Belly Christmas! AKA The Ottawa Wine and Food Show

Every year around the first or second weekend of November, Ottawa hosts the Wine and Food Show. I call it Belly Christmas because wow, there are some lovely moments of culinary and vintner-ary awesomeness. Now the scene itself is quite "meat-markety" and I think it's a chance for many folks to get their "sexy dress-up" on, but when you get a couple of food and booze purists like Kari and I there, the focus isn't on how hot all the people are around us (that is a happy bonus, mind you), it's on the tasty goodness.

So with that in mind, here's a photographic tour of some of the highlights from the 2011 Ottawa Wine and Food Show. There won't be any recipes included in this post since I doubt I could ever recreate this stuff!



2010 White Rabbit from Waupoos Winery in Prince Edward County, Ontario - Varietal: Pinot Gris, Riesling, Auxerrois



Soy Cones with Goat Cheese (and other tasty goodness) - from Le Moulin in Wakfield, Quebec




Kari enjoys the wine!



Utterly delicious White Bean and Sausage Cassoulet topped with Smoked Duck - from Le Moulin in Wakfield, Quebec



A nibble of Praline Milk Chocolate from Chocolatier Rochef - Gatineau, Quebec



Kari enjoying a Four-Spice Dark Chocolate from Chocolatier Rochef



Angus Slider (from the Sheraton in Gatineau, I believe) and Cleavage!

A taste of "Et La lumière fut!" Blonde beer from Les Brasseurs du Temps - Gatineau, Quebec

Les Brasseurs du Temps booth




Caught in the act of pre-lamb-meatball snarf - Plate was a Greek appetizer collection from Mystiko in Ottawa

 



Thalia - a Greek blend (can't remember the varietals involved)



Naoussa 2007 - a really tasty Greek Boutari wine



Who doesn't enjoy a good cheese flower?



A locavore sampler plate courtesy of Savour Ottawa and partners.



Chocolate-Pecan Pie from Life of Pie (not sure what that pink stuff is)

Shadow Ridge 2009 - California Cabernet Sauvignon - As expected, good times!

Shots of port in dark chocolate cups? Don't mind if I do!

Flirting with hot girl in a velvet dress. Too bad I forgot her name! It must be noted that this was near the end and sobriety was a very distant memory, but this was a very nice way to end the night!



So, there you are, just a few glimpses of the drunken fun that is the Ottawa Wine and Food Show.

See you there in 2012!