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Review
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Vol.17
Number 29
Thursday, July 16, 2015
$1.15 including GST
Serving the communities of Keremeos, Cawston, Okanagan Falls and Kaleden
Schooten named BBQ Queen Similkameen River closed to fishing
Tara Bowie
Natasha Schooten, executive chef from the Grist Mill and Gardens was crowned BBQ Queen at this year’s Similkameen Wineries Association barbecue competition. Schooten was paired with Corcelettes. Left to right, Charlie Baessler,Corcelettes, chef Natasha Schooten, Carole Bartlett, chef’s aid, and Barbara Baessler, Corcelettes. Tara Bowie Review Staff
All hail the Queen – the Similkameen BBQ Queen. Natasha Schooten, executive chef at the Grist Mill and Gardens earned her crown Saturday night at the 6th annual Similkameen Wineries Association BBQ King competition. “I feel good,” the humble chef said about the big win. “This is the year I really wanted to win. All the chefs were killer this year. The competition was tough. All the chefs came out and did a great job.” Schooten beat out eight other chefs to claim the top prize. The chefs received an identical black box containing the same local, organic ingredients. Schooten’s winning dish was slowsmoked short ribs with smoky-sweet apricot BBQ sauce, on zucchini nann bread with a zucchini, yellow tomato
blueberry basil pico and crispy shallot. Schooten knew that with the constraints of her kitchen at the Grist Mill and the number of people she would be serving throughout the three-hour event that she needed to pick her menu carefully. “I knew when I found out what the meat was that I wanted to smoke it and when I found out we were using apricots I knew I wanted to make a smoky apricot barbecue sauce. The rest of the ingredients I wanted to be as fresh as possible,” she said. After she came up with the dish she sat down with her friend Charlie Baessler from Corcelettes winery and did a tasting for pairing purposes. At first it was thought they would use the Gewurztraminer which vibrant aromas include pineapple, honeyed lychee and warm floral notes and has a rich long finish accompanied by a fresh acidity.
But the acidity didn’t pair well. Schooten thought there was a conflict with the acid of the tomatoes. “It was too much. It didn’t pair well with the dish but the 2014 Oracle Rose was right on. It complimented where it needed to,” she said. The 14-judges also agreed. “The idea with the pairing is to bring it all together and that’s what Natasha and Corcelettes accomplished,” the Similkameen’s own wine judge, educator and writer, Rhys Pender said. Baessler owner of Corcelettes, which opened earlier this year, said he was honoured to be paired with Schooten for the competition. “It’s exciting to win but it was equally exciting to have been chosen to work with Natasha. The whole experience has been great,” Baessler said. Continued on page 19
As predicted, the Similkameen River along with other streams and rivers in the area will be closed to fishing from now until September 15. Responding to dry conditions, the Government of BC announced a Level 3 drought rating for the Similkameen, South Thompson, Nicola, Okangan-Kettle and Skagit regions. Although a Level 3 rating doesn’t always mean streams and rivers are closed for angling, this year a reduced levels of snow in the winter and rain in the spring mean river flows in early July were measuring the same as flows usually recorded in August. “The closure has been put in place to protect fish stocks at a time when they are vulnerable due to low flows and high water temperatures,” a press release from Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations said. All streams and rivers in the Similkameen drainage as well as the Kettle and West Kettle Rivers, and all tributary streams in theses areas are closed to fishing. Lake fishing is not affected by the order. The possible angling closure has been on the radar for locals for weeks and was thought eminent after a closure order was put in place for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands on July 3. Additional closures are possible throughout the summer. Government fisheries biologists are currently monitoring 60 other key angling streams throughout the province. The closures fall under the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations of the federal Fisheries Act. Water users are encouraged to ensure that water intakes are screened to prevent fish from being pulled into water systems as water levels drop. Low water levels can impede the passage of salmon to spawning grounds, increase susceptibility to disease, or cause stranding or death due to low oxygen and high water temperatures. Level 3 drought conditions call for voluntary water use reductions of 20 per cent or more from all municipal, agricultural and industrial users. Level 4 drought conditions, the highest rating, are determined by factors including regional stream flows, water storage capacity, ecological concerns, weather forecasts and impacts on water users. Should conditions reach Level 4, provincial water managers may exercise their authority to temporarily suspend short-term water permits or industrial water licences in affected watersheds. Further reductions in stream, lake and aquifer levels could lead to water shortages and affect people, agriculture, industry and fish stocks. Ministry staff will continue to monitor conditions, work closely with local governments and key stakeholders, and provide updates as the need arises.