MyWestworld

How Is Victoria Celebrating the Olympics?

Posted on 16. Feb, 2010 by Rhonda May in Featured, Living

OLYMPIC UPDATE: FOOD & WINE

While Vancouver and Whistler are jumping with frenzied Olympic activity, what are the citizens of Victoria doing?

by Rhonda May

Apparently, taking it easy with a nice cup of tea. As a matter of fact, British Columbia’s capital city on Vancouver Island has decided to market itself as a nearby refuge from the mayhem of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games with a campaign called “Calm on over to Vancouver Island.”

The plan initiated by Tourism Victoria invites visitors to take advantage of seasonally low priced accommodation and dining options while taking in the crowd-free attractions afforded by the city’s heritage architecture, colourful gardens and emerging arts and culture scene. And with Victoria only one hour away from Vancouver by seaplane, half a day by ferry, the program is meant to appeal to both besieged Vancouverites as well as tourists who would like to see more of Canada’s west coast while they are in the region. Hence, the  agency has assisted travellers with their getaway plans by providing a day-by-day transportation guide that can be downloaded here.

Here is a quick look at some top events taking place in Victoria in February.

Have a cuppa …

The 4th Annual Victoria Tea Festival will take place February 13-14, 2010, at the Victoria Conference Centre’s Crystal Garden. International tea experts and sellers will be on hand to help attendees pour and sample the complete spectrum-wheel of teas: green, black, white, oolong, herbal and floral. Teas, accessories and food pairing will be available for purchase and festival goers may also attend workshops and lectures that outline the health benefits of tea, as well as the etiquette of the serving ritual. Tickets are Cdn$20 (Cdn$25 at the door) and can be obtained by calling 250-370-4880.

Dine around …

Dine Around, Stay in Town is the year’s best opportunity for exploring Victoria’s vibrant dining scene, from small independent restaurants and unique brewpubs to iconic institutions such as the stately Fairmont Empress Hotel. The program, modeled on similar successful programs in New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Vancouver, offers menus at 50 participating restaurants with prices fixed at $20, $30 or $40 per person. All menus come with B.C. VQA wine-pairing suggestions. The city’s major hotels will join in on this deal too, with rooms offered at Cdn$69, Cdn$79, Cdn$89 and Cdn$129 under the “Pillows and Plates” plan. Dine Around, Stay in Town begins February 18 and runs until March 7, 2010.

Watch the Iron (Tea Kettle) Chef Challenge…

Courtesy Fairmont Empress Hotel

If you happen to be in town the night of February 24, you might like to take in the “Mission Emp-possible” competition between Takashi Ito, executive chef of the Fairmont Empress Hotel, and Matthew Batey, executive winery chef for the Okanagan’s Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. The two chefs will engage in friendly competition by creating five dishes each, paired with Mission Hill wines. Immediately afterwards, each dish will be publicly critiqued by a panel of celebrity judges. Kevin Brauch of the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and the Thirsty Traveller, will serve as the emcee and Mission Hill’s chief winemaker John Simes will join him in a spirited discussion of the wine and food pairings at the dinner. (Brauch will also be unveiling new Icewine cocktails at the Empress’ Bengal Lounge the night of February 23, 2010.)  Tickets for the “Battle of the Chefs” are $150 per person exclusive of taxes and gratuities; note, only 130 spaces are available. Reserve by calling 250-389-2727. The event takes place 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Empress Dining Room at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Victoria Harbourfront.

See the big picture …

Another good dining option is Vista 18 in the Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites. The landmark rooftop dining room has just undergone an extensive facelift and will reopen to the public early in February. We haven’t seen the inside yet but sources say the décor has been simplified and modernized to put the focal point on the restaurant’s stunning views as well as what’s on the plate. Alos as part of the new look, artist Charles Gabriel has custom-designed signature glass and mirror pieces for the dining room and the adjacent Martini and Wine bar will feature an Aqua Creation silk ceiling fixture that is four feet in diameter. Executive Chef Garrett Schack’s menu using Vancouver Island ingredients, the selection of local beers on tap, as well as an extensive list of B.C. wines by the glass certainly signify a “Uniquely B.C.” experience. Vista 18 will be open all day and will offer live entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.  740 Burdett Avenue., Victoria. 1-800-663-5891.

See also:

Another Chance to View the Olympic Medals

Courtesy cityfood.com

Thanks to a number of globally styled yet locally produced alcohol products making their debut on the B.C. culinary scene, 2009 could very well end up as the year of the “100-mile tipple.”

Not the least of these newcomers is Chambar Ale, a pale ale named after the popular Belgian restaurant (located in Vancouver’s Crosstown), that both inspired and commissioned it.

Says Chambar co-owner Karri Schuermans, “Our restaurant has made a reputation for its list of premium Belgian and Northern European beer. But what with import and transportation costs, the fuel usage involved and everyone’s preference these days for sustainable, local eating, we thought: ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could offer a 100 per cent local beer product without compromising quality or changing the style of cuisine that we are known for?’”  

Read more of this post at cityfood.com

Tags: Best Olympic Eating, Calm on over to Vancouver Island, Chamber Ale, Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites, Dine Around, Iron Tea Kettle Chef Challenge, Kevin Brouch, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Stay in Town, Victoria Tea Festival, Victoria's Empress Hotel