Whether it’s from the farm or the vineyard, the best of the harvest will be served up at the fourth annual Autumn Bounty in Sun Peaks. Expect to taste excellent food and beverage at this one-of-a-kind event which runs on Thanksgiving weekend, Oct. 8 to 12.
This means delectable dishes from fresh and seasonal produce.
“We planted potatoes towards the end of July so that the potatoes we’d be digging up for Autumn Bounty will be like those they would’ve been able to pick in June. You know when they just melt in your mouth,” said organic farmer Dieter Dudy and owner of Thistle Farm.
Dudy will be hosting a luncheon with Prospect Winery’s Jamie Cockerill at The Farmer and the Winemaker. Dudy will speak on organic farming and its benefits while Jamie Cockerill of Prospect Winery will discuss the winemaking aspect.
When Dudy first started organic farming two decades ago, it was still considered a fad.
“It had been around for decades and it was usually associated with the hippie types,” he said.
“It didn’t take long for me to figure out that when you put chemicals in the soil, it’s gonna destroy something. So we just started picking up magazines like Organic Gardening and adopted it. It’s a way of life. I recognize how not only was it benefiting us health-wise but it was benefiting the environment. It’s like a ripple effect.”
“It’s great to see more and more people embracing the organic concept. It’s no different from what (life was like) 100 years ago.”
Celebrations will start with a high energy kickoff at the Rocktoberfest on Friday night at Club Mackdaddy’s. The event will be hosted by Kamloops radio station 97.5 FM The River. Oktoberfest-inspired food and the finest beers from Okanagan Springs will keep the clubbers’ energy high for an entire evening of dining and dancing.
“That’s gonna be different,” said Delta Sun Peaks’ sales and marketing director Ian Thorley. “We’re hoping, because it’s the start of a long weekend, that it makes some fun vibe, and that because we have an Oktoberfest theme, we’ll have more of the Kamloops locals coming up and enjoying it.”
This year, organizers have included complimentary activities for kids in conjunction with each major event happening during the day.
Thorley said that this setup ensures a great time for parents and kids.
“There’s a lot of families at the resort but because of the alcohol at the event we want to provide an option for parents to join the weekend while their kids are also enjoying it,” he explained.
Magician Clinton Gray will entertain children in an adjacent room as parents take part in The Farmer and the Winemaker session at the Delta Sun Peaks Ballroom.
Attendees can also delve into the world of whisky at Morrisey’s Public House. The Whisky Showdown is a new event where you can sample whisky and see for yourself what makes this beverage unique.
“They can taste (different types of whisky) with one of our bartenders providing a little bit of tutoring on the different idiosyncrasies of the different spirits.”
As parents try the whisky, children can learn about art next door at the M Room. Artist Marianna Abutalipova will be on site to facilitate a fun and educational art workshop.
The highlight of the event is the Autumn Bounty Fall Dinner. A Smirnoff martini bar and art exhibit starts the evening off. Then guests are treated to a multi-course dinner paired with fine wines from Mission Hill Estate Winery. The Delta’s culinary team and local producers will work in tandem to create the evening’s menu, using fresh organic ingredients that enliven the tastebuds.
On the same evening, young ones will be treated to popcorn and two feature films at the Kids Movie Night, also at the Delta.
The event will wrap up with a special indoor Farmers’ Market on Sunday at the Delta Ballroom. This is the last Farmers’ Market of the season. As people shop, they can also watch and cheer for their favourite chef at the Autumn Bounty Iron Chef competition. It will be a battle of creativity as local chefs compete to create three dishes using a secret ingredient.
Advance reservation is recommended.
For more information, call 250-578-6000 ext. 6015 or e-mail [email protected].
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