Just in time for Christmas and New Year’s parties, Fermented Dining, owned and operated by Cody Pollard, is a new cool bartending service and cocktail caterer.
The business started from a desire to showcase the incredible cornucopia of ingredients produced in the Okanagan and a belief that you should not have to go to a find dining restaurant for elevated service, fine wines, original craft cocktails or a truly special dining experience.
The company employs the most talented and experienced bartenders in the Okanagan, many of whom work in top restaurants.
They deliver an elevated dining experience every day, which comes through in their events.
Fermented Dining collaborates with numerous talented chefs across the valley, creating paired menus, pop-up dinners, custom wedding receptions, mobile happy hours and more.
Fermented Dining strives to be the premier one-stop shop for all your beverage service needs, from highball beer, wine bars and colour changing signature cocktails, to sabered champagne and paired multi-course dinners.
The company also uses as many B.C. products as they can from selected B.C. wines, spirits and craft beers, to craft sodas made in Penticton or locally fermented Kombucha.
Call 1-250-551-2043; online fermenteddining.com.
After 18 years in business, Kelowna Express Gift Baskets, owned and operated by Karen Murphy, has partnered with long-time U.S. partner Wine Country Gift Baskets to create Wine Country Gift Baskets Canada.
The new company will have a larger selection, better pricing and easier ordering with the same personal service.
Every gift is backed with a 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee. Canadian Gift Baskets ship right from their warehouse in Kelowna.
Call Karen at 250-763-7445 or order at 1-800-394-0394. Website is winecountrygiftbaskets.com.
Well-known football guy Les Weiss received the prestigious Life Time Achievement Award from the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) at the All Canadians Football Awards.
Weiss has been with the Okanagan Sun junior football club for over 30 years serving in various capacities, including coach from 1986-91, general manager for 22 years, president for two years and in marketing for four years.
Brittney Sissons is the new communications and events coordinator for the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. Call 250-861-3627.
Ten-year stylist Courtenay Weller has opened Purnama Style Lounge at 505 Sutherland Ave. in Kelowna, at the corner of Sutherland and Pandosy.
Originally, La Casa Hair Lounge, Weller took over the La Casa space and the vacant premises beside La Casa to make one large completely renovated hair salon.
The name Purnama is a spiritual ceremony the Balinese perform at full moon to rid themselves of negative energy so they can fill up on positive energy until the next ceremony.
Each room in the new salon is themed, the majority in Balinese themes, which gives it a completely different feel than other salons.
Purnama has 10 staff, including eight stylists, an esthetician and a micro blading artist.
Services include hair cutting, colour, styling, extensions, esthetics and permanent makeup, along with Davines, a sustainable hair care line from Italy.
Purnama also has a full line of handmade sustainable jewelry made from recycled brass, copper and crystals, including bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings.
Parking is provided next to the salon. Open Monday to Saturday. Call 250-860-5104; online purnamastylelounge.com
Santa is coming to Pandosy Village on Dec. 3, from noon to 3 p.m.
Enjoy all day festive shopping, listen to the sounds of carolers, warm up with a hot chocolate and stroll the village, along with holiday treats, discounts and promotions.
Donate a toy and you will be entered to win a grand prize gift basket with all collected toys donated to local charities.
After 10 years in the same location, The Bread Co., a popular coffee shop and lunch bistro at 363 Bernard Ave., has been completely renovated.
Owned and operated by brothers and fifth generation bakers Dan and Mike Bronswyk, the new renovations have brightened up the restaurant with new floors, tables, chairs, wall coverings, counters and bathrooms.
Along with great organic and specialty coffees, The Bread Co. offers many varieties of homemade breads daily, including one of their most popular sour dough loaves.
They also have a huge variety of muffins and pastries along with a large breakfast and a lunch menu of gourmet soups, salads and sandwiches.
Every day, they offer a daily feature and specials including free coffee with a muffin on Mondays and Toonie Tuesdays.
They also make gluten free products and organic multi-grain. I sampled the three-cheese Frittata with sour dough toast and it was delicious.
Dan and Mike also opened a second location at 102- 2949 Pandosy St., just over two years ago.
Both stores are open seven days a week. Call 250-762-3336; online thebreadcompany.ca.
Uptown Rutland’s Christmas Light-Up is Sunday, Dec. 4, from 3 to 6 p.m. with the official Tree Light-Up at Roxby Square at 4:30 p.m.
From Shopping at Hollywood Station and Christmas caroling to hot chocolate and treats at Willow Park Shopping Centre, the day will be filled with fun.
The URBA Christmas After Hours is Wednesday, Dec. 7, starting at 5 p.m., at the Army & Navy sponsored by Benson Law LLP. www.ourrutland.ca.
One of my favourite events is the Christmas Food Sale at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Hall, 1091 Coronation Ave., on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can purchase perogies, cabbage rolls, pies, sausage, borscht and wonderful baking. Come early as the fare goes fast.
If you would like to attend a super cool yoga event, Dawn Petrin, of Tandava Yoga Studio, is offering a luxurious yoga mat, a 90 minute gentle hatha yoga class and a donation to the local Canadian Mental Health Association for $50 on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Located at 300-3275 Lakeshore Rd. (Above Fixx Café), the yoga mats were designed by Alison Yesilcimen of AY Enterprises.
The yoga studio is eco-friendly and made from natural tree rubber with a non-slip, soft microfibre surface. Space is limited. Book online at tandavayoga.ca or call 778-484-2255.
Many downtown Kelowna businesses, led by Nicole and her team at Blonde, located at 293 Bernard Ave., are participating in the Holly Jolly Shopping Party on Dec. 8, from 4 to 8 p.m.
It will be a fun evening with businesses offering specials, some with draws for gift certificates, beverages, appies and fabulous décor. Blonde is offering 20 per cent off merchandise and is also planning a draw for anyone that makes a donation to the Kelowna SPCA. Call 250-862-8778.
Rose Valley Veterinary Hospital, on Westlake Road in West Kelowna, will host their annual photos with Santa event, which will include special treats for humans and their fur babies, with all proceeds going to the SPCA on Dec. 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. Call 250-769-9109
Birthdays of the week:
Happy 95th Victoria Beahun, lovingly referred to as Queen Victoria (Nov. 30); happy 90th Unice Wylie (Dec. 3); happy 80th Don Holzer, the biggest and oldest active masters racquetball player (Dec. 2); Lou Goncalves (Nov. 30); Jana Hardy (Nov. 30); Dan Willms (Nov. 30); Meryle Corbett (Nov. 30); Vern Martindale (Dec. 1); Julie Deighton (Dec. 2); Krystyna Werbowy (Nov. 3); Hal Puder (Dec. 3); Ken Fox (Dec. 3); Sherry Cote (Dec. 3); Heather Zais (Dec. 4); Dave McLean (Dec. 5); Kamel Abougoush (Dec. 5); Anne Schneider (Dec. 6); Sonia Withers (Dec. 6); Sherri Paiement (Dec. 6).
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna city councilor and a local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, 250-862-7662, fax 250-860-3173, email maxdehart@telus.net.
