Big Night & Shoots 'n Blooms!
While the doors to the fruit stand don’t open until the May long weekend, the GO Event Crew has already been out in full force in Lake Country.
Saturday night we took part in the Lake Country Rotary Club spring fling fundraiser, BIG NIGHT. With proceeds going to the Lake Country food bank, the community came out in numbers and enjoyed an evening of great wine and food.
Gatzke Orchard teamed up with Okanagan’s Finest Foods chef, Travis Hackl. Guests raved about his “Drunken Pigsicles” delicious pork balls on a stick with Gatzke Late Harvest Apple Juice and Jack Daniels reduction! Once they chased it with a glass of our apple juice they were in orchard heaven!
The next day it was our turn to play host as the Food Action Society of North Okanagan had their 3rd Annual Food Festival – Shoots ‘n Blooms, on our orchard.
Over 500 people came through in support of this year’s theme “Family Farming.” Great food from local farmers, cheesemakers, informative presentations in aquaponics, beekeeping and invasive species. Al Gatzke entertained folks in his jam packed farm tours while children were kept busy face painting and petting the rabbits. Chef Cornel Fisher and Ingrid Gatzke had our clay oven “GAIA” pumping out gourmet pizza’s for the hungry crowds and everyone enjoyed the great soundtrack to the day by some fantastic local musicians.
It was a great ‘unofficial’ start to #summer2014 which we are all very excited about. The weekend was a perfect soft launch to announce our GO FOODISM! dinner series which people were eagerly looking forward to here more about….soon! Stay tuned!