Hummingbird604.com » Parksville Uncorked Food and Wine Festival

Parksville Uncorked 2012 (Feb 23-26, 2012)

Raul — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:48:03 +0000

One of my favorite wine and food festivals is Parksville Uncorked. I know the year has gone really fast when I realize that it’s only a couple of months away! Yes, you heard that right. Parksville Uncorked 2012 is coming up fast. And you can start buying your tickets soon. It’s a really good, value-for-your-money kind of festival. Takes place in two of my favorite hotels: The Beach Club Resort and the Tigh-Na-Mara, both of them in Parksville (on Vancouver Island). For the second consecutive year, there’s a Parksville Untapped (pairing great beers with awesome food). Then there is Swirl, one of the signature events, on Friday, and Saturday the Winemakers Dinners. And Sunday, the traditional Bubbles and Brunch.

This is one of the events I look forward every year and I will make sure that this year I will be there too. My good friends Cheryl Mackinnon and Cassandra Anderton often cover this festival (as do I) and thus this predicts to be a great time. For additional enticement, this is what the view from The Beach Club Resort looks like, in the morning.

And from the Tigh-Na-Mara

You can start buying your tickets right about now. It promises to be a lot of fun! And for more coverage and to know what to do around the area, you can search my Parksville and my Qualicum Beach travel tags.

Burrowing Owl Winemakers Dinner at Parksville Uncorked 2011

Raul — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:30:15 +0000

The second event in the series of Parksville Uncorked Wine & Food Festival 2011 was the Winemakers Dinner. Again, in previous years I attended the Ingo Grady/Mission Hill Winemakers Dinner (2010) and this year, I was a guest of the Beach Club Resort’s Pacific Prime for the Burrowing Owl Winemakers Dinner. Hosted by Dave Paul; Maitre’D Jim Williams and with Commercial Director and Wine Educator and Head Chef Sean Norris, this was an excellent run-through of a series of delicious plates and full wines.

We began the evening with an easy Amuse Bouche (Qualicum Beach scallop, fennel apple slaw, Preserved lemon oil, sea urchin emulsion) paired with a really flavourful Pinot Gris. I really enjoyed the fennel apple slaw and the sea urchin emulsion as well as the scallop, but I found the flavors to be a bit contrasting.

Next we had a miso sablefish brulee, lily bulb puree, spiced carrot vinaigrette, with a side carrot ginger salad paired with a delicious, light and slightly sweet Chardonnay.

I was not a fan of the Foie Gras and pork belly brioche with pickled cherries, Argan oil powder, paired with an Athene. I think that was because I dont really like pork belly to be quite honest.

The main course was an island raised bison tenderloin with sunchoke puree, blackberry gastrique, tempura enoki, Parsnip bacon and a pairing of Meritage. I found the tenderloin absolutely amazing, with flavours that were enhanced by the parsnip bacon and the Meritage itself.

Our final dish was a free form chocolate crème brulee, demerara crisp, double chocolate bar, chocolate praline gel, pot de crème, white chocolate foam, Bitter chocolate tuile, paired with an amazing Cabernet Franc that while slightly fruity, complimented the chocolate amazingly.

Overall, an absolutely delicious dinner and one I’ll remember for a long time.

Disclosure: My Burrowing Owl Winemakers dinner at the Beach Club Resort was sponsored very generously by the Parksville Uncorked Festival. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this media trip was to report on the event. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form. For the rest of my Parksville Uncorked posts, you can check them here.

Swirl at the Beach Club Resort (Parksville Uncorked 2011)

Raul — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 04:27:56 +0000

Last year, I covered the Parksville Uncorked Food and Wine Festival 2010, and I was invited to participate and cover Parksville Uncorked 2011 this year. I felt privileged not only because few invites were extended, but also because my good friend Cassandra Anderton (editor of the local website Good Life Vancouver) and I travelled together to and from Parksville. It’s always nice to get to know my fellow travel and food bloggers and realize we actually can hang out beyond just meeting randomly at the same food/travel events. We both had visited Parksville before and knew what we were expecting. Cassandra was visiting The Beach Club Resort for the first time.

For me, arriving to The Beach Club Resort (and on Sunday when we visited the Tigh-Na-Mara for Bubbles and Brunch) it was like coming back home. The staff at both resorts know me by name. No word of a lie. I missed this year the new event, Parksville Untapped 2011 (although I did give away tickets for this experience). The first event I attended is the signature event, Swirl. Last year I did Swirl at the Tigh Na Mara and this year I switched to Beach Club Resort for Swirl.

