  The Magazine of Culture and Community
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 Arts Council of the Central Okanagan 8-1304 Ellis Street Kelowna BC Canada V1Y 1Z8 Email: Click Here. Elke Lange, Executive Director Telephone: 250.861-4123 Copublished by Wheat King Publishing Jeff Pexa, President Telephone: 250.491.0169 Produced in association with the Okanagan Institute
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 LATEST CULINARY ARTS ITEMS |
CULINARY ARTS
Farm Forward: The Food Chain in Transition
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THE FOOD CHAIN IN TRANSITION
» Thursday 11 September 2008 | 5 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing people and ideas featured in Okanagan ARTS. Join us as we present three experts who have played key roles in energizing our local cuisine. Heidi Noble is a chef, co-owner of Joie Wines in Naramata and author of Menus from the Orchard Table. Donna Denison is the creator of Little Creek Dressings, and Dale Ziech is a board director with the North Okanagan Organic Association and co-owner of Little Creek Gardens.
» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
The Time is Ripe for an Okanagan Cuisine
Whether it was the advent of the 100-Mile Diet that started it, or the migration of "slow food" from Europe to North America, or even our growing frustration with the perils of processed food, something is cooking right here in the Okanagan.
Farmer's markets are rising in popularity, our wineries have emerged from a place of vineyards to homes of fine cuisine, and pressure is mounting on local stores to bring in local, and organic. Our food is in transition.
On Thursday September 11, 5 pm at the Bohemian Café the Okanagan Institute Express series of public eventsexamines these issues in Farm Forward: The Food Chain in Transition, featuring three experts who have played key roles in energizing our local cuisine. Heidi Noble is a chef, co-owner of Joie Wines in Naramata and author of Menus from the Orchard Table. Donna Denison is the creator of Little Creek Dressings, and Dale Ziech is a board director with the North Okanagan Organic Association and co-owner of Little Creek Gardens.
Ziech was among the first in the valley to "go organic" back in 1984 when traditional farmers scoffed at the idea. How times have changed.
"You could call it the 20 year overnight success story, and I'm quite happy. But even though it's very trendy and in the news, the conventional food industry has really still got a hold on what we do and eat and consume," he says. "There are more and more regulations coming down under the guise of protecting us and what's occurring is a fight between big business and small business."
Little Creek is one of those small businesses that has had to struggle with some big regulation - in particular the new label requirements and nutritional analysis. The original labelling regulations stretched from eight pages to 200 pages, and yet there are no requirements to reveal the use of radiated or genetically modified products.
Whether we realize it or not, all of these issues play a role in what lands on our table - all the more reason to cultivate a taste for local, argues Noble. Think local and seasonal, and what comes about naturally will be the creation of a distinctive and delicious local cuisine.
"The birth of a cuisine is a form of self-awareness," she writes in her breakthrough book.
Dale Ziech and Donna Denison
moved to Little Creek in 1984. Located on the west shores of Okanagan
Lake, the property has been in the Denison family for more than 60
years. Over the years, the couple cleared the forest and created Little
Creek Gardens, which has been Certified Organic since 1991. Dale grows
a variety of gourmet mixed greens, tomatoes, baby vegetables and edible
flowers. Little Creek Dressing was created by Donna in 1995 as a
"value-added" product to complement the salad greens grown by Dale. The
dressings are produced on site in their certified kitchen. Each recipe
includes farm fresh ingredients and country vinegars made at Little
Creek.
Heidi Noble
is a working winemaker, trained chef & sommelier and published
author. She is co-owner of Joie Wines in Naramata, BC, where she and
her husband Michael Dinn operate a five acre vineyard and winery.Heidi's book, Menus from an Orchard Table (Whitecap Books, May 2007) chronicles the development of Joie's Farm Cooking School and the famous Orchard Dinners which she and Michael ran under the stars for four summer seasons 2003-2006. With commemorative menus, Okanagan food producer profiles, and Joie's collection of recipes, the book demonstrates the Okanagan's potential to develop its own identity within the spectrum of BC's regional cuisines.
