gci media releases

Come Get a Taste of PEI

May 21, 2010 | Charlottetown, PEI | gci clients

Tourism Prince Edward Island Invites Canada to Join the Island Kitchen Party At the 65th Tulip Festival in Ottawa

Tourism Prince Edward Island (TPEI) announces today its Island Kitchen Party which takes place at Major's Hill Park at 1 Rideau Street in Ottawa from May 22-24 at the 65th Annual Canadian Tulip Festival. TPEI invites the whole family to come down and experience a little piece of PEI, including food tastings as well as appearances from Chef Michael Smith, the Island's food ambassador, Anne Chouinard resident golf expert and award-winning musicians Chuck & Albert and the Grass Mountain Hobos.

"Prince Edward Island is a lively place, with friendly people, amazing food, world-class golf courses and a rich culture," says Robert Vessey, Prince Edward Island Minister of Tourism and Culture. "We are thrilled to hold an Island Kitchen Party in the country's capital, to offer the rest of Canada a taste of all the treasures we have on the Island."

Starting Saturday May 22nd at 10:00 a.m., the PEI Pavilion kicks off with the creation of an interactive art project guided by artist and creativity facilitator, Lucie Bellemare. Lucie has taught and has given expositions throughout Canada, and keeping an Island perspective in her artwork creates a fun and interactive activity for the whole family. The project concludes on the last day of the Festival.

Also, at the PEI Pavilion on May 22nd, Food Network mainstay and the Island's food Ambassador Chef Michael Smith will be onsite and signing his latest cookbook, Chef at Home, between the hours of 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. He will also be onsite throughout the day on Saturday and a part of the food tastings that will be prepared by chefs from the Culinary Institute of Canada. Families can sample some of PEI's best oysters and mussels all weekend long between 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

To help you brush up your game before you visit the stunning championship golf courses on PEI, one of Canada's top 10 golfers, Anne Chouinard, will be onsite all weekend providing golf tips and demonstrations between the hours of 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Anne was the first woman to qualify for the PGA's professional circuit of Quebec, and has taught the likes of golf pro Lorie Kane. You could be next!

Featured on the PEI stage are two award-winning musical acts that are surely like little you've ever experienced before. With performances all weekend at 10:30 p.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., the Grass Mountain Hobos are a swing, bluegrass, blues, and folk infusion. Their brand of music is authentic and complex, mixing equal parts of the carnival, farm, tavern and circus. Two acoustic guitars, a banjo, mandolin, doghouse bass and a fiddle create the unique backdrop over which the six vocalists paint malevolent yet harmonious works of art.

Featured on the PEI stage are two award-winning musical acts that are surely like little you've ever experienced before. With performances all weekend at 10:30 p.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., the Grass Mountain Hobos are a swing, bluegrass, blues, and folk infusion. Their brand of music is authentic and complex, mixing equal parts of the carnival, farm, tavern and circus. Two acoustic guitars, a banjo, mandolin, doghouse bass and a fiddle create the unique backdrop over which the six vocalists paint malevolent yet harmonious works of art.
Performing on the PEI stage at 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. from May 22 through the 24th are Chuck & Albert. Multi-instrumentalists, great physical comics, and fluently bilingual, this Acadian duo has played to standing ovations both at home, across Canada and overseas. Their performances bring to life an energetic blend of visual humour and quick wit combined with the upbeat foot-stomping music and dance of their indigenous PEI Acadian roots.

On now, and running through May 29th, select restaurants in Ottawa are holding special PEI food promotions. For a taste of the Island, please visit:
Absinthe Café Resto Bar
Allium Restaurant
Big Easy's Seafood & Steakhouse
Black Dog Bistro
Juniper Kitchen and Wine Bar
Pelican Fishery and Grill
Perspectives Restaurant
Sweetgrass Aboriginal Bistro
Whalesbone Oyster House

Tourism PEI hopes you enjoy your brief glimpse of the great culture, food and golf available on the Island. For more information, please visit us at the PEI Pavilion located near the Mirror Tent, at the south-end of Major's Hill Park at 1 Rideau Street or online at www.tourismpei.com.

About PEI Tourism

Prince Edward Island is the smallest of Canada's provinces in both size and population. Its 140,000 residents play host to 1.2 million visitors annually and Tourism is the second largest contributor to gross domestic product.

Prince Edward Island is renowned for its scenic beauty, fresh farm produce, abundant seafood, relaxed pace of life and the warmth of its residents. Easily accessible by air, sea and the longest bridge in Canada, PEI offers premier accommodations, top Canadian golf resorts, the warmest waters north of the Carolinas and a variety of outdoor activities for all ages and paces of life. To learn about Prince Edward Island, visit www.tourismpei.com.