Travel Deal for January 28, 2013
Valentine’s Day is only a few sleeps away and chances are you’re trying to find a gift that balances between the traditional and the extravagant. Taku Resort on exquisite Quadra Island has solved the problem for you, giving you the best of both.
The traditional part comes in chocolate, the tried-and-true Valentine’s gift — except Taku has created an entire culinary experience around the sweet treat. That’s the extravagant part.
The luxury resort’s chocolate tasting experience includes a gourmet dinner and chocolate buffet designed by chef Greg Hook, who will also teach you how to create handmade chocolate desserts. If you ever wanted to know all there is to know about chocolate, Hook is a pretty good choice for a teacher. He runs Vancouver’s Chocolate Arts and is one of just 12 Canadian members of the Cacao Barry Chocolate Ambassadors Club.
The package starts at $250 per couple and includes:
- A course on chocolate making taught by Greg Hook
- Dinner prepared by chef Hook and completed with the chocolate buffet made by Taku Resort’s student-guests
For $625 total ($250 + $375), guests can add the following to the package:
- One night’s accommodation
- Breakfast in suite
Note: Flights from Vancouver International Airport can be added to the package for $510.
Part of British Columbia’s Discovery Islands, Quadra is a beautiful piece of territory that covers 310 square kilometres (120 square miles) and is a 10-minute ferry ride from Campbell River on Vancouver Island. Quadra features pristine nature, intriguing aquatic life and outdoor activities galore. With a population of 2,500 people, Quadra has a quiet, artistic community that comes to life in early spring when the numerous resorts open and the visitors start to stream in. Celebrations in town feature May Day and arts festivals throughout summer.
Right now, though, romance is on the mind, which is why Taku Resort is a place to consider for your Valentine’s Day getaway.
Vacay.ca Hits the Sweet Spot on Vancouver Island
It’s not just chocolate Vacay.ca’s travel experts have uncovered in British Columbia, our noses have sniffed out sweet elixirs, too. A Vancouver Island cider house impressed Vacay.ca contributor Kathleen Kenna on her recent visit. The Merridale Ciderworks has turned out award-winning versions of an increasingly popular drink.
Kenna writes: “Cider makers who couldn’t afford orchards stole or ‘scrumped’ apples from British trees centuries ago, and made their own hard stuff. The Merridale version won gold and silver medals at a North American Brewers Association competition. ‘There’s a resurgence in cider,’ says Merridale owner Janet Docherty. ‘It’s the craft aspect — people are more interested in artisanal production. They want to know where their food comes from, where their drink comes from, and if the way it’s produced is good for the environment.’”
Read the rest of the article headlined “This Vancouver Island Cider House Rules”
To Book the Chocolate Culinary Experience and Cooking Class at Taku Resort: Telephone 250-285-3031 or toll-free 1-877-285-8258, or email info@takuresort.com. Click here for full details of what the experience offers.
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