On a typical grey day in early May I spent an afternoon touring three wineries, a bistro, and a chocolate shop in the Comox Valley with a media group as we sampled delicious treats from some of the region’s best local producers. The trip was hosted by Tourism Vancouver Island and when we reached Courtenay and Comox we were joined by Gaetane Palardy of Island Gourmet Trails.

From bison to honey, scallops and chocolate, the Comox Valley has a diverse range of producers and farmers. Gaetane takes groups around to local culinary hot spots where guests are treated like VIPs, often getting behind-the-scenes tours and tastings that go above and beyond the regular visitors’ experience.

Gaetane’s knowledge is vast, being a well-traveled chef and educator, and she shares fascinating information about each producer while you’re en-route to their location in either Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Royston, Black Creek, or Parksville/Qualicum. She joined our group for an afternoon and led us to five destinations: Avenue Bistro in Comox, 40 Knots Estate Winery in Comox, Hot Chocolates in Downtown Courtenay, Nature’s Way Farm/Blue Moon Winery in Courtenay, and Coastal Black Winery at Black Creek. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

The Honda Celebration of Light is the world’s largest offshore fireworks competition and in Vancouver there’s plenty of action onshore to get crowds pumped for the spectacular displays in the sky. SHOREfest is returning to English Bay and Sunset Beach, presenting talented homegrown artists in a free concert series on each night of the fireworks.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

SHOREfest Fireworks Schedule

Saturday, July 27, 2013
Fireworks Presenter: United Kingdom
Headliners: Serena Ryder and Grapes of Wrath

Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Fireworks Presenter: Canada
Headliners: Fred Eaglesmith and Daniel Wesley

Saturday, August 3, 2013
Fireworks Presenter: Thailand
Headliners: Deep Dark Woods and Mother Mother

Follow SHORE 104.3FM on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about these concerts and the broadcast of the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks soundtrack.

The world’s largest offshore fireworks competition will draw thousands to English Bay’s shoreline at the end of this month as the Honda Celebration of Light returns for another season. While you could join tens of thousands of spectators on the beach, Cactus Club Cafe is offering a one-of-a-kind dining experience that will give you one of the very best seats around.

Photos courtesy of Cactus Club Cafe

Executive Chef Rob Feenie has put together a four-course menu at Cactus Club’s English Bay location for VIP fireworks dinners on Saturday, July 27th, Wednesday, July 31st (sold out), and Saturday August 3rd.

The menu’s course options include: A ceviche with Ocean Wise™ salmon, sustainably harvested prawns, red onions, thai basil, mint, cilantro, nuoc cham; roasted butternut squash soup or seasonal greens; mediterranean chicken or double-braised pineapple hoisin short rib or soy-dijon salmon; caramel chocolate trio or white chocolate cheesecake. Vegetarian options provided upon request.

Photo credit: colink. on Flickr

No one will be stepping on your beach blanket, here! Enjoy a fantastic meal, filled with West Coast flavour, and a panoramic view of the spectacular fireworks display. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster for the two available fireworks nights and they include gratuity and tax (alcohol sold separately).

If you would like to win your way into this VIP fireworks dinner at Cactus Club Cafe English Bay, I have a pair of tickets to give away for Saturday, August 3, 2013. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Monday, July 29, 2013. Follow Cactus Club Cafe on Facebook and Twitter to find out more about their menus and locations.

Remember to pick up some of Vancouver’s best beach food at the Cactus Club Cafe Concession this summer as well. They are featuring new menu items like the beach salad, panko-breaded chicken tenders, fish tacos, and more.

Update The winner is Chris! (Comment July 20, 2013 at 7:34 AM)

Surrey’s annual Fusion Festival is coming up on Saturday and Sunday in Holland Park and I wanted to promote one of our favourite elements of this free multicultural celebration: Food! With dozens of pavilions, each representing a country, the selection of fried, boiled, charcoal-grilled, and slow-roasted goodies is seemingly endless.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt for Miss604.

The Flavours of Surrey exhibition area, that celebrates food and agriculture in Surrey, will also feature special guests and workshops:

SuperChefs

SuperChefs teaches kids how to cook on the Safeway Celebrity Cooking Stage. Chef Greg Chang will host SuperChefs Cookery for Kids on Sunday, July 21st at 2:30pm and will welcome guests like Wally Buono, GM for the BC Lions and Giulio Caravatta from TEAM 1040 who will teach Italian family pasta-making.

