The Magic Number For Planning Your Event is 19 - Introducing 19Bistro@Fitz and 19 Okanagan Bar and Grill
With a choice of two stunning venues in Peachland and West Kelowna, BC planning the perfect event is a piece of cake.
Merissa Hulstein has a secret weapon when it comes to planning events in beautiful Central Okanagan — two of them, actually. Two separate venues, both stunning and yet uniquely different. We caught up with Merissa recently, and she explained why she loves the venues and the type of events they cater to. The conversation quickly made it very apparent that if you are looking to host an event in the Kelowna area, you will want to contact the 19 Restaurant group – and soon. Event space books up fast!
Merissa's title is Events and Marketing Leader for the 19 Restaurant group, including 19 Bistro@Fitz, a restaurant-bistro nestled in the heart of wine country. There is another jewel in the crown too; 19 Okanagan Bar and Grill, overlooking Two Eagles Golf Course in West Kelowna. The two venues boast stunning vistas — yet each is uniquely distinct. 19 Bistro@Fitz is an intimate spot at a boutique vineyard just south of Peachland, sitting high above majestic lake and mountain scenery, while 19 Okanagan is a more expansive venue fanning out above the manicured greens of a beautiful golf course. So, what type of event can they host? Practically anything, Merissa tells us.
19 Bistro@Fitz: Great food, Stunning Views and Fabulous Sparkling Wine
19 Bistro@Fitz is located at the Fitzpatrick family winery, just 10 minutes outside of Peachland, BC. Looking at the rows of vines that surround the patio of 19 Bistro, 'awe-inspiring' is the best descriptor that comes to mind. On one side, the view falls off into the stunning blue waters of Okanagan Lake, and on the other, views are framed by the cascading hillside rise of Mt. Eneas.
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards, or the "Fitz" as it is lovingly referred to, is the brainchild of Ross Fitzpatrick and his family. If that name rings a bell, it's understandable. Ross is also the former owner (and founder) of Cedar Creek Vineyards, and a former Canadian Senator. With the Fitz, the Fitzpatrick family continues a long tradition of making excellent Okanagan wine, and having 19 Bistro@Fitz attached to the Fitzpatrick Vineyards helps the owner showcase their fabulous wines paired with delicious culinary creations.
19 Bistro@Fitz takes care of enthusiastic diners with a menu of mouth-watering creations that complement their renowned sparkling white wines. Items like wood-fired pizzas, fish tacos, and Asian-fusion dishes — all work well with sparkling wines, and Chef Geoff Molloy and his culinary team don't hold back.
Being located at the Fitzpatrick Vineyard is a tremendous blessing, according to Merissa. "The scenery here is just jaw-dropping, the wines are fantastic, and those two things combined allow us to provide a second-to-none venue in an intimate setting." Seating 40 to 80 guests in an open-air venue, Merissa and her team handle everything from nightly dining to dream weddings and corporate events. The 19 Bistro@Fitz team has welcomed private wine tour groups, family gatherings, team-building events, and countless others.
Of course, this intimate outdoor space can have limitations. That is where 19 Okanagan Bar and Grill comes into play. A bigger, up to 400-seat capacity venue with year-round ability, 19 Okanagan is ready to take on anything that Merissa and her team can dream up. They have been tackling every sort of event catering imaginable for almost two decades — this year marks 19 years for 19 Okanagan, actually. "We celebrated our 19th year at 19 Okanagan with a birthday bash on November 2nd," she tells me, and her pride in all they have been able to accomplish seeps through her words. The 19 Okanagan birthday bash celebrated the countless events that have been hosted at this beautiful venue, and the entire team’s hard work and dedication.
The space is divided by sliding glass doors that open up to gorgeous views across Okanagan Lake. The main room can be divided with an attached patio for memorable smaller bookings.
19 Okanagan Bar and Grill: Supporting Local
Neil Martens is the owner/operator of both 19 Bistro@Fitz and 19 Okanagan, and his business model is all about supporting local farmers, winemakers, and businesses — reflected in the menu on offer.
Catered events are customized on a client-to-client basis. "If you are looking to plan your dream wedding or a memory-making intimate gathering of friends, our goal is to create exactly what our client wants. Having a wide-open approach to menu planning lets us do that."
The first step to planning a great event is setting up a meeting with Merissa and her team. To get in touch, you can contact the team through either website 19 Okanagan and 19 Bistro, or call Merissa at 250-768-3133.
19 Bistro is situated on the Fitzpatrick Family Vineyard estate, 10 minutes south of Peachland and 10 minutes north of Summerland. You will find 19 Okanagan Bar and Grill at 3509 Carrington Road, West Kelowna, overlooking Two Eagles Golf Course.
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