Big White kicks off Canadian Culinary Championship celebrations
Next week will see some of Canada’s top chefs and athletes arriving at Big White Ski Resort to take part in a ski and culinary week ahead of the Canadian Culinary Championships, an event which rewards the country’s best chefs while raising money for Canadian Olympic athletes.
From February 2-4, Gold Medal Plates guests such as 2015 Canadian Culinary Champion Ryan O’Flynn, Juno Award Winner Barney Bentall and Olympic athlete Gillian Apps will be in-resort. They will be joined by 68 foodies from across the country who have each purchased a deluxe ski holiday on the mountain through the Gold Metal Plates Live Auction.
Big White Ski Resort annually donates the ski and culinary week to Gold Medal Plates as part of the resort’s contribution to supporting Olympic athletes.
“This is our sixth year of supporting Gold Medal Plates through our Big White Ski Resort Culinary Adventure donation,” said Trevor Hanna, Vice President of Hospitality at Big White Ski Resort. “We are happy to support their efforts when we see the results in the level of athletes that they are funding. Our own Kelsey Serwa is a great example of this – over the years, we have watched her go from local mountain racer to Olympic athlete.”
Guests on the mountain will be staying in executive condos and enjoying the fresh Okanagan Champagne Powder on the slopes while also participating in a number of culinary and sporting events across the mountain.
The annual “Last Supper” at White Spirit Lodge is scheduled for Wednesday, February 3 and set in the resort’s most luxurious location – a $9.2 million home carved out of cedar logs and perched on the edge of the “Sundance” run. Chef Champion Ryan O’Flynn will prepare his last dinner as reigning Canadian Culinary Champion, treating guests to a spectacular four-course experience.
An informal hockey game is scheduled for Thursday, February 4 at 3pm on Canada’s highest outdoor skating rink at Big White Ski Resort. Gillian Apps, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist in hockey, will be making a special appearance at the game and going up against Juno Award winning Canadian singer/songwriter Barney Bentall. Curt Harnett, four-time Olympian, Olympic Silver and two-time Bronze Medallist in track cycling is also rumored to be playing. Guests at the resort are welcome to come down to the ice rink in Happy Valley and cheer on Team Apps vs Team Bentall.
The Kettle Valley Steakhouse closes the festivities with a special evening, the BC Legends Dinner, at 7pm on Thursday, February 4. Chef de Cuisine Ben Overland and Executive Chef Chad Miller have prepared a 5-course communal style menu that celebrates local suppliers and takes diners on a culinary tour of the Okanagan Valley through the eyes of both farmers and winemakers.
Tickets for the dinner are $99 per person and promise an evening full of gastronomic treasures that are not to be missed - including West Coast Oysters, Cutter Ranch Braised Pork Belly and Beauverie Farms Elk Chop. The wine pairings are from Okanagan wineries such as Giant Head Estate Winery, Sage Hills Vineyard and TH Wines.
Following the ski and culinary trip, Gold Medal Plates guests will travel to Kelowna to attend the 2016 Canadian Culinary Championships at the Delta Grand Okanagan Hotel and witness the crowning of Canada’s best chef for 2016.