New local partnership features southern Alberta producers while promoting Lethbridge’s local attractions

Lethbridge—A unique dining experience is coming to Lethbridge this summer as Mocha Cabana partners with Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and Fort Whoop-Up to present carefully curated picnic baskets that can be enjoyed inside our local attractions.

Each tourist attraction’s menu pays homage to the unique flavours of each location. Nikka Yuko is offering a uniquely Japanese Yagai [Outdoor] Picnic menu featuring a Nikka [Japan-Canada] Sushi roll filled with a maple-soy glazed wild salmon and Haskap Berry Crumble bars among other delicious items. Fort Whoop-Up is going back to their roots to bring their Ii’ethawaahkaa Picnic which showcases an artisan bison salad, a Blackfoot Elder-approved bannock and Haskap Berry Crumble bars.

These items are prepared fresh by the chefs at Mocha Cabana, using locally produced items from farmers mainly in the southern Alberta region.

“Now, more than ever, it’s important that we recognize and support our local businesses and entrepreneurs,” says Michelle Day, Executive Director of Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. “This new experience highlights our dedicated local farmers and a talented local restaurant while allowing guests to experience these local attractions in a new and unique way.”

The southern Alberta producers featured in these baskets are Broxburn Vegetables & Café and Broek Pork Acres from Lethbridge, Phoenix Haskaps from Nobleford, Grainworks (Vulcan), Mans Organics from Coaldale, and Rafferty Farms from Okotoks. Also included are a BBQ sauce from Get Sauced from Edmonton in the Fort Whoop-Up basket and pure maple syrup from Gosford Maple Farm in Quebec in the Nikka Yuko basket.

“We at Fort Whoop-Up are absolutely thrilled to collaborate in a new initiative with our friends and colleagues from the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and Mocha Cabana to offer visitors with unique visitation and culinary picnic experiences,” says Fort Whoop-Up CEO/Executive Director Darrin Martens. “Ii’ethawaahkaa, or “packed lunch” in Blackfoot, is a distinct culinary experience which showcases traditional local fare in a contemporary context. Each picnic is a mélange of rich and refreshing flavours that are sure to nourish the palate and inspire the mind.”

Those looking to dine at either location must pre-order their picnic basket by 4 pm the previous day and can enjoy them during each attraction’s open hours.

For more information and full menus, please visit www.nikkayuko.com/picnic and fort.galtmuseum.com/picnic.

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Media are invited to the official launch held at Mocha Cabana on July 14 at 9:30 am. Local farmers along with Michelle Day, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, and Darrin Martens, Galt Museum & Archives and Fort Whoop-Up will be in attendance and available for comment.

For more information please contact:

Melanie Berdusco
Marketing & Events Manager
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
marketing@nikkayuko.com
403.328.3511

Graham Ruttan (he/him)
Marketing and Communications Officer
Galt Museum & Archives | Fort Whoop-Up
graham.ruttan@galtmuseum.com
403.320.4009