Tourism BC Ideas, September 2009

A captivating collection of Food and Wine Fresh Story Ideas from British Columbia.

• Organic Potatoes yield spirited crops in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
• Rise to the Occasion in Northern British Columbia
• The Hills Health Ranch provides Building Blocks for Healthy Living
• Fall means Grape Expectations in the Thompson Okanagan
• Vancouver Island Village Joins International Cittislow Community
• Kootenay Rockies...Wine Region?

Organic Potatoes yield spirited crops in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains: : In British Columbia's lush Pemberton Valley just north of the mountain playground of Whistler, home-grown wonders don't just flourish in the fields. Here's a taste: add ice to a short glass and pour Pemberton Distillery's maiden production, Schramm Vodka. The region's first and only ultra-premium potato vodka crafted from Across the Creek Organics farm produce, the spirit splashes into glasses, courtesy of the Schramm brothers — Tyler, Jonathan and Jake. For the brothers three, two local ingredients proved key to bottling this liquid treasure: premium potatoes from farmland dubbed “Spud Valley” and the endless stream of glacial waters sourced from mountain creeks. It was Tyler, armed with a Masters in Brewing and Distilling from the prestigious Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, that hand-distilled the Schramm's first crop of potatoes in early 2009; family members followed by hand-bottling Pemberton Distillery's first robust taste of the valley. The result? A smooth mouth-feel and a richness characterized by the area's raw ingredients. And with the operation's own tasting room slated to open onsite this fall, visitors and locals alike can settle in for a taste that is distinctly spirited. www.schrammvodka.com

Looking for the perfect keepsake from your 2010 experience? Pick up a bottle of Schramm Vodka before, during or after the Games. For more destination story ideas related to the 2010 Winter Games, visit www.destination2010.ca or to read more story ideas from the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, visit www.hellobc.com/vcmbcmedia.

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Rise to the Occasion in Northern British Columbia: Fancy yourself a connoisseur of artisanal breads? Have a taste for fresh-from-the-oven treats? Time to break bread at Northern British Columbia's Red Rooster Artisan Bakery. Turning up the heat on a 47-acre farm just west of Prince George, Red Rooster has been serving delectable loaves to the masses for over 13 years, thanks to the ingenuity of Monika and Roman Muntener. The two rise at dawn to work their wizardry; organic grains sourced from Canada's Prairie Provinces are ground by hand, with focus on natural leavening, minus the preservatives. Following tried and true French methods, the duo implement hand techniques and slow natural fermentation, all while factoring in environmental influences including climate and temperature. (The Muntener's seven-ton brick oven is fired by residual timber from local mills as well as wood salvaged from pine beetle-infected trees.) And come fall, one won't have to sniff out loaves tucked away on local shelves or covet their crusty prize snagged at the Prince George Farmers' Market (Red Rooster serves as a founding member). October through March, don an apron and join the duo in the bakery for two-day tutorials: breadmaking begins Saturdays with wholesome loaves and natural leavening, plus plenty of prep for Sunday's make-your-own pizza party. Sure to be a crumb-filled day of rest. www.redroosterbakery.ca

To read more story ideas from the Northern British Columbia region, visit www.hellobc.com/northernbcmedia.

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The Hills Health Ranch provides Building Blocks for Healthy Living: In the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, eating well isn't just a way of life – it's the only way to live. Indeed, the Hills Health Ranch is one destination that is all about the wellbeing of their guests, a commitment demonstrated during the spa's host of lifestyle cuisine and nutrition education programs. The philosophy? Forget the diet. Lose the scale. Health and happiness are about eating well - a lifelong journey that incorporates smart choices, variety, balance and moderation. And with two workshops a week, plus one-on-one consultations with a nutritionist, new behaviours, along with a new outlook on life, are cultivated. What's on the menu? The ranch's Spa lifestyle cuisine serves up flavourful local creations including roasted Butternut Squash and Nante carrots with sage, Black Cod fish cakes with tarragon caper aioli and even Apple Streusel cake - all offerings which advocate the consumption of quality whole foods while demonstrating the importance of being mindful of what you eat. Extras include shopping education (walking the aisles) at local markets, face-time with a host of Hills Health Ranch professionals with over 40 fitness classes and weekly workshops, and a focus on fitness in Mother Nature's backyard. And with a roster of outdoor play, including afternoons on horseback, and exploration of a seemingly endless network of scenic hiking trails, getting act
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