Tag Archives: Credit Union Place Summerside

Beef ‘n Blues 2015

PEI Flavours ran a Facebook contest asking folks to share their Sunday dinner traditions for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Beef ‘n Blues event that was part of the PEI Fall Flavours Culinary Festival.  I was pleased to have my name drawn so off we went to Summerside on September 18th to the Credit Union Place where the event was being held.

Even though the venue was quite dark, I was able to take some photos to share with you so you can have a “taste” of the event.

Because this was classed as a signature event of the Festival, it was hosted by a celebrity chef.  This marked the first time that Chef Ricardo was part of the PEI Fall Flavours Culinary Festival.

Chef Ricardo
Chef Ricardo

Chef Ricardo is very personable and was a great dinner host!  He found himself in demand throughout the evening to sign autographs.

Chef Ricardo
Chef Ricardo

I must admit I am a fan of sit-down dinners with plated meals served. The theme of the evening revolved around the idea of a traditional Sunday family dinner so the beautifully-set tables supported this theme by having a big bowl of salad on the table along with homemade bread and jars of pickled beets and dill pickles, much like could be found on a traditional family dinner table.

This bread was still warm from the oven! Note the jars of homemade pickles!

Beautiful floral arrangements with fall colors adorned each table.

Here are a couple of overviews of one of the tables:

And, a close-up of a placesetting (bonus, a copy of the current issue of Ricardo’s beautiful magazine!).

Take a look at the scrumptious menu – is your mouth watering yet?

The appetizers –

  • Zucchini Boats with Braised Beef Short Ribs topped with Melted Gouda Cheese
  • Herbed Beef & Cheddar Hand Pies with House Made Tomato Ketchup & Corn Relish

The main course – Trio of Island Beef:

  • 4 Oz Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Shoe String Frites & Caramelized Onion Sauce
  • Ricardo’s Childhood Meatball served on Creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potato with Herb & Fried Mushroom Salad
  • Braised Beef & Island Ale Stew served over Potato & Root Vegetable Gratin

Dessert –

  • Sweet Breads – Banana Bread, Pound Cake, Blueberry Lemon Loaf, Pumpkin Loaf with Fresh Whipped Cream & Fruit Compotes

I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into the 2015 Beef ‘n Blues culinary event in Summerside, PEI.  My thanks to PEI Flavours for the tickets to this fine event.

For more information on the PEI Fall Flavours Culinary Festival and information on tickets and upcoming culinary events, visit their website.

To read stories about other Fall Flavours Culinary Events I have attended, click on these links:

PEI Shellfish Festival (2012):
Farm Day in the City (2012):
Savour Victoria (2012):
Toes, Taps, and Taters (2013)
Lobster Party on the Beach (2013)
Applelicious (2013)

The Great Island Grilled Cheese Challenge (2013)
Feast of the Fathers (2014)
Lamb Luau at Crowbush Cove (2014)

Feast and Frolic Dinner (PEI Int’l Shellfish Festival) (2014)

Beef and Blues (2014)

A Taste of New Glasgow (2015)

—————————————————————————-

Thank you for visiting “the Bistro” today.  If you enjoyed this posting, please share it on your social media websites.

Connect with “the Bistro” through the following social media:

Join My Island Bistro Kitchen on Facebook

Follow “the Bistro’s” tweets on Twitter

Follow “the Bistro” on Pinterest

Follow “the Bistro” on Instagram

——————————————————————————

"Beef and Blues" Dinner, Summerside, PEI
“Beef and Blues” Dinner, Summerside, PEI

Beef and Blues 2014 – A PEI Fall Flavours Signature Event

Please Note: Due to low lighting conditions at this event venue, it was very difficult to capture quality photos for this posting.

Several of the “signature” events of PEI’s Fall Flavours Festival focus on certain foods.  The recent “Beef and Blues” event in Summerside was all about Island beef.

Food Network’s Corbin Tomaszeski was the celebrity guest chef who hosted the evening.  You may recognize him from Food Network’s shows “Dinner Party Wars“, “Restaurant Makeover” and “Restaurant Takeover“.  On this night, however, Chef Corbin was found “working the crowd” in the lobby of Credit Union Place before the event venue was open.