Farm Forward: The Food Chain in Transition is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 57th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, and others from a variety of creative fields.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Where Enquiring Minds Gather. Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Publishing, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.
05 Sep 2008
WAM at the Rotary Centre
Don't miss a minute...
A fabulous event such as the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival demands a fabulous evening of revelry to follow. Featuring live music, fabulous artwork, fantastic wine, and a funky, vibrant atmosphere, WAM! is the exclusive late night event to attend during this year's Wine Festival.
Come celebrate the Okanagan Wine Festival with WAM!
A fabulous event such as the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival demands a fabulous evening of revelry to follow. Featuring live music, fabulous artwork, fantastic wine, and a funky, vibrant atmosphere, WAM! is the exclusive late night event to attend during this year's Wine Festival.
Experience artists at work, sample locally produced artisan breads and cheeses and enjoy gourmet truffles paired with a delicious variety of fine Okanagan wines while partying the night away!
Voted the 'Best Cultural Attraction' this year by WestJet's Up! In-Flight Magazine, the Rotary Centre for the Arts is the perfect venue for family, friends and out-of-town guests to enjoy wine art and music in a casual, upbeat atmosphere.
Tickets to the event are $50 per guest and can be purchased by calling (250) 717.5304 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca. Ticket holders will also receive fifty WAM! dollars to be used during the event towards the purchase of any art or gift items from participating venues. Join us for this exclusive Saturday evening soiree and finish your Wine Festival experience off with a WAM!
About the Rotary Centre for the Arts
Located in the heart of Kelowna's Cultural District, the Rotary Centre for the Arts is a multi-disciplinary visual and performing arts centre and a rental venue providing enjoyment of a wide array of events and festivals. At the RCA, the community can experience artists and performers in action, and share in the excitement of developing and strengthening art and culture in the Okanagan.
29 Aug 2008
News from Minstrel Cafe & Bar
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27 Aug 2008
Master Gardener Basic Training Program
Sponsored by the Summerland Master GardenersThis program will appeal to enthusiastic home gardeners who wish to become volunteer gardening advisors with the Master Gardeners Association of BC. The intensive training program provides up-to-date information on all gardening basics.
Information Sessions: Nov 4th 7:00pm or Nov 8th 10am
KLO Baptist Church 1370 KLO Rd. Kelowna
Program Goals:
You will fill gaps in your gardening knowledge, learn where to find the answers to new challenges, meet other gardeners and prepare to share your love of gardening in your community. The program emphasizes environmentally responsible, sustainable gardening practices.
Program Format:
The program combines classroom instruction and volunteer hours. Classroom training (78 hours) is provided every Saturday for 3 months. The volunteer hours are individually scheduled over a two-year period.
Program Content:
Classroom component covering a full range of gardening topics such as:
• Botany and plant identification
• Soils, amendments and composting
• Lawns and their alternatives
• Right plant, right place
• Trees, shrubs, fruit trees, berries, roses, and perennials
• Sustainable landscape design
• Xeriscaping
• Organic vegetable gardening
• Diagnosis and management of pest, disease and weed problems
• Propagation and pruning
• Basic entomology and integrated pest management.
Volunteer component comprised of 70 volunteer hours over two years. On successful completion of the classroom component, students share their knowledge and passion about gardening with the community through volunteer hours, supported by experienced Master Gardeners.
Program Start Dates:
Spring 2009 (January 10). The Master Gardener Basic Training Program will be delivered in Kelowna.
Find Out More:
• Visit our website: www.summerlandornamentalgardens.org (Master Gardeners link)
• Contact us at mgp@summerlandornamentalgardens.org or
Kelowna: lorrie@telus.net; 250-769-3314; 1041 Westside Road, Kelowna BC, V1Z 3S1
31 Jul 2008
Minstrel Cafe Upcoming Events June 30 to July 4
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29 Jun 2008
The Story So Far Anniversary Celebration
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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION THE VALUE OF IDEAS
» Thursday 3 July 2008 | 4:30 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing the people and ideas featured in Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Join us as we celebrate our first year of critical and creative insight and discussion on topics and issues of import to the community. Hosts: Robert MacDonald & Karin Wilson.
» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
The Institute Celebrates a Year of Expression
We invite enquiring minds in the Okanagan to come together this week to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Okanagan Institute's Express program.
One year ago, the Okanagan Institute launched its popular Thursday afternoon Express series which feature members of the region's diverse cultural community talking about subjects as far ranging as growth and development, to artistic and creative expression, spirituality and the impact of the green movement on the building industry.
The Story So Far takes place 4:30 pm Thursday, July 3, at the Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard St. in Kelowna.
"We're hoping people will come out for an old-fashioned prairie-style social where they can mingle and remind each other of what we've heard, seen, learned and accomplished in the last year," said Institute founder and director Robert MacDonald. When the Express series started, there was no precedent for a café-style event with a regional flavour. MacDonald decided to pursue his vision regardless, wary it may not survive. But survive it has, now having hosted 47 events over the course of the last year.
More
than 70 presenters from throughout the Okanagan region and beyond have
taken time to share their expertise. We've played host to visual
artists, jewellery designers, musicians, animators, architects and
designers. We've heard from university professors and professional
story tellers. We've examined architecture, home building, interior
décor and green design. Some of the most distinguished writers in our
province - Harold Rhenisch, Sterling Haynes, Don Gayton, Ralph Milton,
Jack Whyte - have read from and discussed their works. We've generated
and invigorated discussion on food security, the future of our water,
and the future of development."What we've learned in the last year is that people in the Okanagan really want to talk about what is happening here without any political agenda. They want to hear new ideas, and they want to meet the people behind those ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. That's what we've done. And that's what we plan to keep doing in bigger and better ways." The Institute invites everyone who has ever attended or participated in the events to join the celebration, and the general public is welcome as well.
As part of the event, the Institute will be releasing a preview edition of our progress report - The Value of Ideas
- outlining our progress to date, the programs and projects we're
currently involved with or developing, and our plans for the coming
year. "We want people to know that we're here to stay and what we're thinking about for the future. Our weekly Express series will continue, and we plan to expand on that with more robust quarterly events designed to continue our goal of stimulating inquiring minds. We also intend to continue publishing literary chapbooks, have an exciting new community arts monograph at the printer right now, and are developing a number of other projects that further our mission," he said. "Our main objective is to reveal and enhance the expression of creativity and critical engagement in this valley. We're pleased with what we've accomplished so far, and wanted to celebrate that with a social occasion."
The Story So Far is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 47th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, and others from a variety of creative fields.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Publishing, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.
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Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.
28 Jun 2008
Food for Thought: Our Culinary Culture
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OUR CULINARY CULTURE
» Thursday 19 June 2008 | 4:30 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing the people and ideas featured in Okanagan Arts. Join us as we explore the often fertile, and sometimes troubling, role that the culinary plays in our lives and culture, with Cathyrn Wellner, Don Elzer, and David Bond.
» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
Sponsored by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Books, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna
THE LAND THAT FEEDS US:
Experts Examine Our Right to Eat Well
Food,
how it's made, and where we get it, has become a hotly debated topic.
From growing fears surrounding tainted meat and vegetables, to the
inaccurate labelling of food products, and the increasing interest in
locally-produced food -- food safety, security and sustainability have
hit the high note on the public agenda, and at the mealtime tables of
concerned citizens.But what does this mean in the Okanagan Valley where the agriculture may be rich, but agricultural land is increasingly under threat of being turned over from food crops to vineyards, golf courses and housing developments?
This Thursday, June 19 at 4:30 pm at the Bohemian Café, the Okanagan Institute Express examines these and other food-related issues with Food for Thought: Our Culinary Culture. Featuring three of the most forward-thinking people in our region - cultural ecologist Don Elzer, sustainable food advocate Cathryn Wellner, and David Bond, former chief economist of the Hong Kong Bank of Canada and current executive director of the Association of Grape Growers.
