Great Taste of Canada Experience: Pjila’si Unama’kik | Welcome to the Land of Fog Jukuwe’. Mijisi. Amalka. | Come. Eat. Dance.

Celebrate Cape Breton’s vibrant culture and heritage with a unique culinary and cultural journey featuring Mi’kmaw traditions, local flavours, and live music.

Embark on a rich cultural and culinary journey that brings the traditions, flavours, and stories of Mi’kmaw heritage to life. The day begins with an immersive visit to Eskasoni Cultural Journeys, where participants will enjoy a guided cultural experience and a traditional Mi’kmaw feast. The meal showcases seasonal meats roasted over an open flame, wild local produce and a comforting molasses cake with maple butter, all served in a setting that honours the community’s ancestral practices.

In the evening, Parks Canada will welcome guests to the Fortress of Louisbourg where Chef Geordy Marshall, Bear Clan, Eskasoni, will present a multi-course long-table feast that honours Mi’kmaw ingredients, traditions, and stories passed down through generations. You’ll be welcomed with a smudging ceremony and traditional songs and dances before sitting down to an unforgettable dinner paired with local craft beverages. Each course is introduced by the chef, sharing the spirit and story behind the flavours.

After dinner, guests are invited to continue their evening with libations, live music, and storytelling from talented local entertainers Emma Stevens, Graham Marshall, Beverly Jeddore at the Storehouse Tavern on site.

This experience invites you to listen, learn and share a meal that speaks to the spirit of place.

Note that tickets are limited for this experience – only 52 available – $345+taxes and fees.

Experience Highlights:

• Begin your day with an immersive visit to Eskasoni Cultural Journeys, nestled along the Bras d’Or Lakes UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where participants will:
  • Enjoy a guided cultural experience and traditional Mi’kmaw feast showcasing meats roasted over an open flame, wild local produce, and a comforting molasses cake with maple butter.
• Be welcomed to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site where Chef Geordy Marshall, Bear Clan Eskasoni, will present a multi-course long-table feast that honours Mi’kmaw ingredients, traditions, and stories passed through generations.
• Indulge in A Taste of Lnue’kati (The Land of the L’nu), a four-course menu designed by Mi’kmaw Chef Geordy Marshall celebrating the relationship between the Mi’kmaq and French settlers:
  • Savour flavours that blend the essence of French culinary techniques with local seafood, fresh foraged ingredients and seasonal vegetables
  • Enjoy curated local beverage pairings served throughout your meal
  • Each course is introduced by the chef, sharing the spirit and story behind the flavours.
• Explore the site and have fun with traditional music and dancing led by signer Emma Stevens, Graham Marshall, and Beverly Jeddore at the Storehouse Tavern.

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Price: $345 + HST per person. Includes admission, tour and lunch at Eskasoni Cultural Journeys and Mi’kmaw cultural experiences, entertainment, and A Taste of Lnue’kati four-course dinner with beverage pairings at the Fortress of Louisbourg.
* Round-trip coach transportation available from Membertou Hampton Inn and Suites or The Simon Hotel Sydney for an additional $50 + HST, per person.

Long table dinner at the Fortress of Louisbourg: A Taste of Lnue’kati
Prepared by Chef Geordy Marshall, Bear Clan, Eskasoni

Featuring:

• Lobster & Herbes Salées Crostini
• Salad L’acadiecoise with seasonal greens, baked eel or seared scallops
• Lobster confit with Mala potatoes and wild herb compound butter
• Pkwimano’mi Puff Pastry — blueberry, maple, and vanilla-spiced cream

About the Chef:
Geordy Marshall is a 34-year-old chef from the Bear Clan in Eskasoni, Nova Scotia. A 2023 graduate of the Culinary Institute of Canada, Geordy blends classical training with deep cultural roots to create food that nourishes both body and spirit. His culinary journey has always been guided by community — shaped by the teachings of Elders, the values of the Mi’kmaw Nation, and years of volunteering at local events.

Good to Know:

• Optional roundtrip bus transportation from Sydney to both experiences available for additional $50 per person.
• If travelling on-own/by personal vehicle:
  • The full-day experience kicks off at Eskasoni Cultural Journeys at 9:30 am until 12 pm
  • The evening A Taste of Lnue’kati dinner and experience at Fortress of Louisbourg begins at 5:30 pm until 9:30 pm.
• Participants booked with coach transportation will return to accommodations, from Eskasoni Cultural Journeys, around 12:45 pm – 1 pm with free time to explore Sydney. Transportation to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site will depart from accommodations at 4:30 pm.
• This experience is part of the Culinary Tourism Alliance of Canada’s Great Taste of Canada: telling delicious stories of Canada foodways and taste of place experiences, and has been developed in partnership with NSITEN, Parks Canada, Destination Cape Breton Association, and Taste of Nova Scotia.
• This is a 19+ event.