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christmas in november

Get your Holiday Spirit on at Christmas in November

0 · Nov 14, 2016 · Leave a Comment

For 27 years the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has been romancing guests with the magic of Christmas in November. This annual culinary event features Canadian Celebrity Chefs as well as known local Chefs who love to share their passion for cooking with attendees. With three packages to choose from, you pick the one that works best for you and sign up for sessions including food, cocktails and decor. Almost every Chef or Presenter you meet is gracious and approachable. You may even find yourself seated with some of them at your dining room table. Seriously a food lovers dream.

Beyond these sessions are decadent buffet style and plated meals, festive activities, delicious beverages, entertainment and even design sessions to help get you in the holiday spirit. I explore the Eat, Drink and be Merry side of Christmas in November on the Canada.com Website.

Chef Mark McEwen
Chef Mark McEwen with Merry and Me

Returning to Christmas in November this year was the Decor Whistler Cabin with Cory Christopher, a cabin decorated with festive flair to inspire creativity in your own home this holiday season. So much fun right?!

With so many men now attending the event, the organizers created The Man Cabin. I admit, I was a little excited about exploring this cabin that included Alberta Pork and a Spirits tasting with Charton Hobbs. Yes my friends, Ladies were Welcome. They even had cigars available for purchase if you were so inclined.

With so many great things happening during your stay, it’s hard not to get caught up in the Christmas spirit.

Vikram and Me
Vikram and Me

I was asked to cover the event as Gastropost [National Post] Ambassador again this year, and brought my friend Merry along to join me. While there I learned how to cook the shit out of Indian food with Vikram Vij, make Asian salmon tartare with Chef Jan Hansen, try melt in your mouth ricotta gnocchi with Chef Mark McEwan, make turkey confit canapes with Chef Liana Robberecht, whip up a Black Forest Roulade with Chefs Anna and Michael Olson, get my pork on at the Man Cabin with Michael Olson and Alberta Pork PLUS learn how to make memories at the cottage with Nik Manojlovich. These were just a few of my favourite things.

Chef Jan Hansen, Emily Richards and me
Chef Jan Hansen, Emily Richards and me

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has announced Chef Chuck Hughes as the 2017 headliner for Christmas in November and is already taking reservations for next year.

If you love food, cookbooks and the Food Network, definitely put this on your bucket list.

Adventures, Alberta Bound, events, Sponsored anna olson, christmas in november, cooking sessions, fairmont jasper park lodge, food and recipes, holiday decor, jan hansen, liana robberecht, man cabin, mark mcewan, michael olson, nik manojlovich, vikram vij

Christmas in November

0 · Nov 21, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Christmas in November in Jasper is an event held every year at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and a glorious celebration of food, drink and decor. It’s a place you can go to get back to nature (literally you will see wildlife everywhere), breathe in the fresh mountain air and allow yourself to get caught up in the festivities.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Tables
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Tables

We were invited to attend this event, now in it’s 27th year, and partake in the tradition of getting ourselves immersed in the spirit of Christmas. How could we say no? It wouldn’t be easy with no family nearby to help with the kids, but we managed to have someone look after the dog, the sister cats and take the kids. We are fortunate to be surrounded with such great friends.

Elizabeth Baird & Emily Richards
Elizabeth Baird & Emily Richards

We were allowed to pick the sessions we wanted to attend (squee). If you’ve followed my journey, you will know I started watching cooking shows when they only appeared on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) back in the 70’s. It was my favourite Saturday past time. In the 80’s my mom started buying me Canadian Living Cookbooks which featured Elizabeth Baird. From there TV as we know it exploded into what we call the Food Network. My love for cooking shows has never faltered and to this day they are my number one pick to watch anytime the TV is on and the remote in my hand.