Festival goers will enjoy the best BC has to offer from fine wines to gourmet cuisine at Swirl. Whether you are discovering BC wines for the very first time, or reveling in selections to tempt a sophisticated palate, this festival of taste excites all the senses. The Beach Club Resort is proud to host this year’s Parksville Uncorked Swirl Event and attendees will receive an exclusive 2011 Parksville Uncorked wine glass.

The wonderful thing about Swirl is the pairing of exquisite foods with amazing wines. This year was no exception. Live music, fabulous food and extraordinary British Columbia wines – what more do you need?

And having a packed room both at the Pacific Prime restaurant and the main conference room of The Beach Club Resort was a testament to the hard work that the organizers put into this fantastic festival of food and wine. Next year you should really attend Parksville Uncorked, I urge you to.

The description from the original Parksville Uncorked website summarizes Swirl:

Festival goers will enjoy the best BC has to offer from fine wines to gourmet cuisine at Swirl. Whether you are discovering BC wines for the very first time, or reveling in selections to tempt a sophisticated palate, this festival of taste excites all the senses. The Beach Club Resort is proud to host this year’s Parksville Uncorked Swirl Event and attendees will receive an exclusive 2011 Parksville Uncorked wine glass.

I had an opportunity to sample food prepared by The Beach Club Resort (Pacific Prime Steak and Chop Restaurant) Chef Sean Norris, the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort (Cedar Dining Room) Chef Eric Edwards, a number of bites from Holliwood Oysters, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, Rod & Gun, Sushi Ichi, Amrikkos and my new favorite Mexican food, The Blue Burrito, as well as some delectable sweets from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and treats by Cory Parsons.

I did not sample all the wines, but I had a few sips from several Rocky Creek Winery wines, a couple of Mark Anthony Group ones and a couple by Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Prospect Winery, Road 13, Tinhorn and Sumac Ridge. Overall, I’d rate Swirl one of the most fun events within the whole Parksville Uncorked Wine and Food Festival 2011. You should definitely try to make it in 2012.

Disclosure: My dinner at Swirl at the Beach Club Resort was sponsored very generously by the Parksville Uncorked Festival. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this media trip was to report on the event. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form. For the rest of my Parksville Uncorked posts, you can check them here.

Parksville Untapped 2011 (Parksville Uncorked Wine and Food Festival)

Raul — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:45:57 +0000

Just in time for Travel Tuesday, I am partnering with the organizers of Parksville Uncorked Wine and Food Festival 2011 (which I will be covering and bringing you all the action from the beautiful oceanside city of Parksville, British Columbia), a travel getaway prize that I would think my readers would appreciate.

The prize package consists of one night accommodation at the Tigh Na Mara Seaside Spa Resort in Parksville and 2 tickets to Parksville Untapped on Feb. 24th – Thursday. This giveaway is valued at more than $400 for the full package (check the deal that Tigh Na Mara is offering for Parksville Uncorked

If you win my giveaway, you’ll be getting a similar prize as the one shown above. So you may ask yourselves, what exactly IS Parksville Untapped? I’ll let the hosts, the Tigh-Na-Mara speak about it:

Parksville Untapped will showcase local breweries and feature beers paired with delicious regional cuisine. Greg Evens, Beer Historian, will offer a casual 30 minute presentation on the history of brewing on Vancouver Island.

To enter this giveaway you can earn a FIRST entry by commenting and letting me know what your favorite brand of beer is. I’m not a beer connoisseur but I do love me some Molson Dark. And a SECOND entry can be earned by posting the following note on your Twitter stream:

I told @hummingbird604 my favorite brand of beer to enter to win tickets #ParksvilleUntapped – what’s yours? http://ow.ly/3X7qP

I will be drawing a winner from all entries randomized, so you can enter my contest until Monday February 21st at 5pm.

The fine print on this giveaway – You are responsible for your own transportation to Parksville, Vancouver, British Columbia. Contest open to residents of BC, primarily. You must be of drinking age (e.g. older than 19).

Dinner at the Tigh-Na-Mara’s Cedar Room

Raul — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:00:22 +0000

I have extremely fond memories of the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Resort and Spa, as evidence by the ample coverage I’ve provided it on my site. I’ve stayed at this wonderful Parksville oceanside resort 3 times already, including when I covered Parksville Uncorked and this summer when my Mom and I got away for a few weeks to Vancouver Island.

