Whistler Dining Tours Blog

Tue Jan 26 09:07:00 -1000 2010 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Tasting Tours With Its Partners Will Donate All Proceeds From February 3rd To UNICEF Haiti Relief Efforts

On February 3rd, food and wine lovers can join Whistler Tasting Tours at four Whistler restaurants with all proceeds going to UNICEF’s Haiti relief efforts. Wine pairings are being offered for FREE.

Whistler, B.C, January 25th, 2010 – Whistler Tasting Tours and its partner restaurants are offering the Finer Things Tour at a reduced rate on Wednesday, February 3rd, with all proceeds going towards UNICEF’s Haiti relief efforts. Guests can taste food and local wines at four of Whistler’s top restaurants while supporting this very important cause. All wine pairings will be added for free for attending guests.

Each respective restaurant on tour has generously donated a different course of the dinner. Additional proceeds will be generated from a silent auction at the end of the tour. Auction items include restaurant gift certificates and prints from a local photographer.

“It’s difficult to imagine what it must be like in Haiti after this tragic earthquake,” said Skai Dalziel, co-founder of Whistler Tasting Tours. “We are extremely fortunate to grow up in a Country like Canada where natural disasters are rare. It is important for us to stay conscious and empathetic to the struggles of the less fortunate around the world.”

“The feeling that we needed to do something had been simmering since the disaster occurred”, added Joe Facciolo, co-founder of Whistler Tasting Tours. “When we approached our restaurant partners everyone was very supportive and more than happy to make generous donations. It really says something about the giving spirit of the restaurant community in Whistler.”

In conjunction with Whistler Tasting Tours, the restaurants involved in hosting the event are The Bearfoot Bistro, Hy’s Steakhouse, Quattro, and The Mountain Club, with gift certificates being provided by Elements, Kypriaki Norte, Gibbons Hospitality Group and photographic prints provided by Blake Jorgenson.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release contact Joe Facciolo or visit www.whistlertastingtours.com.

Whistler Tasting Tours has been in operation since November 2008.

Contact:
Joe Facciolo, Co-Founder
Whistler Tasting Tours
604-902-8687
joe@whistlertastingtours.com
 

Thu Jan 14 09:59:00 -1000 2010 | Joe Facciolo

2009 Comes and Goes. The Year in Review.

Another crazy holiday season has come and gone in a blur.  Visitor numbers in Whistler were higher than expected, in large part due to the massive amounts of snow we has received this season.

Life is vibrating at a slightly slower pace now and has given some time to reflect on a wild year for Whistler Tasting Tours.

While 2008 was officially our first year of operation, it wasn't until 09 that tours were in full swing.  And what a year it was!  We knew the tour was fantastic but had no idea it would be received with such unbelievable praise.  Guest satisfaction has been outstanding.  It is truly wonderful to know that all of the hard work to create this program has payed off.  Whistler Tasting Tours hosted roughly 2500 guests this past year with projections for 2010 at 5000 guests.  It is a true testament to a growing number of people that love food and wine. 

In additional to guest approval, this unique concept has generated a massive amount of media interest.  Articles have been written in The National Post, Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun, twice in the Pique Newsmagazine, Candian Geographic, twice in The Whistler Question, enroute online, Western Living, a recent 2hr live to air segment on the CBC province wide and more to come through the Associated Press, the BBC, Toronto Star and a publication in Norway.  Adding to this, Whistler Tasting Tours was selected one of only five businesses in the province and twenty across the nation to meet HRH Prince Charles and Premier Gordon Campbell to discuss the business.  Truly spectacular for our first full year of operation!

Our goal for 2010 is to continue to dazzle guests by exceeding expectations on all fronts.  We truly believe Whistler Tasting Tours is the top dining experience in Whistler and our guests have agreed.  See you in 2010! 

Mon Nov 09 16:10:00 -1000 2009 |

Whistler Entrepreneurs Selected To Represent Canada at Meet and Greet With Prince Charles

Despite a recession, two young entrepreneurs from Whistler found start-up success and were selected to meet with Prince Charles to discuss their venture. The secret event was put on by the CYBF (Canadian Youth Business Foundation), and meant to display a diverse lineup of Canada’s finest and most promising young entrepreneurs; twenty-one to be exact.

