Tired of the traditional date night dinner? Let Chef Bennett add some sizzle into Cupid's night. It is said that we eat with our eyes first, let all your senses be stimulated with this most satisfying meal.

Whether you celebrate the day of lovers or not, one will most certainly need to eat! Chef Batey delivers a class to celebrate the love of cuisine, long stem roses optional. Let the tastes of the ocean, land and yes chocolate on your palette inspire the emotion of amoré.

Join Chef Riley Bennett for this class. Come and tour this south-east Asian country with its food. Dishes to include chicken saté, green papaya salad, tom yam soup, pad thai, fish in banana leaf and red chili pork ribs with garlic spinach. Please note this class will use peanuts and shrimp.

Chef Batey pays tribute to the legend that introduced "French Cooking to Americans." Through her many different forms of teaching and unabashed style, Julia Child forged and transformed the way a cuisine could be demystified and executed at home. Chef Batey picks his favourite recipes from Julia's books, TV shows and movies.

A region that has such a long growing season and is home to one of the most revered restaurants in the world is well worth exploring. Understanding that there is more than just the Napa Valley in California for incredible wine, Terrace Chef Riley Bennett tours the various regions, sharing highlights from some of the famous eateries along the way.

The Fairmont Empress in partnership with Mission Hill Family Estate are pleased to present the inaugural Mission Emp-Possible - Battle of the Chefs, hosted by world-renowned Iron Chef America and The Thirsty Traveler personality, Kevin Brauch, on Wednesday February 24, 2010.

Join us as we embark on an epicurean journey with Executive Chef, Takashi Ito of The Fairmont Empress, who will challenge Mission Hill Executive Winery Chef, Matthew Batey, in a "battle-of-the-chefs" competition. Each Chef will prepare a decadent five-course tasting menu paired with five exquisite wines personally selected and presented by Mission Hill's Chief Winemaker, John Simes.

Tickets for this event are C$150 per person exclusive of taxes and gratuities, and only 130 spaces are available.

Reservations are available by calling (250) 389-2727 or email for more information. Book now for the culinary event of the year, which is expected to sell out quickly.

Living in the Okanagan Valley, one could not be more fortunate and able to cook from within a '100 mile' area. Chef Bennett is a native of this rich agricultural area and will show you just how readily available local products are and how much better they really do taste coming from our own back yard. Come and enjoy Duck Prosciutto, Enderby Trout, Forest Mushroom Bisque, Nicola Valley Bison Flat Iron and Sugarpie Pumpkin Cake.

Heading up the kitchen at of the top five winery restaurants in the world is no small task. But Executive Chef Matthew Batey and Terrace Restaurant Chef Riley Bennett are both certainly well qualified. Their culinary style, Cuisine de Terroir, celebrates the freshest of the seasons, the nuances of the geography and the bounty of the Okanagan. No one better understands and appreciates the pairing of wine and food than a winery chef, and because of this, we will be featuring Mission Hill Family Estate wines for this very special evening.