DOORS OPEN IN TORONTO
(Condensed from the press release)

Ever wonder what those landmark buildings you pass on the street everyday look like from the inside? This June, the city of Toronto they will satisfy the public's curiousity during Doors Open Toronto.

At this annual event, over 150 buildings of architectural, historic and social significance to the city will offer free behind-the-scenes public tours. Among them will be the
Fairmont Royal York Hotel which on May 27th will mark Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ Centennial year by hosting tour groups of 10 - 15 people every ten minutes down selected avenues of the heritage hotel's 72 kilometres of carpeting. The lookeyloos will get a peep at such features as the 150-cook kitchen, the Imperial Room, the legendary ‘green room,’ the sub-basement’s recycling operations, the laundry and housekeeping facilities, the Heritage Wall on the mezzanine as well as The Fairmont Royal York’s grand ballrooms.

Other similar public “open houses� will be held this year across North America. Our own Fairmont Hotel Vancouver will be offering its own tour this December 2, 2007.


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SUMAC RIDGE ESTATE WINERY WINS BEST OF CLASS AT PRESTIGIOUS CALIFORNIA COMPETITION
(Directly from the press release)


Summerland, British Columbia -- Sumac Ridge Estate Winery winemaker Mark Wendenburg is proud to share the news of the winery’s win of three gold medals at the 22nd Annual Pacific Rim International Wine Competition. The winery also received the highest scoring gold medal in the class leading them to a Best of Class award for their Gewürztraminer.

The Pacific Rim International Wine Competition took place at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino on April 25 and 26, 2007. Judges reviewed 2,100 wines from all over the world.

The following awards were presented to Sumac Ridge Estate Winery:

Gold/Best of Class: Private Reserve Gewürztraminer 2006
CSPC# 142893 $14.99 in British Columbia; $15.99 (suggested retail price) in Alberta

Gold: Black Sage Vineyard Meritage 2004
CSPC# 985523 $28.99 in British Columbia; $30.99 (suggested retail price) in Alberta

Gold: Black Sage Vineyard Meritage (White) 2005
CSPC# 434977 $21.99 in British Columbia; $24.99 (suggested retail price) in Alberta



“We are very proud of our most recent awards,� says Wendenburg. “Our Gewürztraminer is one of the winery’s flagship wines. To receive a Best of Class award reinforces to us why this wine is so often enjoyed at Canadian tables. This is a very exciting lead-in to next week’s Okanagan Wine Festival,� he continues. “Our spirits are definitely up!�

Founded by Harry McWatters in Summerland, British Columbia in 1979, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery is the oldest operating estate winery in British Columbia, and celebrated its 25th anniversary in July 2006. Notable wines crafted by winemaker Mark Wendenburg from Sumac Ridge’s vineyards (including its acclaimed 115 acre Black Sage Vineyard) include Gewürztraminer, Meritage, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, “Methode Classique� sparkling wines, and Icewine. Open year-round, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery offers tours, a retail shop, a wine tasting bar, and a private Founder’s Tasting Room. The winery is also home to the highly praised Cellar Door Bistro which offers exceptional regional cuisine. For more information, visit www.sumacridge.com


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ZODIAC SUES MOET HENNESSEY
(Directly from the press release)

Zodiac Spirits, Inc has announced that it has filed a suit against Moet Hennessey in US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan claiming false and misleading advertising of their Chopin Vodka brand. Chopin’s current advertising and related marketing materials prominently feature Chopin as “The World’s Only Luxury Potato Vodka�. Zodiac Spirits, Inc. owns the Zodiac Vodka brand which has been marketed as a “Luxury Potato Vodka� since 1999. Zodiac is a uniquely positioned, small batch potato vodka, produced and bottled in Idaho, USA to the highest quality standards.
In connection with the filing, Zodiac Spirits released the following statement:

“Moet Hennessey is a major force in the distilled spirits marketing industry. They have aggressively marketed their Chopin Vodka brand, and in doing so continue to falsely make the claim that Chopin is ‘The World’s Only Luxury Potato Vodka’. Zodiac directly competes with Chopin both at retail and in licensed establishments in a number of markets.

After Chopin’s refusal to honor Zodiac’s request that it cease making this false claim, we feel that our only alternative now is to turn to the courts to prevent Chopin from further benefiting and causing additional confusion through these misleading advertising and marketing tactics.�

Independent Distillers Canada represents Zodiac Vodka in Canada. Zodiac is currently available in British Columbia and Alberta, and will soon be available in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

BC +730788

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CHEFS' TABLE SOCIETY FIRST ANNUAL SPOT PRAWN FESTIVAL A SUCCESS
(Directly from the press release)

(Vancouver, BC) – Thanks so all who came out to the First Annual Chefs’ Table Society Spot Prawn Festival event on Saturday.

The event was a great success, with over 300 people in attendance from the local community! The Spot Prawn Festival was sponsored by False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf, the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise Program, Granville Island Public Market, Green Table, Biodegradable Solutions and WUN Forks.

With cooking demonstrations at False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf and Granville Island Public Market, attendees noshed on tasty spot prawn samples from some of Vancouver’s top chefs. Upon returning to the wharf at 2:30pm with the season’s first spot prawn catch, local fisherman Steve Johansen was greeted with a lineup of eager customers.

The annual Spot Prawn Festival will provide another local, fresh, and sustainable ingredient for our restaurant chefs and home cooks to enjoy. Those who take pride in serving the bounty of British Columbia can use this annual six to eight week window of opportunity to purchase live, locally sourced and sustainable spot prawns directly from our local fishermen at False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf for only $12 per pound, or visit participating restaurants and retailers.




The following restaurants will have local spot prawns on their menus for the duration of the season:

Fuel Restaurant
Aurora Bistro
Bishop's
West
C Restaurant
Nu
RainCity Grill
Bluewater
Cin Cin
Feenies
Lumiere
Bin 941/942
Go Fish
Vij’s
Rangoli
Chambar
Hamilton Street Grill
Elixir
Provence
Watermark
The Pear Tree
Flying Tiger
Salmon House on the hill

Retailers on Granville Island:

The Lobster Man
Seafood City
The Salmon Shop

Duration: The Spot Prawn Festival will run for six to eight weeks.
Buying times: The estimated time of arrival of the boats is 5:00pm – 6:00pm Sunday - Friday, and 2:00pm on Saturdays.
Location: False Creek Fishermen’ Wharf
(1505 West 1st Avenue, North-West of Granville Island, between the Burrard Street Bridge and the Granville Street Bridge - http://www.falsecreek.com/p_map.htm)

The Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia is a collaborative dedicated to creating a foundation for the exchange of information between culinary professionals throughout the province. The society supports innovative and sustainable programs that will inspire, educate and nurture our chefs, our producers and our local food industry.

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