We cannot be neutral. We cannot be onside with oppressors. And it is not enough to be non-racist and stay silent. We must be anti-racist. We must acknowledge our privilege.
Blue Grouse Estate Winery Appoints HQ Wine + Spirits to Sell its Wines in Vancouver
Named Best Island Winery two years running, Vancouver Island's Blue Grouse Estate Winery is pleased to announce the appointment of HQ Wine + Spirits to represent its wines in Vancouver and the surrounding areas. Coastal Craft Beverages continues to represent all Blue Grouse wines on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
6 Home Office Ergonomic Essentials
A positive note amid the chaos of Covid-19: Amazing BC Winery deals
Restaurants, bars and BC wineries had to find ways to serve their customers without the human interaction to maintain the important social distancing measures set by our government. Curbside pick-up, delivery services, and coupons are some of the offerings you’ll see available while we all need to stay home to help flatten the curve.
We’ve compiled some of the best deals in BC Wine available right now.
How do I communicate for my business during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Many business owners are stuck with is just how to communicate at this time, and what to say. On one hand, with everyone at home and online, there has never been a better time to capture eyeballs, and on the other, people are filled with anxiety and stress and no one wants to be insensitive. So what is OK right now?
10 Tips to Tackle the Van Wine Fest Tasting
The Release of Pet Matt
Okanagan Crush Pad Releases Matt Landry’s “Pet Matt Landrusco”
9th Wine Campus Collaboration a Fun Play on Words
After teasing followers on social media with the sneak peeks of the label under development, the wait is over.
Okanagan Crush Pad announces its 9th Wine Campus project, this time, a collaboration with Matthew Landry.
Blue Grouse voted Best Island Winery - Again!
The results are in! Blue Grouse Estate Winery has been named (for the second year in a row) as the Best Island Winery by readers of Times-Colonist, Vancouver Island’s main newspaper.
Ideas, Recipes, and a Contest, Oh My!
Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store presents the tastiest holiday party in the Fraser Valley
Save the date for the Christmas Open House
Nov 28th
Christmas Open House in 2016
[Langley, BC] Your holiday gifting and entertaining needs are solved! Save the date to head to Well Seasoned on November 28, 2019. The team at the beloved gourmet food store in Langley is celebrating the holidays and will host their Christmas Open House event.
Members of the community and food lovers from all over BC make the annual pilgrimage to the store each year to sample seasonal goodies from several tasting stations and spread a little holiday cheer. All are invited to enjoy this FREE EVENT on November 28. No RSVP is necessary, simply show up and enjoy.
The store staff will be open extended hours for this special occasion and all are welcome to try samples of the Well Seasoned grab-and-go snacks from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Special discounts will also be on offer for that night only, making this the perfect opportunity to stock up the pantry with holiday treats.
Well Seasoned seasonal treats are a huge success and sell in great volume every year. Cookies, seasonal pies, appetizers, and even the traditional (and ultra-popular) French Canadian Tourtière will be in stock and available to sample and take home.
Angie Quaale and the team at Well Seasoned love to host the community. Their Christmas Open House was created to celebrate loyal customers and over the past 12 years it has evolved to be an annual event where people enjoy each other’s company as they gather to eat delicious local and seasonal food in store while spreading a bit of holiday joy.
Make sure to add this tasty party to your calendar and stop by to celebrate with the team.
Well Seasoned Christmas Open House
November 28th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
#177 -20353 64 Ave, Langley
FREE EVENT
Making the Case for Merlot on #InterNationalMerlotDay
The Ultimate Last-minute Thanksgiving Guide for Foodies and BC Wine Lovers
Ready or not, fall is here! That means it is time to dust off the winter coat, find the woolen socks that have moved to the back of the drawer, and prepare for Thanksgiving.
Celebrations are around the corner, so it’s time to figure out who’s doing the cooking, what is going to the served, and which wine will pair well with turkey! We’ve gathered the best Thanksgiving tips from wine writers, and food and lifestyle specialists to cure any seasonal concerns.
1. Turkey DOs and DONT’s by Angie Quaale
There’s no Thanksgiving without a well-prepared turkey and stuffing. Angie Quaale, seasonal food expert, owner of Well-Seasoned Gourmet Food Store and turkey lover will guide home cooks through the whole process of choosing a bird, preparing, stuffing, cooking and cleaning up the mess after. According to her, it is very important to learn how to prepare the bird correctly otherwise there can be a risk of cross contamination with other things in the kitchen.
