Between the winemaking team and the always visiting chefs or sommeliers, there is usually a fair amount of talent hanging around the winery at Norm Hardie's, but yesterday was a bit extraordinary. Most of the chefs, winemakers, speakers and organizers from Monday's annual Terroir Symposium descended upon Prince Edward County for a kind of day-after party, a hedonistic afternoon of culinary collaboration.

The Terroir Symposium crowd at Norman Hardie Winery

Terroir is an annual hospitality industry conference organized by Arlene Stein. A huge amount of work goes into organizing this one day event, and Arlene has done and outstanding job collecting many of the world's top names in hospitality to attend and contribute over the past few years...most of which arrived at Norm's yesterday for some extra fun, Prince Edward County styles. Notably absent at lunch was Terroir keynote speaker René Redzepi, chef/owner of Noma in Copnhagen, but the culinary firepower wasn't at all weakened as top chefs from all over North America and Europe all pitched in for a feast. Guests included former Gold Medal Plates champion Mark Lepine from L’atelier in Ottawa; Jeremy Charles, Raymonds, Nfld; Connie De Sousa & John Jackson, Charcut, Calgary; JP McMahon, Aniar Restaurant, Galway, Ireland; Magnus Nilsson, Executive Chef, Faviken, Jarpen, Sweden; Kobe Desramaults, In de Wulf, Dranouter, Belgium; Scott Vivian, Beast Restaurant; Mathew Matheson, Parts & Labour amongst many more.

And an extra big congratulations to Ottawa's Stephen Beckta for winning the GE Monogram Terroir Award for Outstanding Service Professional! You can read all the details and Stephen's response here in the Ottawa Citizen Blog. Here are a few highlights from yesterday afternoon:

Kobe Desramaults from In de Wulf having some bubbles with Vicki and Jonas from Hinterland Wine Co. and a pickup full of their Prince Edward County sparkling wine. Whitecap on tap in a garbage can full of ice?? #NoBigDeal

Barrel tasting before the lunch gets started.

Norm tasting some County Chardonnay from barrel with Magnus Nilsson from Faviken, Sweeden.

The barrel chamber temporarily transforms into the produce department for all the chefs...

Great local produce from all over Ontario...

Some Ottawa love at the fire! Boiling down some sap for maple syrup is former Ottawa Whalesbone Chef Charlotte Langley, former Gold Medal Plates champ Marc Lepine of Atelier, and current Gold Medal Plates champ Jamie Stunt of OZ Cafe.