Victoria Wine Festival / Website
Victoria may be known for having plenty of events during the summer time, but this fall is not far behind. There are lots of food-related events happening in the city: wine festivals, wine pairing dinners, cooking classes, a chocolate tasting event, and more.
Victoria Wine Festival | Oct. 4 and 5
One of the most anticipated events in Victoria is coming back this year featuring 367 wines from 113 wineries across 18 countries. The Victoria Wine Festival takes place on Oct. 4 and 5 at the Victoria Conference Centre, featuring seminars, wine dinners, and grand tastings. This year's featured region is Rioja, with 10 wineries debuting in Victoria for the first time.
The thoughtfully curated selection ensures that there is something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or just beginning your wine journey.
Tickets start at $52 for a seminar and $106 for a full day pass.
This special event features a five-course meal thoughtfully paired with a selection of wines from Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, one of the Okanagan Valley’s most respected producers. Kerri Wyse-McNolty, vice president of Owl Family Vineyards, will be at the event guiding you through each wine pairing.
The five-course menu includes a charcuterie board to start, a Niçoise toast as a second course, followed by a minestrone soup, slowed braised short rib as the main course, and a pear dulce de leche tart for dessert.
The five-course dinner is priced at $120 per person + taxes and gratuity.
The London Chef Cooking Classes | Oct. 9, 22, and 24
This month’s pop-up cooking classes are held at Sea Cider Farm, offering a great opportunity to experience learning in person where chef Dan Hayes will source and educate you on the best ingredients from local suppliers, farmers and producers. Participants will receive great tips and tricks, develop new techniques, all while creating a delicious meal. These classes are fun and interactive: you cook at your own station along with the chef. After the cooking is finished you will enjoy everything you have made at a long-table harvest dinner overlooking the orchard.
October classes include Rustic Italian, where you learn how to make several dishes: Crostini with agra dulce onions, chard and grana padano, leek and onion risotto, pan fried chicken with rosemary and lemon, and garlic kale. Another class is French Bistro Classic, and the last class this month is Spanish Tapas.
The classes and cider package are priced at $155 per person.
A Taste of Korea at Fathom | Oct. 10
Experience a collaboration dinner with Fathom’s former executive chef, Peter Kim, and current restaurant chef, June Jang, curating a unique Korean-inspired multi-course dinner paired with premium drinks on Oct. 10.
Tickets are $178.13 per person (taxes and gratuity included).
Thanksgiving dinner at Victoria restaurants | Oct. 13 and 14
If you don’t feel like cooking or cleaning up this year, many Victoria restaurants have you covered! Many restaurants are offering Thanksgiving dinner either for dine-in or for you to pick up and heat up at home. Check out a list of restaurants here.
HOB Fine Foods Mentor Dinners | Oct. 18 and 19
A seven-course dinner experience where chef Castro Boateng shares his most memorable dishes from his experiences in the culinary journey. Each dish has a story. Chef explains and shares how the chef that mentored him impacted his career and why he chose that dish. First, he takes you to where he fell in love with cooking, travelling around the world, and ending the tour in Victoria, where the chef will prepare two dishes inspired by his experiences with mentors here.
Getting to taste chef Castro’s delicious food, learning the stories behind each dish, and connecting with other food lovers is an incredible experience that you will not want to miss this year.
Art of the Cocktail | Oct. 19
Victoria’s biggest cocktail party is back on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Crystal Garden.
Over 50 local and national exhibitors like Humboldt Bar, Wind Cries Mary, Victoria Cider Co., Q at the Empress, and more, will be serving up drinks.
Tickets are $89 per person.
To thank the community for its support over the last 20 years, the Irish Times pub downtown is hosting an anniversary party where there will be live music, retro happy hour prices (from 2-5pm), O’Brien’s Irish dancers, whiskey tastings, oyster bars, food specials, and more.
Chocolate: A tasting event | Oct. 20
Over 40 of Canada’s top chocolatiers will be serving up their chocolate creations at Crystal Garden. Sample chocolate covered treats, truffles, pastries, drinks, and more. There will be live demos where you’ll learn how to make different chocolates, like truffles with Sweetly Raw Desserts.
Tickets are $20 and there are two different time slots available for tastings: 12-2:30pm and 3-5pm.
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