2. Decorating a Thanksgiving Table without breaking the bank
This is the perfect opportunity to set a beautiful table for your family and loved ones, and it does not necessarily mean spending hundreds of dollars to do it! Natalie Langston, lifestyle specialist has great ideas that will make your table IG-worthy: fresh seasonal flowers, candles, a simple and elegant printed menu, and delicious and affordable Evolve Cellars wines.
With the turkey in the oven and the table set, it’s time to think about the beverages. Pairing a tender and juicy turkey or glazed ham with wine is not as hard as it seems. There are a number of varieties that offer a flavour profile that will match well with both. From rich whites to fruit-forward reds, BC wine has so many options to choose from, and buying local has never been easier. British Columbia is also producing amazing sparkling wines and Chardonnays that will hit the mark for this year’s celebration.
3. Thanksgiving Toast with BC Bubbly
To start the party, pop the cork of a tasty sparkling wine. If wine lovers are feeling extra confident, Tim Pawsey even gives tips on how to saber the bottle: chill it in ice and hit at the exact spot for the correct cut, but make sure to do it outside to minimize the mess. Among the great recommendations in his article, some highlights are the 2018 TIME Brut from Time Winery in Penticton, the 2017 Free Form Ancient Method and 2016 Haywire The Bub from Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland, the 2016 Merryfield from Singletree in the Fraser Valley and Naramata, and the 2014 Paula Sparkling from Blue Grouse Estate Winery on Vancouver Island.
4. Thinking about Chardonnay?
10 Chardonnays to pair with Thanksgiving Turkey
A few BC Wines to celebrate with for Thanksgiving
Perhaps the most common pairing for Thanksgiving turkey is white wine, most specifically Chardonnay. A herb crusted bird pairs well with the buttery taste of most oak aged Chards, and other more fruit-forward wines offer crisp flavours. Wineries in BC are offering high quality Chardonnay with distinct flavour profiles that can please every palate. In the two round ups above, Jennifer Schell and Karl Kliparchuk recommend a stellar line up for this weekend’s celebration. Some of the best bets include TIME Winery’s 2014 Chardonnay from Penticton and the 2016 Coolshanagh Chardonnay from Naramata.
We hope you give some of these suggestions a try, and tag @townhallbrands in social media. We’d love to see how your Thanksgiving is going!
We wish everyone a safe and joyful celebration.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Okanagan Wine Festival In Full Swing with Founder’s Award honouring late wine legend Harry McWatters
Summerhill Pyramid Winery’s Corporate Vision Revealed
New Vision Statement Guides the Winery Team and invites the World In
[Kelowna, BC] The team at Summerhill Pyramid Winery announces its new brand vision.
READ THE NEW BRAND VISION ONLINE
To arrive at this new vision, the winery management team and the family members took a deep look at their purpose, and along the journey the winery achieved certified B Corp status earlier in 2019, the first Canadian winery to do so.
The team arrived at seven guiding principles to inform the way they make wine, their business practices, and the way they interact with the world. The winery is rolling out a new logo and later a new package, but the way forward is also about how they present themselves as a whole.
Ezra Cipes took over as CEO of Summerhill Pyramid Winery in 2012, and over the past seven years he has worked hard with his family to corral and determine the way forward for the pioneering BC winery. His father, and Summerhill founder Stephen Cipes, revolutionized organic wine production in BC, as one of the first BC wineries, and is being recognized for his leadership at the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame in October.
Today, the team shares their newly written vison document, inviting their team, customers, and community to embrace it, and live out the practices and values that has always made Summerhill special and loved.
*
Ezra Cipes, CEO shares the following public statement:
“Summerhill has always been a purpose-based organization founded on and driven by spiritual precepts. The purpose has always been to live as one with nature, to bring forth beautiful products of nature, and to foster community, connection, meaning, and a worldview of oneness and wholeness.
This vision has been held by my dad, Summerhill’s founder and proprietor Stephen Cipes, since he moved my family to beautiful British Columbia in 1986. It has made Summerhill a singular winery and has been responsible for the incredible success we have enjoyed.
This vision has always been implicit, but never quite stated so boldly. Now we are introducing a newly written Vision of Gratitude and Abundance for People and Planet so that we can fully invest ourselves in what has always made Summerhill so unique and special.
The intent of this vision statement is not only to guide us as a company, but also to share our values publicly, so that we are transparent about our values, can be held accountable to them, and can invite everyone to see the world as we see it and to join us in this vision of gratitude and abundance for people and planet.
