Some of the most prestigious names in French wine will be paired with some of Whistler?s finest restaurants on Sept. 8 for a tasting/luncheon in the Glacier Room at Whistler Mountain?s Roundhouse Lodge.
Select Wine Merchants, under the auspices of the French Trade Commission, is bringing Christian Pol Roger of Champagne Pol Roger, Francois Faiveley of Bourgognes Faiveley, Etienne Hugel of Hugel and Fils, Nicolas Jaboulet of Paul Jaboulet Ainé, Jean-Michel Chartron of Chartron & Trébuchet, Jean-Charles Remy-Verdier of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, and Alain Royer of A. de Fussigny, to Whistler.
Each principal/owner will be pouring some of their best vintages paired with regional French cuisine made by 12 of Whistler?s top restaurants. The participating Whistler restaurants are: Araxi, Aubergine Grille, Bavaria Restaurant, Bearfoot Bistro, Chef Bernard?s Café, Hy?s, Il Caminetto, La Rúa, Les Deux Gros, Val d?Isere, Whistler-Blackcomb, and the Wildflower.
Some of the wines that will be poured are: Pol Roger?s Brut Reserve, Hugel?s Gewurztraminer 1999, Faiveley?s Chambertin "Close de Beze" 1990, Jaboulet?s Hermitage "La Chapelle" 1988, Rothschild?s Mouton Cadet Reserve 1998, and Alain Royer?s A. de Fussigny "Ebony Blend" Cognac.
The reception goes from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $65, available through Whistler Mountain?s Guest Relations.
The tour will continue with tastings and receptions in Vancouver,
Keg celebrating 30 years
Keg restaurants across Canada are celebrating their 30 th anniversary through September by bringing back menu favourites from over the years and culminating with a cross-country Kegger alumni night in all Kegs on Sept. 24.
George Tidball opened the first Keg and Cleaver restaurant in North Vancouver in 1971 with a simple menu of steaks, prime rib and a salad bar. Success came quickly and more restaurants were opened, including Whistler?s first Keg restaurant, at Adventures West ? one of a chain of 80 Kegs.
The Whistler Keg was the social centre of Whistler in the early ?70s, before the village was built. In addition to serving food it was the hottest nightclub in town. The DJ booth was in the rafters of the building and DJs, including John Colpitts, used to lower a basket down to the dance floor on a string to collect music requests from the nightclub crowd.
Once the village plans were finalized the new Keg at the Mountain was one of the first buildings to be built. The original Keg was loaded on a truck and moved very slowly up Lorimer Road to become municipal hall.
The new Keg at the Mountain was almost completed when fire broke out on Jan. 13, 1982. It was the largest fire the Whistler Fire Department had ever had to deal with, but it was contained to the one building.
However, the building was completely gutted. It was two years before it was rebuilt and the Keg reopened.
Keg restaurants have always had a loyal, fun-loving staff, so the Sept. 24 alumni night should bring together some lively people and great memories.
