Chefs Across the Water 2014

Two of my favourite things — Okanagan wine and Salt Spring Island — are coming together on June 16th as Hastings Country House Hotel launches its Chefs Across the Water series for the season.

Chefs Across the Water 2014

The 5th Annual guest chef program brings distinguished chefs to the Hastings House kitchen for a series of gastronomic island adventures and it all begins with Mission Hill’s Chef Chris Stewart who will bring wine country cooking to Hastings House Country House Hotel on Monday, June 16, 2014 at Hastings House.

Mission Hill’s Executive Winery Chef, Chris Stewart, takes the reins to highlight wine country cooking with the freshest, locally grown, in-season ingredients. Originally from the Maritimes, Chef Stewart is looking forward to working with world-class calibre wines and west coast seafood.

Ask Chef Chris Stewart what he most looks forward to in his guest chef debut and he’ll tell you it’s getting back to the ocean, “My mind is set on seafood. Once the primary protein has been decided, I will tailor dishes that work to build a memorable menu incorporating our award winning wines and locally caught seafood.” He’s also looking forward to working alongside Hastings House Executive Chef Marcel Kauer, “Chef Kauer and the team at Hastings House carry a reputation for amazingly fresh, creative, and sustainable food. The name is well known across the country.

Hastings House’s extensive garden on its 22 acre estate will provide a wide variety of greens, vegetables, edible flowers, fruits and herbs to compliment Chef Stewart’s meal.

The aim of the Chefs Across the Water program is to raise awareness of the pleasure, as well as health and economic benefits, of using local, organic and sustainable ingredients, despite the broader availability of ingredients from around the world.

Proceeds from Chefs Across the Water events go towards Salt Spring Agricultural Alliance‘s effort to establish a cold storage produce and production facility. So far $3,000 has gone towards the now operational Salt Spring Island Abattoir. Hastings House Country House Hotel is proud to contribute to these and other worthwhile projects to support island farmers and livestock producers who in turn provide the dining room with the freshest, highest quality ingredients our loyal patrons deserve.

Chef Chris Stewart will be at Hastings House Country House Hotel on Monday, June 16, 2014 and on Monday, September 15, 2014 join Chef Angun An of Maenam Restaurant in Vancouver at Hastings House. These dinners usually fill up so be sure to make your reservations as soon as possible (call 1-800-661-9255) and plan your dinner getaway to Salt Spring Island.