From the Kitchen
CULINARY RETREAT
celebrate the art of food and community!
savour…
a beautiful fusion of food & nature
in a nourishing culinary getaway
From the Kitchen
Fircom Culinary Retreat
Date:
Friday, Feb 6 - Sunday, Feb 8, 2026
For: Adults 19+
There is a maximum of 8 participants for this specially curated retreat experience.
Enjoy this valuable opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in a journey of flavour, creativity and connection!
Would you like to indulge in these great pairings?
Gourmet & Gambier!
Nourish & Nature
Flavour & Fun!
Creativity & Connection
Who doesn’t love the sweet baked dough of warm cinnamon buns?
Enjoy a cinnamon bun baking session!
Have you…
ever tried pyrography?
Create your own unique charcuterie board guided by local artist Kathryn Beals!
(image: Kathryn Beals)
Details:
Arrive Friday to Gambier Island, settle into your accommodation and head to the dining hall to enjoy a 4-course meal with preferred wine pairings.
On Saturday we will rotate through a set of culinary themed programs with the goal of acquiring new skills whilst nurturing our pallets.
The programming includes:
Canning and pickling workshop with our Head Chef
Cinnamon bun creations with our Head Baker
Pyrography wood burning art session with Kathryn Beals
Saturday evening dinner will be followed by a fireside social in your cozy accommodation.
On Sunday we will finish our programming rotation, enjoy our final meals, and say goodbye to Gambier.
Overall, we aim to create a relaxing atmosphere and further provide you with the tools to enjoy something new when you return home to your own environment. EACH RETREAT OFFERED WILL HAVE A UNIQUE MENU AND PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE. WE WELCOME PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS!
Please Note: wine and signature cocktails will be served at this retreat. Non-alcoholic options will be provided.
Pyrography Art Session
with Kathryn Beals
Slow down and enjoy the relaxing and meditative process of pyrography - burning designs by hand into wood with a hot tool. You’ll get to take home a sustainable mango wood serving board decorated with your own designs, guided by local artist Kathryn Beals. Burn your own design or choose one to transfer - no drawing experience necessary.
Your Experience Includes:
Great food & great company
Expounded knowledge in the culinary arts
Canning Workshop with preserves to take home
A recipe for yummy cinnamon buns
Custom mango wood charcuterie board decorated with your own design (for February 2025 retreat, the boards will be round).
Camp Fircom logo embroidered apron to take home
Schedule & Activities:
In addition to being fed delightfully (with a a few surprises!) and engaging in hands on culinary workshops, participants will have free time to enjoy Fircom’s tranquil setting, connect with others as inspired, and cozy up by the fire. For those that love to be outdoors, the forest and shoreline are always welcoming you, even in the winter!
Fee: $695.00
Maxium 8 participants.
Fee includes the following:
Private room in Craigcroft (12 bedroom 2-storey accommodation with two washrooms, a kitchen and living room with fireplace).
Program fees also include your return water taxi from Horseshoe Bay, all supplies, programming, meals, drinks and snacks.
take home items, as mentioned above (preserves, cutting board and apron)
For more information on our Craigcroft Accommodation, CLICK HERE. (not pictured in website photos are the new cozy mattresses in all our Craigcroft bedrooms).
Cancellation Policy:
Once payment has been made, there is a $100 cancellation fee up until 30 days prior to the start of the retreat. With fewer than 30 days notice, there are no refunds. If there is a medical emergency, a positive COVID-19 test, or illness with a doctor’s note with less than 30 days notice, then a camp credit minus a $100 cancellation fee will be applied to the account, to be used within one year. NOTE: Credit can be used by anyone living in the same household (not friends or colleagues).
Culinary Retreat Facilitators:
TBC
Are you Ready?
Embrace this chance to rediscover the simple pleasures of life through culinary delights, creativity and heartfelt laughter with fellow food enthusiasts!
Getting here:
Depart at 4:00pm from Horseshoe Bay on Friday, November 14, 2025
Depart Fircom on Sunday, November 16 at 2:30 pm, arriving back to Horseshoe Bay before 3pm.
Check in will take place at the Public Dock in Horseshoe Bay Village (pictured here). Please be on the dock with your bag(s) no later than 15 mins prior to water taxi departure. More info about Gambier Island.