Every year, the Restaurant Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (RANL) puts off an amazing event that highlights local restaurants, food and beverage distributors, and businesspeople. It’s called the Savour Food and Wine Show, and this year, I was lucky enough to attend.
For those who don’t know what to expect at this type of event (because I didn’t), there are booths with local food and beverage samples that you get to try. You can mingle, chat with patrons and vendors, try some delicious snacks and drinks, and then vote on your favourites. There are also lifestyle booths and musical performances to take in.
I loved the Savour Food and Wine Show for the excellent selection of vendors (over 50!!), the friendly and helpful volunteers, and the logistics of the event– there were no lineups, traffic jams, or major hiccups (that I could observe as a guest). The venue was perfect: the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre is well-known and centrally located. After the show, my friend and I even stopped in the newly-renovated lobby bar for a final drink to end the night, which was lovely. If you attend the 2020 Savour Food and Wine Show, I highly recommend booking a room and making a night of it!
Let’s talk about favourites:
I stopped by several food tables. Restaurants at the event included local hotspots such as Adelaide Oyster House, Sushi Nami Royale, Ches’s Fish and Chips, Chinched, Gypsy Tea Room, Coffee Matters, and Piatto Pizzeria. There were also newer or less well-known restaurants like Moxie’s, Green Door, Quesada, and PJ Billington’s. My most memorable bites were the chicken and mushroom rigatoni from Moxie’s, the hand rolls from Sushi Nami Royale, and the miso and sweet potato cheesecake from Green Door. Click on the pictures below for a closer look.
Moxie’s chicken and mushroom rigatoni was so flavourful. 
Sushi Nami Royale’s hand rolls were so fresh and delicious! Did you know that twowildtides was actually born at Sushi Nami Royale?? 
Green Door’s miso and sweet potato cheesecake was absolutely mouthwatering. What an interesting combination for a dessert! It was served with a dahl dish that was also scrumptious.
I made sure I stopped by each and every beverage table (haha). There was such a wide variety of alcohol available. There was, of course, many types of wine, but there was also Palm Bay, Disaronno Amaretto, spiced rum, beer, cider, whisky, Newfie Screech, and vodka. My favourite wines, although not pictured, were the Yellowtail Pinot Grigio (which has been a go-to for me for quite some time) and the Auk Island Winery Vinland Red. Other standout beverages were the Maker’s Mark Whisky cocktails, Palm Bay’s new mimosas and rosés, Landwash Brewery’s ‘Smiling Land’ brew, and Rock Spirits’ sangria selection.
I also want to give a shoutout to NL Fruit Bouquets for their scrumptious banana split bites. I could have eaten that whole platter!!
Overall, RANL’s Savour Food and Wine Show was such a fun event. It opened my eyes to new restaurants and liquor to try and old favourites that I plan on revisiting soon. I am already planning Savour Food and Wine Show 2020 with my mom because I know she’ll love it and I am already itching to go again. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about the event or I am sure RANL will be happy to answer your questions as well. Let us know if you plan on attending next year! Did you go this year? What were your faves? Leave us a comment below or on social media, @twowildtides.
Please check out RANL: online, on Facebook, and on Instagram. You can visit the Savour Food and Wine Show Facebook page here— be sure to give them a like to be kept updated about future events!
xoxo,
char
Starbucks Kenmount Road. I’m not big on Starbucks, but sometimes it is the most convenient option. Out of all the Starbucks in the city (and there are quite a few– the mall, Torbay Road, Stavanger Drive, Topsail Road, Water Street, Chapters…), this one is my favourite. I think it is the most comfortable and cozy; and although I hate Kenmount Road, it is the most convenient meeting point for friends and family from out of town who are visiting and want to grab a coffee.
Battery Cafe. This gem is located on the corner of Battery Road, at 1 Duckworth Street. It might be tiny and crammed, but you won’t find friendlier staff or a nicer neighbourhood anywhere else in the city. I love the oatmeal and the sandwiches. This cafe is a great stop if you’re out on a wintery walk in the lower battery and want to escape the cold; or if you’re headed up to Signal Hill for a first, second, or twentieth date; or if you just need to get away from it all for a little while.
Perfectly located within the town of Mobile, Whale House is only a minutes-long walk to beaches, East Coast Trail trailheads, the wine shop, a corner store, and boat tours. There are also a number of great restaurants and coffee shops in the area. Whale House gets its name from its close proximity to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, where at certain times of the year, whales come to feed and play. From Whale House, you can see out over Mobile Bay, which is a humpback feeding ground, making it one of the best places in the province to spot whales. It was only fitting that we stayed in the Humpback Suite.