This past December, my friend Luba Plotnikoff and I were invited for dinner by Jenn Houtby (Director of Marketing at the Tigh-Na-Mara). It was simply superb, and I wish I had made sure to get better lighting because I don’t think my photos make justice to the amazing Caesar salad and salmon risotto I had when visiting the Cedar Room (for the third time, I might add). I never get tired of the Tigh-Na-Mara.

It was a really fun evening and reminded me of the fact that my friendaversary with Jenn and Luba (as well as Tanya Smith and Dana Hutchings from CHEK TV) is precisely coming up at Parksville Uncorked 2011. I look forward to celebrating again! Thanks so much to Jenn and to the Tigh-Na-Mara for such a delicious dinner. The menu at the Cedar Room is always innovative, reasonably priced and more importantly, the service is top-notch.

My dinner (the Fresh Seafood Mixed Grill, with Ahi tuna, scallops and tiger prawns, saffron garlic cream and citrus risotto, $29) was absolutely delicious (who can say no to saffron garlic cream, risotto and seafood), and compared to other similar high-end restaurants I’ve been to in Vancouver, the price was in the same scale.

I will definitely come back to the Cedar Room next time I’m in Parksville (which is coming up as I’ll be covering Parksville Uncorked).

Disclosure: My and Luba’s dinner at the Tigh-Na-Mara’s Cedar Room Restaurant in Parksville was complimentary. Thanks to Jenn Houtby and the Tigh-Na-Mara, as they wanted to be part of my recent Vancouver Island writing retreat (which included stops in Victoria, Courtenay/Comox, Nanaimo and Parksville/Qualicum Beach). However, I covered every other single expense I incurred during this travel, including (but not limited to) breakfast, lunch, dinner and transportation (except when explicitly indicated). I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience at the resort. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Parksville Uncorked 2011 Wine & Food Festival

Raul — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:30:59 +0000

As it’s become my tradition since this past year in 2010, I will be covering Parksville Uncorked Wine and Food Festival 2011, a most fantastic event that you should totally check out. Parksville Uncorked 2011 Wine & Food Festival has a few innovations, most notably Parksville Untapped (which, as you may imagine, has to do with beer and food pairings).

Self-appointed foodies will definitely want definitely to make the trek to Vancouver Island, to one of the most relaxing locations (the twin towns of Parksville and Qualicum Beach). I have been to Parksville in total 3 times and this being my fourth, it promises to be one of the best.

Together in the common cause of fine wines, decadent edibles, and great company, Parksville’s finest beach resorts are proud to sponsor the 3rd annual Parksville Uncorked Wine & Food Festival

Parksville Uncorked Wine & Food Festival 2011 begins on February 24th with Parksville Untapped:

Parksville Untapped will showcase local breweries and feature beers paired with delicious regional cuisine including features from Tigh-Na-Mara and The Beach Club Resort. In addition; Greg Evens, Beer Historian, will offer a casual 30 minute presentation on the history of brewing on Vancouver Island and the many pioneers who contributed to the tradition. Take home an exclusive Parksville Untapped Beer Glass and enjoy instrumental jazz performed by local artist Melissa Hill. Shuttle Service from The Beach Club resort to Tigh-Na-Mara is available and is complimentary for Beach Club Resort guests.

Then goes on to Swirl (last year’s Swirl was to-die-for):

Festival goers will enjoy the best BC has to offer from fine wines to gourmet cuisine at Swirl. Whether you are discovering BC wines for the very first time, or reveling in selections to tempt a sophisticated palate, this festival of taste excites all the senses. The Beach Club Resort is proud to host this year’s Parksville Uncorked Swirl Event and attendees will receive an exclusive 2011 Parksville Uncorked wine glass.

Then 2 fantastic Winemaker Dinners (both at Tigh-Na-Mara and The Beach Club Resort)

The Beach Club Resort is proud to host the Burrowing Owl Winery for a spectacular night of premier wines and experience great food! Come out and enjoy a variety of Burrowing Owl wines paired with delicious west coast inspired dinner prepared by Chef Sean Norris. Sommelier Stuart Bruce from Appellation Wine will be on hand to share more information about each pairing and the history of Burrowing Owl Winery; one of British Columbia’s foremost wineries.

And at The Tigh-Na-Mara sumptuous six course dinner created by Chef Eric Edwards, will be a true culinary experience. Road 13′s Pam & Mick Luckhurst will be on hand to explain the five unique wine selections paired with this exclusive Winemakers Dinner.

