Orchard Views

Kelowna Land & Orchard’s e-newsletter
Volume 1 – Spring 2004

Welcome to the first edition of Orchard Views, Kelowna Land Orchard’s quarterly e-newsletter. Through this medium, we will keep you posted on new developments at Kelowna Land & Orchard, including the latest developments at The Teahouse Restaurant, and our new Raven Ridge Cidery.

KLO Opens for the Season

KLO’s Grand Opening for its 100th Anniversary season on Easter Weekend, April 9, 2004. Orchard tours will commence on Good Friday, April 9 with two tours daily: at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. A 3:00 pm tour will be added in June. Orchard tours are free for children 12 and under; students are $3.00 (no GST); and adults are $6.50 (plus GST).

We’ve restocked the Farm Store with a myriad of new Okanagan gifts and continue to offer a wide selection of local preserves and wonderfully creative local crafts. The Teahouse Restaurant's own specialty tea blends, honey, candy, ice cream and KLO’s second-to-none, 100% pure apple juice, are also available at the Farm Store. Homemade apple pies and cookies are prepared daily, and the adjoining outdoor fruit market sells KLO’s best quality fruit in season.

Fabulous Food, Spectacular Views

The Teahouse Restaurant’s Executive Chef Chris Helmer has created new, wonderfully creative and delicious menus featuring the finest Okanagan cuisine for the 2004 season. Dishes include a Blackened Tuna with saffron aioli and crispy shallots, Smoked Sablefish served with gnocchi and fresh basil in an Indian candy buerre blanc and Coffee Crusted Rack of Lamb served with Shiraz jus and truffle taro mashed potatoes.

Also new for 2004 is our scrumptious Sunday Brunch, served each weekend a la carte from 11 am until 2:00 pm. Menu highlights include Eggs Benedict on Brioche with spinach topped with a lobster infused hollandaise, and Andoullie Sausage and Fresh Water Shrimp Frittata.

Chris is joined by Sous Chef, Andrew Tribe, who recently completed his chef certification at Okanagan University College (OUC). Working alongside Chris and Andrew is Kelly McDonnell, who joined The Teahouse last season after spending several years in the Okanagan golf industry.

Reservations are suggested for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch and be made by calling 712 9404.

Raven Ridge Cidery Products take Vancouver by Storm

Our new Raven Ridge Cidery beverages have been receiving consumer and critical acclaim since their debut last year. The Fuji Iced Cider garnered a Silver Medal at the Canadian Wine Awards last year, the first year the awards included a "fruit wine" category.

“It’s better than good; it’s sensational,” enthuses Vancouver writer and broadcaster, Jurgen Gothe. “Raven Ridge puts it up in a 375 ml dark bottle, so it even looks like and ice wine, and finishes it with a cork… New one on me, this, a dessert cider. Actually, it’s really more like an apple-wine: sweet, rich, lovely, but no cider carbonation. You can pour it over ice cream. You can sip it cool and neat as a dessert, even an aperitif. It’s the slow fermentation that gives it its wonderful taste.”

Raven Ridge’s 2003 vintages will be released in May. New for this year will be a naturally carbonated Sparkling Cider and a world-first exclusive 100th Anniversary Ambrosia Iced Cider, which will be custom bottled and labeled in celebration of KLO’s 100th birthday.

Raven Ridge Cider products are now available in the Lower Mainland at The Broadway International Wine Shop in Vancouver, West Vancouver’s Liberty Wine Merchants and the John B Cold Beer & Wine Shop in Coquitlam. All Raven Ridge Cidery beverages are also available at our tasting counter at KLO’s Farm Store. For more information, and a complete list of Cidery beverages, visit Raven Ridge online at www.k-l-o.com.

Celebrating Moms

In our traditional fashion, Moms ride for free on Mother’s Day, May 9th when families take an orchard tour. This is also an extremely popular day at the Teahouse Restaurant, where fabulous food, spectacular views and a wonderfully relaxed setting guarantee a memorable celebration. If you’re planning a special day for your Mom, be sure to make your brunch, lunch or dinner reservations (tel 712 9404) well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Teahouse Hosts Kelowna Chamber Business After Hours

The Teahouse Restaurant looks forward to hosting friends and colleagues at the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event on Monday, April 19th. Business After Hours is a monthly gathering of Chamber members that provides excellent networking. Chamber members will have an opportunity to learn more about the emerging agri-tourism industry during a guided tour conducted by KLO General Manager, Richard Bullock. Guests will also sample some of Chef Chris Helmer’s delicious new Teahouse appetizers. For more information, or to register for Business After Hours, please contact the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce at 861-1515, ext. 2.

Okanagan Wine Festival Winemaker’s Dinner at The Teahouse

The Teahouse Restaurant is pleased to be partnering with Hainle Vineyards to present a Spring Wine Festival Winemaker’s Dinner on Friday April 30, 2004. Guests will enjoy a fabulous wine-paired five-course dinner paired featuring the best of Hainle Vineyards’ wines. The cost is $90 per person. Reservations are required as this event sells out every year. Call 712 9404.

100th Anniversary Celebration

KLO will be hosting events throughout the year to commemorate our 100th Anniversary, including our kick off celebration June 11 - 13.

Bounty of the World Dinner, June 11th

The excitement begins on Friday June 11 at our Bounty of the World Dinner, an exclusive Chilean and Okanagan food and wine extravaganza to be held at the Teahouse Restaurant. Our special guest will be Enrique Urrejola from Santiago, Chile. An extremely entertaining and knowledgeable individual, Urrejola is a principal of David del Curto, an initiative committed to furthering the country’s production of fruit, vegetables and wine. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Indomita Vineyard in Chile’s Casablanca Valley and has also held positions at Santa Rita and Carmen Vineyards. "They've been growing apples in Chile for over 400 years," says Richard Bullock. "We've been growing them for 100. I think we could stand to learn a thing or two from their research. I have been travelling to Chile for the past several years and have learned a great deal from visiting orchards and vineyards with Enrique and we’ve benefited through the research being conducted through the David del Curto initiative as well. Enrique has become a good friend and colleague and I look forward to welcoming him to the Okanagan Valley."

Urrejola will pair wines from the vineyards of Chile with Chef Helmer’s “apple inspired” menu, including his acclaimed Caramelized Apple and Gorgonzola Paté.

Tickets for this exclusive event are $100 each and are sure to sell out; reserve now to avoid disappointment.

Family Fun, June 12 and 13

Family Fun Days on Saturday June 12 and Sunday June 13, promise something for the entire family including face painting, and BBQ lunch. Of course, Flip the goat and her friends at the Children’s Petting Zoo are happy to welcome guests of all ages. On Saturday, horticulturalist Annabel Stanley will demonstrate the making of a willow vine cane ball. Our old-fashioned hay wagon orchard tours will be specially priced at $2 for students and adults (children under 12 are free).

We look forward to keeping you up-to-date about KLO and to celebrating this special anniversary year with all of you. If you’d like to contact us regarding KLO or Raven Ridge Cidery, please call 250 763 1091. If you have any questions about The Teahouse Restaurant, or would like to make reservations, please call 250 712 9404. You can also visit us online at
www.k-l-o.com.