Chef Corbin Tomaszeski
Chef Corbin Tomaszeski

The ice surface of Credit Union Place was transformed into a blues-themed venue for the sold-out event.

The evening began with Joe MacMillan providing blues music to set the tone for the evening.

Joe MacMillan
Joe MacMillan

 

“Beef and Blues” was structured differently from other signature events of the Fall Flavours Festival that I have attended which, typically, have chefs from the Culinary Institute of Canada or a particular restaurant preparing the food. In the case of “Beef and Blues”, 12 Island restaurants each had stations at which they featured a dish prepared with Island Beef. Island restaurants participating were: Island Stone Pub, Gentleman Jim’s, Sims Corner Steakhouse & Oyster Bar, Rodd Mill River Resort, The Landing, The Catch, Anson’s Restaurant & Bar, Brother’s 2, Five Eleven West, The Big Orange Lunchbox, the Lobster House Restaurant & Oyster Bar, and Pendergast’s PEI Food. In addition, three restaurants or local food producers provided desserts: Sweet Things, Samuel’s Coffee House, and Five Eleven West.

Here’s a small sampling of some of the featured dishes.

The Brother’s 2 Restaurant in Summerside featured the hushpuppy and meatball skewer.

"Hushpuppy & Meatball Skewer" from the Brother's 2 Restaurant in Summerside
“Hushpuppy & Meatball Skewer” from the Brother’s 2 Restaurant in Summerside

 

This buttermilk chicken fried steak with tomato and corn salsa came from Anson’s Restaurant & Bar in Summerside.

"Buttermilk Chicken Fried Steak with Tomato & Corn Salsa" from Anson's Restaurant & Bar
“Buttermilk Chicken Fried Steak with Tomato & Corn Salsa” from Anson’s Restaurant & Bar

Guests were free to circulate, in any order they wished, amongst the stations to sample their offerings.  At each placesetting at the tables, was a “Passport to Taste”.

"Passport to Taste"
“Passport to Taste”

Guests carried their “passport” as they visited the stations and checked off each sample they tried.  At the end of the evening, guests could drop their “passports” into a ballot box for a draw for a three-course dinner prepared by PEI’s Chef Illona Daniel.

The Big Orange Lunchbox from Charlottetown featured dry roast beef ribs with waffle chips and marshmallow dip (yes, marshmallow dip!)

The Big Orange Lunchbox from Charlottetown featured dry roast beef ribs with waffle chips and marshmallow dip
“Dry Roast Beef Ribs with Waffle Chips and Marshmallow Dip from the Big Orange Lunchbox

 

Events such as these put consumers in direct touch with local chefs whom they would probably not see at a restaurant.

No event would be complete without something for the sweet tooth!   Christine Gallant from Sweet Treats in Summerside offered these delectable peach cobbler tartlets.

Peach Cobbler Tartlets from Sweet Treats
Peach Cobbler Tartlets from Sweet Treats

 

The table from Samuel’s Coffee House in Summerside was also a busy spot as the whoppie pies proved to be a popular item.

Whoppie Pies from Samuel's Coffee House
Whoppie Pies from Samuel’s Coffee House

 

This event offered the opportunity for local chefs to be extra creative with Island beef and gave patrons a good sampling of the many delicious ways in which Island beef can be prepared.

——————————-

PEI Shellfish Festival (2012):
Farm Day in the City (2012):
Savour Victoria (2012):
Toes, Taps, and Taters (2013)
Lobster Party on the Beach (2013)
Applelicious (2013)

The Great Island Grilled Cheese Challenge (2013)
Feast of the Fathers (2014)
Lamb Luau at Crowbush Cove (2014)

Feast and Frolic Dinner (PEI Int’l Shellfish Festival) (2014)

Thank you for visiting “the Bistro” today. There are lots of ways to connect with “the Bistro” through social media:

Join My Island Bistro Kitchen on Facebook
Follow the Bistro’s tweets on twitter @PEIBistro
Find the Bistro on Pinterest at “Island Bistro Kitchen
Follow along on Instagram at “peibistro