Wine and Dine comes to Kelowna

Just when the mid-winter blues are supposed to be setting in, Kelowna restaurants float us a little “gift” in the form of their wonderfully creative and affordable Wine and Dine menus. Now until February 2, 2014, select restaurants are offering 3-course menus for $15, $25 or $35 paired with BC VQA wines. Check out the restaurants involved in Wine and Dine, as well as their menus – there are 36 local restaurants to choose from, so the only tough decision will be picking which one to dine at tonight.

Photo: Contributed - (Photo: Courtesy of Tourism Kelowna)

Mouthwatering cuisine is on offer through the Wine and Dine program, on now through February 2nd at select restaurants.

My mouth is watering as I research this column. Consider this $15 menu created by the talented Okanagan College Culinary program at their restaurant, Infusions. The first course is a sweet potato bisque with candied bacon and crème fraiche; followed by a grilled lamb sausage with wild mushroom risotto; and topped off with a chocolate brownie with maple syrup ice cream and vanilla bean crème Anglaise. Yes, all for $15 plus tax. Yum.

Or consider this $25 menu over at Cabana Grille on Lakeshore Road. The first course offers a choice of either surf & turf spring rolls or house-made butternut squash ravioli in a white wine truffle and butter sauce. The main course is a choice between double-stuffed pork chop served with seasonal vegetables and brown butter mashed potatoes, or a free range chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and served with seasonal veggies and roasted potatoes, or a vegetarian mushroom Napoleon served with veggies and balsamic soy dressed rice. Still hungry? The dessert options are a blondie-brownie with caramel sauce and cranberry compote; or a Baileys hazelnut crème brulée. No kidding – all three courses for $25 plus tax.

And at $35 plus tax, here is one menu option that had me drooling... “pan seared Quadra Island scallop”… at Poppadoms – Taste India on McCurdy Road.  Aman Dosanj has created a menu based on her travels to India with her mother and sister Jasmin, exactly one year ago. The scallop (first course) is crusted with spices and comes with a coconut and ginger sauce, on micro greens. The second course features locally-sourced Cornish Game Hen prepared in regional Chennai-style with green Cardamom, clove, and cumin sauce. And for dessert, a collaboration with Sandrine French Pastry and Chocolate – a Chai-spiced Macaron with a dessert cocktail. Unbelievable.

Each course offers a wine pairing suggestion (this is not included in the $15, $25, and $35 menu) with BC VQA wines.

Seriously – you need to read these menus that the restaurants have created. They are each a work of art. It’s a perfect time to explore the best of food and wine that Kelowna has to offer. Bon appétit!

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.