Last year’s Culinary Festival was so popular that the Resort is expanding on the theme this year. “We learned after the first year that it can be a really popular event,” said Tim Defert, Resort Director, Hospitality Operations.
The festival has a new sponsor this year, Comox Valley Economic Development’s Agri-Food Program.
The Event begins with a wine and cheese reception on Friday, Sept. 4 (Labour Day weekend) where guests will have an opportunity to meet the guest chefs and sample local wines and appetizers made with local products.
Guest chefs include Brad Long of the Restaurant Makeover show on The Food Network (he’s also executive chef of Veritas, a restaurant dedicated to sustainably produced local ingredients), Tahera Rawji, an author from Richmond, B.C. whose first cookbook was called “Simply Indian” (she cooks dishes from Pakistan, India and the Middle East) and Erik Akis, food columnist for the Victoria Times-Colonist and a gourmet chef in his own right.
The chefs will conduct gourmet cooking classes on Saturday, Sept. 5, then will provide the delectable fare for the Alpine to Valley Gourmet Dinner and Wine Pairings later that evening. The dinner will feature locally produced fresh products.
The highlight of Sunday, Sept. 6 is the Alpine Marketplace, taking place in the Resort Courtyard from noon to 4 p.m. Defert has visited vendors near and far in an effort to collect local products that will tantalize the tastebuds.
New this year is a Wellness Retreat Aug. 28-30 – a weekend for nurturing the mind, body and soul. “It’s a real growing trend; people are looking for calm, serene, yoga-style events,” said Don Sharpe, Director of Business Operations.
“Imagine doing yoga on top of the mountain on a beautiful, sunny day.”
The retreat will feature healthy meals, wellness classes that promote health and relaxation and yoga options. Local experts will be on hand for pampering with guided edibles walks, seminars on healing touch and aromatherapy and more.
On the mountain biking side of the schedule, the Resort is taking a break from the Bearclaw event this year, Sharpe said. However, the Resort is hosting a B.C. Cup cycling event and some downhill racing and a women’s weekend, too.
Resort staffers are also putting some time and energy into their trails, this summer. “We’re finishing off a couple of bike trails that weren’t completed,” Sharpe said. “We’re going to spend some time this summer making sure they’re buff.” Crews will also break more ground on a beginners’ trail.