Chef Ned Bell Puts Hollywood Spotlight on Okanagan Culinary Scene

By / Magazine / June 16th, 2009 / 1

Cabana Grille and Executive Chef and Owner Ned Bell were thrilled to participate in last weekend’s celebrity wine events and fund raisers in the South Okanagan. The fun began when the cast and crew from Entertainment Tonight Canada stopped into Kelowna hot spot, Cabana Grille, for a delicious lunch of local spot prawns, bison burgers and whole-wheat crust pizzas. Canada’s entertainment news magazine TV program reaches 500,000 viewers, and potential Okanagan visitors. The crew took the opportunity to film the well-known chef in the restaurant’s open kitchen before sitting down to lunch. Entertainment Tonight Canada will air the clip tonight at 7:30 on Global Television.

The show followed Bell from Kelowna to the Black Hills Winery Nota Bene release party in Oliver, BC catered by Cabana Grille, where they filmed a cooking segment with Bell and actor Jason Priestly working the grill. The duo grilled halibut skewers and BC spot prawns with saffron and vanilla bean aioli for the cameras and served up the dish to the appreciative crowd of over 300 people. Attendees also included Priestly’s 90210 co-star Tiffani Amber Thiessen, Star Trek’s Bruce Greenwood and Medium’s David Cubitt.

Bell and Cabana Grille also helped raise $9,000 for children’s charities at Friday evening’s Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Auction when he auctioned off two dinners, with him as cook, and wines donated by Cedar Creek Estate Winery.

Entertainment Tonight Canada and the weekend’s events were supported, amongst others, by Destination Osoyoos, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, Black Hills Winery and Cabana Grille.

The Cabana Grille is located on Lakeshore Road just steps from Okanagan Lake. It’s menu and décor are globally inspired, and owned and operated by three local restaurateurs — Jay Blackford, Michael Borg and Ned Bell. It focuses on fresh, local produce cooked in innovative ways for a wide range of tastes and budgets.

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