Vancouver, B.C Nov 7th, 2009 - - The co-founders of Whistler Tasting Tours, Joe Facciolo and Skai Dalziel, were selected among an elite class to represent our nations finest upcoming entrepreneurs at a meet and greet with Prince Charles over the weekend. Each entrepreneur had the opportunity to meet one on one with The Prince and B.C Premier Gordon Campbell to give a brief overview of the business and answer any questions regarding their venture.

The event was hosted by the CYBF (Canadian Youth Business Foundation), a program originally started by the royal family in the UK and passed on to Canada as a way to help fund great ideas by young entrepreneurs.

“Being invited to the event and meeting the prince was a great honour. It feels wonderful to know that the Whistler Tasting Tours product has been so well received. That we are providing a service that has become a great addition for our guests in Whistler, despite a recession”, said Facciolo.

This follows a fantastic first year for the young company. Despite a season of poor snow conditions and an economic recession, the duo have created a product that caters to the growing number of food and wine lovers around the globe. “Whistler is home to some of the nations finest restaurants and chefs. As well, B.C produces some nice wines. We want to showcase that to the world”, adds Facciolo.

Facciolo and Dalziel are now gearing up for what promises to be a very busy winter season. They currently offer two different dinner tours that feature 4 restaurants. Each restaurant offers a different portion of the multi-course meal that stretches roughly 3hrs. Tours start at $89.99.
 

Fri Nov 06 16:08:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Canadian Geographic Feature Whistler Tasting Tours

We are proud to say that Whistler Tasting Tours is being featured in the next edition of Canadian Geographic Magazine!

Dining in Whistler has changed forever!

Tue Oct 13 10:45:00 -1000 2009 | Sarah Murdoch

National Post Article

 Just back from last week's GoMedia Canada Marketplace, an exhausting but entertaining event at which 125 journalists (75 Canadian, 50 representing the international press) vigorously took notes, milled and looked attentive while destinations, events and tours were pitched to them by about 125 representatives from the travel industry --hotels, cruise lines, provinces, botanical centres, spas, regions and the like. Each meeting is exactly 15 minutes and over the course of two-and-a-half days, each journalist talks to 27 tourism concerns. Yes, exactly like speed dating--and very quid pro quo. Travel writers meet travel providers, to their mutual benefit. Trips are arranged and business cards exchanged. For journalists, it's a great boon because the trips are paid for by the host of GoMedia, the Canadian Tourism Commission. This year's event was at Whistler, which gave everyone a chance to check out the secondary venue for February's Olympic Games (10 of 16 events will be held at Whistler). Herewith, a few highlights:  Click here to read more.

Wed Sep 23 09:45:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Tasting Tours Host GoMedia

Go Media is a rotating yearly event that hosts 150 of the nations top travel media.  On September 21st, Whistler resort played host to this distinguished group of journalists. 

The tasting tour was an integral part of one of only a few itineraries available.  We were lucky enough to guide 17 food and travel writers through a custom lunch tour. The tour visited 4 Whistler restaurants for a fabulous 4 course meal. It was a fantastic afternoon and great way to showcase this still young tour to some of the nations top media.

Keep your eye out in the coming months for articles being written on Whistler's top dining experience!

Thu Aug 13 09:41:00 -1000 2009 | Skai Dalziel

1000 Guests

We are excited to announce that we have recently hosted our 1000th guest on the dining tour. It has been a busy summer as word of mouth is starting to spread as more people are booking on recommendations from friends and family who have experienced the tour. We will soon be looking to hire some guides to help us out. Anyone interested in leading a dinner party through Whistler's best restaurants?

Fri Jul 31 16:03:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Blackcomb Forest Fire Scare

Yesterdays lightning caused forest fire on the crystal ridge of Blackcomb mountain left locals and visitors on edge.  Onlookers took in a wild sight as response teams were quick to react to the situation.  Airplanes and helicopters lapped the flame with water bombs and fire retardant chemicals.

