SOLD OUT
Sip ‘n Shuck your way through one of the best food events in Nova Scotia. Taste our local aquaculture products prepared in standard, not so standard, and unimaginably delicious ways – paired with our award-winning Nova Scotia wines. Get ready to treat your taste buds to a Nova Scotia kitchen party.

Learn how to shuck an oyster, get wine pairing tips from a sommelier and enjoy live entertainment!

Date: Friday, January 27, 2012
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Delta Halifax, Baronet Ballroom
Cost: $40+HST/ticket
For more information and to buy tickets: Call the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS) at (902)422-6234 or aans@eastlink.ca.

Presented by: AANS, Delta Barrington & Halifax, Discovermussels.com, Nova Scotia department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Wines of Nova Scotia

An Exclusive Dining Experience: Governors Pub & Eatery in Sydney, Cape Breton, will be hosting a wine club event on Saturday, January 28.

Discover how wine-pairing enhances your dining experience and understand how different foods and flavours can bring out the best in a wine – and your food. The evening will include a five-course dinner prepared by executive chef Ardon Mofford and Nova Scotia wines from Domaine de Grand Pre and Jost Vineyards presented by Harvest Wines sommelier Jonathan Wilson. Click here for reservation information and the menu.

The 2012 festival marks the fifth annual  Nova Scotia Winter Icewine Festival. Between February 2-12, celebrate Nova Scotia’s internationally award-winning Icewines. Sample Icewine paired with local cuisine, learn how Icewine is made, try your hand at pruning or book a Winter Icewine Experience Getaway. Nova Scotia winemakers and some of the province’s finest chefs come together to celebrate their passion for local food and wine during the Winter Icewine Festival.

With over 40 events taking place over 10 days – there is something for everyone!

Visit www.nsicewinefestival.ca to learn more.

November 17, 18 & 19, 2011

For the second year running, Taste of Nova Scotia member Trattoria della Nonna in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia will be hosting a weekend long White Truffle Festival.

The elusive white truffle, foraged by hand in Italy, will be the star in nearly every dish throughout the weekend. In addition to a truffle infused tasting menu, diners will have the option of adding sliced white truffle to any dish on the menu including gelato!

Chef Terry Vassallo will be preparing a number special menu items such as, risotto with caramelized celery root, prosecco, duck stock, Grana Padano and fresh white truffle or pizza with carbonara sauce, provolone, and Parmesan, shaved white truffle.

Due to the popularity of this festival, reservations are required and can be made by calling: (902) 640-3112.

Thursday, November 10th, 2011, 7:00pm, Wolfville Farmers’ Market

Tickets $59 (PURCHASE HERE)

Local food will be the topic of conversation and the star of the evening as it’s cooked up and served  by 10 well known, world class chefs and one celebrity chef in Wolfville. 

The Slow Motion Food Film Festival opens Thursday, November 10, 2011 with the first event of a weekend long slate of films and food activities.  The Barn Dinner is sponsored by Select Nova Scotia and takes place in the newly built Wolfville Farmer’s Market.  Film and food buffs  will delight at this gala dinner featuring chefs Craig Flinn (Chives), Dennis Johnston (FID Resto), Peter Dewar (NSCC), Jason Lynch (Le Caveau), Luis Clavel (Atlantica Hotel), Peter Jackson (Formerly of Jacks Grill, Edmonton), Renee Lavallee (The Feisty Chef),  Chris Velden (Flying Apron), Brad Bowden (Glen Arbour), and Jesse Vergen (The Saint John Alehouse).

Organizing director, Chef Michael Howell, is pleased to welcome actor Jason Priestley as one of the chefs of the Barn Dinner. “Jason is a big supporter of Slow Food Nova Scotia and we’re thrilled he can take the time from his busy production schedule to take part in this event.  He’ll also be with us for the Sunday evening awards ceremony, but we’re pretty sure he’s really looking forward to spending time with us all at the Barn Dinner.  We’ve gathered a great group of chefs for an evening of collaborative and creative cooking and we’re anticipating a sell- out crowd in the wonderful setting of the Wolfville Farmers’ Market.”

Tickets are $59 for the four-course Slow Motion Food Film Festival Barn Dinner.  They are available at www.Ticketpro.ca or any Ticketpro location, including Box of Delights in Wolfville.   Visit www.slowmotionfilmfest.ca for information  about the film screenings and other Festival events.

Fall is our favourite time to showcase the wonderful game offerings from our culinary team. Chef Scott Vail has paired some of his best game dishes such as boar, bison and guinea hen with a bold selection of local and international craft ales. Rumor has it that Propeller and Garrison beers will be in the pairing…

$95 per person includes five-course game-inspired blind tasting with beer pairings. Taxes and gratuity extra. Call (902) 444-4400 for more information and to make reservations or visit www.storiesdining.com.

‘Stories’ restaurant features signature dining in intimate dining rooms at The Halliburton – Halifax’s historic boutique hotel.

The Fortress of Louisbourg proudly presents a delicious way to experience Canadian history: 18th century culinary workshops!

These fascinating and fun programs combine the one-of-a-kind historical experience at the Fortress of Louisbourg with the opportunity to learn first-hand the secrets of 18th century cuisine as it was prepared at the majestic French Fortress. The doors of the Engineer’s kitchen will be opened to participants eager to practice the art of French cooking using both modern and open-hearth kitchens.

