Clarete | $60 (Bottle) A glou-glou field blend from 80-year-old vines. Part red, part white, and entirely crushable. Bright strawberries and a wild, earthy mineral backbone. Served chilled — and best shared.
Herdade do Rocim 'Fresh from Amphora' (1L) | $14 (Glass) / $67 (Bottle) A collaboration with Niepoort following the Nat'Cool philosophy. Fermented in clay pots — light ruby, herbaceous, and incredibly easy-drinking. The litre format says it all: this one's made for the table.
The Cocktail Features Holly and Jordan have designed a rotating list of drinks inspired by the spice routes — vibrant botanicals, bright citrus, and a nod to the spirits of the Atlantic. Every week something new. Inquire for tonight's feature.
Livia Loves You.
Livia's Friday Night Pop-Up Series (Series has ended)
Livia’s Lasagna and Lambrusco Nights
Come join the Livia family for our exclusive Friday Night pop-up series! We're celebrating the heart of Italian comfort food with Livia’s Lasagna and Lambrusco.
Experience a taste of Emilia-Romagna—one of Italy's most iconic food regions—right here with us. For a limited time only, escape the ordinary and share in the simple joy of exceptional food, wine, and warm community spirit.
Buon Appetito!
Livia Presents “Aria” The Pop Up Series: with Justin Song-Ell
The series has concluded
Thank You, Chef
Prepare for a series of evenings where "technique meets joy" as Livia, Commercial Drive’s beloved Italian bakery and wine bar, opens its kitchen to Chef Justin Song-Ell. Formerly the creative force behind the Michelin-recommended Elephant, Song-Ell brings his signature "regenerative dining" and technical approach to Italian cuisine in the warm, candlelit atmosphere of Livia.
Event Details
The Concept: A limited-run dinner series that melds Chef Song-Ell’s highly technical exploration of Italian cuisine with Livia’s celebrated Italian hospitality, boutique wine, and elegant cocktails.
Service Details: Experience a casual, participatory dining model: place your first order at the counter, and we’ll transition to tableside service for the remainder of your meal. Please note, this is a no-reservations, walk-ins only event.
Follow the Livia Instagram for the most current event dates and times. @liviasweets
The Vibe: Lively, Intimate, and unpretentious, while deeply focused on the connections between community, preservation, and shared experience.
The “Aria” Menu by Justin Song-Ell
The Menu may change a little week to week
Experience the full journey with the "Alla Familia" 9-course Tasting Menu for $89pp, or order à la carte.
Small Plates & Starters
Rejuvenating Hot and Sour Collagen Broth | $11
Endive, Oxidized Pear, Super Aged Castelmagno, Hazelnut | $19
Tardura Romagnola (Intense Broth, Parmigiano, Breadcrumb) | $14
Quadruple Cooked Fingerling Potato (Iberico Fat Aioli) | $14
Radicchio Cacio e Pepe | $14
The Raw & The Bold
Raw Lamb, Anchovy Garum Salsa Verde, Lamb Fat Cracker | $27
Wagyu Tartare, Bolzanese, Crispy Brown Butter | $26
Roman Style Tripes, Spicy Tomato Ragu, Pecorino, Mint, Livia Bread | $23
Main Courses
Aquerello Supreme Rice Porridge, Sablefish, Vintage Culatello Condiment, Preserved Lemon | $23
Aged Crispy Kurobuta Pork, 12 Year Old “Crowbar” Vincotto | $32
Roasted Lamb Neck, Sweetbread, Caramelized Bagna Cauda | $34
Cabbage Bolognese, Hand Cut Wagyu Offcuts, Vintage Black Tomato Vinegar | $34
To Finish
Roasted Chicory Ice, Caramelized Chicory Crumb | $11
Livia Loves You
Lasagna & Lambrusco Friday Nights at LIVIA-----Experience Cozy Friday Nights
For a Limited Time
When: Every Friday Night, 5:00 PM – Late
Where: 1399 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Join us every Friday evening for a special pop-up series dedicated to comfort, community, and the perfect pour. It's cold out, and we think handmade lasagna is just the cozy thing you need. No reservations are needed—come hang out where it’s warm, the snacks are plenty, and the people are the kindest.
The Menu
To start: Italian Appetizers & Seasonal Greens
The Stars of the Show: Three Lasagnas by Claire Livia
Our own Claire Livia Lassam has crafted three distinct, bubbling lasagnas to warm your soul:
Lasagna alla Bolognese: A classic, rich masterpiece featuring certified Angus beef, meticulously seasoned and simmered in our signature marinara.
Lasagna Bianco e Local Mushrooms: A creamy, earthy delight with ricotta and the best seasonal mushrooms we can find.
LIVIA's Weekly Special Lasagna: Our kitchen's creative playground—ask us what's bubbling in the oven this week!
Weekly Dessert option Available
Perfectly Paired Pours & Deals
We believe there is no better partner for lasagna than a cold, sparkling red.
Excellent Lambrusco Deal: We are offering deep discounts on our favourite bottles, like the violet and plum-forward Medici Ermete.
Enjoy a bottle for just $50.
Grab the ultimate Friday night deal: two lasagnas and a bottle of Lambo for under $100.
Boutique Italian Wine: Explore our curated list of boutique Italian wines that Claire and Jordan have hand-selected for their character and craftsmanship.
Take the Party Home
Can’t stay to hang with us? No problem. Takeout is available for all lasagnas, appetizers, and our entire wine selection. Swing by to grab a hot tray and a bottle of boutique Italian red to enjoy from the comfort of your couch.
Livia Loves You
