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FVCC Festival of Flavors Features Nine Days of Fine Foods

Event raises support for scholarships at community college

By Beacon Staff

The Flathead Valley Community College Foundation, in partnership with event sponsor Fun Beverage, Inc., is kicking off the new academic year with the eighth annual Festival of Flavors.

Over nine days starting Sept. 25, community members in Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Lakeside and Whitefish will have opportunities to attend unique culinary events to raise money for FVCC students in need.

Last year’s event raised $621,000 in scholarships and the foundation awarded 687 individual scholarships.

“This support helps make it possible for our local students to stay in school and achieve their dreams,” said FVCC President Jane Karas.

Students who receive scholarships complete their education at a higher rate and in a shorter timeframe, Karas added.

At the festival opener on Sept. 25, guests will gather on the college campus to experience Spanish paella and an array of tapas prepared by the faculty and students of The Culinary Institute of Montana at FVCC. Spanish food will be complemented by tastings of sangria, Spanish wines and local wines and microbrews and live music by Spanish guitarist Leif Christian. Tickets are $50 per person.

On Sept. 28, guests can join Chef DeAnna McCann at Flathead Lake Brewing Company in Bigfork to enjoy cuisine paired with microbrews and live music provided by FVCC music instructor and guitarist Steve Eckels.

On Sept. 29, Chef Chris DiMaio will present a farm-to-table dinner with wine pairings at Three Forks Grille in Columbia Falls.

On Sept. 30, Schafer’s Restaurant in Woods Bay will feature dinner prepared by Chef Casey Engel paired with wines and a spectacular view.

On Oct. 1, Chef Keith Matthews of Truby’s invites guests to wine and dine at its original home in downtown Whitefish.

On Oct. 2, guests can experience Seven in Lakeside, where they will enjoy an evening of dinner and wine pairings with Chef Eric Larson. Tickets for the microbrew dinner in Bigfork are $75 each and $100 each for all wine pairing dinners.

The festival will culminate Oct. 3 with the Grand Wine Tasting at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell. The event will feature silent and live auctions, a rally for scholarships and up to 200 local and regional wines, dozens of culinary stations and special showcases featuring cuisine prepared and served by FVCC’s culinary faculty and students. For more information on the auctions, to view the event menus, or purchase tickets, visit www.fvcc.edu/festival, or call 756-3632.

For more information or to learn how to establish a scholarship, contact FVCC Foundation Director Colleen Unterreiner at 756-3914 or [email protected].