Dine n' Shine
(Lang Pioneer Village)

NOTE: The Dine and Shine event (or as it is officially known - Dine & Shine: The Great Kawarthafest Steak Cook-Off and Village by Lantern Light) was a collaborarative effort between Lang Pioneer Village and Kawarthafest. Kawarthafest is a not-for-profit committee committed to creating and supporting the highest caliber of Festivals, Events, Conferences and Tourism Activities in the Kawartha region through Ambassadors and event creation.

Dine 'n Shine Re-visited

One of the best events at Lang Pioneer Village, is their Dine & Shine cook-off. This is where a number of well known area chefs try to out-do one another. While they are competing for top honours, those of us in attendance are reaping the benefits. This annual event is officially known as "Dine & Shine, Kawarthafest Steak Cook-Off and Village by Lanternlight". The event combines great BBQ Steak with all the “fixings”!, plus everyone is encouraged to enjoy activities in the Village by Lanternlight! This year was different for me. Rather than their usual way of determining the “People’s Choice Award”, (by the number of dinners each participant served), the Dine & Shine committee decided to hold a “ticket draw”. There were 10 tickets drawn and each ticket holder became a “People’s Choice Award” judge! I was one of the lucky chosen ticket holders! This meant that I not only got to eat my own steak dinner but I also got to sample steaks from 5 of the 10 chef participants! It was like being sent to “Steak Utopia"! When I tell you all these steaks were fabulous, believe me, they were. It was an extremely difficult choice! All the judges thought long and hard before making their selection. It was great fun for all of us and the winning chef’s basked in their momentary glory. The fun and fellowship that Lang Pioneer Village and its staff offer, is one of the things we like most about visiting the Village!

Dining and Shining at the Lang

It was mid-afternoon when we left Cobourg for Keene and Lang Pioneer Village. Gourmet steaks with all the “fixin’s” were waiting for us! It was time for the annual Dine and Shine at the Village! This was where the Lang Pioneer Village hosts some of Kawarthas best and brightest Chefs for a Steak Cook-off. The Cook-off was starting at 5:00 PM and we had an hours drive. Even though we knew that there would be plenty of food to go around, we wanted to get there in time to enjoy the full evening. We arrived just in time to join the long “Dine” line up. There were eight barbeques flaming and sizzling away and I knew one of them had a steak with my name on it! The idea behind the dinner portion of the event was to allow the visitor to circulate to each barbeque and taste a sample of the steaks being prepared. At each cooking station the Chefs and their staff told us why their steaks were the best! Of course, one would expect them to say and believe! After all, at the end of the “Dine” one of the Chefs was going to become the “People’s Choice” award winner! The Chef who served the most steaks was the winner! So, with this electric or, should I say “propane” atmosphere, Judi and I started our journey around the “Congo Line” of Chefs, barbeques and tall tales!

The Dine…

As we waited our turn to taste the Chefs’ creations, we were entertained by the period musician, Sheesham and Lotus (Their Website) (Click HERE to for video clip of Sheesham and Loyus playing). After a short wait, we finally reached Team #1, Burnham Mansion (Burham's Website). A tray of finely barbequed pieces of steak greeted us! We took our samples and savored the flavour! Sorry about the poetry! Good food does that! Then it was along to Team #2, Franz’ Butcher Shop and Catering (Franz's Website). Again they offered us tasty steak treats! Next was Team #3, Holiday Inn (Holiday Inn's Website). I ate their sample and I think I got smarter! It didn’t last! Team #4 was the Kinsmen Club (Kinsmen Club's Website). Team #5 was Peppino’s Catering and then Team #6, St. Anne’s Spa (St. Anne's Website). There seemed to be a “friendly” rivalry between Team #6 and Team #7, Fleming College Culinary (Fleming College Culinary's Website)! Something about who trained who and who was the better Chef! I didn’t want to get between them! I was sure steaks were going to “fly” (Hard for a cow)! All on their own, minding their own business and working away was Team #8, The Black Horse Pub! (Black Horse Pub's Website) Having finished the “tasting round”, it was time to make our choice! Which Chef to choose from! It was going to be a difficult choice because they were all so good! I’m not telling you who we chose. I don’t want to start another argument! Needless to say, our meals were excellent! After the steak meal, it was off to the dessert station, Apple Brown Betty’s for everyone! With the meal over it was time for the judging. The “ME” (Master Eater) or “MC” (if you prefer) was none other than Paul Laing from 980 KRUZ/The Wolf (The Wolf's Website). An appropriate choice seeing as Paul “WOLFED” down his steak! The judges included Warden Ron Gerow, Mayor Paul Ayotte and Chef “Supreme” Brian Henry. MC Paul came to the microphone and described the rules of the Cook-off. The Chefs waited in anticipation as each presented their creations to the judges. Finally it was time to announce the winners! Everyone held their breath! The tension mounted! First up was the award for “Best Presentation”. The winners were Team #8, The Black Horse Pub. The next award was for the “Best Marinade”. Team #5, Peppino’s Catering won this one. Then there was the award for “Best Over-all Steak”. This was won by Team #7, Fleming College Culinary. Somebody better snap up those budding Chefs! The final Cook-off award was the “People’s Choice Award”. The winner of this award was determined by the number of steak served. Team #2, Franz’s Butcher Shop and Catering were the People’s winners! (Click HERE to view award's video) All that was left was for Village/Museum Manager, Joe Corrigan, to welcome and thank everyone for coming. Joe also announced the winner of the “Bring Your Own Plates and Cutlery” draw. (Click HERE to view Joe's Welcome) With the “Dine” over, it was now time to enjoy the “Shine”!