Your guide through the delicious 18th century world of French-Canadian cuisine is Chef Chantal Véchambre. Chef Véchambre specializes in the intricacies of preparing and serving a selection of French cuisine from the 18th century as she connects the meal to Louisbourg’s people and their past. Each half day workshop provides recipes, history, stories about life in Louisbourg and a meal at the conclusion to taste and compare your results. As a souvenir, each participant will take home recipes tested during the workshops. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the art of 18th century French cooking within the walls of the Fortress of Louisbourg. 

Dates and Prices

September 24, 2011: « La ménagère de Louisbourg » – $140.00
October 8, 2011: « Festin chez le Gouverneur » – $180.00
October 9, 2011: « Le chocolat à Louisbourg » – $100.00
October 22, 2011: « La ménagère de Louisbourg » – $140.00

Space is limited so don’t hesitate to register by phoning 902-733-3552 or emailing louisbourg.info@pc.gc.ca. Click here got additional event details.

Taste’s Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd. is one of the seafood sponsors and the following dinners involve Taste of Nova Scotia chefs:  

Little River Harbour, Aug 26 – “Dockside Delights” 
Chef Earlene Busch, Chanterelle Country Inn 

Orangedale Train Station, Aug 27 - ”VIP Boarding” 
Chef Troy Baglole, Governor’s Pub and Eatery 

Ingonish Beach, Aug 28 – “Hike ‘N Smoke” 
Chef Alexander Herbert, The Keltic Lodge

We have two tickets to give away to Chef Earlene’s “Dockside Delights”. To win, email Christine@tasteofnovascotia.com three local foods (bonus points if they are Taste of Nova Scotia members!) that are being used in the menus listed on the Right Some Good website. We will draw for the tickets randomly from all entries on Thursday, August 11.

Of course great beer deserves great food. Again this year, Taste of Nova Scotia members will be onsite selling delicious beer-inspired creations.  Scanway Catering/Saege Bistro, FID Resto and Brussels Restaurant & Brasserie  will be at all three sessions serving local food for $3 to $5 . 

Menu

Scanway Catering/Saege Bistro
Garrison Irish Red Sloppy Joes $5
Nitwit Braised Chicken Tacos with Crunchy Poblanos $5
Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream $3

FID Resto
FID Smokies – housemade sausages $5
F Burger $5

Brussels Restaurant & Brasserie
Nova Scotia Mussels $5
Nova Scotia Scallop Skewers $5

Taste of Nova Scotia
Meadowbrook Pulled Pork on a bun $5

The Ladies VIP Brew Tour returns with Mirella Amato (www.beerology.ca), Canada’s top female beer connoisseur. Mirella will lead a fun gals-only VIP tour of the beer world on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. For just $10 beyond regular ticket price, women can skip the line-ups and enjoy a 30 minute talk, sampling and food pairing.

The weekend kicks-off with a one-of-a-kind beer dinner at Brussels Restaurant & Brasserie hosted by Troy Burtch of TAPS Magazine. Served on their fabulous courtyard patio, enjoy four courses paired with five fabulous festival beers, each introduced by a representative of the brewery. Thursday, August 4 at 6:00pm. Tickets reserved by booking at info@brusselsrestaurant.ca or by phone at 406-7737.

Seaport BeerFest tickets are available at select NSLC stores and online at www.ticketatlantic.com, for $40 (+HST) per session or $45 (+HST) at the door. Sessions will run Friday night 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday afternoon 2:00pm to 4:30pm and Saturday night 7:00pm to 9:30pm.

Cheers!

Photo Credit: Aaron Mckenzie Fraser

Little Neck  Clams and Indian Point Mussels steamed in Grand Pré L’Acadie Blanc, Applewood-smoked Leg of Gaspereau Valley Lamb, Nova Scotia Sea Bass on a warm garden vegetable salad “Nicoise” as well as Grilled Harpoon-caught Swordfish with organic blueberry salsa are just a few of the menu items featured in the Food Day Canada celebrations in Nova Scotia.

“It must become impossible for any Canadian to ignore the fact that we have extraordinary ingredients and tremendous talent in food production and in the kitchens of our nation,” says Anita Stewart, co-founder and president of Food Day Canada.

Food Day Canada, an annual mid-summer culinary celebration, is the largest national food event in the country. On Saturday, July 30, 2011 the following Taste of Nova Scotia restaurants have created locally-inspired menus for this year’s Food Day Canada celebration: Amherst Shore Country Inn, Blomidon Inn, Chanterelle Country Inn & Cottages, Chives Canadian Bistro, Fid Resto, Fleur de Sel, Le Caveau Restaurant, Normaway Inn,   Ryan Duffy’s and Tempest Restaurant.

“We want to fill restaurants,” says Stewart. “But we want to cook at our campsites, in our backyards, on our beaches, on board boats or wherever Canadians can gather to have a party…we want food shop owners and grocery retailers to question us as we shop purposefully for local ingredients.”

Taste of Nova Scotia is sponsoring the Food Day Canada award for Most Creative Use of Nova Scotia Lobster. Restaurants across Canada that include Nova Scotia lobster in their menus will be eligible for one of three prizes, including a four-day culinary tour of Nova Scotia, registration for the Canadian Chefs’ Congress 2012 or a Taste of Nova Scotia gift basket.