It was a calming feeling to know that these resources are in place and ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble.  While soaring temperatures have created a an extreme risk of fires this summer, authorities say that yesterdays outburst is contained and under control.

For public inquiries please contact:
Main switchboard at
604 932 5535

On a more positive note, the great weather has Whistler village bustling into the long weekend.  The lakes are packed, and rib fest is on.  If you are in to BBQ, the annual rib challenge is being held all weekend at Dusty's in creekside.  Able around sampling tasty ribs and pulled pork with a winner being crowned on Sunday.

Indeed a great afternoon lead in for a Whistler Tasting Tour!  With tours running all weekend there will be no shortage of tasty food and wine to go around.

Also worth noting was todays Ravenwood wine tasting event.  Joel Peterson, the godfather of Zinfindel. founder and winemaker at Ravenwood was in town today.  He delighted the audience with great stories of Zin's beginnings and allowed a lucky few to taste some great wines.

Sat Jul 18 20:39:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Activities Never Stop!

Whistler is truly a world class four seasons resort destination!  The spectacular weather coupled with non-stop activities in Whistler has been bringing the summer crowds in droves.  The Whistler mountain bike trails are in full swing and the infamous Crankworks will be at the base of the mountain before we know it.  In the meantime there is plenty to keep visitors and local alike occupied.  Of course, food and wine lovers can expect nightly Whistler restaurant tours to be taking place....

also over the next few weeks Whistler will be showcasing some of my favourite musicians:

July 22 - Xavier Rudd

July 25 - Chill on the hill featuring The Stills at the top of Whistler mountain.

Mon Jul 06 22:14:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Canadian Tourism Commission Features Whistler Tasting Tours

Back in January, we had the pleasure of hosting Randall Shirley, a journalist and travel travel writer for the CTC, for a night with Whistler Tasting Tours.

He wrote an article back in February that was just recently published by the Canadian Tourism Commission.  Please click on the article title below to read what Randall had to say about our dining tour in Whistler.

Whistler goes gourmet—après ski will never be the same. 

Sat Jul 04 20:48:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Bearfoot Bistro's Melissa Craig Creates White Spot Menu

Not only is Melissa Craig, of the Bearfoot Bistro. one of the best chefs in the world (she won the Canadian culinary championships in 2008), she has now led her Whistler restaurant to the prestigious gold medal award in the annual Vancouver magazine Whistler Restaurant Awards.

Most recently she was named as the celebrity chef for White Spot. Melissa has been heavily involved in creating a fresh sheet spring menu for the White Spot franchise.

Here is a great interview of Melissa Craig. She talks about her awards, her travels and her involvement with White Spot.

We are proud to showcase Melissa's superb culinary skills on our Whistler Restaurant Tour!

Tue Jun 30 07:17:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Canada Day / 4th of July Combine For A Great Weekend

With the sun shining, Canada Day and The 4th of July should combine to bring the crowds into Whistler.

Construction up the sea to sky highway is almost done and the drive from Vancouver is a dream compared to just a few years ago.

For those looking to celebrate there is no better way than on a tasting tour.  Join us this weekend for some great food, wine and fun!

You live once.  Indulge!

Sun Jun 14 19:12:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Weather Drawing Crowds

While Whistler locals and visitors alike were cursing the dry weather this past winter, these same people have been basking in its glory over the past few weeks. 

The uncharacteristically warm weather has been bringing in the crowds.  Vancouver and Seattle residents have been seizing the opportunity to enjoy the many wonderful Whistler attractions.  Mountain Bike and hiking trails as well as Whistler restaurants have been packed over the weekends.  Whistler's only dining tour, Whistler Tasting Tours, has seen record breaking numbers through the first few weekends in June and only expects this to continue. 

This unique experience that allows visitors to sample the best Whistler restaurants and great BC wines continues to dazzle. 

We want to thank everybody who has come out to date and invite those who have not to come check out what the buzz is all about.

See you soon!

