Whistler, B.C. – Tickets are selling quickly with just one day remaining before Cornucopia, Whistler’s annual celebration of food + drink begins, offering a diverse selection of experiences sure to appeal to every palate and budget.
Now in its 24th year, Cornucopia 2020 features a reimagined format in compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols. Health and safety has been the highest priority for organizers as they worked with partners and officials to curate this collection of food and drink offerings.
“We have worked diligently to ensure the health and safety protocols put in place adhere to the provincial health orders,” says Cornucopia’s executive director, Sue Eckersley. “With continued input from Vancouver Coastal Health we have set plans, and are exceeding the current regulations that are in place. We look forward to producing an exceptional experience that is fun, tasty and safe.”
Beginning November 6, and continuing over “extended” weekends until November 29th, Cornucopia includes a wide-ranging selection of small, intimate ticketed experiences including drink seminars, new Paired Dinners as well as a selection of offerings throughout resort restaurants.
The toughest decision will be how to fit it all in!
The first weekend launches the aforementioned new-to-the-schedule Paired Dinners. Though Friday’s opening dinner is sold-out, tickets remain available for Saturday’s Paired Dinner, a four-course plant-based dinner from Modern Meat with Lillooet’s Fort Berens Estate Winery. On Sunday, November 7 Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery partners up for mid-day Paired Luncheon with Vancouver’s Homer St. Café and the evening’s Paired Dinner with Whistler’s own Stonesedge Kitchen.
Chef Neal Harkins, executive chef for the Whistler Conference Centre returns to the schedule with six paired dinners this year. Five of these dinners partner with B.C. wineries from Vancouver Island and the Okanagan. For those looking for something different, look no further than Chef Harkin’s multi-course paired dinner with The Dalmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky or The Beauty and The Bane Paired Tasting featuring single cask whiskies.
Additional Paired Dinners include Cibo Trattoria’s Chef Jesse Zuber, Pemberton’s Barn Nork Thai Cuisine and last but certainly not least; Cornucopia’s closing dinner with The Bearfoot Bistro.
Drink Seminars complete this year’s calendar with over 45 tastings including gin, whiskey, craft beer and wines from B.C. and around the world. Here are just a few of the highlights taking place each weekend.
The Bones of Meat & Drink Pairing with Oyama Sausage Co. highlights the incredible flavour synergies between pairing charcuterie with beer and wine, exploring the range of drink options that can enhance the smoky, salty, or savoury character of the meat.
Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton and Lillooet are homes to award-winning craft adult beverages. Sample them all conveniently in one place at Local Legends: Beer, Cider, Wine & Spirits from the Sea to Sky – Lillooet.
Cool Climate, Cool Kitsch Wines seminar brings together Kitsch Winery’s new winemaker Graham Pierce and Kurtis Kolt, wine consultant, writer, and competition judge for a unique opportunity to taste through a curated selection of East Kelowna Rieslings & Pinot Noirs.
Sustainability is a priority for most people in today’s world and the wine industry is no different. Join the Grand Crew Collective at their first-ever appearance at Cornucopia for the Grand Crew Collective seminar. The Collective is an organization of wineries fiercely committed to sustainable farming and small-lot winemaking. Winemakers from the Grand Crew will lead a guided tasting of their wines including Black Market Wine Co. (Kaleden), Nagging Doubt Winery (Kelowna), Niche Wine Co. (West Kelowna), Tender Hope Winery (Kelowna), and Winemaker's CUT (Oliver).
Whatever your plans may be, the countdown is on to get your tickets to Whistler’s Cornucopia celebration of food and drink. Stay 2 Nights + Friday evening paired dinner package starts at $128 per person, per night.
For more information on the health and safety protocols, Cornucopia’s Covid-19 response, tickets and accommodation be sure to visit www.whistlercornucopia.com.
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Cornucopia, presented by BlueShore Financial is Whistler’s Celebration of Food + Drink. The dazzling eleven-day display of gourmet food and drink attracts over 15,000 visitors to the resort and caters to everyone from amateur enthusiasts to aficionados. Respected industry professionals, judges and presenters headline each event, seminar and tasting, offering the best possible opportunity to garner as much information and insight as possible. Held on the cusp of the opening of each ski season in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia, Cornucopia was designed to showcase and support local restaurants, restaurateurs and the food and wine industry. With wide-spread appeal through the immense variety of events available, the festival is truly a food and drink festival with a Whistler attitude.
Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.
Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.944.7853 and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.
Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.
Media Contacts
Mary Zinck Manager, Travel Media E: mzinck@tourismwhistler.com
Tania Sear Manager, Travel Media E: tsear@tourismwhistler.com
W: www.whistlercornucopia.com/media T: @CornucopiaWine F: @WhistlerCornucopia I: @cornucopiawhistler
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