Along with the new vision is a new logo, which communicates reverence for the soil and for the sacred order of creation as symbolized by the pyramid.
There will be more changes coming soon that stem from this newly articulated vision. Stay tuned!”
---- Ezra Cipes, CEO, Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Suggested Social Caption
@SummerhillWine took a deep dive into their business purpose and is inviting the world to learn more about their seven guiding principles. Read more https://bit.ly/2poajnS
Photos here: Dropbox
Summerhill Pyramid Winery's seven guiding principles: Gratitude, People, Planet, Pioneership,
Abundance, Passion and Love
About Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Kelowna’s Summerhill Pyramid Winery welcomes thousands of visitors onto its farm from all over the world. The founding vision to bottle among the very finest wines in the world has been achieved, with trophies from the highest levels of competition in France, England, and around the world to show for it. But the greatest legacy is the change that the team strives to nourish daily. The winery’s greatest goal is an ongoing one of service to humanity, engendering a culture of gratitude for people and planet with every heavenly sip of its organic wine. Learn more at summerhill.bc.ca
Evolve Cellars winery literally to... evolve
Summerland winery to join sibling winery in downtown Penticton
[Penticton, BC] To 'evolve' means to change or develop slowly, step by step, one day at a time, ideally into a better, more complex, more advanced, and more progressive state of being. This is the core value and inspiration for the Evolve Cellars brand.
Now, Evolve Cellars, the winery that celebrates transformation and growing with its fan base, is going to literally live out its brand stance and relocate.
Evolve Cellars' new home will be at 361 Martin St., in downtown Penticton BC, sharing a roof with sibling TIME Winery.
Evolve Cellars was established in 2015 by the McWatters family as a label created by their company, ENCORE Vineyards, to offer fresh, fruit-forward, crisp, approachable, well-balanced and affordable wines that can be enjoyed by anyone, and at every occasion. This, the winery team believes, is the natural essence of Okanagan wine today.
And now it is time for Evolve Cellars to change. Encore Vineyards' past president and CEO Harry McWatters passed away peacefully but suddenly this past summer. Christa-Lee McWatters is the new president and CEO, as per the family's succession plan. Harry had been in the wine business for 51 years and mentored Christa-Lee in the business from the time she was a child. Evolve Cellars is a project led by Christa-Lee, noting that the brand values of celebrating the Okanagan and living as the best version of herself is something she aspires to.
The original home of Evolve Cellars was on leased property, and the lease is up, so the decision was made to consolidate the company's labels into one enhanced guest experience. With the McWatters family changes, evolutions in company roles, and harvest all happening at the same time, the team agreed this is the perfect time to pivot, focus, and, well, evolve the brand.
Christa-Lee McWatters, CEO of Evolve Cellars, TIME Winery and McWatters Collection
"It's been an exciting challenge as I take over managing the company," notes Christa-Lee. "I miss my dad and his mentorship, and moving ahead without him is a struggle some days, but I know he would want us to carve out our own way to carry on the family legacy."
Christa-Lee's first significant change as leader is to unite the brands. As of September 16 Evolve Cellars has a new residence in the refurbished Pen-Mar theatre that is home to TIME Winery & Kitchen, and the new location will especially showcase Evolve Cellars' popular sparkling wine collection.
And for those who cant get to Penticton, Evolve Cellars wines are always available online.
Under construction over the fall and winter of 2019 for opening next spring is the new Evolution Lounge, where visitors will be able to enjoy Evolve Cellars' fresh whites, luscious reds and popular sparkling wines, and then move next door for a taste of TIME Winery wines, plus enjoy some of the many delicious and creative options from the celebrated menu created seasonally by Chef AK Campbell and his culinary team.
This decision is in accordance with the brand's core values. "After all, Evolve was founded under the principles of embracing change and moving ahead," says Christa-Lee. "Every time a person reads one of the Evolve wine labels, they are reminded how important it is to take a step forward, to try to accomplish more and strive to achieve their best. Well, now we need to 'walk the talk' and keep changing and growing ourselves."
Evolve Cellars will continue to offer quality BC VQA wines made by Graham Pierce, and the team looks forward to having the continued support of fans and the Okanagan community as they #RaiseAGlassTo change, and establish a new tasting location at 361 Martin Street in downtown Penticton. An opening date for the Evolution Lounge will be announced in 2020.
