Join us for our Olympic Wine Dinner on July 24!
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 • 6:00pm
Celebrate the Paris Olympics in grand Aiken fashion! The Willcox is kicking-off opening night by featuring two of Aiken’s very own Olympians, Dacre Stoker and Michel Vaillancourt, who will discuss their experiences participating in the Olympics and share behind the scenes insights while guests enjoy a five-course French dinner paired with French wines selected by Sommelier Matthew Sayer.
$135 per person. Seating is limited, so please make your reservations in advance. Tax and gratuity not included.
MENU:
FIRST COURSE
Diver scallop in a caviar beurre blanc, fresh chives, served in shell
Wine: Chateau Carbonnieux, Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru 2022
SECOND COURSE
Terrine of Pork Liver
pork liver, truffles, pistachios
Wine: Guy Breton, Beaujolais Villages ‘Cuvee Marylou’ 2013
THIRD COURSE
Wild berry sorbet
FOURTH COURSE
Beef Bourguignon, tender beef, potato fondant, local mushrooms, heirloom carrots, pea tendrils
Wine: Domaine De La Vougeraie, Savigny-les-Beaune, Les Marconnets Premier Cru 2002
FIFTH COURSE
Apple & Cinnamon Crème Brûlé
Wine: Domaine Huet Clos du Bourg Moelleux Premier Trie 2020 Chenin Blanc 2020
About the Speakers:
Dacre Stoker an Aiken resident since 1992 has an interesting Olympic history. A native of Montreal Canada he remembers watching the Munich Olympics on TV at the age of 14, his mother, father and sister attended in person as his father was on the Canadian Equestrian team committee. When the games came to his hometown of Montreal in 1976 he worked as a drug technician for all of the Equestrian events. This is where he first became aware of Modern Pentathlon an Olympic event since 1912, consisting of cross country running, swimming, fencing, equestrian jumping and pistol shooting. Over the next 12 years Dacre competed for Canada at three World Championships, was a victim of the 1980 Olympic boycott, then became a coach of the Canadian Ladies team which won an individual gold medal at the World Championship in 1983. He later led the Canadian Mens team to their best ever finish at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988.
Michel Vaillancourt an Aiken resident, is a Canadian show jumper who won an individual silver medal at the 1976 Olympics. He tied for second place with Debbie Johnsey and François Mathy, but won the silver in a jump-off. Vaillancourt finished in fifth place with Canada in the Olympic team event. Vaillancourt started training in horse riding aged 12, encouraged by his father, an equestrian coach who died in a horse riding accident in 1971. At his first international competition, Vaillancourt won a team bronze medal at the 1975 Pan American Games. He won a silver team medal at the next Games in 1979. Vaillancourt missed the 1980 Olympics in Moscow that were boycotted by Canada, and competed at the Alternate Olympics, winning a team gold medal. After retiring from competitions he worked as a course designer and coach, supervising the Canadian equestrian team at the 1994 and 1998 Olympics. He was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in 2009.
