2016 David Hawksworth & Friends Culinary Adventure

Ninth Annual Culinary Adventure: An Unforgettable Odyssey

For the ninth consecutive year, some of North America’s most renowned culinary artists descended upon Langara Island and the luxurious confines of The Clubhouse to take part in what could very well be the most extraordinary celebration of food and wine ever imagined.Hosted by BC’s own David Hawksworth, the annual David Hawksworth & Friends Culinary Adventure was held July 19-23 and drew a sold-out crowd of 42 guests, who by day combined the world’s best Salmon fishing with interactive cooking demonstrations, and by night dined on fare to tempt the Gods, all against a backdrop of stunning marine wilderness.

* Rugged Haida Gwaii landscape. “It’s always a joy for me to enable people who’ve never been there before to experience something that I’ve been fortunate to be a part of for almost 10 years,” said Chef Hawksworth, an avid angler and owner of Vancouver’s famous Hawksworth Restaurant. “It’s a great atmosphere in the lodge and the setting of the dining room overlooking Parry Pass is spectacular. All in all, it’s a great event.”

* David Hawksworth puts the finishing touches on his dish. This year’s featured guest chef was Quebec native Normand Laprise, a Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef and co-owner of Toqué!, by far the most celebrated of Montreal’s fine dining establishments. Other members of Canada’s culinary elite who made guest chef appearances were Justin Leboe, co-owner and executive chef of ultra-popular Calgary restaurant Model Milk and Dino Renaerts, partner and executive chef of Vancouver’s prestigious Bon Vivant Group.

* Normand Laprise enjoying our remote corner of the world. The Clubhouse’s Executive Chef Shaun Snelling, kicked off the evening themed dining program to unanimous approval with “A Taste of the West Coast,” featuring the very best from local land and seas. Day two saw Justin Leboe host the first culinary demo class of the trip for about 24 eager participants. Dinner that evening was courtesy of Chef Laprise and captured a lighthearted east-meets-west theme entitled “A Habs and Canucks Wedding.”

* Mark Davidson and Dino Renaerts pose with a 55lb Tyee that was released shortly after. Chef Laprise was also the host of the cooking demo on the morning of day three followed by an afternoon demo by Chef Hawksworth. At dinner that evening, guests visited food stations that featured “The Best of The West” hosted by Chef’s Dino, Justin and Shaun, each paired with sophisticated old and new world wines selected by special guest sommelier Mark Davidson.

* Justin Leboe leading food demos for our eager guests. On the final night, Chef Hawksworth utilized a reflective theme entitled “Through the Years with The West Coast Fishing Club,” and in inimitable trademark fashion presented a sampling of the fare that has made him a revered figure in the culinary universe. But with the ninth annual event now a part of Clubhouse history, its host and namesake now has a problem on his hands, how to make next year’s tenth odyssey more incredible than ever.

* All good trips must come to an end and we look forward to what David and friends have in store for the 10th Anniversary in 2016. “I haven’t thought about it yet,” he laughed. “But we’ll come up with something to make it special.”No doubt it will be one for the Millennium. Food-loving fishers should set a hook soon for 2016.Dates are set for July 17 to 21, 2016 contact us TODAY to secure your spots at 1-888-432-6666 or click here to make an inquiry online.

* Sun setting on a gorgeous Haida Gwaii day.