Dare to Pair at Westben this summer
Theatre partners with Elmhirst Resort on musical nights with chef, sommelier preparing servings
The Westben Arts Festival in Campbellford is introducing the new Dare to Pair experience — an opportunity to get a theatre-dining-wine-tasting-meet-the-cast, chef and sommelier experience.
“This new Dare to Pair series is an opportunity to eat, drink and hear music on Saturdays throughout the summer season exploring innovative pairings of foods and drinks specially prepared in connection with the concerts,” Westben’s director Donna Bennett explained.
Westben has a partnership with Elmhirst Resort, who will host one of the Dare to Pair nights at the resort.
On July 7, the evening will start at The Barn with a performance of Mozart’s opera by Don Giovanni.
After the performance guests will head over to Elmhirst’s Resort on Rice Lake, in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township, and enjoy a five-course menu by chef Jay Nutt, which was crafted just for the July 7 event.
The five-course menu will be a blend of Italian and Austrian dishes.
This event will also have sommelier Brian Hanna from Huff Estates to teach the guest about why he has paired each wine with each meal.
After the event hosted at Elmhirst Resort, on July 8 Westben is bringing back the Find the Birds and Find the Pianist, experience in Ferris Park.
Participants will go on a bird finding walk with a naturalist while also listening to the hidden piano in the park, who is played by Brian Finley. After the mini concert by Finley is over and the bird walk has commenced, participants will be provided breakfast with everyone at the Antonia’s Bistro.
Apart from those events, Westben will have 40 performances every weekend at The Barn starting Saturday and running until Aug. 6.
The festival will began with the first Dare to Pair on the 30 with a concert by the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. Sommelier Christopher Waters, editor of Vines magazine in Toronto. He will lead a wine tasting and then guest will have lunch prepared by chef Tina Moorey, from On The Side Gourmet.
Have a taste of B.C. at The Barn on July 14 with the “Canadian national treasure,” according to Bennett, the Vancouver, B.C., Chamber Choir. The Choir will perform a cappella choral music of J.S. Batch, Dowland, Dvorak and others.
The Scottish tasting on July 21 with Gord Reid is sold out—but you can reserve a curry lunch by Chef Ravi at the Antonia’s Bistro before the afternoon concert, A Taste of Scotland, with tenor Colin Ainsworth, Donna Bennett and Brian Finley at 2 p.m. featuring their favourite Scottish songs.
You can purchase tickets on the website westben.ca as well as the full festival schedule.
Dare to Pair events will require reservations 48 hours in advance. However, the other concerts every Friday and Sunday will not require a reservation 48 hours in advance.