Jasper in January, the mountain town’s iconic winter festival, kicks off this week, with a wide variety of events including the Chef’s Table Experience, catered to those looking to fall in love with food
Culinary explorers will find their foodie dreams come true this Jasper in January.
And those considering the Chef’s Table Experience this Saturday, January 17, might want to skip lunch.
The brand new culinary concept features a five-course meal at one of four beloved restaurants in Jasper: Evil Dave’s Grill, Olive Bistro & Lounge, Papa George’s Restaurant and Silverwater Grill & Lounge.
It’s an opportunity for local chefs to show off inspired creations in an intimate setting, says Tourism Jasper’s director of destination development, Naji Khouri.
“This is something new and fresh,” Khouri said, noting the Jasper in January festival is in its 38th iteration.
On top of the gourmet cuisine being plated on Saturday, hospitality industry connoisseurs will be showcasing a variety of wines and spirits from around Canada and across the world.
The Chef’s Table Experience is set for Saturday, Jan. 17, with two seating times available at 7 or 7:30 p.m. Learn more and get tickets on the Tourism Jasper website.
It’s one of more than 100 events that will make up the mountain town’s Jasper in January festivities, which run from January 16 to February 1.
Staples of the festival include skiing, sleigh rides, the Pond Hockey Tournament — a four-on-four hockey tournament on Lake Mildred at the Fairmont Jasper Lodge — and the legendary Downtown Street Party.
Event organizers are confident Jasper in January’s tried and true traditions will pair perfectly with inaugural events like the Chef’s Table Experience and Apres Wine, another culinary celebration from the same four restaurants offering a wine-focused treat for your tastebuds.
The festival’s beloved Poutine Showdown will also be returning this year. The competition, which runs for the duration of the festival’s 17 days, pits 18 local restaurants against each other to determine which kitchen serves up the best take on the Quebec classic.
Saturday will also see the Mountain Malanka Ukrainian folk New Year’s celebration and concerts headlined by the likes of locals Greg Deagle, Peter Cherniawsky and the pride of Peace River, The Misery Mountain Boys.
The winter festival is an opportunity not only for tourists and visitors to experience what makes Jasper such a special place, but also for the mountain town to take pride in its community, Khouri said.
“You’ll definitely see lots of resident faces, and lots of visitors that are in awe and have never seen Jasper before as well.”
Learn more about everything that’s on tap at this year’s Jasper in January festival on Tourism Jasper’s website.
No bad choices: Sneak peak at five courses by four culinary teams
Evil Dave’s Grill is offering smoked salmon rillettes on crostini, roasted butternut squash, lemon–thyme granita, herb-crusted beef tenderloin and classic New York–style cheesecake.
Olive Bistro & Lounge has whipped brie de meaux, brown butter lobster rolls, winter salad, wagyu beef bourguignon and dark chocolate trifle on the menu that evening.
Papa George’s Restaurant is serving smoked cheddar gougère, charred broccoli salad, grapefruit and celery granita, duck two ways and blueberry white chocolate crème brulee.
At the Silverwater Grill, enjoy crema di zucca (pumpkin soup), barbabietola in tre modi (beetroot), arancini, Alberta angus striploin and dolce di polenta for dessert.
Amir Said // info@thejasperlocal.com
