Orchard Views

Kelowna Land & Orchard’s e-newsletter
Volume 2 – Fall 2004

Welcome to the Fall 2004 edition of Orchard Views, Kelowna Land Orchard’s e-newsletter. It has been quite a season at Kelowna Land & Orchard in this, our 100th year. We have welcomed literally thousands of visitors this summer, all of whom have enjoyed our orchard tours, meals at The Teahouse Restaurant and our Raven Ridge Cidery products. As harvest time quickly approaches, we have some terrific news -- and views -- to share!

Distinguished Gifts
Kelowna Land & Orchard was recently asked to supply fresh fruit, and sample bottles of Raven Ridge Braeburn Iced Apple Cider, which were inserted into gift baskets for Prime Minister Paul Martin and federal Cabinet Ministers who were attending a Cabinet Ministers' Meeting and fundraiser in Kelowna from September 7 - 9, 2004. A highlight for local constituents was the sold-out BBQ dinner at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on September 7, when they got a chance to meet the Prime Minister Martin and his Cabinet in a casual, one-on-one setting.

And The Winner Is …
Carl Withler of Kelowna was the lucky winner in the recent Josh Groban contest facilitated by our friends SILK FM. Carl, his wife Isabel, and their sister and brother-in-laws were treated to dinner at the Teahouse, four tickets to see the Josh Groban concert and a shopping spree at Enigma.

“We also treated my mother and father-in-law to dinner since it was their 44th Wedding Anniversary,” says Carl’s wife, Isabel. “The best thing I can say about the meal is that it was decadent! A great view and a fabulous dinner. It was the perfect start to our evening, and all six of us agreed that it was the best meal we’ve had in years. We’ll be back!”

Fall Wine Festival Dinner – October 8th
The Teahouse Restaurant is pleased to be partnering with Hainle Vineyards to present a Fall Wine Festival Winemaker’s Dinner on Friday, October 8, 2004 at 6:30 pm. Guests will enjoy a fabulous five-course, wine-paired dinner featuring the best of Hainle Vineyards’ wines. The cost is $95 per person. Early reservations are recommended as this event sells out early. Call 712 9404.

Gift Giving Made Easy
Looking for the ideal employee reward? Shopping for that perfect gift for a special someone? Kelowna Land & Orchard gift certificates are the solution. They are available in any monetary denomination and are redeemable for “all things KLO”, including our unique Farm Store merchandise, Raven Ridge Cidery products and dining at The Teahouse Restaurant. To order, call KLO at 763 1091.

It’s Harvest Time
With apple harvest fast approaching, here’s a reference guide of the varieties grown at KLO, and approximate harvest dates. Visit KLO’s Farm Store for the finest, freshest selection of your favorite apples.
Ambrosia – September 20
Fuji – October 10
Granny Smith – October 15
Macintosh – September 1
Royal Gala – September 1
Golden Delicious ­– September 15

Apple-Inspired Recipes
Wondering what to do with all those freshly harvested apples? The Teahouse Restaurant’s Executive Chef Chris Helmer has some recipes to share:

Pecan Yogurt and Caramelized Apple Cake

Apples
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
5 apples peeled, cored and quartered
1 cup chopped pecans

Batter
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 oz unsalted butter
1cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp minced ginger
2 eggs
1 cup yogurt

Apples
In a non-stick pan melt butter and stir in the sugar. Arrange the apples nice side down and sprinkle the pecans over top. Cook for 20-25 minutes at 375F until sugar is golden brown and apples are fork tender.

Batter
Mix dry ingredients together. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla ginger and eggs and mix in. Add the yogurt and mix well. Slowly add the dry ingredients.

Pour the mixed batter over the apples and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cake is golden brown.

Apple Fritters
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 large apples
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter

In a large bowl, mix flour, salt and sugar. Pour in milk, a little at a time, stirring to make a smooth batter. Beat in eggs and lemon zest. Core and peel apples, then cut in wedges. Cut each wedge crosswise into thin slices. Toss apples in batter to coat.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil and butter. Drop fritter mixture by spoonfuls into pan and cook, turning once, until golden brown. Plate and sprinkle with sugar. Serve warm.

Yield: 4 fritters

Raves About Raven Ridge
Raven Ridge Cidery continues to garner critical and consumer acclaim. In fact, the 2003 vintages, released in May, are nearly sold out. “We had great success with our first vintage of Fuji, Braeburn and Granny Smith iced apple cider last year,” says Raven Ridge General Manager, Nicole Bullock. “This year, we added a new Ambrosia iced cider and a True Sparkling Cider, which have been equally well-received.”

The True Sparkling Cider made a splash when it was debuted in May. Wine reviewer, Jurgen Gothe raved about it:

“And now there's this relative newcomer from Kelowna--land of great apples--called Raven Ridge True Sparkling Cider,” writes Gothe. “Winemaker and cider guy Roger Wong's state-of-the-art creation tastes so good--and true--they put it up in a heavy champagne bottle, punt and all, with a champagne cork and wire cage to keep the bubbles and flavours in until you want them to come out. Which they do with a huge pop … it's not a bit sweet--dry, fresh, crisp, damn near crunchy, and certainly very apple-y. This is serious stuff for good meals: Sunday dinners, patio parties, spicy stir-fries, salads, desserts. Pour it in a stem glass, well iced, and there's a whole new surprise treat. From the cidery in Kelowna and selected stores about town; it's worth calling around.”

The Fuji Iced variety is sold out, with only 18 cases left of the Braeburn and ten cases of the new Ambrosia iced remaining.

Raven Ridge Shows Heart of Gold
Raven Ridge Cidery is one of the official sponsors of the upcoming Heart of Gold Celebration for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. The sold-out black-tie event, held at the Coast Capri Hotel on October 16, features a delicious four-course meal, paired with a selection of wines from the Okanagan. The dessert will consist of a sampling of Orange & Almond Mousse Roulade, Cardamom Infused Crème Caramel and Almond Tuille with Late Harvest Berries and will be accompanied by Raven Ridge Granny Smith Iced Apple Cider.

"We decided to approach Raven Ridge to contribute to the dinner because we felt that dessert wines make a definite statement," says event co-chair Jackie Jones. "We realized that not a lot of people were aware of this terrific local product, and thought we'd help to remedy that."

The bi-annual fund-raising event features dinner, plus a live and silent auction, and hopes to raise $250,000 of the $1,000,000 required for 180 Degrees: Changing Lives, Changing Lives, the Adolescent Psychiatric Unit at Kelowna's General Hospital
(www.180-degrees.ca).

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Archived:
Volume 2 – Fall 2004
Volume 1 – Spring 2004