Dine Around Comox Valley 2013

Vancouver Island’s Comox Valley is hosting Dine Around for the next few weeks, offering up set price, multi-course menus at over 20 restaurants. They hosted a group of media this week and I was one of the lucky diners who got to sample dishes from a handful of the participating venues.

Restaurants

Dine Around restaurants are hosting $17, $27, or $37 menus (per person) for this campaign that will run until March 17, 2013.

Our Dine Around Tour

Bisque Cafe – $37 Dine Around menu
Chef Steve Dodd prepared an array of appetizer samples for our group that included Fanny Bay oysters casino, fresh shrimp ravioli, duck pate with Comox brie, local clams sauteed in white wine, and house-smoked sockeye salmon.

Blackfin Pub – $27 Dine Around Menu
We had each of the appetizer options that included seafood chowder, spinach and arugula salad, and a prawn stack with a rice cake prepared by Chef Nigel McMeans and his team.

The Union Street Grill & Grotto – $17 Dine Around Menu
You can imagine how full we were getting at this point but the beer and wine flights, roasted squash lasagna, grilled Caesar salad, risotto, and seafood platter were irresistible. The staff was very knowledgeable and I had to take a photo of their complete gluten free menu as it was the most extensive that I’ve ever seen at a restaurant.

Locals – $37 Dine Around menu
There’s always room for dessert! Especially when it’s Chef Ronald St. Pierre’s white chocolate and matcha green tea Bavarian mousse and coconut lime panna cotta with Comox Valley bumbleberry.

Actual dishes may or may not appear exactly as shown since we were served family style for a few options.

How to Get There

From Vancouver, take the Horseshoe Bay ferry crossing to Departure Bay. From Tsawwassen, take the Nanaimo ferry over to Duke Point. Courtenay, Comox, and Cumberland are located about 70 minutes north of Nanaimo just off the Island Highway.

The scenery is awe-inspiring with snow-capped mountain views that drape down to sandy shores and seashell-covered beaches. I did a quick 24-hour trip this time but if you have a weekend to explore, book a reservation at a Dine Around restaurant (or four) and then pop in at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, Natural Pastures Cheeses, Fanny Bay Oysters, Island Bison, Beaufort Wines, and many other destinations along the way that will inspire your inner chef.

Accommodation packages are also available through the Best Western Westerly Hotel & Conference Centre, Travelodge Courtenay, Comox Valley Bed & Breakfast Association, and The Old House Village Hotel & Spa. We had Ambassador Shuttle Service driving us around all night as well, which was very handy since there were wine pairings at each location.

Dine Around Contest

The Vancouver Island Visitor Centre, @VIVisitorCentre on Twitter, will be able to help you plan your time away. Check them out on Facebook to enter to win prizes daily during Dine Around.