A meeting of culinary minds will take place in Whistler during the annual Cornucopia festival, with the resort welcoming six chefs from Québec to join the local foodie scene, celebrating the best in Québécois and West Coast cuisine.
In conjunction with Whistler’s celebrated Bearfoot Bistro, Cornucopia presents six remarkable chefs from Québec: Jean-Luc Boulay of Le Saint-Amour (Québec City), François Blais of Bistro B (Québec City), Danny Saint-Pierre of Auguste Restaurant (Sherbrooke), Jérôme Ferrer of Européa Restaurant (Montréal), Eric Gonzales of Auberge Saint-Gabriel (Montréal) and Laurent Godbout of Chez L’Épicier (Montréal).
The chefs will visit Whistler for four days during the event, working with local restaurants one evening and sharing their fine-dining creations at food stations during the Bearfoot Bistro’s extravagant after party: Masquerave. Exploring the theme of fire and water, this year’s Masquerave will feature DJs from Ibiza, Cirque performers and charity benefits for One Drop foundation, Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and Whistler’s Ecole La Passerelle.
The 2011 Cornucopia Food & Wine Festival also celebrates the 30th anniversary of one of Whistler’s original fine-dining establishments. Araxi restaurant is no stranger to accolades and awards, having won Best Whistler Restaurant in 2011 from three publications, and boasting an industry-leading wine program and perennial ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ from the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine.
In keeping with its tradition of innovation, Araxi will be offering two spectacular evenings of wine and food, beginning with their world-class Winemaker Dinner, Big Guns: Icons of the Wine World on Friday, November 11. Appropriate to its mountain + ocean cuisine, Big Guns will climb to new heights in 2011, with a multi-course presentation of Executive Chef James Walt’s autumn-inspired cooking, paired with some of the most spectacular wines from around the world. Featuring wineries such as Taittinger, Joseph Drouhin, Grgich Hills, Michele Chiarlo, Remelluri, Mission Hill, Inglenook, Catena, St. Urbans-Hof and Quinta do Noval, once again Big Guns will showcase truly extraordinary pairings of food and wine, highlighting the impeccable cuisine created by Chef Walt that celebrates his close connection to local farmers, ranchers and Pacific fishers.
One of the province’s most iconic restaurants, Araxi is a champion of the best sustainable seafood that coastal British Columbia has to offer. And there is no better accompaniment to Chef Walt’s prepared and raw bar selections than the impressive selection of 30 Champagnes and sparkling wines served at the 30th anniversary edition of Araxi’s Bubbles + Oceans after party on Saturday, November 12. One of Cornucopia’s stellar and most popular events, the evening is an exciting mix of incredible food, extraordinary wines, laughter and live music.
Several other outstanding Whistler restaurants will be partnering with notable wineries to offer Winemaker Dinners during Cornucopia:
Alta Bistro with Austin Hope Winery – November 10
Bearfoot Bistro with Dom Perignon, Chateau du Beaucastel, Caymus, Masi and Ornellaia – November 11
The Wildflower at the Chateau Fairmont Whistler along with Burrowing Owl – November 11
HY’s Steakhouse with Peter Lehmann – November 12
La Bocca and Hester Creek – November 12
Quattro is also offering a unique luncheon paired with an Italian wine offering – November 12
Tickets for all of these once-in-a-lifetime Winemaker Dinner experiences are available here
The dual-night flagship tasting event, CRUSH, as well as chef’s luncheons, Chef’s Trip to the Farm and late-night after parties, round out the programming for Cornucopia — Whistler’s Celebration of Wine and Food. Showcasing the incredible variety and talent of home-grown chefs, Cornucopia creates a foundation for domestic appreciation on a culinary level.
Visit www.whistlercornucopia.com for ticket and event information.
