The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce held its annual Savour Niagara event September 19th and, from general accounts, the night was a huge success. At the time of this writing, numbers were still being tallied but estimates suggest there were as many as 300 guests in attendance. The new venue, the Niagara District Airport, proved to be a welcome change from last year and set the stage for a night of high-flying fun and just plain good food and drink.
Food and drink vendors showed off their wares as guests grazed from station to station sampling food, wine, beer and spirits. Educational seminars included blind wine and spirits tastings expanding the spectrum of indulgence for those looking for a more in-depth experience.
For many years, Savour Niagara has been considered a kick-off event to the Niagara Wine Festival. Although the event is not run by the festival committee, foodies like me still see it as a lead-in to a couple of weeks of partying, with a focus on Niagara, for the wine-lover in us all.
Dishing up empanadas at El Cafetal
A new restaurant, El Cafetal, presented some zesty Colombian and Latin dishes, including savoury meat filled empanadas. This year, newcomers Dillon's Small Batch Distillers and Silversmith Brewing Company added some variety to the usual wine-slanted theme. If you haven't tried Dillon's pure, refreshing spirits or Silversmith's silky oyster stout yet, look them up and pay them a visit– you will not be disappointed.
Sweets were well represented as well. Chocolate dipped strawberries (photo above) from Hilton Garden Inn and rich, velvety ice cream from Marble Slab Creamery, topped with your choice of indulgences, tamed sweet cravings as the night wore on.
Chang Noi, a popular local Thai restaurant showed off their sleek new food truck (photo above). The truck offers a fantastic extension of the hospitality, and great food, you can expect from Chang Noi. One of my favourite dishes of the night was the yellow curry chicken. Tender pieces of chicken bathed in a vibrant, creamy, curry-laced coconut milk sauce– the verdict– incredibly delicious.
The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce continues to support area businesses and an event like this is a great way to give new or established businesses public exposure.
The Saturday following Savour Niagara was a rain-soaked day, dampening my plans to participate in Niagara Wine Festival celebrations at Montebello Park. No problem. A trip to the St. Catharines Farmers Market is always a nice way to spend the morning. Whether you're looking for farm-fresh ingredients for the dinner table, or grabbing a cup of coffee and light breakfast, the enclosed market is a bright and cheerful place, even when the weather is less than perfect outside.
The sun shone again on the first Sunday of the Niagara Wine Festival and it was time to hit the wine route in search of a few good bottles. Stops at Pondview, Ravine, Reif and Pillitteri gave us the chance to stock up for the next few weeks – or perhaps days – on some very nice wines. A quick snack from the grill (photo below) at Reif Estate Winery helped sustain us through the afternoon of wine tasting.
Pondview Estate Winery has some real gems in their portfolio. Wines tasted included the 2011 Gewurztraminer- Riesling, 2011 Bella Terra Reserve Pinot Gris, 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and 2010 Meritage.
Over at Ravine Vineyard, which is also a fine place to dine, I tasted 2011 Cabernet Franc and Meritage. Pillitteri Estates Winery showed us some beautiful reds as well as a few zesty whites worth noting. Their 2011 Protagonist, a Gewurztraminer- Riesling blend, stood out among the lighter wines tasted. My taste buds enjoyed the tantalizing difference between the estate reds and the Exclamation series. The 2010 Exclamation Cabernet Franc has been a favourite of mine since it was released but this time the Merlot got my attention.
Read tasting notes from my picks from each winery here.