The Shine…

The Shine started off with a “BANG”! Let me explain. Part of the evening’s attraction was an appearance be local re-enactment militia. They had set up their demonstration area just outside the Village’s western gates. After dinner visitors were invited to see a military demonstration and to talk to the re-enactors. (Click HERE to see video of demonstration) Part of the demonstration was the firing of rifle and the militia’s cannon! Thus, the “BANG”! The participation of the re-enactors set the mood for the Shine and the tone for the whole village experience. Although the village was now enclosed in darkness, the candlelight that shone from each building showed the way. Having visited Lang Pioneer Village on a number of occasions and I was stuck by the knowledge and commitment of its people, especially the village interpreters! These wonderful and energetic volunteers are dedicated to educating visitors, young and old, to the history of the 1800’s. They come to all the major events, dress in period costumes and armed with tales of village life.

The Village and Its People…

If you walk through the Village as we did, you will first meet the lady who bakes the bread in the Millburn House. The smell of freshly baked bread fills the rooms and hallways of the little house. At this event we were also welcomed by two young girls. They were having fun knitting in the front parlour! Traveling north, up the road, you will next meet the carpenter. His love of everything wood is obvious as he explains the workings of the Shop! Across form the Carpenter Shop the lady in the Fitzpatrick House shows us how to make shadow puppets by candlelight. On the other side of the road the clerk in the Tinsmith Shop showed us the many useful objects made by the time maker. North of the shop a large “open pit” fire burns brightly by the Fife Cabin. The fire is tended to by one of the Cabin’s interpreters. Inside the Cabin a lady is giving guests a tutorial about the cabin’s history. The Register Print Shop, on the opposite side of the road, has a young family in it. The printer is explaining the historical printing process and showing them examples of type and printed flyers. Next to the Register is the Keene Hotel. We walked to the back of the hotel to the kitchen. We watched as two of the kitchen staff served thirsty visitors. The Hotel is located on the east side of the Village Square. Across the Square music and laughter was flowing from the Douro Town Hall! Inside the Hall the “old Time Fiddlers” are enthusiastically fiddling while several dancers reel around the dance floor! (Click HERE to see video of fiddling and dancers - we apologize for the poor video quality) At the north end of the Square stands the Glen Alda Methodist Church. Storyteller, Sher Letooze, is busy bringing history alive! Meanwhile, inside the Menie General Store (located on the east side of the Square), a clerk is telling visitors about the various goods being offered. The ringing of metal upon metal drew us to the Blacksmith Shop. Two young blacksmiths were inside working at their anvils hammering and shaping the heated iron. From the Blacksmith Shop we left the Village Square and traveled each to the South Lake School House. A group of visitors were receiving a history lesson from the school’s teacher. The road from the School House was very dark. There were very few occupied buildings here. We started to walk south on the road. Behind us we could hear the “clomping” of the heavy horses as they pulled the hay wagon towards us. We couldn’t see the wagon until it was almost on top of us! It passed us just as we reached the southern most road. The Agriculture Barn is located on the south side of the corner. The Buckhorn Observatory was presenting its slide show, “A little About Everything Astronomical”. Finally, we reached the Traders Barn. The lively, foot tapping music of Sheesham and Lotus burst through the barn’s open doors. We stole inside to hear more! We weren’t disappointed! (Click HERE to see video of Sheesham and Lotus - unfortunately the video quality is poor, but the music is great!) It was getting late and time to leave the Dine and Shine. The memory of the evening’s events and all the wonderful Lang Pioneer Village participants lingered in my thoughts as we drove home!

Back To Top

Back To Ontario Festivals Visited List