Suggested social caption
A new home for @evolvecellars is in downtown Penticton! Go to @timewinery and taste #bcwine
Photos here: Dropbox
About TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars, and McWatters Collection
TIME Winery & Kitchen is a fully operational winery, tasting bar, restaurant and guest experience centre located in the heart of wine country in downtown Penticton.
The McWatters Collection is a small, exclusive offering of wines; a legacy label that celebrates the McWatters family and its role informing the BC wine industry, and Evolve Cellars offers approachable, bright, delicious and affordable wines from its welcoming location at TIME Winery in downtown Penticton.
About Christa-Lee McWatters
Christa-Lee McWatters is the president and CEO of ENCORE Vineyards, a progressive Okanagan-based wine company that owns and manages TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars, and the McWatters Collection. In the wine industry with her family from childhood, Christa-Lee is involved in numerous industry initiatives, including as chair of the British Columbia Wine Institute and as an executive committee and board member of the Canadian Vintners Association.
Nota Bene Public Release Dates Announced
Exclusive opportunities to access Black Hills Estate Winery's Iconic Red Wine
From the startup days in the late 1990s when a hand-painted "sold out" sign hung outside a Quonset hut, to today's ultra-modern Wine Experience Centre on Black Sage Road, wine lovers congregate at Black Hills Estate Winery for their chance at a case of Nota Bene. Made by Black Hills Estate Winery since the 1999 debut vintage, Nota Bene dazzles palates with its Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend.
Now as the beloved British Columbia winery celebrates its 20th anniversary year, the public release of the 2017 Nota Bene ($59.99) is imminent.
While Black Hills wine club members gain first access to the releases, the winery sets aside a small allocation of cases for the public and retail partners. In early September, winemaker Ross Wise will visit Vancouver for a series of events featuring the beloved flagship wine.
The public release and celebration of the winery's 20th anniversary commences with a public tasting at Everything Wine Morgan Crossing on September 3, followed by a ticketed dinner at Barrique Kitchen & Wine Bar. On September 4 and 5, additional opportunities to taste and Nota Bene occur at Legacy Liquor Store, Swirl Wine Store and Marquis Wine Cellars. [Full details follow at end of release.]
The winery team has had an overwhelming response to the pre-release of this vintage, and critical accolades include a 95-point score. The 2017 Nota Bene vintage is now sold out online. Only available at the limited September release to restaurants and select fine wine stores, the 2017 Nota Bene is expected to sell swiftly.
The Latest Vintage of Nota Bene
Black Hills Estate Winery senior winemaker Ross Wise has assembled the final blend of the 2017 Nota Bene. Unmistakably Nota Bene on the nose, the 2017 vintage shows cassis, dark berry and cherry aromas, alongside notes of cedar and dark chocolate. Fresh berry fruit and French oak flavours shape the palate, with additional complexity coming from hints of mint and sage. Silky and elegant tannins and a creamy texture result in a wine that is approachable in its youth, while its impressive richness and concentration will allow evolution and further complexity over the next 12-15 years. Ample fresh acidity frames a long, fruit-driven finish.
"2017 was a great vintage for Okanagan wines," notes Wise. "The warm and dry summer resulted in concentrated and ripe berries, while cool August and September helped retain crisp and natural acidity and high aromatic intensity. Red wines from this vintage are richly concentrated and have an impressive aging potential."
2017 Nota Bene Release Events
Tuesday, September 3
Everything Wine - Morgan Crossing
Nota Bene Tasting
Time: 2 PM - 4 PM
OPEN EVENT
Address: 15735 Croydon Dr #112, Surrey, BC
Black Hills Portfolio Tasting - Sep 3rd
Barrique Kitchen & Wine Bar
Join winemaker Ross Wise at Barrique for a paired
six-course menu prepared by chef Josiah Tam.