Finally, on February 27th, you MUST have Bubbles and Brunch at the Tigh-Na-Mara

Tigh-Na-Mara’s legendary Sunday Brunch is a sumptuous feast for the eyes and the palate. Join us to wrap up the Parksville Uncorked Weekend for Bubbles & Brunch; featuring a selection of BC Sparkling Wines! Advance reservations are required.

Check the Parksville Uncorked 2011 events page for costs (vary between $30 and $99, but for what you get, it’s a fantastic deal – and each one of the host resorts has actual packages that you can combine with the events, you can book for one of the events or for all of Parksville Uncorked). I strongly suggest that you come celebrate in style and taste the bounty of BC and Vancouver Island’s best as you learn from pinnacle vintners, master chefs, sommeliers and restauranteurs at this year’s Parksville Uncorked Food and Wine Festival, February 24 – 27, 2011. For contact details, The Beach Club 1-888-760-2008 and and Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort 1-800-663-7373 and reserve your tickets and festival packages at one of British Columbia’s best culinary event of the year!

Wines of Mission Hill Dinner with Ingo Grady #parksvilleuncorked

Raul — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:07:04 +0000

My second activity at Parksville Uncorked was the Wines of Mission Hill Dinner with Ingo Grady at the Tigh-Na-Mara. (I was supposed to go to a winery luncheon but opted to just take it easy and explore Parksville). I didn’t even have the time to look at the menu, but from my experience at Swirl I knew it would be a great event. Not badly priced, either!

The event itself was priced at $99 per person, but as a 7 courses meal with wine pairings I would say this is the price range I would expect to pay for a similar event in Vancouver. We started with an amuse bouche which was a delightful scallop and lobster terrine. As I mentioned to folks, as an amuse bouche, it was just to “open palate” as we say in Spanish. I had to pass up on the squash torte since I am allergic to squash, so I chose a salad instead. I think everyone’s favorite dish was the oxtail ravioli, absolutely delicious. And of course, I’m addicted to dessert!

Overall, it was a delightful event, as I got to meet a lot of new folks, even some in the Vancouver Island news and broadcast industry like Dana Hutchings, amongst several others. This was particularly important as we were discussing topics that ranged from the use of Twitter by news companies to the whole discussion on speed vs accuracy. Overall, an absolutely delightful event.

You can view the whole set of photos of this evening on my Flickr account. And the lovely ladies you see with me on the top photo are (from left to right) CHEK TV’s Dana Hutchings and Tanya Smith (in the front) and Luba Plotnikoff with Oceanside Tourism Association and Jenn Houtby Ferguson with Tigh Na Mara Seaside Spa Resort.

Disclosure: My Wines of Mission Hill Dinner at the Tigh-Na-Mara was sponsored very generously by the Parksville Uncorked Festival. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this media trip was to report on the event. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form. For the rest of my Parksville Uncorked posts, you can check them here.

Swirl at the Tigh-Na-Mara #ParksvilleUncorked

Raul — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:45:22 +0000

The first event I went to during my stay at the Tigh-Na-Mara was Swirl (hosted by this same hotel, where I stayed). I arrived to Nanaimo via Harbour Air Ltd (which offered a generous discount – thanks for that!). I was driven to the Tigh-Na-Mara and got changed quickly (you may remember my tweet about what I chose to wear) in order to get to Swirl on time. I was prepared for food and wine, but not for THIS much!

Kicking off Parksville Uncorked is Swirl. Festival goers will enjoy the best BC has to offer from fine wines to gourmet cuisine. Whether you are discovering BC wines for the very first time, or revelling in selections to tempt a sophisticated palate, this festival of taste excites all the senses. Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre is proud to host Swirl 2010. Live entertainment from 6pm – 9pm.

Honestly, for the price ($ 69+taxes), I found the Swirl event pretty fairly priced. The entertainment (an entire jazz ensemble, with a female lead voice who was fantastic) was excellent, the wines were superb (I fell in love with a few Pinot Blanc’s) and the food was absolutely delicate. And the event was entirely packed! You’ll have to forgive the lack of clarity in some of my photos as I took those with my iPhone and the lighting wasn’t conducive to photos without flash.

I had a fantastic list of what wines I had tried and which food I had paired with it, but unfortunately that list got lost somewhere on my way back, but I can recall that I tried several Pinot Blanc paired with a few delicacies. I also found a really neat trick to eating paired food – a clip that helps you hold your wine glass while you are eating (as shown by Luba here).