Safeway Celebrity Cooking Stage

Saturday, July 20th, 2013

• 1:30 Trevor Randle: Agriculture in the Classroom
• 2:30 Councillors Linda Hepner & Barinder Rasode
• 3:30 Dr. Greg’s SuperChefs Cookery for Kids: Gold Medal Olympic Chef Andrew George
• 4:30 Dr. Greg’s SuperChefs Cookery for Kids: Award winning Chef Victor Bongo
• 5:30 Chef Matthew Stowe, Cactus Club Cafe, Winner of Top Chef Canada 2013

Sunday, July 21st, 2013

• 1:30 Trevor Randle: Agriculture in the Classroom
• 2:30 Dr. Greg’s SuperChefs Cookery for Kids: Wally Buono/Guilio Caravatta
• 3:30 Chef Chuck Currie: White Spot Restaurants
• 4:30 Dr. Greg’s SuperChefs Cookery for Kids: Chef Victor Bongo/Chef Andrew George
• 5:30 Chef Rick Takhar: Ashiana Tandoori Restaurant

The Surrey Fusion Festival, BC’s largest multicultural celebration, is open 11:00am to 10:00pm on Saturday and Sunday at Holland Park (Old Yale Road at King George Boulevard). K-Os will be headlining a full performance line-up and there will be 35 cultural pavilions to explore — from El Salvador and Metis to Ukraine and Fiji. Food tickets can be purchased at a kiosk then traded in for delicacies and snacks at the pavilions.

Follow @Surrey_Events and the tag #FFSurrey2013 on Twitter for the latest event information.

British Columbia, in all its splendour, is such a thrill to explore. There’s not much that can make me appreciate this province more than a mossy forest walk through towering Douglas Firs or a paddle around a cove, rolling over waves and water so clear I can spot the sea kelp stretching to reach surface sunbeams. We constantly find new ways to experience BC’s natural beauty and that’s where tours like those offered from Wildcoast Adventures come in.

Photos courtesy of Wildcoast Adventures

Wildcoast was born out of the longstanding kayak company Coastal Spirits, which provided wilderness kayak camping tours, including the Orca Basecamp in Johnstone Strait for over 15 years. With its owners looking to retire, Expedition Manager, Damon Stapinsky saw the opportunity to take the company to the next level. Having spent entire summers working the front-lines on tours with guests from around the world, he had a keen awareness of what made a great experience and what was now needed to ensure great kayaking tours in Canada could be had by the new generations of adventure travelers. [Wildcoast’s Story]

Wildcoast Adventures offers a variety of kayaking tours including Discovery Islands and Desolation Sound. This summer, I have partnered with them to offer up an exclusive giveaway for one lucky Miss604 reader.

Contest

Enter to Win Wildcoast’s Orca Camp Premium 7-Day Package Tour for One
Trip Start Date: August 22nd, 2013

Photo courtesy of Gowlland Harbour Boutique Resort

This vacation begins and ends with accommodation at Gowlland Harbour Boutique Resort on Quadra Island and includes a 4 day and 3 night remote camping and kayaking experience to see Killer Whales in Johnstone Strait. You will begin your vacation on peaceful Quadra Island where the spectacular beauty of the resort’s waterfront location encourages visitors to reconnect with nature.

Spending your first 2 days at the resort will give you time to enjoy the outdoor hot tub and outdoor activities like hiking or paddleboarding. On day 3, you will take a water taxi to Wildcoast’s remote Orca Camp where you will spend 4 days camping, eating delicious meals and kayaking while watching for whales whom often feed in the kelp beds just off the Orca Camp beach. Camp activities include native-style sauna, hikes and swimming. Upon return to Quadra Island you will enjoy your final night at Gowlland Harbour before heading back home relaxed and inspired by the nature and wildlife encountered on the trip.

Contest is for one person and does not include accommodation to and from Quadra Island, BC. Valid for 7 Day Package Tour departing August 22nd, 2013 only, no other dates available. Valid for the 2013 season, no cash value. Prize awarded as is. No kayaking experience necessary.

If you are up for this incredible kayaking trip (and are available to depart August 22, 2013), here’s how you can enter to win this truly unique, truly BC experience:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow Wildcoast Adventures on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about their tours. Must be 19+ to enter. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, July 23, 2013. The prize is for one person only.

Update The winner is Barb! Elaine!