Even an early rain shower could not dampen the fun and festivities for the 7th annual Similkameen BBQ King event, hosted by the Similkameen Wineries Association at the historic Grist Mill & Gardens in Keremeos on July 9, 2016.
Caroline Cottrill, President of the Similkameen Wineries Association, explained the event. “This truly unique Similkameen wine and food experience featured 3 main chefs who competed for the coveted title of Similkameen BBQ King/Queen and 6 local chefs who competed for the title of Best Small Bites. This was a year of variety and choice as each chef created unique dishes from a broad basket of goods that included organic ingredients from local farmers in the heart of Canada’s organic capital. We were also pleased to have Jr. Chefs from the Okanagan Chefs Association join the BBQ King/Queen competing teams this year.”
The event was judged by a panel of food and wine expert including head judge, Andrew Morrison of Scout Magazine. The judges chose the winners for 4 categories of awards, and attending guests cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Adair Scott from Watermark Beach Resort was crowned 2016 Similkameen BBQ King. Adair also won the Best Plating award. He and his team served house made pork sausage with Blood Alley beer and bacon baked beans, aged cheddar and chili beer bread, apricot ketchup and cherry mustard.
James Holmes of Craft Corner Kitchen won People’s Choice award for best food. James served guests beef tagliata 24 hour soaked tri tip with a pickled cherry, pepper grilled peach and roasted beet.
Brenda Marunchak and the kitchen crew at the Grist Mill and Gardens won best Small Bite and Most Creative Dish serving guests cherry smoked Osoyoos Lake salmon, cream cheese and fresh local herbs on a hand-made cracker made with Grist Mill ground flour, topped with a calendula leaf from their edible flower garden.
Guests were provided with suggested wine pairings but were encouraged to enjoy any of the fantastic wines and ciders from the wineries and cidery of the Similkameen Wineries Association throughout the evening. Guests also enjoyed live entertainment provided by Aiden Mayes and Mandy Cole, and were able to bid on amazing items at the silent auction, which was a partial fundraiser for the Grist Mill.
Similkameen BBQ King competing chefs were:
• Adair Scott, Executive Chef, Watermark Beach Resort
• Shayna Merritt, and Josh Shulman, Shayna & Shulman Culinary Adventures/Smugglers Smoke House
• James Holmes, Chef Partner at Craft Corner Kitchen
Small bites competing chefs were:
• Rick Chaicomdee, Benja Thai
• Kirsten Steele, The Wrong Turn
• Traci and Brian Russell, Branding Iron
• Andrew Wurz and Stéphan Cantavénéra, Tree To Me
• Harker family, Harker’s Organics
• Brenda Marunchak and team, The Grist Mill and Gardens
Cottrill concluded, “We want to thank the many people who make this event successful including judges, our sponsors, the chefs and wineries, the farmers and all of the volunteers and the staff at the Grist Mill.”
The Similkameen is one of the hot spots for grape and fruit wine and cider in British Columbia, Canada. It was named by enRoute Magazine as one of the world’s 5 Best Wine Regions You’ve Never Heard Of! The Similkameen Wineries Association is a collective of 10 wineries and a cidery located in Cawston and Keremeos in the Similkameen Valley including Cerelia, Clos du Soleil, Corcelettes, EauVivre, Forbidden Fruit, Hugging Tree, Orofino, Robin Ridge, Rustic Roots, Seven Stones and Twisted Hills Craft Cider. For more information on the Similkameen Wineries Association or any of its fine award-winning wineries and cidery, visit www.similkameenwine.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
For further information, please contact:
Sara Crockett
Marketing Director
Similkameen Wineries Association
250.499.6776
www.SimilkameenWine.com
