Taste BC 2011- Paradise for a sample-junkie

I was lucky enough to be invited along to Liberty Wine Merchant’s Annual Fundraising event for the Children’s Hospital-Oak Tree Clinic which specializes in providing care and services to those with HIV/AIDS. This was the event’s 17^th year, and heading into this year, the event has raised a total of $170,216.

Those with tickets to the event get to taste food from local restaurants and catering companies and sample some of BC’s best wine, beer, and spririts.  

Basically, for a lush and sample junkie like me- this was heaven!

I tried a little of everything….

Food samples I loved were:

Benton Brothers Fine Cheese

Central Bistro- Fig and tomato braised lamb on a taro chip

Central City Brewing- Grilled Cheese with stout cheddar and beer bacon and tomato soup capsules (innovative and tasty!)

Rodney’s Oyster House- Freshly Shucked BC Oysters

Poplar Grove Cheese

Some of my favourite wines were: Blasted Church Hatfield’s Fuse 2009, Mt Boucherie Summit Reserve Pinot Noir 2008, Poplar Grove Merlot 2006, Therapy Vineyards Freud’s Ego 2008

Other booze I really dug:

Driftwood Brewing White Bark Wheat Ale

Howe Sound Brewing Winter’s Ale

Russell Brewing: Honey Blonde, Wee Angry Scotch Ale

Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse: Wild English Cider

To find out more about BC Children’s Hospital and their Oak Tree Clinic http://www.bcchildrens.ca/Services/SpecializedPediatrics/OakTree/default.htm

Getting tipsy and noshing on tasty food…..it was a good night, for a good cause!