I would definitely go to Parksville for a couple of days and one night and stay for the Swirl event, it was totally worth it. And the fruit fondue cones… delightful!

Disclosure: My dinner at Swirl at the Tigh-Na-Mara was sponsored very generously by the Parksville Uncorked Festival. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this media trip was to report on the event. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form. For the rest of my Parksville Uncorked posts, you can check them here.

Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort #parksvilleuncorked

Raul — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:39:44 +0000

I was invited a few weeks ago to cover the Parksville Uncorked Wine and Food Festival in Parksville, British Columbia, and I gladly accepted. I’ve done other media trips before (Sidney by the Sea and Salt Spring Island), and this one focused on an area of Vancouver Island I have never explored before (Northern Vancouver Island).

I was lodged at the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, and as soon as I heard the word “spa” I thought “Yes! Woohoo!” (I’m pretty sure that’s what I said, heh). The Tigh-Na-Mara is a 22 acre resort with an assortment of cottages and cabins. I stayed in a cottage room that was about twice the size of my current apartment. I’ve included some photos of my room in my Flickr set.

Particularly impressive to me was the commitment to implementing sustainability initiatives at the Tigh-Na-Mara. I noticed right away with the temperature controls, the energy-efficient measures, water saving devices, etc. I will fully admit that they had me at wooden cabin. I was raised in a household where wood was associated with warmth and family values, so the cottage room where I stayed brought me fond memories of my parents’ house (which has a lot of wood in it).

When I arrived, I’ll admit I was a bit shocked. I didn’t realize this resort was so popular. By the time I arrived on Friday, I saw the resort’s parking lot bustling with activity, people arriving and bringing their luggage. Clearly, this is a favorite destination for vacationing folks. I don’t blame them at all. My stay at the Tigh-Na-Mara was superb. I had a jacuzzi in my suite, a full kitchen (not a kitchenette, but a full-blown kitchen). I could have easily brought two other friends along with me to stay and we would have fit without a problem.

The Tigh-Na-Mara not only has the Grotto Spa, but also a fully equipped gym and a swimming pool (which was great because I really wanted to exercise and swim – I didn’t want to get out of my routine). There were a myriad little details that made my stay really comfortable, but there was one that I really valued. At every point during my stay, everyone in the staff (and by everyone I mean, every individual from the maid who cleaned my room to the servers to the lady who was helping deliver the buffet-style breakfast) were incredibly attentive to detail and generous.

I will, definitely, come back and stay at the Tigh-Na-Mara on my own dime. I was really impressed, and I am pretty sure everyone who stayed there at the same time felt the same way. I had the chance to chat with some of the folks who were lodged there and they seemed to share the same impression of excellent service and kindness on the part of the TNM staff.

I will be writing separate entries for the Mission Hill Winemakers dinner and the Swirl event, both of which were really a lot of fun, and very much worth the money. If you want to read what me and others thought of Parksville Uncorked, you can read the Twitter Search stream here.

Disclosure: My stay at the Tigh-Na-Mara was sponsored very generously by the resort. My expenses to travel to and from Parksville were covered by the Oceanside Tourism Association. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this media trip was to report on the event. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Parksville Uncorked Wine and Food Festival

Raul — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:54:01 +0000

photo credit: Boonerator

I have been kindly invited by the Oceanside Tourism Association on a press trip to experience the 2nd. Annual Parksville Uncorked Wine & Food Festival and I was delighted to accept the invitation for this weekend (February 25th to 28th, 2010). Last year, I had an opportunity to showcase Sidney by the Sea and Salt Spring Island and I am delighted to be sharing my experiences at Uncorked.

photo credit: kevinspencer

I will be in Parksville on Vancouver Island live-tweeting, publishing blog entries and will possibly interview some of the guests attending this fantastic event. I have always had a soft spot for Vancouver Island. When I was dating The-Person-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named-And-Broke-My-Heart, I almost made Swartz Bay and North Saanich my residence. While I went to Nanaimo for a research meeting and some work a few months ago, this time I’m there to cover a festival.

I find that there’s a perfect fit between Parksville Uncorked and my own blogging, seeing as I write about food, and my travel and personal experiences. Thanks to the organizers and promoters of Parksville Uncorked for the invite and for sponsoring my stay and travel. I will be tagging my posts and tweets with #ParksvilleUncorked.

The listing of events (including pricing) for Parksville Uncorked can be found here. I suggest you get your tickets soon because they’re definitely going to fly!