Rachel Carr - Association News - was the happy recipient of a bottle of coveted Mission Hill Family Estate 'Oculus' at the Canadian Tourism Commission's Los Angeles media dinner held last week at Cicada Restaurant.

Vincor Canada's Donna Luiten and CHARCUT Roast House's Carrie Jackson at FOH Meat and Social.

Once-forbidden treats and nose-to-tail eats was the theme in a North East Calgary butcher shop where more than 50 of the city’s restaurateurs and front-of-house notable gathered to see the experts at Rocky Mountain Game Meats butcher beef, to taste delicacies prepared by hosts Fresh Kitchen owner Paul Morissette and soon-to-open CHARCUT Roast House’s Co-Chef/Owners John Jackson and Connie DeSousa. Vincor Canada’s premium wine account manager Donna Luiten poured Jackson Triggs Merlot, Randy Kwong poured coffee by Caffe Umbria Canada, United Distributors' Gloria Hrynuik poured Absinthe by Okanagan Spirits and Alastair Smart poured beer by Big Rock Brewery.

Some of the food pairings were Liverwurst and Pigs Belly Croquettes with Fennel Sauce Gribiche, Coffee Braised Beef Shank with Jalapeno Bone Marrow Butter, and Pate Stuffed Berkshire Pigs Head with House picked sour cherries and charred baguette.

Superstar journalists Michele Sponagle (Toronto), Lucas Aykroyd (Vancouver), and Giancarlo La Giorgia (Montreal) visited COAST Restaurant for a taste of the sea recently.

NY-based photojournalist Alison Wright made a whistle stop at Trattoria Italian Kitchen before departing on a recent Rocky Mountaineer train adventure.

This year’s ‘Lights & Laughter’ Montreal familiarization participants are snapped on a city tour of beautiful Montreal. Fitting highlights of the annual trip - organized by Tourism Montreal, Media Kitty and the Chateau Champlain - included lights (Fireworks Fest), laughter (Just for Laughs Comedy Fest), and great company!

From left: Andree Parent (Chateau Champlain), Marie José Pinsonnault (Tourism Montreal), Kerry Morrissey (Atlific Hotels), Hannah Sung (Toronto Star), Maria LaPiana (Connecticut Bride Magazine), Veronica Sliva (East of the City), local guide Peggy Wilson, and Ashlea D (Phoenix Magazine).

LA-based journalist Karen Loftus touched down in Vancouver for a brief visit before making her way to the Okanagan to experience Predator Ridge Golf Resort and Mission Hill Family Estate winery. She is pictured with Glowbal Restaurant Group’s Charles Zuckerman and John Crook after enjoying a lovely Sunday brunch on the sunny glowbal grill patio in Yaletown. Check out Karen’s travel adventures on her Vlogs, HERE.

Spud Hilton, Travel Editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, is snapped with Thompson Okanagan Tourism’s Miles Prodan at Canada Media Marketplace 2009 – held last week at New York's historic Waldorf Astoria.

Host of CBC’s ‘The Hour’ George Stroumboulopoulos and Immedia’s Morgan Sommerville are pictured at The Artist Sanctuary at Loden Vancouver. Held during the Juno Awards weekend, the sanctuary was stationed in Loden’s fabulous Halo penthouse and served as a hub for major celebrity interviews and a place for stars, media and VIPs to gather.

Austin-based writer Anthony Head and Tourism BC’s Josie Heisig relax in Loden Vancouver’s tony lobby. Anthony touched down at Loden and its Voya Restaurant during a recent Vancouver/Whistler visit.

Immedia’s Laura Serena and Ocean Properties Kerry Morrissey meet with NBC's Peter Greenberg (far left) in New York. Greenberg is the Travel Editor for NBC’s Today show, CNBC and MSNBC, a best-selling author and host of the nationally syndicated Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio show. Greenberg is contributing editor to Men’s Health and Forbes, and was also Contributing Editor for America Online (AOL), a contributor to The New Yorker magazine and a frequent guest on ABC’s Oprah Winfrey Show and The View.

The Canadian Tourism Commission’s Laura Fairweather, Michele McKenzie and Elyse Mailhot were all smiles at the Olympic Oval in Richmond, BC – a fun night out organized by the Travel Media Association of Canada.

Vancouver journalists Joanne Blain and Juanita Ng are pictured in Market -- celebrating the opening of the Shangri-La Hotel at the media unveiling earlier this week.

Putting the 'L' in Flashion, Immedia's Laura Serena strikes a pose with Voya Senior Mixologist Jay Jones - ringing in the New Year in high-style at Loden Vancouver's Flashion '09 event.

Vancouver journalist Joanne Sasvari is snapped with one of the friendly 2010 Olympic mascots at Tourism Vancouver's Christmas Luncheon.

Maax Marketing's Rick Graham is snapped in Voya Restaurant with Myun-Joong Kim, Senior Editor of Travel + Leisure Korea. Rick and Tourism Vancouver's Amber Sessions gave Mr. Kim and photographer Soo Im Jung an action-packed 3 day overview of Vancouver.  

Karen Smith and Kim Kapoor of Mission Hill Family Estate are pictured at the launch of Mission Hill's newest wines: Perpetua and Quatrain. Wine Access' Anthony Gismondi calls Perpetua a 'top-of-the-line chardonnay.' Cheers!

Robin Esrock, star of the hit TV show 'Word Travels' (and website Moderngonzo.com) is pictured with Immedia's Morgan Sommerville at the Loden Vancouver opening party.

Tantalus Productions' Matt O'Donnell is snapped in snazzy Voya Restaurant and Lounge with Immedia's Heather Kirk and Laura Serena at the Loden Vancouver opening extravaganza.

Accomplished travel writers, Lynn Rosen and Steve Giordano are pictured in the Dome Room at Seattle's Arctic Hotel during Tourism Vancouver's media event. See you at the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) conference in Houston!

Loden Vancouver's Barbara Hicks and Edel Forristal meet with events specialist Matt O'Donnell to review plans for the Loden and Voya opening bash this October.