Don Elzer
has spent 25 years assisting businesses, communities, government,
individuals and organizations to develop tourism, learning and cultural
initiatives throughout BC and Canada. He has contributed to more than
50 strategic planning projects in Canada and the United States
including the Okanagan's Cultural Corridor Project and national
initiatives with the Canadian Tourism Commission. A syndicated
columnist in more than half a dozen Canadian newspapers and magazines,
Elzer is on demand for his insightful knowledge of both consumer and
cultural trends.Elzer fears that Okanagan residents are in danger of handing food production and distribution over to purely commercial interests. "It's our challenge here today, to discover the taste of the land, and to appreciate that taste as a precious resource unique to this "place". We need to foster what we have, and ensure that it's sustainable for our common good.
Cathyrn Wellner
retired this week as leader of the Food & Health Project with
Interior Health. As a community development consultant, she received
accolades for her work on the award-winning HEAL (Healthy Eating and
Active Living in Northern British Columbia), a diabetes prevention
program that takes a population health approach. A former cattle
rancher in the Cariboo, Wellner has spent more than 20 years as a
professional storyteller touring Canada, the U.S., Europe and the U.K.
In 2006 she was a featured presenter at the 58th Annual Conference on
World Affairs. Cathyrn is a passionate advocate for food safety and
common sense.Keeping land for food production isn't a simple matter, says Wellner. Sky-high land values have put farming at risk. She advocates the creation of municipality-owned land leased to farmers, among other solutions. "We've got to get serious about food, and we can't penalize our farmers for that," says the former cattle rancher. "I woke up one day and realized I was subsidizing the food system. That isn't right."
David Bond
was born in Hamilton Ontario and earned his doctorate in economics at
Yale University. The former chief economist of the Hong Kong Bank of
Canada, he has served in various federal government departments
including Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Statistics Canada and the
Ministry of State for Economic Development. He settled in the Kelowna
area and now serves as executive director of the Association of BC Wine
Growers. He also serves on the board of the BC Wine Institute and the
Canadian Vintners' Association. A witty and erudite thinker and
speaker, David's broad-based knowledge and experience is matched by his
passion for the arts and ideas.Bond says the valley is a hot bed for culinary tourism and the harvest to our economic prosperity is ripe for the picking. "Tourism in the Okanagan used to be peaches and beaches, but nowadays it's a different orientation that's taking place towards the wine and cultural events and we've improved on that tremendously."
These three dedicated, passionate and intelligent people bring their considerable experience to bear on these issues. They propose a number of things that we need to think about, propose to our legislators, and promote in our communities to ensure that our food future is as rich as the soil that produces it. Sustainability is in all our best interests. Join us for an engaging, exciting and lively presentation.
Food for Thought: Our Culinary Culture is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 45th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, and others from a variety of creative fields.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Books, UBCO Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, and supports the work of Project Literacy Kelowna.
17 Jun 2008
Professional Chef and Dancer Start a Unique Business in the Okanagan Valley
Kelowna based food preparation and Entertainment Company known as the Dancing Chefs is proud to announce the start of their unique business here in the Okanagan Valley. World known authors Miriam Cunha (Yonisha) a dance instructor and performer, and professional Chef and performer Robert Rohloff, who are Kelowna residents have combined their exceptional talents and have come up with an in-home and office service business that combines, private cooking lessons, dance classes, weekly meal preparation for busy families, professionals, and the elderly. They also offer interactive cooking or dance parties for adults and children, and customized special dinners or intimate and theme parties hosted in the home or office.Dancing Chefsí goal is to help clients to make their lives easier and enjoyable through their special arts. Their services will help people throughout the Okanagan Valley to obtain nutritious meals and a unique way of keeping fit through participating in dance.