This suite is one of only two guest rooms that have a hot tub– relaxing in the eco hot tub with the cool air nipping my cheeks and the stars twinkling in the sky was the perfect way to unwind. Due to the low levels of light pollution out in Mobile, on a clear night, one can see constellations and planets that you would never be able to see in the city. Marty and Amanda, the owners of Whale House, never failed to keep the environment in mind when designing the guest house. The hot tubs, whenever possible, are filled with clean rainwater. The water from the taps and shower in the suites come from an underground spring, meaning it is chlorine-free and better than any bottled water around. To protect the water and other environmental systems, all cleaning supplies used are 100% natural– and you can tell because the rooms are immaculate.
I was blown away by the thoughtful accents in the room. Handmade quilts, made by Amanda’s Nan in Joe Batt’s Arm on Fogo Island, make your sleep extra warm and cozy. Pineapple crush and other complimentary drinks in the fridge, as well as coffee, tea, and kombucha, leave your thirst quenched. Electric kettles, convection ovens, and hot plates allow you to cook a healthy and romantic dinner from the peace and quiet of your suite. And snacks and cereals in mason jars, to which you are welcome to help yourself, show that the owners have thought of everything their guests may want to enjoy during their stay.
After our perfect night in the Humpback Suite (and I’m not kidding– the sleep was perfect! The hot tub and essential oils knocked us out into the most peaceful snooze), we were invited up to the Blue Whale suite by Marty and Amanda. This is a much larger guest room with interesting and unforgettable modern fusion decor, with one-of-a-kind art and sculptures, and a perfectly placed bed so guests can soak up whale sightings and star-gazing while curled up in a quilt. Even though we didn’t stay in this suite, I still want to share a few photos because it is simply gorgeous. P.S. this is the other suite that has a hot tub. Check out the Blue Whale suite on the 
twowildtides would like to send the most heartfelt thank-yous to Marty and Amanda for having us out to Whale House Guest House; for showing us another of Newfoundland and Labrador’s wonderful hidden gems; and for reminding us what hospitality really is.
The Murray Premises has stood the test of time. As the oldest collection of fishing industry mercantile buildings in NL, it is the site of many trials, tribulations, and disasters– but like Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, the property is strong and resilient, having survived the Great Fires of 1846 and 1892 which devastated most of the city. Although this is a modern and luxurious hotel, I could still feel a strong sense of what may have occurred within the walls before the hotel ever existed– not in a creepy way, but rather in a fascinating and peaceful way. Now there are new buildings popped up all around, such as Jack Astor’s, The Keg, and Mill Street Brewery, as well as the Husky building and a parking garage; but the integrity of the historic property still remains and its proximity to these facilities and others create a convenience for hotel guests.
Some of St. John’s’ top restaurants, shops, and nightlife (a.k.a. George Street) are located just seconds from the hotel– I’m not exaggerating. Not to mention Mile One stadium, the Rooms, and our many other historic sites which are minutes away. The Murray Premises Hotel is a great option for travelers who want an authentic experience of downtown St. John’s.
Included in our stay was a buffet-style breakfast. I’d describe it as a continental breakfast kicked up a notch. They swap cheap muffins for decadent croissants and apples and bananas for a large variety of seasonal fruit. The light meal along with a mug of green tea was exactly what I needed to drag me out of the groggy state I was in from the coma-like sleep I had (undoubtedly thanks to the comfortable beds but likely facilitated by the wine). Also take some time to enjoy the lounge off the lobby where you can grab a coffee before check-out or in lieu of breakfast if you’re not a morning eater.
St. John’s has many fabulous hotels but the Murray Premises is unique. It offers a history and rustic vibrance that others don’t. I cannot wait to return to the hotel and try another room as they are all slightly different. Thank you so much to the Murray Premises for having us and for extending the highest standard of hospitality.
The campground is located along the Humber River near the small town of Cormack. If you’re headed to the park from the east on the Trans Canada, don’t pay attention to the directions your GPS will give you. Trust me. Instead of following the GPS directions, head up to the Deer Lake exit, turn right on the Viking Trail towards St. Anthony, in about 10 minutes turn right at the Cormack exit, and then drive straight down that road which will eventually become a dirt road. Continue straight and you’ll eventually come upon the campground. It costs $20 a night to camp and the sites are unserviced but pretty large and well maintained. It’s $5 cheaper than any of the national park campgrounds.
After unloading the CRV and setting up camp along the banks of the Humber River, we decided to explore a little. There are walking trails all around the park that lead down to the river and the big falls for campers to explore. The cool thing about Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park is that in the summertime, salmon are migrating up the river so if you’re lucky, you can see them jump up the falls. We saw quite a few and it was mindblowing that those fish can actually jump up a waterfall! Bring your camera and get some cool shots to show your pals.
I highly recommend checking out Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park. Have a picnic on the rocks along the riverbank, watch the salmon jump, and grab a beer at the lodge (sadly it was closed when we were there). And while you’re in the Cormack area, head over to Cache Rapids Stable in Reidville for a trail ride. Cormack is also right on the edge of Gros Morne National Park so there are a lot of fun things to do in the area.
