Autumn on Vancouver Island is the tastiest time of year, and area chefs, farmers, food producers, beverage makers and bartenders aren't shy about showcasing that bounty. Here are some events where you can sip and nibble and be reminded once again that we are blessed to live where we do.
FEAST OF FIELDS VANCOUVER ISLAND
The 15th annual Vancouver Island Feast of Fields takes place Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Alderlea Farm in Duncan. This popular sip-and-eat-the-afternoon-away event will see about 60 local chefs, restaurants, wineries, breweries and producers set up shop around this picturesque property.
"I am thrilled to bring Feast of Fields back to the Cowichan Valley," organizer Melanie Banas said. "It's really the heart of Vancouver Island, with so many great foods and wines being produced by extraordinarily passionate people, farmers like John and Katy [Ehrlich] of Alderlea Farm."
When the 900 or so guests arrive at the event, they'll be handed a menu of what's being served, a wine glass and a napkin, and be sent on their way to enjoy the good life. While they do, they can take heart in the fact that the money generated from Feast of Fields helps fund worthy local food and agriculture initiatives.
Adult tickets are $85 per person, $15 for children ages seven to 12 and free for children six and under. There is on-site parking, and bus transportation is being provided to the site from Mayfair mall. To learn more about the bus transportation, get a sneak preview of some of the participants or obtain tickets, go to feastoffields.com and click on Vancouver Island at the top of the page.
SIP AND SAVOUR SALTSPRING
The second annual Sip and Savour Saltspring takes place Sept. 22 and 23. This festival is a celebration of all the tasty things this beautiful Island and our region has to offer.
The event starts at Saltspring Island's famed, fun and festive market in Ganges, which, at this time of year, will be bursting with an incredible array of local produce and other foods, such as fine cheeses. The market runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and, of course, there is no charge to enter.
Once you've whetted your appetite at the market, you can taste some of that fine food at one of Sip and Savour Saltspring's winepairing dinners. Participating restaurants include Auntie Pestos Caf脙漏, Market Place Caf脙漏, Moby's Oysterbar and Marine Grill and Rock Salt Restaurant. At the dinners, guests will enjoy a multi-course meal and get to hear the chef and vintner describe the food and wine they'll be enjoying.
On Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m., the festival continues with a food-and wine-grazing event at Harbour House Hotel in Ganges. There, the hotel's ocean-view orchard will be transformed into a happy place where various stations hosted by a trio of vintners, chefs and growers will offer fine wine and other drinks paired with delectable bites.
Tickets for the Harbour House Hotel event are $55. To learn how to purchase tickets, to make reservations for one of the winepairing dinners and for more information about the festival, go to sipandsavoursaltspring.com. For accommodation options, go to saltspringtourism.com.
JAMES BARBER PROVIDENCE FARM FUNDRAISER
The second annual James Barber fundraiser will take place Oct. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. at Duncan's Providence Farm, 1843 Tzouhalem Rd. The Cowichan Chefs Table (a very talented group of chefs) and invited sa国际传媒 chefs will host this splendid feast - a tribute to the late and legendary James Barber and a fundraiser for Providence Farm, a place he thoroughly supported. Providence Farm is a working organic farm dedicated to restoring the spirit and skills of those with physical, mental and emotional challenges.
"The farm is a jewel for the Cowichan Valley and a vital cog in the local food system. All our support is important to keep this a vital part of the community," said Bill Jones, a chef and one of the event's organizers.
This year's event has the theme of savoury, spicy and sweet dishes, all rich with local ingredients. Various food and beverage stations (beer, cider, wine or others) will be set up in Providence Farm's historic buildings. Tickets are $100 and guests will be provided a $50 charitable tax receipt. Beverages are included. To order tickets, email provfarm@ providence.bc.ca or call 250-746-4204.
ART OF THE COCKTAIL
If you're into cocktails, fine food and art, be sure to secure tickets to one or more of the events being held during Art of the Cocktail, sa国际传媒's premier cocktail event - set for Oct. 13 to 15 this year.
Partakers can attend cocktail workshops, a home bartenders' competition and a series of tastings. The latter includes the Grand Tasting, Art of Cocktail's main event, which takes place Oct. 13 in the Crystal Gardens starting at 7 p.m. During the evening, some of city's best bartenders/ mixologists will mix up an exciting range of cocktails and complimentary appetizers will be served.
Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $45 and include five cocktail samples. Additional cocktail samples are $1. Or, if you wish to treat yourself to the VIP experience, for just $15 more you can enjoy an hour of exclusive access to the Grand Tasting from 6 to 7 p.m.
Tickets for Art of the Cocktail go on sale Sept. 19. To purchase them and for more information about the event, go to artofthecocktail.ca. All proceeds from Art of the Cocktail help support the Victoria Film Festival.
Eric Akis is the author of the best-selling Everyone Can Cook series of cookbooks. His columns appear in the Life section Wednesday and Sunday.
