Into the Similkameen for BBQ King 2012

The "undiscovered gem" of BC wine country – the Similkameen Valley – hosts BBQ King on July 14th

We received this notice from our friends at the Similkameen Wineries Association which we'd like to share…

As summer is quickly approaching, so is our 2012 Similkameen BBQ King. We invite you to enjoy an extraordinary evening with award-winning wines from eight of our Similkameen wineries and eight distinguished chefs who are vying for the title of Similkameen BBQ King 2012. This truly unique Similkameen wine and food experience is a competition where our featured chefs will create unique dishes for you using ingredients from the Similkameen Valley and then you get the opportunity to cast your vote for the Similkameen BBQ King or Queen. Our 2011 Similkameen BBQ King event placed second overall in the "Best food/drink experience of the year" category for the Exceptional Eats Awards (Okanagan) from readers of Eat Magazine.

The 2012 Similkameen BBQ King is on July 14th from 5-8pm at the Historic Grist Mill & Gardens in Keremeos. This event is a partial fundraiser for the Grist Mill and includes live entertainment and a silent auction. 

Competing chefs are from:

Chef Chris Van Hooydonk from The Sonora Room, reigning Similkameen BBQ King, will be back again to defend his honour. Chef Chris Remington from the Penticton Lakeside Resort, who won for best wine and food pairing, will also be back to try again for a trophy.

If you are looking for a shuttle, we have limited shuttle seats available from Kelowna through to Penticton and Osoyoos. Our thanks go to Westland Insurance, Grape Escapes Wine Tours, Unveil Shuttles and Experience Wine Tours for their support and sponsorship with our shuttles. Please contact Kim at 250.488.0878 if you are interested in rates and to book seats on a shuttle.   

If you are looking for accommodations in the area, there are a limited number of campsites available at the Grist Mill. There are also B&B's in the area including our Associate Member Mountain Springs Nature Retreat. Walnut Beach Resort and Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos and the Penticton Lakeside Resort in Penticton have also put together great packages. Please contact them directly and ask about their Similkameen BBQ King packages.

Thanks to the generous support of Valley First, everyone in attendance will leave with a beautiful Riedel wine glass, co-branded with the Similkameen Wineries Association and Valley First logos.

We are starting to get in some absolutely amazing prizes for our silent auction, including an awesome prize donated by Savour Magazine – an iPad and a 1-year subscription to the digital version of Savour Magazine. Partial proceeds from the silent auction go to support the gorgeous Grist Mill and Gardens, a Heritage BC site.

Tickets for the 2012 Similkameen BBQ King are $75 and are available now! They can be purchased at any of our member wineries, at the Keremeos Visitor Centre, via PayPal at www.SimilkameenWine.com or by calling Kim at 250.488.0878.