With most of his time spent in the kitchen, a Turner Valley restaurateur doesn't often get a chance to greet his customers.
With most of his time spent in the kitchen, a Turner Valley restaurateur doesn't often get a chance to greet his customers.
Country Store Diner co-owner Curtis Dixon hopes he will have that chance while offering samples of his best dishes at the Taste of Diamond Valley at the Turner Valley Golf Club April 23 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. His is among 20 restaurants and wine and spirit companies from the Foothills offering samples.
“I don't have the opportunity to talk to people as much because I'm working in the back as a cook,” he said. “It's important for me to meet the people and let them know who I am.”
Event organizer Sarah Harrold asked Dixon to take part in this year's Taste of Diamond Valley and he jumped at the opportunity. Country Store Diner opened in January.
“I figured it was great exposure for my restaurant,” he said. “I have people who say, “I didn't even know you were here.' It's just another opportunity for me to get my name out there to let everyone know what we are doing and to show off our menu and try to get more people in the door.”
Dixon said he's familiar with these types of events and is excited about the potential for exposure.
“Calgary does one and it's amazing,” he said. “It gives everybody the opportunity to try all the different venues that are available. It gives you the chance to sample the food without having to buy a meal.”
Among the samples Dixon will offer are pizza, home fries and pasta with homemade meat sauce.
“It's going to give me huge exposure,” he said. “This is a small town. Everybody wants to know who the new people in town are.”
Harrold, who owns Valley Liquor in Turner Valley, said she's excited to get merchants together for another Taste of Diamond Valley event.
“You come in and wander around and meet different restaurant owners and try different local drinks, enjoy some live music and just do some socializing,” she said. “People get to talk to the faces behind the restaurant or the liquor and they get to learn about the products and try new things.”
Participating restaurant vendors are the Turner Valley Golf Course and Kloiber's Meats in Black Diamond. Among the dozen participating wine and spirit vendors are Eau Claire Distillery in Turner Valley, Spirit Hills Honey Winery in Millarville and Six Corners Brew Works in Okotoks.
“It's going to be a little bit different,” said Harrold. “In past years we've had more wines and we have more beer this year, which will be great coming into summer.”
Harrold said there will be up to four samples at each booth, giving people the opportunity to try food and drink they may have never tasted before.
“Sometimes you are a little leery about walking into a restaurant where you don't know what it's going to be like or when buying a bottle of spirits you don't always want to spend $40 on a bottle you are not quite sure you are going to like,” she said.
Harrold said some participating merchants noticed an increase in business following the event and some people have even gone into her liquor store looking for the type of spirit they sampled.
With the current economic slump, Harrold said local businesses could use a bit of a boost.
“There's been a huge drop in business for a lot of places recently with the economy and people are more wary on what they're spending their money on right now,” she said. “This just gives people a chance to try little samples and they can decide from there maybe one night I'm going to splurge and treat myself to this or I'm going to try a full meal at a restaurant.”
Tickets to attend the Taste of Diamond Valley cost $25 and can be purchased at turnervalleygolf.com/tasteofdv, the Turner Valley Golf Course pro shop or at the door. Proceeds go towards the Oilfields Food Bank.
