THIRD ANNUAL DEVOUR! OSOYOOS FOOD FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO WATERMARK BEACH RESORT

Celebration for foodies and film buffs to take place in the
South Okanagan June 15th – 17th, 2018
Devour! The Food Film Fest returns to Osoyoos this summer, bringing with it an exciting ensemble of celebrated chefs from around the country, who will be cooking up delicious, film-inspired plates over an action-packed three-day celebration. Taking place from Friday June 15th – Sunday June 17th 2018, the third annual event will be hosted by founding partner Watermark Beach Resort in collaboration with Similkameen Independent Winegrowers and Devour! Wolfville.

 

Devour!, the world’s largest culinary film festival, was founded in Nova Scotia in 2009 by the acclaimed Chef Michael Howell as a tribute to all things cinema, food and wine. 2016 saw the event make its cross-country debut at the serene lakeside setting of Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos, and since then, has become a yearly tradition for the South Okanagan community, dedicated to embracing the region’s bountiful natural ingredients and world-class wineries.

 

This year, Devour! Osoyoos is back and better than ever, offering a wide variety of fun-filled events perfectly suited to food and film fanatics. Friday, June 15th will kick off the festivities with a welcome BBQ reception featuring Watermark’s very own Chef Adair Scott and Jeff Van Geist of the local Tinhorn Creek Miradoro restaurant, followed by an after-party at local favourite, Jojo’s; the Osoyoos hotspot for handcrafted pastries, live music and comradery.

 

 

Saturday brings some of Canada’s top chefs to the spotlight, including Chef Roy Johnson of Watermark Beach Resort, Chef Joanne Muirhead, of Jojo’s Café, Devour!Founder Chef Michael Howell, Chef Paul Cecconi, of Penticton based Brodo, The Table at Codfathers’ Executive Chef and Owner, Ross Derek, Similkameen Valley based Chef Janice Uebelhardt, and Executive Culinary Chef Instructor at Vancouver’s Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Darren Clay, as they duke it out in the fiercely competitive Chowder Smackdown. A portion of ticket sales from the event will be donated to the Lower Similkameen Community Fund, an affiliated fund of the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen and the official charity of Devour! Osoyoos, which is a permanent endowment fund that supports all charitable endeavours in the Similkameen Valley, providing lasting support for local community needs. The event will be followed by a curated series of wine education seminars hosted by Similkameen Valley wine and cider producers, touching on topics ranging from the best varietals of the area to cider production.

 

The highlight of Saturday evening will be marked by an exclusive gala dinner in which participating chefs will showcase their creative, screen-inspired dishes along with expertly paired wines with the Similkameen Independent Winegrowers. Darren Clay and Corcelettes Estate Winery’s, Charlie Baessler, will kick off the delicious five-course feast and wine pairings followed by Big White Ski Resort’s Executive Chef, Rob Walker, who will be working alongside Clos du Soleil’s Winemaker, Mike Clark. Together with George Hanson, of Seven Stones, Chef Adair Scott will lend his culinary talents to create the third course while Executive Chef of Heritage Asian Eatery, and recent contender on Top Chef Canada, Felix Zhou, will invent an inspired entrée that will be expertly paired with, Orofino Winemaker, John Weber’s choice of varietal. Alongside Bruce Ewert, of L’Acadie Vineyards, Michael Howell will satiate sugar cravings with the final dessert course. Sunday morning will conclude the weekend in comfort and style with a Long Table Breakfast in Watermark Beach Resort’s lakefront restaurant.

 

 

“We are absolutely thrilled to see Devour!return to the beautiful South Okanagan for the third year running,” says General Manager and VP of Business Development at Watermark Beach Resort, Ingrid Jarrett. “As founding partner of Devour! Osoyoos, we are so proud to continue hosting the festival, which enables us to celebrate our beloved region and the outstanding culinary and wine that is produced here every year.”

 

Charlie Baessler, President of the Similkameen Independent Winegrowers says, “We are excited to be part of this unique festival and share the rare terroir of the Similkameen Wine region. Pairing our wines with food created by chefs inspired by film, elevates the overall sensory experience that’s always a hit with our guests.”
Watermark Beach Resort is offering exclusive rates and packages for stays during Devour!, including the VIP All Access Pass that provides admission to the Friday reception and after-party, Saturday Chowder Smackdown, Saturday Evening Gala and Sunday Long Table Breakfast ($210 plus tax, no occupancy). Guests can also upgrade to the Complete Weekend Package, adding on two-nights accommodation (rates starting from $369 plus tax); or can opt for the Room Only Special, starting from $179 plus tax and based on double occupancy.

 

To book a Devour! Osoyoos 2018 weekend package at Watermark Beach Resort, please visit www.watermarkbeachresort.com or call 1.888.755.3480. For more information on Devour! The Food Film Fest visit: www.devourfest.com
About Devour! The Food Film Fest
Devour! The Food Film Fest is an international festival celebrating cinema, food and wine culture. The five-day festival takes place in the culinary epicenter of Nova Scotia – the town of Wolfville, Kings County. The festival is an experiential celebration of food on film, the culture of food and the dramatic impact it has on our day-to-day lives. The eighth annual event runs in Halifax, NS, from October 24 – 28, 2018www.devourfest.com

 

About Watermark Beach Resort

Watermark Beach Resort is one of the Okanagan’s leading destination resorts. Located in Osoyoos, BC, Watermark is a stunning five-hour drive from Vancouver and Seattle, a two-hour drive from Kelowna International Airport, and a 45-minute drive from Penticton regional airport. Situated in Canada’s most unique desert landscape, visitors can take advantage of the country’s driest climate with the lowest annual rainfall. The lakeside resort’s amenities include extraordinary suites (complete with gourmet kitchens), the award-winning Restaurant at Watermark, hot tubs, steam rooms, an outdoor heated pool, waterslide, spa, onsite wellness team and facilities, Yoga, Pilates, SUP and more. www.watermarkbeachresort.com

 

About the Similkameen Independent Winegrowers 
The Similkameen Independent Winegrowers Association is a non-profit association with the goal of advancing awareness and understanding of the Similkameen wine region. The 12 Members are Clos du Soleil Winery, Corcelettes Estate Winery, Eau Vivre Winery, Forbidden Fruit Winery, Hugging Tree Winery, Liber Farm and Winery, Orofino, Robin Ridge Winery, Rustic Roots Winery, Seven Stones Winery, Twisted Hills Craft Cider, Vanessa Vineyard Estate Winery.  The Similkameen Independent Winegrowers are dedicated to creating exceptional wines and ciders that express our rare terroir.  For further information please contact Sara Crockett, Marketing Director at info@nullsimilkameenwine.com or 250-499-6776 or visit our website at www.similkameenwine.com.

About Osoyoos

At the gateway to the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys lie Canada’s only desert, and the lakeside town of Osoyoos. A year-round destination, sunny Osoyoos offers something for everyone, including beaches, swimming, golfing, boating, fishing, wineries, fine dining and more. www.destinationosoyoos.com

Leave a Comment

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial