!Uni Taco (with Pemberton Beef Tartare, Cucumber, Yuzu Kosho, and Crispy Nori) from The Victor (and Chef Garett Blundell) with the Gray Monk 2017 Pinot Gris
On April 18th at the Vancouver Convention Centre, smack in the middle of #BCWineMonth (all of April), I was asked to attend the sold out annual event: Chef Meets BC Grape.
The event links up restaurants and wineries and challenges to create the best food and wine pairing of the night, with both a panel of local judges, and a consumer choice being awarded at the end. There were also 350+ wines from wineries all over BC, just in case you needed to find your new favourite!
I was tasked with covering the instagram feed with pictures of each of the pairings, and people having a great time (which, let me tell you, they were!).
Trying to get to all 17 was an amazing challenge that pretty much puts me in my organizational element, and I got to chat with people while I basically followed them around the room between tables!
I sampled a few food items here and there, as my diet right now has so many restrictions I didn’t want to chance things, but my goal was to find the best visuals, and some booths definitely delivered. My favourite to photograph of the night was the pairing of the Uni Taco (with Pemberton Beef Tartare, Cucumber, Yuzu Kosho, and Crispy Nori) from The Victor (and Chef Garett Blundell) with the Gray Monk 2017 Pinot Gris.
The set up with the boards and books, and the urchins and seaweed was stunning.
Top prizes ended up being as follows:
Best Pairing: Tinhorn Creek 2016 Merlot with the Miradoro Oxtail Arancini (with Fermented Sunchoke Purée, Cherry Gastrique, Leek Powder & Chervil)
Best Dish: BC Salmon Tartare (with Cured Yolk, Radish, Leek & Pea) from Chef Stacy Johnston of Ocean Wise - which was paired with a Harper’s Trail 2018 Rosé
Consumer’s Pick: PiDGiN’s Sautéed Local Morels and Cultivated Mushrooms with Brown Butter Yuzu Vinaigrette paired with Ex Nihilo 2016 Merlot
You can see my photos of the winning dishes and the amazing panel of judges in the slideshow below - (hover for descriptions).
Still two days left in BC Wine Month, and there are so many out there to discover! Thanks to Wines Of British Columbia for having me out…check them out (esp. on instagram) for everything you ever want to know about what’s going on in the world of BC Wine!