Time: 6:30 PM
Address: 15333 Pacific Av., White Rock, BC
Price: $120 per person (gratuity and taxes included)
Limited tickets remain. For tickets please call 604 385 3311
or email josiahtam@barriquerestaurant.ca
Wednesday, September 4
Legacy Liquor Store
Nota Bene Long Table Tasting
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Price: $20 per person
Address: 1633 Manitoba St, Vancouver, BC
For tickets go to this LINK or
email events@legacyliquorstore.com
Swirl Wine Store
Nota Bene Tasting
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Price: $39.99 per person with $10 credit for any Black Hills wine purchase
Address: 1185 Mainland, Vancouver, BC
For tickets in store or online here:
Black Hills Portfolio Tasting - Sep 4th
Thursday, September 5
Marquis Wine Cellars
Nota Bene Tasting
Time: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
OPEN EVENT
Address: 1034 Davie St, Vancouver, BC
About Black Hills Estate Winery
Founded in 1999, Black Hills Estate Winery produces exclusively from its estate vineyard on the Black Sage Bench, north of Osoyoos, British Columbia. The vineyard microclimate is one of the hottest, driest, and sunniest sites in the South Okanagan, allowing the vines to yield flavourful grapes of balanced intensity. Using sustainable vinicultural techniques and thoughtful winemaking practices, the winery is well-known for its signature blend: Nota Bene, an age-worth Bordeaux-style red blend produced in limited quantities from select barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Black Hills also produces a selection of stunning ultra-premium blends, such as Addendum, Per Se, and Ipso Facto, and varietally-labelled Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Syrah, Tempranillo and Carménère.
Surrounded by panoramic vineyard views, the Black Hills team welcomes wine lovers to visit their Wine Experience Center in Oliver. This stylish facility provides a unique, sit-down wine tasting experience guided by highly trained wine professionals. Annual summer events held at the facility are bold, exciting and fun. Members of the Black Hills Wine Club enjoy front-of-line access to limited-releases and wines not available to the public.
To learn more, visit blackhillswinery.com and follow the conversation on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.
Reflecting on the Life of BC Wine Legend Harry McWatters
The Okanagan Summer Vineyard Events Continue
To do in the Okanagan this summer…
LIVE music every Thursday night at Okanagan Crush Pad !
Live at Crush Pad - Summer Music Series
Okanagan Crush Pad - Summerland, BC
16576 Fosbery Rd Summerland, BC
Every Thursday
from July 4 to August 29 – From 7-9 PM attend Live at Crush Pad and listen to a variety of live music performances while you drink locally-made wine at Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad. Tickets are just $25 per person. Gates open at 6:30 PM.
Live at Crush Pad features renowned artists including Trailerhawk, The Fugitives, Rob ‘n Walker, Tiger Moon and many many more!
Okanagan Crush Pad’s wine brands (Narrative, Free Form & Haywire) will be available for purchase. Guests can also buy food from on-site food trucks.
View the upcoming musical acts and purchase your tickets online HERE.
Find more information and RSVP to Live at Crush Pad on Facebook.
Turning 15 has never been this BIG… or tasty!
Well Seasoned hits Milestone of Food, Education, and Generosity to the Community
To show appreciation for 15 years of support, Well Seasoned owner Angie Quaale & her team invites the community to join them in celebration on August 13!
Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store is celebrating its 15th birthday!
Join the party during the Hot August Nights Open House tasting event on Tuesday, August 13 from 6-8 PM, at the Well Seasoned store (#117-20353 64 Ave, Langley BC).
This FREE, giant open house is where you will sample and shop tons of delicious local products, meet with the makers, and wish Well Seasoned a happy 15th birthday. The more the merrier!
Check out the event on Facebook or visit http://www.wellseasoned.ca/happybirthday.
Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store celebrates its 15th birthday on August 13th
From its humble beginnings on the Langley Bypass in 2004, Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store has not only established itself as the go-to for foodies in the Fraser Valley, but it has also gained recognition across the country for its vision, trendy food creations, and championing the support of eating local.
From the start, owner Angie Quaale’s goal was to make Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store a launch pad for small scale food producers and locally grown items. Over the last 15 years, Well Seasoned has supported hundreds of brands and even created many of its own. Now it’s time to celebrate all they have accomplished.
““Nothing is easy,” she notes. “Owning a business is hard. It pushes every limit you have ever had. We work hard to set ourselves apart and we offer a service (hands on classes) that you can’t get online.
”My hope for the next 15 years at Well Seasoned,” she continues, “is that it continues to encourage people to eat well, to make real food at home & share it with family and friends.””
Grand Re-Opening of Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store in 2014
On the celebration of the store opening with the launch of the Well Seasoned Store sign, a customer says “I hope you know the debut of your sign was just the start of something more than just a business. You inspire, encourage and support so many of us business owners. You have set an example of authenticity, loyalty and integrity.”
Read below to learn more about how Angie Quaale and Well Seasoned came to be.
The BIG Back Story
There is No Well Seasoned without Angie Quaale
Her titles range from trusted food expert, businesswoman, BBQ champion, and municipal leader (to name a few). Not many accomplish even one of these goals in a lifetime, let alone all of them - yet these are just a fraction of the triumphs of Fraser Valley’s gourmet gem, Angie Quaale. Quaale, a true foodie, has dedicated her entire working life to the food and hospitality industries, elevating every year.
