Devour! The Food Film Fest returns to Osoyoos this summer, bringing with it an exciting ensemble of celebrated chefs from around the country, who will be cooking up delicious, film-inspired plates over an action-packed three-day celebration. Taking place from Friday June 15th - Sunday June 17th 2018, the third annual event will be hosted by founding partner Watermark Beach Resort in collaboration with Similkameen Independent Winegrowers and Devour! Wolfville.
Devour!, the world's largest culinary film festival, was founded in Nova Scotia in 2009 by the acclaimed Chef Michael Howell as a tribute to all things cinema, food and wine. 2016 saw the event make its cross-country debut at the serene lakeside setting of Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos, and since then, has become a yearly tradition for the South Okanagan community, dedicated to embracing the region's bountiful natural ingredients and world-class wineries.
This year, Devour! Osoyoos is back and better than ever, offering a wide variety of fun-filled events perfectly suited to food and film fanatics. Friday, June 15th will kick off the festivities with a welcome BBQ reception featuring Watermark's very own Chef Adair Scott and Jeff Van Geist of the local Tinhorn Creek Miradoro restaurant, followed by an after-party at local favourite, Jojo's; the Osoyoos hotspot for handcrafted pastries, live music and comradery.
Saturday brings some of Canada's top chefs to the spotlight, including Chef Roy Johnson of Watermark Beach Resort, Chef Joanne Muirhead, of Jojo's Café, Devour! Founder Chef Michael Howell, Chef Paul Cecconi, of Penticton based Brodo, The Table at Codfathers' Executive Chef and Owner, Ross Derek, Similkameen Valley based Chef Janice Uebelhardt, and Executive Culinary Chef Instructor at Vancouver's Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Darren Clay, as they duke it out in the fiercely competitive Chowder Smackdown. A portion of ticket sales from the event will be donated to the Lower Similkameen Community Fund, an affiliated fund of the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen and the official charity of Devour! Osoyoos, which is a permanent endowment fund that supports all charitable endeavours in the Similkameen Valley, providing lasting support for local community needs. The event will be followed by a curated series of wine education seminars hosted by Similkameen Valley wine and cider producer, touching on topics ranging from the best varietals of the area to cider production.
The highlight of Saturday evening will be marked by an exclusive gala dinner in which participating chefs will showcase their creative, screen-inspired dishes along with expertly paired wines with the Similkameen Independent Winegrowers. "We are absolutely thrilled to see Devour!return to the beautiful South Okanagan for the third year running," says General Manager and VP of Business Development at Watermark Beach Resort, Ingrid Jarrett. "As founding partner of Devour! Osoyoos, we are so proud to continue hosting the festival, which enables us to celebrate our beloved region and the outstanding culinary and wine that is produced here every year."
Watermark Beach Resort is offering exclusive rates and packages for stays during Devour!, including the VIP All Access Pass that provides admission to the Friday reception and after-party, Saturday Chowder Smackdown, Saturday Evening Gala and Sunday Long Table Breakfast ($210 plus tax, no occupancy). Guests can also upgrade to the Complete Weekend Package, adding on two-nights accommodation (rates starting from $369 plus tax); or can opt for the Room Only Special, starting from $179 plus tax and based on double occupancy.
To book a Devour! Osoyoos 2018 weekend package at Watermark Beach Resort, please visit watermarkbeachresort.com or call 1.888.755.3480. For more information on Devour! The Food Film Fest visit: devourfest.com