Thu Jun 11 07:26:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

More Great News! Whistler Tasting Tours, Whistler Restaurants an NBC Feature.

Well it seems as though the past years hard work is paying off for Whistler Tasting Tours and our Whistler restaurant partners. 

After receiving rave reviews throughout the winter, NBC sent a "spy" out on our tour.  With nothing but great things to report about this unique Whistler dining tour, we were chosen to be featured on NBC's new travel website, travelskoot.com. 

Last Thursday Alex the camera man joined us for a very special tasting tour around Whistler village.  He got some great shots of our fantastic featured Whistler restaurants and it was a proud showcase of Whistler dining at its best!  

We will be sure to let everyone know when the featured piece has been cut.

Sat May 16 08:00:00 -1000 2009 | Mia Stainsby

Vancouver Sun Article

It's right out of the idiot's guide to running a business, but by gosh, if it doesn't turn out to be a lesson for cynics like me.

This isn't a world full of greed, scams, fraud and Bernie Madoffs after all. There isn't a shark at every turn and people can be trusted to behave with a certain amount of grace.

Take the public response to a get-greedy-quick opportunity for the restaurant-goers.

Some in the restaurant industry in North America are relying on the honour system -- the pay-what-you-want (or in some cases, what-you-can) model of payment to lure customers or in some cases, trusting in a "pay it forward" kind of karma. Predictably, this model is based on honour. Well, it seems honour exists.

In Whistler, Joe Facciolo and partner Skai Dalziel started the Whistler Tasting Tours last December just as the floor gave way in the economy. The tour takes guests to five Whistler restaurants with a dish and a wine at each. Click here to read more.

Wed May 06 08:00:00 -1000 2009 | Jennifer Miller

Question Newspaper 2nd Article

Whistler's Entrepreneurial Spirit Still Alive Despite Economy

Last week, I had the chance to literally taste the dream of two young entrepreneurs — and it was delicious. It was one of those moments when I thought, “Why didn’t I think of this?”

Skai Dalziel and Joe Facciolo started Whistler Tasting Tours in December, and my significant other treated me to their “Après-disiac” tour last week. It was one of the best evenings I’ve had in a while — full of laughter, amazing food and drink, fun and conversation.  Click here to read more.

Mon Apr 27 01:19:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival Comes and Goes

Another Ski and Snowboard Festival at Whistler Blackcomb has come and gone.  The weather was perfect, and the village was buzzing with activity. There was no shortage of goodies being handed out throughout the village, while locals and visitors alike took advantage of all the handouts.  Razors, juice, energy drinks and even cough medicine were on offer.

For anyone who caught the Metric concert it was a true pleasure to see first hand why they continue to be called one of Canada's best bands.  Their new album is fantastic and seeing it performed LIVE AND FREE was a privilege.

All the village happenings aside, Whistler dining continues to shine.  People are planning their holidays months ahead of time! Whistler Tasting Tours is currently taking boookings into September as those in the know do not want to miss this extraordinary dining experience.

If you are coming to dine in Whistler, golf in Whistler  or just enjoy the Whistler nightlife make sure to give us a call.

Good food, good wine, good people, good times!

Thu Apr 09 01:17:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Dining in Spring

Spring has officially arrived and the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival is on the tip of everybody's tongue. Featuring live concerts, photography and video showdowns, heaps of free stuff, and some spectacular skiing, one can already feel the anticipation brewing through the village.

With a plethora of sights and activities to enjoy, people are certain to work up an appetite...and a thirst. Whistler Tasting Tours, featuring whistler dining at its best will continue to dazzle guests with its unique whistler dining experience. The feedback and reviews continue to place WTT in a league of its own. Fantastic whistler restaurants featuring an array of culinary delights and fine BC wines, will continue to keep our guests salivating, while a heated poker game and fun social guides ensure the groups are entertained. Good food, good wine, good people, good times!

