Pictures from 2009 Mt. Washington Food Festival

From September 3 to 5, 2010, Vancouver Island’s Mount Washington Alpine Resort located three hours and 30 minutes north of Victoria, BC, celebrates the finest of Island fare at the Mount Washington Alpine Food Festival. With products from the farms, ranches, waters, and kitchens of the Comox Valley and beyond, guests are invited to meet the chefs, learn some new culinary skills and taste fabulous food throughout the two day affair. Festival highlights include an Alpine Marketplace, cooking demonstrations and classes taught by local and guest chefs including Food Network Canada star Chef Anthony Sedlak, and the kick-off event, the Alpine Cocktail Reception: a gourmet grazing event featuring the music of Chilean-born virtuoso Rodrigo Figueroa playing a mix of Latin and Blues-inspired melodies. Accommodation packages for the event start at $327.00 CDN / $322.00 USD and include two nights’ accommodation in a one bedroom condo, tickets to the cocktail reception, gourmet gala dinner, two cooking classes, two buffet breakfasts, five tickets to the Alpine Marketplace and one mile high chairlift ride. Individual event tickets are also available. Mount Washington is Vancouver Island’s premier ski and snowboard resort in the winter months and the playground for mountain bikers, hikers, and alpine enthusiasts in the summer. For more information visit www.mountwashington.ca.

Visitors can get three course meals for $29 at such high-end restaurants as The Landing, the Pacific Prime Steak and Chop Restaurant and The Creek House and a two-night luxury stay for as little as $149.

A survey by the Canadian Mental Health Association shows 79 per cent of Canadians experience increased stress this time of year. A mini winter vacation in November and early December is the perfect prescription to recharge the batteries before the heart of winter sets in. The area has 19 kilometers of sandy beaches, an abundance of parks, and the country’s mildest climate.

Not even the best festooned Christmas tree can compete with the giants of nearby Cathedral Grove and a walk along scented forest trails lined with living Christmas trees. After an autumn stroll, nothing beats a gourmet meal and cozying up in front of a fireplace.

Local community events and craft fairs exude small town ambiance and Christmas spirit, as well as offering great gift ideas. Some upcoming events include:

Qualicum Beach Moonlight Madness (Nov. 19th)

Craft fairs: Silver Sleigh (Nov. 20-21), Coombs Country Craft Fair (Nov. 22), Kris Kringle Craft Market (Nov. 26-29), and Christmas Craft Explosion (Nov. 26-29).

Milner Gardens and Woodland is lit up with Milner Christmas Magic the first three weekends in December.

Parksville Fellowship Baptist Church puts on Bethlehem Walk, a re-creation of Bethlehem with live animals, artisans and craftsman and over 250 people in period costumes (Dec. 12-15).

Santa Claus Parade (Dec. 4)

Festival of Trees (Dec. 7-18)

Parksville-Qualicum Beach is less than a tank of gas away from Victoria, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. And with Dine Right, Sleep Tight, getting-away this season won’t break the bank.

For more information on Dine Right Sleep Tight visit the Specials Page on www.VisitParksvilleQualicumBeach.com

Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, in partnership with the Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre, is hosting its 3^rd annual Pouring for Parkinson’s fundraising event on November the 10^th.  The evening launches Sea Cider’s month long fund raising initiative, Pairing for Parkinson’s, to support individuals and families touched by Parkinson’s disease.

The event is an opportunity to enjoy a relaxed evening of cider, live music, and abundant hors d’oeuvres with silent auction while raising funds and awareness for the VEC.  Tickets are 35.00 dollars each or 60.00 with a 25.00 tax receipt.

A musical trio from The Stomp Club will entertain with their signature retro swinging gypsy jazz, while guests graze on pairings designed by Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen and Steve Walker Duncan of Ambrosia Catering. The evenings offerings will feature artisan cheeses, hors d’oeuvres, and delectables such as blue cheese cheesecake and crab apple sorbet paired with Sea Ciders own traditionally fermented ciders.

Open since 2007, Sea Cider is a certified organic farm and ciderhouse located 15 minutes north of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula committed to artisan cider making, practicing organic agriculture, and strengthening and supporting the local community.

The Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening clients’ and families’ ability to manage the effects of Parkinson’s and epilepsy by providing reliable information and services to enhance quality of life for those touched by either disease.

For more information on the event and on Pairing for Parkinson’s, contact Dionne Jennings at Sea Cider by phone at (250) 584-4824, by email at dionne@seacider.ca, or visit www.seacider.ca.

For further information on the Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre, contact Executive Director Catriona Johnson at (250) 475-6677, by e-mail at cjohnson@vepc.bc.ca, or visit www.vepc.bc.ca.

For information on The Stomp Club, visit www.thestompclub.com.

For information on Ambrosia Catering and event services, visit www.ambrosia.ca

For information on Ottavio’s Italian Bakery and Delicatessen, visit www.ottaviovictoria.com

Visitors to Victoria, BC can experience the best of downtown city life and the tranquility of an ocean retreat in one trip with a new package offered by Victoria’s Abigail’s Hotel and world renowned Sooke Harbour House. Valid until December 15, 2009, the two-night Island retreat package, called “Vancouver Island at its Best” offers guests one night at each five star property. Nestled in downtown Victoria, just steps from the Inner Harbour guests at Abigail’s Hotel will receive one night in a premier Coach House room featuring a four poster king size bed, wood burning fireplace and jacuzzi soaker bath, gourmet breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres compliments of the chef. Upon arrival at Sooke Harbour House guests will check into a deluxe ocean view room complete with stone fireplace, private bath (jetted or soaker tub), in-room breakfast, complimentary garden and wine cellar tour and use of the on-site Infra-red sauna. Although where you choose to start your Island getaway is up to you, one thing is certain, that the surrounding beauty of the picturesque downtown harbour and sights and sounds of the wild West Coast will delight the senses and lead to the envitable – restoration of the body and soul. Package rates start at $635 CDN / $589 USD based on double occupancy and are not available for on-line bookings. For more information visit www.abigailshotel.com and www.sookeharbourhouse.com.

www.seacider.ca