Roger Mooking
Roger Mooking

The line up of presenters was nothing short of spectacular. With so many presenter options it was kind of sad you couldn’t spend time with all of them. Our sessions included one of my all time favourite Canadian Chefs Elizabeth Baird. She used to do a show with Emily Richards and the two of them team up to present at Christmas in November. Roger Mooking is a pretty cool dude in person, the super friendly and talented Micah Dew (Mixologist) we got to meet on our first night and enjoy a cocktail session with him. Love Connie & John from Charcut so I wanted to see them present, found it pretty cool to meet the spectacular married duo Anna and Michael Olson, been a long time fan of Christine Cushing, and watched Dale MacKay become the first Top Chef Canada Winner. All the presenters at Christmas in November are fun, friendly and boy can they make cooking look easy peasy.

Cured Salt Trout by Dale MacKay
Cured Salt Trout by Dale MacKay

Upon arrival you enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening. The next day you are in 3 sessions. When you are not in sessions you are eating. Important tip, do not eat breakfast and do not eat for two days before arriving. They will feed you in each food session and then again at breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will need to roll your way back to your room. Sometimes you even find treats left in your room like milk and cookies. Delicious & more eating.

The next day more sessions. Just to be clear, you have 2 full days of sessions and one final session the morning of your departure. You do not have to register for every session if you want do partake in other activities. They do have a few other activities planned for you. Or you can explore the Lodge.

Down in the Beauvert Promenade (lower level) they have a recreation and health club, fitness centre, hair salon and spa. Stop in to Fitzhugh’s To Go for a special coffee, Grizzly Paw Beer or pick up a bottle of Prosecco for later. Take your coffee to go and wander through the Mountain Galleries or browse the selection at the Fairmont store, affectionately called “Call The Kettle Black” during the festivities. If you brought the kids, they will enjoy the Kid’s or Teen rooms complete with table games to occupy any age.

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

If snow covers the ground there is a large array of outdoor winter sports to partake in should you choose to arrive a few days early or stay a few days later. Your last evening at Christmas in November will be a full on Gala. They treat you so well and it’s so beautifully decorated, it’s like being at a wedding. Each evening they have a band playing fun dance tunes and in between you are treated to the lovely sounds of the Willows. The food is amazing, there are delicious beverages to accompany your meals and the staff at the Fairmont treat you like Kings and Queens. My husband attended with me and he enjoyed himself almost as much as I did.

Christmas Sipper by Micah Dew
Christmas Sipper by Micah Dew

It’s truly a magical experience you will love and a good way to get into the festive spirit and let your sparkle shine. You can read more about my adventures and some of the sessions I attended here with Gastropost at Christmas in November.

Anna & Michael Olson
Anna & Michael Olson

Adventures, Sponsored christmas, christmas in november, food, jasper, sessions, the fairmont jasper lodge

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  • Surprise surprise we fondued again this weekend. This time a marinated sesame chicken in broth + a cheese fondue made with a porter (beer). Lots of great flavour happening and too much chicken!
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We finished with a small bowl of chicken soup using the leftover broth with some vermicelli noodles and sliced green scallions I had on stand by. Another amazing fondue is in the books!
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Leftover uncooked chicken went into our chicken chow mein 😍😉
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In the first photo the incredibly tasty booze soaked cherries fell in to the hot tub aka hot chocolate. The second photo shows the cherries pre-hot tub.
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The hot chocolate is missing the marshmallow as they apparently ran out of marshmallows. Hopefully this means they are selling lots of hot cocoa for @yychotchocolatefest!
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Try this beverage with or without alcohol and partial proceeds go to Calgary Meals on Wheels.
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Made these Burnt Butter and Salted Maple Sticky Buns for the #rainydaybitescookbookclub challenge. Admittedly I took the photo before adding the salt (whoops)! The dough is easy to work with and I let both rises go longer than advised.
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The glaze for these buns goes both on the bottom and again poured over the buns when they come out of the oven hot. My family loved them and ate most of them as they were a little on the sweet side for me.
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Lots joining in on this challenge today. Follow the hashtag, #rainydaybitescookbookclub to see everyone's photos for todays challenge!
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It's available until February 28th but do check their opening hours before you go as they are closed Sundays.
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Join me on my adventures both in and out of the kitchen! We travel in search of new experiences, go on adventures both near and far and cook in the kitchen creating new recipes, re-create recipes from previous generations, and seek out crazy food combinations yet sticking true to comfort food and simple recipes.

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