The 16th annual Telus Winter
Classic ensures ski teams will work up an appetite on the race course during
the day, then wine and dine with the best of B.C. in the evening at Whistler
Winetastic! at the Westin Resort and the Elements of B.C. Grand Gala at the
Roundhouse on Whistler Mountain.
I guess former Aubergine
Grille executive chef Darren Brown couldn't plate enough heart of palm to keep
his homesickness for Las Vegas at bay. He lasted only a few months before
heading out for sunnier skies. Fortunately, Hans Stierli, the prior executive
chef to Brown, was able to satisfy his traveling jitters and after visiting
other culinary talents around Europe, he decided to return home to Whistler to
assume his place at head of Westin Resort dining and the Aubergine Grille.
The Swiss-born chef
immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1987. Eight years of working as sous
chef in a variety of hotels and restaurants in Switzerland were ripped away on
Canadian soil where Stierli was forced to work as a mere "cook"
because of the language barrier. However, in a matter of months, he began what
would become a long relationship with Westin hotels, first sharpening his
knives as a sous chef at the Westin Hotel in Winnipeg in 1987. Now, two decades
later, after opening the Malta Westin and the Whistler Westin, Stierli returned
from his European getaway to plate his adventures on a new menu for the
Aubergine Grille.
While diners await the new
menu, Stierli — along with support from Aria Foods — has orchestrated a swish
and snack lineup for Whistler Winetastic! An Evening of International Wines and
Cheese. More than 20 wine agents will pour a broad selection of roughly 150
wines for guests to taste as they swirl and sample perfect bites. A few
highlights include an artisan cheese display with candied nuts and dried
fruits; Swiss cheese raclette with organic potatoes, pickled vegetables,
gherkins and pickled onions; scallop and Mexican prawn on Yukon mashed potato
with bouillabaisse broth; and every girl's dream: a five-tiered chocolate
fountain with marshmallows, biscotti and lady fingers for dipping.
More than 700 guests will
also be free to mingle through the artist gallery as well as purchase raffle
tickets for the Instant Wine Cellar. Mountain FM's Mike Ciccone and his new
wife (former Mountain FM host Rebecca Hall), will host the evening with live
jazz from Rajan Das and the Das Trio.
Tickets are $55.
Proceeds from the evening
benefit the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation. Since 1992, the foundation has
donated more than $4.2 million to Sea to Sky charities and non-profits.
The Grand Gala is the grand
finale of the weekend with entertainment taking a starring role over food. The
best of B.C. will be showcased at the buffet food stations perfect for casual
mingling. The Elements of B.C.: Earth, Air, Fire and Water is the theme for
this year's party, which creative team Cary and Paulo Lopes will build on with
elaborate decorations, installments and body painting. In addition to live art,
dancers and performance artists, EMI recording artist Ali Milner will play out
a swank evening on piano until the big band sounds of Famous Players gets
everyone onto the dance floor. Local celebrity Steve Podborksi will host the
evening, which also includes both live and silent auctions.
Tickets for the Whistler
Blackcomb Foundation fundraising gala are $150, and sell out quickly.
For tickets, call
604-938-7321 or visit www,whistlerblackcomb.com/wbfoundation.
Patriotic snags on the
barbie
Food brings people together,
giving them a common bond.
At Christmas there is
fruitcake and stuffing. At Easter, roast turkey and chocolate eggs; and at
Australia Day celebrations, it’s snags grilled up on the barbie.
Join LUNA and celebrate
Australia Day with a Sausage Sizzle on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Zogs.
Sausages, or as the Aussies
call them snags, will be grilled on the Zogs barbecue in Mountain Square by the
Longhorn from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or until Zogs runs out.
A sausage sizzle is an
Australian tradition with barbecued sausage wrapped in sliced bread with tomato
sauce (ketchup) and fried onions.
Forget the arnotts, tim tams
and burger rings. Forget the twisties, milo and vegemite. For 2008, Aussie Day
is the year of the snag.
The Sausage Sizzle is a
common fundraiser Down Under, so LUNA, with the help of Zogs is taking up the
ketchup bottle in Whistler with one dollar from each sausage sold going towards
other LUNA events. LUNA, which stands for Late Unique Nighttime Alternatives,
is a non-profit organization that hosts weekly alcohol-free events for youth.
Visit www.lunawhistler.ca to learn more about other events such as drop-in
sports, the jam lounge and free yoga. Events are generally cheaper than a fancy
latte. On Australia Day, LUNA's fundraising sausages with all the fixings will
be $4.
