Touring, Sipping, Hot Tubbing and Singing: Your August Wine & Farm Tour!

Check out this event that sounds good enough to make me change my travel plans to be out at KeriGlen on the August long weekend!

I found these tours on Edible BC which is a great site for info on food and adventures for the West Coast and the Okanangan. 

1.6 MILE DINNER Click here for last year's menu
A unique celebration of the beauty of the Similkameen Valley in all her forms. The evening will consist of a six course meal consisting of only the best foods provided by artisan producers from within a 1.6 mile radius of Orofino Winery.  Each course will be expertly crafted by chef Darin Patterson, chef and owner of Bogner’s of Penticton (recently named the top chef in the South Okanagan region by Okanagan Life Magazine!). Delectable surprises, unique produce and world-class flavours will be paired with Orofino`s best wines.
Please join us in our beautiful winery courtyard for an enchanted evening of fine dining, remarkable wine, and good company!
Dates: Saturday, July 31<sup>st</sup> and Saturday, August 1<sup>st</sup>
Time: Welcoming wine and canapé`s at 5:30. Dinner to follow.
Tickets: $125 per person. Contact Orofino at (250)499-0068 or Orofino@nethop.net for reservations
This is a fundraising event for Cawston’s Kobau Community Park.


FARM TOUR
The connection between food production and food consumption will be  clearly illustrated in this unique opportunity for those looking for a true localvore experience. Tour the farms of Cawston, the official “organic capital of Canada” and meet the farmers that grow the world-class produce being used in the 1.6 Mile Dinner that evening. Join John Weber, proprietor and winemaker of Orofino Winery as he takes you on a tour of some of his unique neighbourhood producers. Chef Darin Patterson will prepare a tasty bite at each property visited using the farm’s produce in a special way. Listen to the stories of the farmers and gain intimate knowledge of food production in the Similkameen Valley.
This is an excellent opportunity for those staying in Penticton for the weekend who want to participate in the 1.6 Mile Dinner at Orofino without worrying about transportation to and from the event.

ITINERARY
NOON:  Meet at Bogner’s of Penticton restaurant in Penticton for a gourmet lunch prepared by Darin and his staff. Darin will talk of his commitment to using locql food in his restaurant. Tour his restaurant property to see his gardens that supply the produce for his menu offerings.
BUS TO CAWSTON (40 minutes)
TOUR AND TASTE: Visit Cawston’s unique producers and explore the beautiful Similkameen Valley with Orofino owner/winemaker John Weber. Get first-hand experience on the farm. Chef Darin will host a special tasting at each stop. We promise a few surprises!
1.6 MILE DINNER: Orofino’s signature event. Enjoy world-class scenery with an amazing 6 course dinner using only food that is produced within 1.6 miles of the Orofino property. It is an amazing evening of celebrating the Similkameen and its producers.
RETURN TO PENTICTON BY BUS (approximately 11pm)
DATE: Sunday, August 1^st, 2010. Farm tour option is only offered on this day!
TICKETS: $275 per person all inclusive
CONTACT: (250)499-0068 or Orofino@nethop.net
NOTE: Seating is limited for the farm tour. It is an all-inclusive event. Let us take care of everything from noon until late that night!

Sounds fun doesn't it! 

After the tour though, I would love nothing better that to sit in the KeriGlen hot tub, sipping a 2009 Orofino style Reisling while looking at the city lights reflected on the lake and listening to The Fifth Dimension and that old classic, "Sweet Blindness".

The Season is Upon Us

What do you find 2 minutes down the road from KeriGlen that helps you overcome jet lag, improves your memory, and slows down aging? 
Fred and Beautiful Guest Picking At Elsie's Orchard 

 Well, I suppose you are correct if you said wine, because we all know that it actually is a health food, but it’s even easier than that. In fact all you have to do is walk south down the road from KeriGlen, and there is the orchard that Elsie rented last year….turn right then reach up and pick…

Yes you are right if you guessed the lovely and sensuous cherry. The season is starting right away here in Penticton. Here are your choices that Fred & Elsie will help you navigate the:

Okanagan Cherry Varieties

Rainier Cherries - The 'Princess' of cherries are a large sweet cherry with a red blush similar to the Royal Ann cherry. These types of cherries are firm, with a clear to light yellow flesh, a fine texture and distinct sweet flavor. These are my favorite for eating straight from the tree. You may have to look for hand printed signs on lawns of neighbours that invite you into their backyard to pick by the bucket as these trees are harder to find.

The Van Cherry is another popular cherry fruit that has been grown in the Okanagan for a very long time.

Van cherries are a medium size fruit, slightly smaller than a bing, but are very firm black color, and they are oh, such a sweet cherry. Van's are usually available in the Okanagan at the end of June or early July, and like most sweet cherries, Van's are generally best eaten fresh.

These cherries are also excellent for canning, and in your favorite yummy cherry recipes like cherry cobbler! Put these in your cooler and they will last on your road trip home to can later.

At one time Bing Cherries were the most popular of all the varieties of cherries grown in the Okanagan Valley.

These sweet cherries are extra large in size, slightly heart-shaped cherries with a deep maroon color, and a delicious, sweet wonderful flavor. Bings are one of the common types of cherries that you will find in grocery stores and supermarkets.

It's a good idea to store fully ripe Bing cherries in the fridge, because once they ripen, they will only last a few days. 

Many people prefer Bing cherries fresh, but they are also excellent for cherry recipes such as jams, jellies and preserves, in cherry pie recipes, and desserts like a delicious cherry cobbler recipe. They are one of the most versatile types of cherries around! From http://www.okanaganvacationguide.com/types-of-cherries.html

WHAT WE PICKED LAST JULY!

Come back here for more varieties of cherries as they ripen. Right now I need to spread some of Elsie’s delicious cherry jam on my scone…

Happy Canada Day from Elsie & Fred at KeriGlen Bed & Breakfast

Uploaded on July1, 2010
by Through Tania's Eyes

To see more photos of the Okanagan click here:http://www.flickr.com/groups/okanaganvalley/

What would you like to do around KeriGlen this summer?

Check out some diverse and fun activities..from Rihanna to car shows to art auctions to theatre under the stars...or even climbing the bluffs!

http://www.yourpentictonguide.com/local-events.html