Last night’s Canmore Uncorked Culinary Symphony appealed to all the senses, leaving the crowd fully satisfied with a unique and unforgettable experience.

Seated at Table 6 with two Olympians and the Mayor (because I’m super famous) I had a great view of the performance area where Quartetto Gelato delighted the crowd with a wide variety of tunes and a few performance antics.  Watching an oboe player do the splits while performing a complicated solo was a first for me!  In fact, this whole event was about firsts…the first ever (as far as anyone can tell) event pairing each course of a 5-course meal with a specific set of music.  An event months in the making, but also created in a bubble without knowing how it would come together with a live audience thrown into the mix.  Would this even work?

The first, third, and fifth course were the highlights for me.  Biting into the “Spring Forest Floor” themed first course, I think everyone was a little surprised to find the food literally popping in their mouth.  Did they seriously put Pop Rocks candy into a gourmet dish?  Also granola, chocolate, and mushrooms?  Somehow, it all worked and set the perfect tone for the rest of the night – lively and different but highly enjoyable!

During the third course all diners were blindfolded.  I’m still not entirely sure what I ate but it was a unique idea to be robbed of one of the senses during a dish featuring conflicting flavours and music performed largely in a minor key, setting a moodier tone.

For me, the ‘music and food pairing’ idea really came together in the final course.  That was an outstanding dessert and the high-tempo music playing while savouring the flavours of the dish had me tingling and moving my fork along with the tempo.

I think the audience was left feeling like they’d just been part of something really different and special.  The mood resonated with the chefs who put the food together and were obviously elated with how everything came together.  I spoke with lead chef James Holmes after the event.

Canmore Uncorked is on until Sunday with set-price three course menus and other special events!  Check out the website to take part in what has quickly become one of my favourite times of year in Canmore.