It is only the third year of Canmore’s culinary festival Uncorked, but the young event has a really big win to brag about this year – being named Canadian event of the year.
It is a feather in the cap for Canmore Business and Tourism’s president Andrew Nickerson, but one he acknowledges belongs to the hard work and creativity of one of the community’s economic sectors – food and beverage.
While the industry can celebrate the accolades collectively, Nickerson is also putting the message out heading into the third annual event that the best event in the entire country is happening right here in Canmore.
“We want to get the message across loud and clear in Canmore, in the Bow Valley, in the rest of Alberta, that this is Canada’s event of the year and it is right here in Canmore. So the question we want to be asking people is who are you inviting?” Nickerson said at the official launch of the festival’s schedule on Monday (Feb. 22).
“We are Canada’s event of year and I thought we would get bored saying that, but honestly, no, still love it.”
The website, canmoreuncorked.ca, went live as well this week and those interested in special event tickets can purchase them online. Nickerson detailed the wide array of events scheduled for Uncorked, including the return of the whisky tasting, craft beer and wine events, the long table dinner, the big brunch, progressive dinner tours and the staple of the festival – fixed-price menus.
“The festival keeps growing,” he said. “We started two years ago with 36 business participating, this year we are up to 52 participating venues. So we have a huge showcase of the industry here in town.
“This festival is all about showcasing Canmore’s remarkable dining experiences and the idea is to be driving people into our restaurants and into our businesses.
“Once again, the festival is going to be built around those daily set price menus and this year we are up to 28 different restaurants participating.”
While the $20, $30 and $40 fixed-price dinner menus are the core of the festival, Nickerson said a lunch option has also been added this year. There are 22 businesses participating offering a $12 lunch special.
There are additional set price experiences at the variety of locations Canmore has in its food and beverage industry, including coffee shops, wine stores and food manufacturers – think Le Chocolatier, Valbella’s and Canmore Pasta, for example. The unique to Canmore experiences of cooking classes at Paintbox Lodge and PD3 by Blake will also be featured as part of the food experiences on offer.
The Culinary Symphony returns with the Juno-nominated Quartetto Gelato, which will also be featured in a unique progressive dinner tour during three nights of the festival. And the festival launch party on April 6 will allow the festival to crown a top chef as well.
“We are also going to introduce a chef of the festival competition,” Nickerson said. “This is something quite a lot of people in the food and beverage industry have been asking us for a chance to do.”
Chefs will compete against each other at the launch party to showcase their talent with expert judges on hand prepared to name a winner.
“Between all of that are 77 different food and beverage experiences, which are going to be happening every day during the course of the festival, so there is a lot to keep people busy,” Nickerson said.
The marketing campaign also kicked off this week, along with the website. Nickerson said the most creative invitations on social media that include the hashtag Canmore Uncorked (#canmoreuncorked) will be considered for weekly prize giveaways leading up to the April 6-17 festival.
Canmore residents are also encouraged to watch the third video produced to celebrate Uncorked featuring local food and beverage industry business owners and staff.
Jay Hamilton with G13 and John Plaquin with Someday Entertainment are the creative team behind the popular videos. The latest one features Mountain FM’s Rob Murray in a cameo role as well.
Hamilton said in working with the industry over the past three years he has seen an incredible amount of energy and growth in participation.
“I can unequivocally say from one year to the next engagement is through the roof,” he said.
