A summer encounter with a Calgary publisher resulted in a much-appreciated Christmas present for Sicamous chef Janice Robillard.
Robillard, who runs The Anchor Pub and Sage Catering with sister Shelley, was recently featured in Outlooks magazine. Dubbed ‘Canada’s GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered) magazine,’ the publication’s editor/publisher Brett Taylor gives considerable ink to features on Canada’s top and up-and-coming chefs.
Over the summer, a group of 10 or so media representatives embarked on a familiarization tour of the Shuwap, arranged by Columbia Shuswap Regional District economic development officer Robyn Cyr. Sage was called upon to cater dinner for the group after a day of houseboating on Shuswap Lake. Onboard were scribes for magazines such as Canadian Living, Edible British Columbia and City Foods.
Taylor was also onboard, and after the meal, he and Robillard got talking about food and promoting the Shuswap.
“He’s really interested in promoting more gay weddings and gay outings out here in B.C., which I’m really interested in doing, on the Shuswap here for houseboat weddings and things like that,” said Robillard. “He has a lot of people that are interested in coming to the Shuswap and he knows a lot of people who run tour groups and who are interested in coming out here and he loves it.”
While the Shuswap as a whole received positive press as a result of the tour, Robillard and Sage are receiving extra special attention in the Dec./Jan. issue of Outlooks. A full page is given to a feature on Janice (written by her husband with photos by Sicamous photographer Kim Hyde). In it, self-taught chef Robillard gives some of her extensive and adventurous history in the culinary arts. There is also a bit about Sage and The Anchor. And, at the bottom, is the recipe for Robillard’s mouth-watering black bean tortilla soup (reprinted here with permission).
Robillard was thrilled to be featured in the Dec./Jan. Outlooks, and to be able to promote Sicamous and the Shuswap in the process.
“Any exposure is good for me… It’s just, unfortunately, an article that won’t get a lot of readership here in Sicamous and Salmon Arm and our area.”
