What’s Cooking? September 23 – September 29
Embrace the first week of autumn by getting into the swing of harvest season! Our Taste members are hard at work putting together memorable culinary experiences for you. Keep reading to find out what’s cooking this week in Nova Scotia.
Daily, now to October 30: Wine paired dinners at Mabata
As part of the Nova Scotia Harvest Wine Festival, from now until the end of October, Mabata, Glocal Eatery will be preparing a special Nova Scotia wine paired dinner for guests. This three course meal features your choice of either fish cakes or fried cauliflower as an appetizer, a mushroom and truffle risotto main, and your choice of either the chef’s cheesecake or something chocolatey for dessert!
September 26: Beer & Trivia at Saltbox Brewery
This Thursday at 7 p.m., test your knowledge at Saltbox Brewery‘s trivia night. Bring your friends for brain teasers and stay for Saltbox’s beer & cider. There’s also $1 off beer and cider for ladies night!
September 27: Fresh Twenty One Harvest Dinner
Join Chef Jonathan Canning and the NSCC Akerley culinary arts faculty of Fresh Twenty One as they take you from seed to plate in their annual culinary garden Harvest Dinner. Each course is carefully paired with a Nova Scotia wine or cocktail. Cocktails feature student-made gins and will be created on-site with freshly harvested garden herbs. Tickets can be bought here.
September 28: Fall Harvest Port & Chocolate Tasting
Sainte-Famille Wines is celebrating the fall harvest by featuring their award-winning Kingsport paired with gourmet chocolates. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout the event and you can enjoy live music by Roland Smith from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
September 28: Planters Ridge 2019 Harvest Dinner
Join Chef Michael Howell at Planters Ridge Winery for their annual precursor event to the Devour Film and Food Festival. Chef Howell has selected 5 short films and created a menu inspired by each film. Add carefully paired Planters Ridge wine and it’s sure to be a fun and delicious evening. The dinner will be held next to the fireplace in their tasting room. Tickets are $95.00 plus tax and include wine pairings and gratuity. Please contact the winery directly at 902-542-2711 in order to reserve your tickets.
September 28: German Classics
The Flying Apron is kicking off their Oktoberfest week with a new German class. Chef Chris will create this delicious meal featuring some classic dishes from his homeland. The demo class runs from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and costs $70+HST/person. Reservations required.
September 29: Watercolour and Wine
Grab your friends and head to Petite Riviere Vineyards for an afternoon of art and wine! You’ll be led to create a watercolour painting while snacking on some light eats and sipping a glass of wine. Tickets are $40 and include your snacks, wine, and all necessary painting supplies.
Now – October 31: Nova Scotia Harvest Wine Festival Events
Happy Wine Harvest! Ongoing from now until the end of October, you can join your favourite Taste of Nova Scotia members as they plan a collection of wine inspired events, dinners, tours, packages and more. For a full list of events, click here.
Winemaker’s Table: A Harvest Dinner at Obladee (October 3): Obladee Wine Bar is welcoming winemakers from Benjamin Bridge, L’Acadie Vineyards, Blomidon Estate, and Lightfoot & Wolfville to host a harvest dinner carefully paired with some of Nova Scotia’s finest wines. The dinner will feature 5 courses that have been prepared with the help of the winemakers to ensure the perfect pairing with their wine of choice.
Halifax Oyster Festival (October 4 & 5): Join oyster farms from across the Maritimes, and special guests from around the world, for fresh-shucked oysters, and delicious Nova Scotia seafood and drinks. This is an unforgettable shellebration!
Nova Scotia Harvest Wine Festival Grand Tasting (October 5): The flagship event of the Nova Scotia Harvest Wine Festival! The Grand Tasting is a one night celebration of the Nova Scotia wine harvest season, with wineries from across the province coming together to showcase selections of their signature wines paired with locally inspired food stations. Celebrate our award-winning wine industry at the Wolfville Farmers Market from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Tickets available here.
Fall Festival: Food Party Extravaganza (October 5): Casa Nova Fine Beverages is bringing back the winery’s annual tradition of a fall festival. This family friendly food party will feature unique edible traditions from across the Maritimes and live music all day!
Garrison Octoberfest & Das Big Party (October 5): Saturday September 28 & October 5, Garrison Seaport Hall will be transformed into a Bavarian Beer Garden for fun, food, family and craft beer! On October 5, Garrison will also be throwing “Das Big Party” – a family-friendly celebration of all things harvest with live music from Rain Over St. Ambrose, food and a party into the night! All festivities are free of charge.
Chocolate & Wine Tasting Evening (October 10): A tasting exploration of chocolate paired with wine, led by bean-to-bar producer and chocolate sommelier Gabrielle Breault of Petite Patrie Fine Chocolates and wine sommelier Craig Campbell of Gaspereau Vineyards. Learn about chocolate from different regions of the world, how to evaluate quality chocolate through the senses, and how chocolate can be enjoyed with different wine styles. $40 per person. Limited space.
Harvest Festival (October 12): Experience the fruits of the Jost Vineyards harvest! Their cornucopia of wine tastings and harvest-inspired food pairings is autumn at its finest. Enjoy wine tastings, live music on the patio, a special festival menu featuring harvest-inspired food from their Seagrape Café, wine sales and more.
Harvest Dinner (October 13): The Rose & Kettle Tea Room is putting together a three-course harvest dinner including some of their most popular fare. This evening of indulgence will include autumn vegetable soup & homemade biscuits, locally raised and free range roast turkey with seasonal sides and all the trimmings, and a choice of pumpkin pie with cream or gingerbread with lemon sauce for dessert. Tickets are $35 for adults, and $15 for children (12 and under).
Wild Caraway at Sugar Moon (October 18): Wild Caraway is the restaurant in Advocate Harbour that you’ve always wanted to visit. Here’s your chance! Sarah and Andrew will present a multi-course menu at Sugar Moon Farm based on the ingredients available in their region during that season. The menu won’t be available til closer to the event. This dinner tends to sell out early. Dinner tickets are $75. Wine pairing is $25 (3 pairings). 15 per cent gratuity and HST additional.
Inspire Your Senses at Grand Pre Wines (October 19): Inspire your senses and experience Grand Pre’s flavours – from grape to wine. Match fresh grapes with finished wines for a chance to win some wine. Join them at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. for an extended, complimentary vineyard tour with a rare visit to our cellar and Winemaker.
Raging Crow Distillery’s Anniversary Celebration (October 19): Join in the festivities for Raging Crow Distillery’s first birthday at their open house on Saturday, October 19th from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Celebrate by trying a sip of their infamous dill pickle vodka!
Devour! The Food Film Fest (October 22-27): Devour! is an international festival celebrating cinema, food & wine culture in Wolfville. The annual six-day festival hosts 100+ events, high profile chefs and celebrated filmmakers from around the world. Be sure to check out the schedule to see what Taste members are putting on events near you!
Spirited Away in Lunenburg (October 25-27): A weekend celebration of Nova Scotia Craft Spirit Distillers and the cocktails we create with them! Events, workshops, gala and food will be enjoyed.