First Annual “Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet” Culinary Celebration

New Facebook ‘FeastBC Vacation and Dining Contest’ Attracts Thousands of Entrants

Tofino and Ucluelet British Columbia, April 14, 2011 – Tourism Tofino www.tourismtofino.com <http://www.tourismtofino.com> and the Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild (TUCG) www.tucg.ca <http://www.tucg.ca> today announced that “Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet” (www.FeastBC.com <http://www.feastBC.com> )  — a month-long series of culinary events to be held in the West Coast Vancouver Island communities of Tofino and Ucluelet beginning on May 8, 2011 — has been expanded to include two more acclaimed visiting chefs, several new events and a vacation giveaway contest.

A collaboration between local chefs and restaurants, fishermen, foragers and farmers, accommodation, activity and tour providers, Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet celebrates the abundance of locally available seafood and the sustainable “boat-to-table” practices commonly employed by the area’s restaurants and the Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild. The TUCG recently launched an intensive social media marketing program including a Facebook contest <http://www.facebook.com/FeastBC?sk=app_137368873002280> announced April 3 that quickly attracted thousands of entrants hopeful to win $100 dining certificates or one of two grand prize vacation packages that include round-trip airfare from Vancouver to Tofino on Orca Airways, and a 3-night stay at Blackrock Oceanfront Resort <http://www.blackrockresort.com> , Long Beach Lodge Resort <http://www.longbeachlodgeresort.com/> , Pacific Sands Beach Resort <http://www.pacificsands.com> or the Wickaninnish Inn <http://wickinn.com/> .  Two additional grand prizes are being given away in conjunction with Global BC television’s current promotion of Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet. A wide array of Feast! accommodation, dining and activities specials <http://feastbc.com/> are also available from local providers.

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Joining previously announced guest chefs <http://feastbc.com/chefs.html> and making special appearances throughout Feast! Tofino–Ucluelet will be:

•       Duncan Ly – Executive Chef at Calgary’s Raw Bar at Hotel Arts, winner of the 2010 Calgary Gold Medal Plates competition

•       Michael Noble – Owner and Chef at Calgary’s NOtaBLE ~ The Restaurant, the only Canadian challenger toappear on the “Japan Iron Chef” cooking show seen by 24 million Japanese television viewers

“Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet is shaping up to be one of the most exciting culinary events in North America this year,” said Rob Feenie, Cactus Club Café’s Food Concept Architect and Canada’s first “Iron Chef.”  “I am looking forward to participating in the celebration and working along side such talented regional chefs to prepare memorable local and sustainable seafood cuisine.”

Held in partnership with EAT magazine and Global BC television, Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet has grown to include more than thirty-five events and festivals. <http://feastbc.com/events.html>  A complete list of Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet events, chefs and special accommodation, dining and activity offers can be found at www.FeastBC.com <http://www.FeastBC.com> .

About theTofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild (TUCG) www.tucg.ca <http://www.tucg.ca>
As members of a dynamic culinary community, theTUCG’s mission is to work closely with each other and the region’s farmers,fishermen and foragers to provide unique food experiences that rely on sustainable farm/boat-to-table practices and the freshest local ingredients prepared with integrity and passion.

About Tourism Tofino www.tourismtofino.com <http://www.tourismtofino.com>
Tourism Tofino is a destination marketing organization (DMO) promoting Tofino’s extensive destination attributes, local events and hospitality industry businesses. Tourism Tofino also partners with other tourism organizations to create awareness of regional tourism initiatives for visitors worldwide.

About Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet Media Partners

Since 1999, EAT Magazine https://www.eatmagazine.ca <https://www.eatmagazine.ca> provides a celebration of all that is best about food and wine in British Columbia. Published bimonthly, EAT is a comprehensive food, wine and associated good living resource for restaurant reviews, recipes from award-winning chefs, wine recommendations, local travel tips, cook’s toys and tools, books and more.

The Global Television network http://shawmedia.ca/brands/conventional/global.asp <http://shawmedia.ca/brands/conventional/global.asp>    broadcasts via 11 television stations, reaching 98.9% of English-speaking Canada. Global consistently scores many of the Top 10 programs in Canada, with major ratings hits such as House, the reality-series Survivor, NCIS:LA and Glee. Global National, the network’s early- evening newscast garners almost a million viewers every weekday. Global also has successful local news programs in every market and is the dominant local news organization in British Columbia.

The first annual Feast! Tofino- Ucluelet celebration culminates with the 9th Annual Tofino Food and Wine Festival June 3 5, 2011 www.tofinofoodandwinefestival.com.