Dancing Chefs has also come up with the distinctive idea to offer packages to Kelowna companies as employee incentives and year-end bonuses for their staff. They think this just might me the way for companies to attract new workers and keep the staff they have in high spirits.
Miriam Cunha is a dance instructor of many styles of dance that include Belly Dance, Salsa, Latin, Brazilian, and Gypsy, and she teaches for the city of Kelowna and at the Okanagan College.
Cunha and Rohloff just lately received the good news that their Belly Dance Anthology book (Stories from Inside the Mirror.) will be carried in the Kelowna library, and they have recently joined with other Brazilian musicians to form a Brazilian Band in Kelowna that you will hear a lot about in the near future.
For further information, contact Miriam or Robert at (250) 448-5523 or email them at info@dancingchefs.com to answer any questions you might have, or visit their websites at http://www.dancingchefs.com and http://www.yonisha.com.
Cunha and Rohloff also just lately received the good news that their Belly Dance Anthology book (Stories from Inside the Mirror.) will be carried in the Kelowna library.
For further information, contact Miriam or Robert at (250) 448-5523 or email them at info@dancingchefs.com to answer any questions you might have.
21 Apr 2008
WEST (Wine Education Series of Tastings) Tickets on Sale Now!
The BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop presents WEST, the Wine Education Series of Tastings, beginning April 3rd at the Laurel Packinghouse, 1304 Ellis Street. WEST is a wine education program that combines the natural elements of food and wine in an interactive and casual environment. WEST events often feature special guests from inside the wine industry who always bring a new and entertaining twist to wine appreciation. Hosted by Julianna Hayes, WEST is for everyone, from novice to connoisseur. Slow Food and the Art of Eating is the first WEST event, on April 3rd at 7:00pm. Discover the joys of slow food, steeped in the values of local culinary traditions and the use of fresh, local products. Chefs Cameron Smith and Dana Ewart of Joy Road Catering will serve up a selection of exceptional dishes prepared using the freshest seasonal Okanagan ingredients. Each dish will be paired with a BC VQA wine which has been specially selected by your WEST host, Julianna Hayes.
Fresh and seasonal are the key elements to the slow food movement which emphasizes local agriculture and sustainability. ìSince our early days selling baking at the local farmerís market, Joy Road Catering has primarily used local ingredients for the simple reason that fresh tastes better,î says Ewart, ìAnd while socially-responsible food sourcing allows our customers to enjoy the local bounty at the height of ripeness, it also sustains the farmers and artisans who represent the agricultural heritage of the Okanagan.î
Tickets for Slow Food and the Art of Eating are $35 ($30 for Kelowna Museums members).
The next WEST event will be the Spring Wine Fest Warm-up on May 1, followed by Pass the Winemaker on June 5. For tickets and information please call (250)868-0441.
Buy a Season Pass now for only $105 ($90 for Kelowna Museums members). A Season Pass buys you admission to all three events in the Spring or Fall series and saves you $15.
The BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop is a facility of the Kelowna Museums Society, a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to a greater awareness of the agricultural, wine-producing, military, and cultural heritages of the Okanagan. The BC Wine Museum is located at 1304 Ellis Street, inside the Laurel Packinghouse at the corner of Ellis and Cawston in Kelownaís Cultural District. Open Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm. Admission is by donation. For more information please visit www.KelownaMuseums.ca.
18 Mar 2008
Arts Council of the Central Okanagan OPEN STUDIOS
Remember! The application deadline is March 1, 2008 Only 13 days left
Donít be the one that is left out!
Open Studios is a valuable marketing tool and an important part of the Okanagan Arts magazine and website. Participation in the Opens Studios will reach over 60,000 people per annum in the Okanagan.
Please note: Even if you have been involved in other Open Studios, you will still need to apply on line so that we can up-date your information.
For details on the new Opens Studios and the application details, go to the Open Studios section of the Okanagan Arts website:http://www.okanaganarts.com/openstudios.php
Remember! The deadline is March 1, 2008
19 Feb 2008
