Cornucopia 2020 Whistler: Cancellation Update and Key Highlights
Update November 20, 2020: Cornucopia Whistler has been cancelled in accordance with the latest public health order. Refunds will be issued automatically to ticket holders. Restaurant experiences booked through the Cornucopia website will continue unless you are contacted. If you choose not to attend due to Dr. Henry’s advisories, email info@watermarkinc.ca.
Cornucopia, Whistler’s premier food and drink festival, was set to feature intimate culinary experiences across four extended weekends in November 2020. While large events like the popular Crush were cancelled, smaller gatherings such as Paired Dinners, Drink Seminars, and restaurant celebrations were planned. Tickets were selling quickly before the cancellation.
Safety protocols included physical distancing, groups limited to six, mandatory masks (except at tables), capacity limits, and health screenings for staff and guests, aligning with provincial health guidelines.
New: Paired Dinners
A highlight for 2020 was the new Paired Dinner series, where culinary experts matched exquisite dishes with premium wines. Experiences were hosted at Whistler restaurants like Il Caminetto (Antinori 7-Course Dinner sold out) and at the Whistler Conference Centre with guests like Vancouver’s Homer St. Cafe and Pemberton’s Barn Nork.
Executive Chef Neal Harkins of the Whistler Conference Centre curated multiple Paired Dinners. With European roots and Pacific Northwest experience, Harkins emphasizes local producers and ingredient quality. He collaborated with six wineries on four-course menus, balancing flavors from whites to reds.
Teasing one dish, Harkins described a vanilla-butter-poached lobster paired with Chardonnay, where the wine’s crisp fruitiness complemented the seafood’s lightness and buttery sauce. A Cornucopia veteran, he cherished the event’s vibrant atmosphere.
Noteworthy Experiences
Standouts included a paired dinner with Modern Meat’s award-winning plant-based products. The Beauty and the Bane tasting featured exclusive single-cask whiskies with paired plates—once gone, irreplaceable.
Whisky lovers could attend a Japanese craft whisky seminar, while Bearfoot Bistro offered a five-course sake-paired menu. Gin enthusiasts had options too.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) presented Spo7ez Tl’;a7áshn, a four-course lunch inspired by seasonal changes and traditional songs of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations. SLCC Chef Felix Breault’s menu paired with Indigenous World Wines, enhanced by performances in Istken Hall.
BC winery celebrations included BC’s Best Bubbles, BC’s Underdogs, and Araxi’s five-course dinners with Burrowing Owl, Road 13, and Fort Berens.
Discover Legs Diamond Supper Club in the Upper Village, evoking a bygone era with three-course BC wine-paired dinners.
Pro tip: Choose experiences that excite your palate. For behind-the-scenes insights, explore Cornucopia’s Masterclass Series.
Cornucopia Stay & Dine Packages started at $128 per person per night for two nights with a paired dinner ticket. Pair your visit with Whistler’s art and culture exhibits.