Establishing her Place in the Culinary Landscape
Before opening Well Seasoned, Angie enjoyed a successful career in the food service sector, specifically working for manufacturers on specialty food distribution and menu development throughout North America.
She opened the doors to her little gourmet food retail store off the Langley Bypass in 2004 and brought a new food culture to Langley. At Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store, in Langley BC, she and her team combine her expertise in menu development and retail food distribution to bring food lovers the latest in food products and cookware from across the globe. (They relocated to a larger space in 2014 on the store’s 10th birthday.)
Quaale established cooking classes presented by local chefs and a catering arm for her store; both of which remain at capacity; educating the public and serving their party needs. She has innovated many recipes and introduced them to the western Canada market, such as chocolate salami, grab-and-go casseroles, and the bacon chocolate chip cookies that Vancouver Magazine listed on its 101 things to eat before you die!
Kicking off Summer 2019 Well Seasoned was just named Best Specialty Gift Store, and Best Caterer from the Langley Advance Reader’s Choice Awards.
Angie Quaale, 15-year owner of Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store
More Than a Store Owner
Outside of Well Seasoned, Quaale enjoys sharing her insights on food trends as a sought-after culinary trend expert and recipe developer. She is a regular guest with cooking segments on Global BC, City TV, and CTV Vancouver, is a contributing culinary expert on CBC Radio and also for Black Press. Quaale can also be seen doing cooking demos at various events and shows throughout the region.
And she demonstrates strong industry-leadership: she is past president of the BC chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, past president of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, past chair of Tourism Langley, and founder of the Langley Community Farmer's Market. Angie was also named the George Preston Memorial Business Person of the Year by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce. She has also been recognized by Women’s Enterprise Centre as one of BC’s 100 New Pioneer Women Entrepreneurs. In 2006 Angie was recognized by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce as the Entrepreneur of the Year, and in 2007 as the Small Business of the Year.
A BBQ Queen Too!
If her store ownership and community involvement isn’t enough, Quaale also spent many years practicing and mastering the art of Low & Slow, traditional Southern Style BBQ, and a decade competing in BBQ competitions all over North America. She and her partner David Gassaway represented Canada at the Jack Daniels World Invitational BBQ Championship in Lynchburg, Tennessee where they won first place awards for "Home Cooking from the Homeland" and the "BBQ Desserts" categories.
They also competed in the American Royal Invitational BBQ Championships and won multiple Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion awards at prestigious BBQ competitions throughout Canada and the US.
Spring boarding off this, Quaale brought BBQ home to Langley. She hosted and produced “BBQ off the Bypass”, a sanctioned competition that saw entries from throughout the Pacific Northwest, and ran for 11 years. She also produced the “Barn Burner BBQ” competition in Chilliwack.
Today, Quaale and Gassaway have stepped out of the competitive spotlight. They still have a passion for BBQ, but now they spend more time cooking for friends and less time on the competition scene.
Eating Local in the Fraser Valley
Giving up BBQ made room for Angie to pick up where she left off after co-founding the Langley Farmers Market and continue her advocating for all things local. Highlighting the strong relationships with the farmers, producers, and chefs who live there, Angie wrote her best selling cookbook Eating Local in the Fraser Valley, published by Random House in 2018.
Featuring more than 70 locally-inspired recipes, this combination cookbook/guidebook is the perfect companion to one of Canada's most celebrated food and wine regions. At the time of this writing, her cookbook has been shortlisted in the nominations for the 2019 Taste Canada Awards.
Bringing the Community Together
For the past two years, Quaale has hosted a community potluck at her store. “Project Potluck” is inspired by her friend Julie Van Rosendaal who made a call to action for people to gather and share food in opposition to hatred. More than 100 people have come to Well Seasoned each year to break bread, share some laughs and get to know their community.
A Deserving Foodie to Celebrate
Quaale is connected to food trends and takes tremendous pride in her ability to teach home cooks how to make better food at home. Her fun, commonsensical approach, passion for reducing food waste and working with as many local, seasonal ingredients as possible is just part of what makes Quaale’s cooking style relatable.
Quaale is a true foodie, businesswoman, and trailblazer due to the pioneering nature of her work that she chooses to share with her community and beyond.
With Well Seasoned turning 15 this year, it’s the perfect time to celebrate all these accomplishments and those yet to come.
