Taste of Diamond Valley features local flavour

Food and beverage establishments hope to gain exposure while offering a sample of what they have to offer this week.

More than eight businesses from Black Diamond, Turner Valley and the surrounding area will serve food and drinks for Taste of Diamond Valley April 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Turner Valley Golf Club.

It’s something the Country Store Diner has participated in since opening the doors in Turner Valley three years ago, said co-owner Kim Ellingson.

“Having somebody represented from the restaurant business community is important,” she said. “I think it’s important for us to show off all we have in Black Diamond and Turner Valley.”

This year the diner is serving pizza, chippers, pork enchiladas and jumbo cinnamon buns, said Ellingson.

“Our chippers are beyond popular with our customers and our pizzas are one of our top sellers at the restaurant,” she said. “People come to our table eight or nine times for our chippers and pizza.”

Ellingson said she’s eager to feature pork enchiladas - one of the many frozen meals she prepares with dessert on the side for those unable to prepare a healthy meal at home.

As for the cinnamon buns, they’re a reminder that the restaurant carries desserts ranging from the buns to pies, said Ellingson.

Another regular at Taste of Diamond Valley is Spirit Hills Honey Winery in the Millarville area.

Co-owner Ilse DeWit sees its participation as an opportunity to introduce new residents and those unaware of the winery to what it has to offer.

This year it will be all five of its honey wines: Saskwatch, a dry red made with black currents and saskatoons; Dande, a white dandelion wine; Wild Rosy, a semi-sweet wild rose wine; Yeehaa!, a red sangria; and Bonfire, a mulled wine served hot.

“Typically when people hear about wine immediately people think about grape wine but there’s other kinds of wine as well,” said DeWit.

Spirit Hills has been in business for six years and has been a part of Taste of Diamond Valley almost from the start, she said.

“These are all important events because we do want people, especially out here, to know that we’re here and we want them to come see us for our winery tours,” she said. “We’re still baffled when people say they haven’t heard of us.”

Taste of Diamond Valley organizer Sarah Harrold said she expects the best turnout yet on Friday featuring more food than any other year.

“It gives the community something different and something to enjoy,” she said. “In order to go to an event like this they would have to go to the city and possibly pay for a hotel and find a babysitter overnight. It’s a nice chance that we can offer it to them at home. It’s a pretty good price for what you get to sample.”

Tickets cost $25 with the proceeds supporting the Oilfields Food Bank.