What’s Cooking? September 30 – October 6
October has arrived and with it comes cooler nights, harvest celebrations and a batch of fantastic culinary events from our Taste members across the province. Keep reading to find out what’s cooking this week in Nova Scotia.
October 3: Winemaker’s Table: A Harvest Dinner at Obladee
Obladee Wine Bar is welcoming winemakers from Benjamin Bridge, L’Acadie Vineyards, Blomidon Estate, Lightfoot & Wolfville, and Elmwood Winery to host a harvest dinner carefully paired with some of Nova Scotia’s finest wines. The dinner will feature five courses that have been carefully prepared with help from winemakers to ensure the perfect pairing with their wine choice.
October 4-5: Halifax Oyster Festival
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. Be sure to keep an eye out for Taste member D’Eon Oyster Company to try their delicious oysters. This is an unforgettable shellebration!
October 5: Nova Scotia Harvest Wine Festival Grand Tasting
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. with Taste of Nova Scotia and the following wineries:
Wineries: Avondale Sky Winery, Benjamin Bridge, Blomidon Estate Winery, Casa Nova Fine Beverages, Gaspereau Vineyards, Grand Pre Wines, Jost Vineyards, Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards, Luckett Vineyards, L’Acadie Vineyards, Mercator Vineyards, Petite Riviere Vineyards, Planters Ridge Winery, Sainte-Famille Wines.
Annapolis Cider Company, Barrelling Tide Distillery and Wayfarers’ Ale will also be making an appearance to serve wine and harvest inspired products. Tickets available here.
Food stations: Founders House Dining, Le Caveau Restaurant, Just Us Coffee Roasters Co-op, D’Eon Oyster Company, Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards, Maritime Express Cider Co., the Union Street, Luckett Vineyards.
October 5: Fall Festival: Food Party Extravaganza
Casa Nova Fine Beverages is bringing back the winery’s annual tradition of hosting a fall festival. This family friendly food party will feature unique edible traditions from across the Maritimes and live music all day! Take in the scenery of their winery on the hills of Bear River while enjoying some Nova Scotian made food and drinks.
October 5: Garrison Oktoberfest & Das Big Party
On October 5, Garrison Seaport Hall will be transformed into a Bavarian Beer Garden for fun, food, family and craft beer! That same Saturday, 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.
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.
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!
Celebrating Tidal Bay (October 24): Celebrate Nova Scotia’s appellation wine with a wine-inspired menu at The Flying Apron. The class will include tastings of our favourite Tidal Bay wines! Our hands-on classes offer you the opportunity to practice new skills as you cook alongside our Chef in a 3-hour class. Chef Chris leads the class and you work in pairs to prepare the feast. When you’re finished cooking you get to relax and enjoy a meal with your classmates. Recipes for the dishes made in the class are included.
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.