Wed Mar 18 01:14:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Stagette Parties in Whistler

As spring is fast approaching it seems that love is in the air. Weddings in Whistler are a popular thing in the summer months. With that comes Stagette / Bachelorette parties. Whistler Tasting Tours already has a number of weekends booked out for girls weekends. Whether it is the lure of such great Whistler restaurants, great B.C. wines or the VIP treatment during and after the tour ( our guests receive no line and no cover privileges at Buffalo Bills after dinner) it seems as though this is the hottest new Whistler activity for stagettes. We can't wait to host these groups for a fabulous evening of flavor and fun!

Fri Mar 06 01:12:00 -1000 2009 | Skai Dalziel

New Whistler Tours

We attended the Whistler roadshow in Vancouver this week. It was a great networking event to meet all sorts of conference and group coordinators. There was great reception and excitement about our Whistler dine around concept. Some people were asking if we could host groups up to 400 people in size. We're thinking we could have a shotgun start like in golf and just rotate them around every 40mins or so. That would be quite the Whistler dine-around event! Either way it's looking like it will be a fantastic summer with lots of people on tour.

Sat Feb 28 01:11:00 -1000 2009 | Skai Dalziel

Whistler Restaurant

Snowy days!!! The legs are sore after a few fantastic knee deep days on the mountains. But all worth it for fresh lines. And there's more on the way for next week! Guiding the Whistler wine tours has been a lot of fun as everyone is in glowing moods. It's funny how the whole mood of the village changes, and the servers at the whistler restaurants are all smiling ear to ear now that there is snow.

March is looking like it should be busy, as the Whistler restaurant tours continue to gain momentum. The word-of-mouth buzz continues to grow as more people experience the Whistler dining tour first hand. Recently, it's been a total hit with stagette parties in Whistler, and we look forward to hosting many more in the spring when all the bachelorette groups are gearing up for summer weddings.

Sun Feb 22 01:08:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Peak2Peak

The snow is coming! While it has not been the wettest of seasons here in Whistler, the weather this week looks promising. With snow being predicted for most of the week it is shaping up to be a great few days on Whistler Blackcomb. If you haven't tried the Peak2Peak gondola its worth the trip to Whistler alone. The mountain views are truly stunning.

As for Whistler Tasting Tours, Canada's premier dining activity, we have experienced our busiest month yet and are quickly becoming one of the top things to do in Whistler. With winterPRIDE, Valentines Day and Presidents week all crammed in to a few weeks, food and wine lovers have been coming out in droves! The tour continues to take dining in Whistler to the next level. Who knew restaurants could be so fun!

Sun Feb 08 01:06:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Valentines Day in Whistler

For those looking to join us for a romantic treat over Valentine's Day, you better move fast. February 14th is filling up as Whistler visitors and Whistler locals alike are planning for their loved ones.

It already looks like the spring months are going to be busy for Whistler's food, wine and restaurant lovers. We have a number of stag and stagette parties in the works. Is there really a better way to celebrate a wedding in Whistler than to indulge in amazing food and wines!

Sat Feb 07 01:04:00 -1000 2009 | Skai Dalziel

Winter Pride

Well, we survived our busiest week to date with Winter Pride being in town. The wine and food dining tour was a hit with the group. They really loved eating and drinking at all the Whistler restaurants.

We had a fun run in with an MTV film crew at one of the chocolate shops. Hopefully our footage makes the final cut.

And we were even able to squeeze in a few mornings skiing and snowboarding on Whistler mountain. What a treat it is having the Peak 2 Peak gondola and being able to meet up with friends on both mountains without having to descend to Whistler village. Let it snow...

Wed Jan 28 01:03:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Restaurant Tour / Whistler Updates

The Whistler Blackcomb weather and snow report for the upcoming weekend is looking decent. At least a little sun will keep the snow soft and feeling like spring conditions. The excitement around Whistler village is really mounting as February is fast approaching. February is always a great month in Whistler village with so many things to do! Besides Whistler Tasting Tours continuing to serve unbelievable culinary creations along with delicious BC wines at Whistler's best restaurants and expecting its best month yet...

