Fairmont Hot Springs Resort will be the place to be for couples looking to spend Valentine’s Day weekend together.

The Valentine’s Ice Bar Reception and Dinner will be held on Saturday, February 12 in the Mountain Flowers restaurant at the resort.

The reception will begin at 4 p.m. with canapes and dessert wine tasting, presented by wine expert Catherine Merlo from Mark Anthony Brands Fine Wine. The tasting will be held outdoors on a hand-carved ice bar, created by resort head chef and internationally-renowned ice carver Rusty Cox.

After the tasting, guests will be treated to a four-course dinner created specifically for the event.

“It’ll be a lot of ‘fun’ food,” said Cox.

Guests can expect delectable delights for their meal, such as a winter beet salad, Alberta black-Angus strip-loin steak, and a savoury French toast dessert, paired and incorporating the ice wine at the event.

Cox has been ice carving for 16 years, and is self-taught.

“I used to do chocolate and sugar sculptures,” Cox explains. “Then one day I tried ice sculpting and loved it.”

Cox now competes at the international level for ice carving, and has placed 6th in two separate world championships. His carving has also taken him around the world for carving camps and other events, such as in China, Alaska, Lake Louise and Ottawa.

Cox also showed off some of his ice carving skills during the Olympic Games held in Vancouver, B.C last year.

“That was a great experience,” said Cox. “I felt total pride.”

The Valentine’s Ice Bar Reception and Dinner is $65.00 per person, including all taxes and gratuities (beverages with the dinner must be purchased separately, however).

For reservations or more information, call 250-345-6070.