Epicurean

Celebrity Epicurean Chef 

Chef Shane Chartrand, of the Enoch Cree Nation, is a leading voice in North American Indigenous Cuisine. As a featured chef at Epicurean, he’ll bring his signature Progressive Indigenous cooking to the spotlight—blending his Indigenous heritage with local ingredients and global influences.

As seen on Top Chef Canada, Iron Chef Canada, Chopped Canada, Fridge Wars, and Wall of Chefs

Biography

Chef Michael Roszell, born in Whitehorse, Yukon, is a professional chef with experience in top kitchens across North America and Europe, including Pear Tree in Burnaby, the French Laundry in St. Helena, and Frantzen in Stockholm. He represented Canada in the Jeune Chef des Rotisseurs in Frankfurt in 2016. 

Currently based in the Okanagan after two years at Mission Hill Winery, Michael is preparing to develop his own brand in the industry.

Chef Patrick Gayler, a NAIT graduate with over 25 years of experience in western Canada's notable restaurants, was a chef member of Culinary Team Canada, competing in Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg and the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany. 

He joined Mission Hill as Restaurant Chef in 2014 and became Executive Chef in 2018, focusing on local farmers and producers to showcase the region's culinary offerings.

Chef Sydney Hamelin, took the Silver Medal as the Canadian National Representative at the prestigious 48h Concours International des Jeunes Chefs (Young Chefs) Rôtisseurs Competition held in Budapest, Hungary on October 5, 2024. The competition, open to young cooks under the age of 27, was hosted and sponsored by La Chaine des Rôtisseurs. Additional sponsors include Le Cordon Bleu and Wüsthof. 

She is now at Mission Hill Family Estate in Kelowna, BC, under the mentorship of Executive Chef Patrick Gayler.
 

Executive Chef Evan Robertson of Hillside Winery and Bistro crafts dishes that highlight local, sustainable, and seasonal ingredients, bringing the farm-to-table philosophy to life.

Chef Ryan Byrne, originally from St. Albert, Ryan earned his Red Seal Certification at NAIT before making the move to the Okanagan. He first joined Jason Parkes Customs (JPC) to help open the Smokeshow BBQ food truck, quickly mastering the art of BBQ and assembling a talented team of chefs around him. 

In 2024, Ryan embraced the challenge of expanding his kitchen operations, re-opening The Smokeshow BBQ food truck and launching Angel Share—a wine and food-focused culinary program that showcases his vision for exceptional dining experiences.

Chef Erik Fassbind started his career honing his culinary skills in Brisbane, Australia where he worked in some of the top rated kitchens in the country. He relocated to Canada almost 10 years ago and has established himself as one of BC's finest chefs and a restaurateur in his own right. 

He currently holds the Executive Chef position at Salt & Brick, Kelowna where he focuses on a daily fresh sheet menu paired with local and international wines utilizing seasonal produce.

Jack Carey, GM, although relatively new to hospitality, has used his past sales experience and love for food and beverage to become a dedicated and passionate General Manager with Salt & Brick's sister sportsbar/brewpub, Pretty Not Bad, based in Kelowna. 

Growing up in Galway, Ireland, Jack learned that the pub experience is more than just grabbing a beer. It's connecting with friends and family and sharing moments that last forever.

Sommelier Maxwell Brayer was named Canada's top young sommelier at the 2024 Chaîne des Rôtisseurs national competition in Calgary. Max works at Arrowleaf Cellars in Lake Country and Mission Hill Family Estate in West Kelowna, all while working to complete his Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma. 

Brayer is currently completing his Wine & Spirit Education Trust diploma in wine and credits his mentor, Iconic Wines of BC experience manager Bram Bolwijn, for some of his success.

Sommelier Grant Bronconnier

At Mission Hill Family Estate, a single philosophy has guided our family since 1981 — the relentless pursuit of quality at every turn. 

Mission Hill Family Estate was founded with a vision for the future of wine. Continuing our pioneering history, we use sustainable, organic farming practices. By supporting these practices with modern technology, our varietals thrive in the valley’s diverse soil profiles. Then, they are carefully aged with new and Old World techniques, leaving you with wines that echo the terroir of the valley.

At Hillside Winery, It has been our commitment since our inception to produce hand-crafted, naturally fruit-forward, well-balanced wines that represent the true character of the grapes. Our uniquely designed winery allows us to ferment and age the wine in many small batches to maintain the varietal character and integrity of each grape type and vineyard. It is our belief that great wines start in the vineyard, and to this end, we use only the best quality fruit available from our twenty acres of grapes densely planted on hillside terraces surrounding the winery.

Handcrafted in small batch copper-pot stills, Empress 1908 Gin is created by Victoria Distillers, one of Canada's oldest premium spirits distilleries. Each of our award-winning recipes features carefully selected botanicals and the finest all-natural ingredients: from the iconic Empress 1908 Indigo Gin to the subtly floral Empress Elderflower Rose and refreshing Empress Cucumber Lemon expressions.

The combination of exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation make Empress 1908 the perfect base for cocktail inspiration and enjoyment. Experience a new era of gin and cheers to brilliant creations!

Located on Winemaker Jason Parkes' home property is Crown & Thieves. Developed in secrecy since the beginning days of our beloved hatch, a small production cult wine with a unique and brave approach to winemaking was all Crown was ever meant to be. The wines became a playground for pushing the limits, being as untraditional as traditionally possible. The result has grown into what Crown is today, wines poured in a ruin, nestled in the middle of a vineyard...and more.
The Hatching Post 

DJ INVIZIBLE brings the beats to the Epicurean! Eat, drink and dance the night away with high-energy groves and amazing local bites.

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