Here are a few other fun events to get you started:
Whistler Winter Arts Festival by the Arts Council
Out of Bounds exhibit… vote and you could win a free Heli ski trip
Dufflebag Theater is back with another hilarious rendition of Peter Pan
Whistler Winter Pride Festival is back from Feb 01 – 08

2 new film series to check out:
Turn Up Winter
Cinema Politica
Something for everyone!!
There will also be World Cup events in Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton. These guys are BIG and FAST!! Check out the excitement.

Wed Jan 28 00:52:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Dining Over WinterPride

We're gearing up for Pride week at the start of February. The organizers have a ton of events planned, so it should be an amazing party. And what better way to celebrate than an evening of fantastic flavours from Whistler's best fine dining restaurants? Read about the experience Randall Shirley, Editor for "Out in Canada Magazine", had on tour.

Tue Jan 20 00:41:00 -1000 2009 | Skai Dalziel

Whistler Stagette Parties

Wow, time is flying. We have hosted a number of stagette parties here in Whistler in the past couple weeks. It's been a total hit with the groups, so if you're looking for stagette party ideas (bachelorette party ideas) this might be a great one for you.

Tue Jan 13 00:39:00 -1000 2009 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Tasting Tours - Now The #1 Thing To Do In Whistler!

We are excited to announce that with the help of our client reviews we are now rated the #1 Thing To Do in Whistler by TripAdvisor.com. Thanks for all the fantastic feedback from everyone.

Wed Jan 07 00:25:00 -1000 2009 | Holly Fraughton

Pique Newsmagazine Article

Epicurious

A bite (and sip) of Whistler

Whistler’s pretty well known in foodie circles; after all, we boast an impressive range of dining options — Araxi, Bearfoot, and the Rim Rock just to name a few. But a lot of people don’t get a chance to check out each and every establishment. Click here to read more

Tue Dec 30 00:12:00 -1000 2008 | Skai Dalziel

Whistler Tasting Tours 100th Customer

Everything in Whistler is great! After a slow start, the snow is here, and the mountain conditions for skiing have picked up. The forecast looks great for next few days as well with more snow for the mountain on the way. The village is getting busier and the restaurants are back to being full of energy.

We are very excited to let you know we just had our 100th customer on our food and wine restaurant tour after only just a few weeks of being opened for business. The feedback has been fantastic from everyone, as our restaurant partners are really doing some fantastic stuff. We look forward to seeing everyone up in Whistler this winter season.
 

Thu Dec 18 08:00:00 -1000 2008 | Tessa Sweeeney

Question Newspaper Article

Whistler Tasting Tours has recently started offering a unique and sophisticated après/dinner option for food and wine lovers. Their mission is to create enjoyable and memorable dining experiences. Owners Joe Facciolo and Skai Dalziel grew up together in Barrie, Ont., and both graduated from the University of Western Ontario four years ago. Since then they had been traveling the world on separate paths.  Click here to read more.

Wed Dec 03 23:59:00 -1000 2008 | Skai Dalziel

Inaugural Tour

We just finished our first real tour! The evening couldn't have run any smoother. A few tweaks needed for the poker theme, but the Whistler restaurants nailed it with the food and wine presentation. Now it's time to get the word out about the best Whistler fine dining option. Click here to see photos from the night!

Sat Nov 22 23:43:00 -1000 2008 | Skai Dalziel

Whistler Tasting Tours - Trial Tour

We had our first wine and culinary tour tonight! Friends and Family were invited out to make sure all the Whistler restaurants on tour were presenting the food and wine properly. It was a whole lot of fun, and everyone's excited to see this activity become one of the best things to do in Whistler.
 

Mon Nov 10 23:35:00 -1000 2008 | Joe Facciolo

Whistler Cornucopia

We had a fantastic launch this past weekend at Cornucopia - Whistler's wine and food festival. We had a booth in the ballroom with all the wineries and were able to tell people about the exciting new food and wine tour coming to Whistler. Response was fantastic as everyone there was interested in food and wine. With no shortage of things to do in Whistler, we're hoping people will take the time to indulge with us on a fantastic wine and culinary tour visiting Whistler's best restaurants.