SIP, a Feast of Fields near Whistler, Slow Food Edmonton's Wild Boar and Beer BBQ and a Banff Culinary Festival

There are no shortage of really great food events happening this summer and into the fall. Here's a listing of just a few that we know about, and think that you'll likely want to know about too!

Edmonton - July 20 to July 27: SIP is a 10-day "wine and food experience" in conjunction with the city's annual "Capital Ex" (the old K-days exhibition). Local culinary celebs like Chef Brad Smoliak, Julie van Rosendaal, Judy Schultz and Neil Herbst of Alley Kat Brewery will be giving demos. The SIP events take place each evening from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.in Hall A at the Agricom, and there's plenty of booze and great food to keep you coming back for each evening's offering. The last day of SIP is Friday, July 27.

Pemberton (BC) August 18: The Fairmont Chateau Whistler invites you for a “roll” in the hay - and many other tasty treats they’ve cooked up. Once again, the Chateau is partnering with the FarmFolk/CityFolk Society to offer the 2nd annual Sea-to-Sky “Feast of Fields” - an interactive harvest festival.

Taking place on Saturday, August 18, 2007 at North Arm Farms in Pemberton - 20 minutes north of Whistler - guests can explore, and sample, some of the finest local, organic offerings from top chefs, vintners, farmers and brewers - right in the farmer’s field. That evening, Fairmont Chateau Whistler Executive Chef, Vincent Stufano, will create an entirely sustainable, masterpiece feast complete with wine pairings for each course. After a full day of fresh air and delicious food, guests can look forward to a full night’s rest at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

The Chateau’s “Feast of Fields” package includes entrance to the harvest festival, a 5-course dinner at the farm and one-night accommodation at the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Whistler. “Feast of Fields” starts from CDN $199.00 per person, plus taxes and gratuities, and is based on double occupancy. The package is available exclusively on Saturday, August 18, 2007. Call 1-800-606-8244 for reservations or click www.fairmont.com/whistler.

FarmFolk/CityFolk Society is a non-profit organization that works with food communities toward a local, sustainable food system. Projects include providing access to & protection of foodlands; supporting local, small-scale growers and producers; and educating, communicating and celebrating with local food communities. www.ffcf.bc.ca

Edmonton - September 16: Slow Food Edmonton's annual Wild Boar and Beer BBQ. What has 4 hooves, 200 hungry mouths, and enjoys live music? If you said Slow Food Edmonton’s Wild Boar and Beer BBQ, then you know a great time when you hear one! Tickets for this year’s BBQ, a lavish repast of locally grown organic foods and award-winning microbrewed beer, are now on sale.

The event, which is open to the general public, will be held on Sunday September 16th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Alley Kat Brewery (9929 60th Avenue). With an accent on regionally produced food and drink, including a wild boar prepared by Mayerthorpe’s Hog Wild Specialties, the event will also include tours of Alley Kat’s Brewery and live music by local musicians Terry Morrison and John Gorham.

Tickets are $40 per person for the general public, $35 for Slow Food members; youth 10 and under are $10. Tickets can now be purchased online at www.slowfoodedmonton.ca; memberships may also be purchased through a secure server. Tickets will also be available for purchase in person at Alley Kat Brewery as of August 1st. Further event updates will be available online at www.slowfoodedmonton.ca between now and the event.

Banff - September 28 to 30th: “Eat Local – Change Global” culinary festival is centred on Alberta’s chefs and our fine food producers in Alberta. The festival will be held at Cascade Lodge at Mt. Norquay on the weekend of September 28th -30th, 2007. Some of the highlights of this culinary weekend adventure include:
·Alberta’s Best Chef Competition – a lively competition that challenges Alberta’s top chefs to create a breakfast, lunch, and dinner using Alberta ingredients. (Saturday)
·Culinary classes - walk away with a new appreciation for food, gain valuable knowledge and hands-on techniques. We hope that consumers will go home with lots of ideas, recipes and armed with new knowledge. (Saturday)
·The Marketplace – an outdoor food event that will be held in Banff. The marketplace will allow consumers to learn and connect with producers and vendors and of course to purchase products produced in Alberta. (Sunday) To register or for more info, go to www.CulinaryFestival.ca