Food and wine lovers hungrily await the Taste festival starting this Thursday. In its eighth year, the annual Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine, takes place July 14 – 17, 2016 at Hotel Grand Pacific and various locations around Victoria. Taste introduces guests to wine professionals and dedicated chefs leading interactive culinary events including; chef, winemaker seminars and dining adventures. Pure enjoyment – not just for the palate – this variety of events will entertain and intrigue.
Taste the Difference is the grand, opening night event uncorking with over one hundred B.C. wines with winemakers and proprietors present to share their stories. Top island restaurants will be serving tastes of their locally influenced cuisine like; Zambri’s, Vista 18, Aura, North 48, and The Dining Room Restaurant at The Butchart Gardens. Guests will meet the chefs and suppliers behind-the-scenes and will indulge in everything from Oceanwise Tofino local halibut and shrimp ceviche to beef tartare with house-made ‘cheese whiz’ and ‘big mac’ sauce. www.VictoriaTaste.com/taste-the-difference/
While Taste festival founder and producer, Kathy McAree, has experienced many hurdles over the years executing local events, which are an asset for the B.C. wine industry, she is pleased to know that the Hon. John Yap is taking an interest in Taste and attending Thursday’s opening night event. Hon. John Yap, Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Reform Policy, says, “The wine industry is important to British Columbia and our government is making changes that support the growth of small businesses, like local wineries and craft breweries…easing restrictions on sample sizes and extending room-service hours. I’m looking forward to attending Taste Victoria and talking directly with small businesses and consumers.” John Yap is an MLA and Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Reform Policy to the Minister of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch.
A special wine tasting for local industry professionals will be held the afternoon preceding Taste the Difference on Thursday July 14th www.VictoriaTaste.com/trade All proceeds from this event go to the B.C. Hospitality Foundation, a group of food and beverage industry professionals who work together to help the hospitality community at time of need. www.bchospitalityfoundation.com
Events throughout the weekend are always intriguing with experiences and tastes available only once a year during the Taste festival. “Band, Bubbles and Bennys” is a decadent brunch hosted at Chateau Victoria’s Vista 18 Westcoast Grill & Wine Bar with each course accompanied by an outstanding B.C. bubbly whether it be traditional method, as in Champagne, or Prosecco-style. Live jazz and stunning views of the city set the scene with the multi-course brunch and several creative and delicious Eggs Benedict stealing the show.
A special tasting and seminar brings together a farm winery and fisher whose businesses are more alike than one might think. Guests will be treated to a special behind-the-scenes tour at Finest at Sea as well as a conscientious wine tasting of Covert Family Estate Farm wines with winemaker Gene Covert. Guests will learn the incredible value of sustainability and 100% known-origin seafood as well as sustainable agriculture that goes beyond the grape. Of course there will be some serious seafood tasting, too!
A sold-out seafood boil joins the fun this year on the terrace at Hotel Grand Pacific with DJ Primitive setting the beat. Also sold out is an intriguing seminar about flavours and pairing with winemaker Michael Bartier of Bartier Bros. and chef Dan Hayes, The London Chef.
For more event and purchase information, visit www.VictoriaTaste.com. Tickets for Taste the Difference can also purchased in-person at Silk Road, 1624 Government Street, in Victoria www.VictoriaTaste.com/taste-events/.