Okanagan Planner March 26th to April 9th

The first sign that Spring has officially sprung in the Okanagan is the re-opening of the Winery restaurants just in time for Easter. 

• Lake Country- Gray Monk Estate Winery’s Grapevine Restaurant http://www.graymonk.com/ is open for lunch as of April 1^st. 
• Summerland- Bonitas Bistro http://www.bonitasbistro.com/ is now licensed and open.
• Naramata: Hillside Bistro http://hillsidewinery.ca/ opens on Saturday, March 31st  
• Oliver & Osoyoos (OO-WA wine country): Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek, http://www.tinhorn.com/ Terrafina at Hester Creek, http://www.terrafinarestaurant.com/  the Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl  http://www.bovwine.ca/the_restaurant.html  are all open.

March 27^th–South Okanagan Wine Society dinner at Amante Bistro http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amante-Bistro/118408558204059

 Join the South Okanagan Wine Society at Amante Bistro with wine pairings from Church and State Winery. http://churchandstatewines.com/  Starts at 6pm Tickets: $55.00 available at the Penticton BC Wine Information Centre or call Sharon Hickey 250-493-4040

March 31^st– Big Whites at Big White Ski Resort http://www.bigwhite.com/plan-your-trip/special-offers/big-whites-at-big-white/

6pm to 9pm at the Village Centre Mall. Features appetizers from Kettle Valley Steakhouse, 6 Degrees Bistro, Carvers, The Warehouse and Santé Bar & Grill as well as the Okanagan’s best white wines. Cost: $30.00 Tickets call:  250-491-6111.

Ski & Stay packages starting at $77.00. 

 Special Communal Table Dinners

Communal Table dining is all the rage in the Okanagan. So why not pull up a chair and join the conversation (as well as the fabulous food).

• Kelowna: Sunset Organic Bistro at Summerhill Pyramid Winery http://www.summerhill.bc.ca/ 

Three communal dinners on Thursdays-March 29^th, April 26^th and May 31^st. $100.00+ incl.. wine.

A seven course extravaganza focused on local farms with wine pairings included. This is sure to be a good night of conversation, local food and wine.

• Oliver: Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek

Tuesdays at 6:30pm until the end of May. $25.00

The restaurant is dramatically rearranged to seat a communal table of either twenty-five or fifty. A seat at this Tuesday dinner table will find you rubbing shoulders with locals and visitors who have a love of food and wine.  3-4 course special seasonal menu.

• Penticton: Joy Road Catering ‘s http://joyroadcatering.com/special_events.htm

Starting May 20^th-Sundays Alfresco Dining & June 28^th-Thursdays Winemakers Alfresco starting at $99.00+ incl. wine.

2012 line-up for their popular communal outdoor Alfresco dinners at the beautiful God’s Mountain Estate has been announced.  Book early as these sell out every year.

• RauDZ Regional Table http://www.raudz.com/RAUDZ/home.html

Every night- from the menu

And you can’t mention communal table dining with mentioning RauDZ where every night the twenty-one foot long reclaimed heartwood pine table made without nails or screws in the centre of the restaurant encourages guests to sit back, relax and engage with their neighbors.

 Plan Ahead

Saturday, April 14^th– Seedy Saturday Penticton http://downtownpenticton.org/event/seedy-saturday/

Pick up your organic, heirloom & heritage seeds. Also bedding plants, produce and honey & more. Support the seeds of diversity!

Monday, April 16^th– Meet your Maker Okanagan, West Kelowna

http://www.getlocalbc.org/meet-your-maker-okanagan

9pm -3:30pm Westbank Lions Hall Community Centre

NOTE: Registration Deadline: April 9^th.  $50.00

FarmFolk CityFolk brings a networking event for small businesses to the Okanagan, modeled after Portland’s annual Farmer-Chef Connection event.  Connect with your local farmers, ranchers, food processors, distributors, retailers, food delivery, restaurants and caterers. 

Sat. April 14^th to Sat. April 21^st First Annual Oliver Osoyoos Oyster Festival.  http://www.oooysterfestival.com/

When the Oyster farmers and shuckers decided they wanted a vacation in the Okanagan and offered to bring their oysters, Oliver & Osoyoos said shuck yes!

See website for event listings and details.