With all the talk of the 100 mile diet, Orofino winery owners John and Virginia Webber decided to take it to a whole other level last year with their first 1.6 Mile Dinner held at their vineyard in the picturesque Similkameen Valley. The event was such a huge success that for the past two nights they have offered the same experience again with Chef Darin Paterson who is the chef/owner of the iconic Bogner’s (previously Granny Bogner’s) in Penticton.
With guests from Vancouver, the Okanagan as well as many neighbors from the surrounding farms of the Similkameen Valley, Chef Paterson put on an outstanding meal with only ingredients (sans salt and pepper) found in a 1.6 mile radius of the winery.
The menu included delectable dishes such as:
Double Hung Jersey Milk Farm Fresh Cheese - Rhubarb Confit with Plucked Greens, Honeycomb and Fresh Shucked Peas
Orofino 2004 Chardonnay
Chicken Leg Confit & Butter Poached Breast - Shaved “Cull” Slaw, Sun Dried Cherries
Orofino Pinot Noir 2006
Spit Roasted Rosemary Merlot Cab Lamb - Warm Siegle Potato Salad, Ugly Sous-Vide Swiss Chard, 02 Foot Stomped Riesling Zabaglione
Orofino Merlot Cabernet 2005
Grilled Peaches - Apricot Sorbetto & Roasted Cracked Almonds
Orofino Late Harvest Muscat 2007
Some of the highlights in the ingredients included homemade butter made using the Jersey milk to poach the chicken, the dressing for the potatoes was made using the chicken fat and the roasted almonds came from the trees on the Orofino property (some of the only almond trees in the province). Chef Paterson was also very passionate and shared the stories of each dish included why he chose to use “cull” vegetables, and where he sourced all the ingredients for each dish.
The weather was threatening last night so the dinner was held in Orofino’s famous straw bale winery building which was very cozy and full of dozens of very happy people.
For pictures of the event visit: OROFINO 1.6 MILE DINNER