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Top Okanagan Chefs Gather For Similkameen BBQ King Competition July 12

The GOODS from the Similkameen Wineries Association

Keremeos, BC | Ladies and gentlemen, start your grills! The Similkameen is about to name a new Similkameen BBQ King! The annual Similkameen BBQ King event will be held on Saturday, July 12th 9pm at the historic Grist Mill & Gardens in Keremeos. This truly unique Similkameen wine and food experience is a competition where 9 featured chefs compete for the coveted title of Similkameen BBQ King or Queen.

This event is a competition where 9 competing chefs will create unique dishes for guests using organic ingredients from local farmers in the heart of Canada’s organic capital. Attendees at the event will go from station to station enjoying the foods prepared by each chef, along with Similkameen wines specifically paired to go with each dish, and then all attendees get the opportunity to cast their vote for the best wine and food pairing.

George Hanson, President of the Similkameen Wineries Association explained, “We are so excited for our upcoming Similkameen BBQ King event which is our annual, signature event. It is held at the gorgeous Grist Mill and Gardens in Keremeos. It is an extraordinary evening and a very special Similkameen experience!”

The first hour of the event, from 5-6pm, will feature wine tastings from our Similkameen wineries and some delicious appetizers from local chefs including Benja Thai, Branding Iron and Tree to Me. And then the competition begins at 6pm!

The 9 competing chefs are:

• Chris Boehm from Burger 55
• Jason Hartl from the Delta Grand Okanagan
• Natasha Schooten from the Grist Mill
• Brent Pillon from Hillside Winery & Bistro
• Lee Humphries from Local Lounge & Grille
• Jeff Van Geest from Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek
• Shayna Merritt from Shayna & Shulman Culinary Adventures
• Justin Paakkunainen from Walnut Beach Resort
• Adair Scott from Watermark Beach Resort

In addition to the amazing food and wine at this event, there will also be live entertainment by Ajna featuring home-town favourite, saxophonist and music educator Jonnie Bridgman who is returning to the Okanagan/Similkameen for his second annual summer tour with the Ajna Jazz Trio. Jonnie is really looking forward to performing in his hometown of Keremeos at the Similkameen BBQ King. Ajna is a creative, modern collective of accomplished jazz musicians. They deliver a no-limits performance of innovative original jazz and unique interpretations of classic standards. They will be joined by a special guest vocalist, Corrine Painter, to keep you singing and swinging all night long.

There will also be a silent auction that is a partial fundraiser for the Grist Mill, which is a Heritage BC site. Hanson expanded, “We are starting to get in some absolutely amazing prizes for our silent auction, many of which are unique wine and food experiences themed around the competing chefs and our member wineries.” Hanson continued, “This award-winning event sold out last year and we had to turn people away at the door.

We are already over 80% sold out this year, so we really encourage people to get their tickets right away. Tickets are $80 and can be purchased at any of our member wineries, at the Keremeos Visitor Centre or the Grist Mil,l or online at www.SimilkameenWine.com. Shuttle options are available from throughout the Okanagan/Similkameen including a few seats left on a local Princeton, Hedley, Keremeos and Cawston shuttle.

A beautiful sunny day, 9 amazing chefs, award-winning wines from the 9 wineries of the Similkameen Wineries Association, live entertainment, a gorgeous venue and a silent auction with fantastic prizes. What more could we ask for? Sign me up!

Details

SWA-Logo

Similkameen Wineries Association
PO Box 246 | Keremeos, BC | V0X 1N0
Telephone: 250.488.0878 | Email: [email protected]
Web: www.SimilkameenWine.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Photos & Video

  • VineGlass
  • The People of SWA
  • SWA Wine Glass
  • Similkameen BBQ King Crowd
  • Seven Stones - Wine shop with flowers
  • Sage Bush
  • Rustic Roots - Red Haven Peach
  • Rustic Roots - Fameuse and Pippin
  • Robin Ridge - winery
  • Orofino
  • Orofino Photo of vineyards and mountains
  • Orofino photo of vineyard and mountain
  • Orofino Vineyard
  • Kim's Vineyard Photo of Seven Stones
  • Kim's photo of vineyard
  • Kim's photo at Robin Ridge with vineyards and K Mountain
  • Kim's Mountain View Photo from Seven Stones
  • Kim's cherry tree photo
  • Forbidden Fruit photo of grapes
  • Forbidden Fruit - family
  • ET2Media Photo of wine glasses and barrel in Orofino Vineyard
  • ET2Media Photo of grapes in Orofino Vineyard
  • ET2Media photo - group night shot
  • Eau Vivre Winery and Vineyard
  • Clos du Soleil - Sun
  • Clos du Soleil - A_pano_morning_0001
  • Darren Robinson's Photo - Eau Vivre Vineyard
  • Best-SHOT-SWA

The People

The-People-of-SWA

Nine of the Similkameen wineries have joined together to form the Similkameen Wineries Association (SWA) to help put the spotlight on the exciting developments in this region. Clos du Soleil, Eau Vivre, Forbidden Fruit, Orofino, Robin Ridge, Rustic Roots, Sage Bush, Seven Stones and VineGlass are working together to welcome everyone to the beautiful Similkameen Valley!

About the Similkameen Wine Region

Clos-du-Soleil---Sun

Soak up the sunshine and dare to dream while meandering through the vineyards of the family-run boutique wineries of the Similkameen. Sip award-winning wines with the winemakers while learning about their love of the land in one of the hot spots for grape and fruit wine in British Columbia. Discover for yourself why this special little wine region was named by enRoute Magazine as “one of the world’s 5 best wine regions you’ve never heard of!” This little patch of vineyards and orchards in the hot, dry and sunny Similkameen Valley is turning out some stunning grape and fruit wines.

There are currently over 600 acres of vineyards in the Similkameen and a large number of orchards. In fact, the region is considered to be the organic farming capital of Canada with an estimated 42% of all crops grown organically. This is due to the ideal conditions of dry heat, long hours of sunlight and the famous wind that whips through the valley keeping out pests and diseases.

The Similkameen Valley has been growing fruit and grapes for many years, but it is only recently that there has been a rapid expansion in the number of wineries. Prior to this, many of the grapes were sold to Okanagan wineries and contributed to a number of award winning wines. Now the awards are piling up for wineries in the Similkameen! Hundreds of medals have been awarded to Similkameen wineries over the past few years.

On the second Saturday each July, we join together for a very special event called the Similkameen BBQ King. Guests enjoy an extraordinary summer evening savouring the award-winning wines from nine of the Similkameen wineries and nine distinguished chefs who are vying for the title of Similkameen BBQ King. Passion and expertise rule the competition as some of the most sought after Chefs from BC prepare a plate of locally grown food for each guest. This award-winning event is held in the lovely outdoor gardens at the historic Grist Mill and Gardens in Keremeos. The Similkameen is becoming one of Canada’s premier wine destinations.

Located 3.5 hours east of Vancouver along beautiful highway 3, and just 30 minutes from Penticton and Osoyoos, the location makes the Similkameen the perfect weekend adventure or the perfect first stop on your Okanagan wine getaway! Kick back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine while you discover the hidden gem called the Similkameen Valley.