Vancouver, BC – written June 20, 2024 – The Fairmont Hotel Waterfront and its restaurant, Arc, are offering a summer rooftop garden dinner party series this June, July and August that will include a tour of its potager garden and beekeeping activities along with a cocktail reception and an elegant dinner served at a long table. Each rooftop garden dinner will feature wine pairings, included in the pricing. A different Okanagan winery will be showcased each month.
What makes potager gardens so appealing and attractive is their symmetrical geometric beds. Within the beds, veggies, fruits, herbs, shrubs and even fruit trees are planted formally to conform to the geometric shaped beds. The ‘potager’ garden originated in France and refers to an ornamental kitchen garden which provided all the ingredients necessary to make a healthy ‘potage’ or soup, eaten at the start of the daily meal.
There are three milestones when it comes to “going green” at the Fairmont. The first is the potager garden built in 1995 that has a “west coast flair” with softer lines mimicking the waves of the ocean and an emphasis on growing pollinator flowers to attract bees. The second is when the Fairmont started to host a honey bee apiary with the help of Chief Beekeeper Julia Common back in 2008.
Finally, the third green initiative is the pollinator hotel, better known as their “Bee & Bee”, which was built in partnership with Hives for Humanity as part of the Pollinator Corridor project. This habitat now welcomes hundreds of species of species of solitary bees that are native to British Columbia. Each hive is responsible for 20 to 30,000 honeybees, who forage over 60 different plant species, and manage to produce an impressive 60 lbs of honey annually.
The potager at the Fairmont Hotel on the third floor, is tended to by Carissa Kasper of Seed & Nourish, in collaboration with ARC’s Executive Chef Adam Middleton. Seed & Nourish empowers chefs and gardeners to grow beautiful food in the city. Chef Adam showcases the seasonable bounty with a hyper-local Province to Plate menu in ARC.
The Fairmont Hotel supports not only bees, but biodiversity and welcomes all members of an ecosystem in with the belief that nature knows balance best. They feed the soil organically to empower strong healthy plants. They work with the natural growth, exuberance and spontaneity of the plants and the seasons. They have everything from earthworms to ladybugs to hover flies who thrive in this organic setting.
The hotel’s Bee Butler cares for an apiary on the roof. Part of AccorHotels, @fairmonthotels is committed to supporting global honey bee health through their ‘Bee Sustainable’ program. So far, the program has placed more than 40 apiaries and wild bee hotels at Fairmont locations around the world. You can taste some of this freshly produced and organically grown honey if you show up for one of the three dinners. Send some pictures for posting, if you decide to enjoy one of the dinners with fresh herbs, organic honey and freshly picked ingredients.
There will be three dinners offered this summer. The first is already over by the time you read this. The second dinner takes place July 18th and the third dinner is on August 22, 2024. Book your tickets today! https://www.arcdining.com/
REVIEW: I just happened to walk past the Fairmont and decided to ask them about the dinners, as I am very fascinated by “Rooftop Gardens” of any kind. I thought it would be much higher than the third floor, but it makes sense to put it where it is next to the swimming pool area. When I told them I wanted to write this article for my blog, Westcoast German Media, they immediately found someone to greet me and give me an amazing personal tour. These photos in the article are all mine and you may borrow them, as long as you credit ©WestcoastGermanMedia when using them. Enjoy!
GUTEN APPETIT!:
Garden Dinner – June 20: Quails Gate with Bill Sanford
June 20 2024 | 6:00 PM
900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5
Ticket includes dinner and wine pairing: $185 + tax and gratuity
Indulge in a truly unique culinary experience amidst the lush greenery of Fairmont Waterfront’s rooftop garden. Our Garden Dinner Series invites you to savor the flavors of the season, where every dish is crafted from ingredients freshly harvested just steps away.
Delight in the vibrant tastes of locally sourced produce and herbs, lovingly nurtured in our own urban oasis and pollinated by our buzzing bee colony. Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars, where each bite is a celebration of sustainability and gastronomic delight.
Featured: Quails Gate Winery with Bill Sanford
Garden Dinner Series – July 18th with French Door and Alyssa Shull
July 18 2024 | 6:00 PM
900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5
Ticket includes dinner and wine pairings: $185 + tax and gratuity
Featured: French Door Winery and Alyssa Shull
Indulge in a truly unique culinary experience amidst the lush greenery of Fairmont Waterfront’s rooftop garden. Our Garden Dinner Series invites you to savor the flavors of the season, where every dish is crafted from ingredients freshly harvested just steps away.
Delight in the vibrant tastes of locally sourced produce and herbs, lovingly nurtured in our own urban oasis and pollinated by our buzzing bee colony. Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars, where each bite is a celebration of sustainability and gastronomic delight.
Garden Dinner Series – August 22nd with Phantom Creek
August 22 2024 | 6:00 PM
900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5
Ticket includes dinner and wine pairings: $250 + tax and gratuity
Featuring Kaviari Caviar & Phantom Creek Winery
Indulge in a truly unique culinary experience amidst the lush greenery of Fairmont Waterfront’s rooftop garden. Our Garden Dinner Series invites you to savor the flavors of the season, where every dish is crafted from ingredients freshly harvested just steps away.
Delight in the vibrant tastes of locally sourced produce and herbs, lovingly nurtured in our own urban oasis and pollinated by our buzzing bee colony. Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars, where each bite is a celebration of sustainability and gastronomic delight.