Devour pop-up event planned in Hollywood

The duo behind the world’s largest food film festival is taking the show on the road.

Devour Food Film Fest organizers Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo will host a Devour event in Los Angeles April 2, done as a pop-up event Nova Scotia kitchen party-style, promoting the fifth edition of the Wolfville festival slated for November.

“The past two years of our festival have demonstrated the power of the culinary traveller in building and sustaining tourism in Nova Scotia,” said executive director Michael Howell. “Each pop-up event that we host will continue to promote Wolfville as Canada’s Secret Foodie Destination and the culinary bounty of Kings County.”

Hosted by Food Network personality Bob Blumer and actor Jason Priestley, a Devour! board member, the event will provide industry guests with a culinary exploration of Nova Scotia. Blumer (The Surreal Gourmet) and Howell, a chef, will pre- pare dishes using Nova Scotia seafood. The event at Blumer’s home in the Hollywood Hills will feature Benjamin Bridge’s Sparkling Wines, Domaine de Grand Pré’s Tidal Bay Wines and original cocktails prepared by Priestley, who will be tending bar with esteemed Beam Suntory Whiskey ambassador Matt Jones.

“Based on the success of past Devour pop-ups, promoting the festival and Nova Scotia in the world’s largest film-based cities is a thrill,” said Rinaldo, managing director. “Recent coverage in The Hollywood Reporter and USA Today tells us there is significant interest in a festival of our calibre from experiential travellers and film industry types in Los Angeles.”

Prior to the L.A. event, Howell and Rinaldo will travel to one of the world’s preeminent wine valleys in Sonoma, California, where Rinaldo has been invited to be a member of the jury at the Sonoma International Film Festival from March 25-29.