Whistler’s WinterPRIDE announces first-ever culinary program

Whistler, BC – Whistler’s 2007 WinterPRIDE event (formerly known as Gay Ski Week) will for the first time include a culinary program – featuring cooking classes, wine tasting sessions and fine dining.

“We are responding to our guests’ feedback that they want more non-skiing programming,” said Dean Nelson, Creative Director of WinterPRIDE. “Whistler’s renowned fine dining means that we can easily offer unique culinary events to our discerning guests.”

One offering, in particular, is already garnering a lot of attention: Singles and Sex Food. “Our guests will enter the penthouse suite of a five-star hotel and will not reveal their names or occupations, but instead identify themselves as an item of food,” said Nelson. “They will then prepare items such as aphrodisiac canapés and chocolate strawberries, while dancing the night away in an incredible luxury suite.”

Another unique event called Sergeant Scott’s Kitchen Fitness combines exercise and eating. It sees participants use heavy foods such as squash and cantaloupes as weights before sitting down to eat the very same food.

In addition, the culinary program offers a dine-around Oktoberfest, an Italian/Mediterranean cooking class, off-mountain lunch events, and hosted dinners at leading Whistler restaurants.

WinterPRIDE is the evolution of Gay Ski Week and has grown to a week-long festival which contains a broad range of activities beyond traditional winter sports events. WinterPRIDE includes daily ski-guiding by volunteers, après ski and party events, and culinary, health and education programming. WinterPRIDE 2007 takes place in Whistler BC from February 4-11, 2007.