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Vancouver Island community turns out in numbers for ICC Protecting our Backyard Food Festival
(posted June 1, 2009)
With items such as fresh oysters on-the-half-shell from nearby Fanny Bay, Pacific Albacore tuna mini burgers, grilled Metchosin lamb sausage, and local hazelnut and Saanich Organics fruit gelato included on the extensive menu provided by the two dozen participating restaurants, no wonder there were line-ups.
The second annual Island Chef’s Collaborative (ICC) Local Food Festival, held yesterday (May 31, 2009) on the expansive, oceanfront Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, Vancouver Island, attracted close to 1,000 people (mostly from the community) and no one seemed upset by the long lines for food. Surprisingly, there were no such wait times for the wide and wonderful selection of locals wines, beers and cider also being offered for tastings.
It also helped that it was an absolutely perfect day for the well-orchestrated, outdoor event – themed Defending our Back Yard and designed to emphasize sustainability, promote local produce and products, and raise funds for local farming projects.
The sustainability theme was omnipresent: guests entering were stamped with Vancouver Island potato stamps, staff members were identified by necklaces made with whole raw carrots, plastic dishes and cutlery were no where to be seen (plates, in fact, were cleverly made of wood and recycled), the sound system for the stage was solar powered, and attendees were encouraged to car pool, take transit or ride a bike and get valet parking and a free tune-up. With regard to sustainable practices, many more established food and wine event could take a few hints from this new-comer.
Giving the event a touch of farm “décor,” tied bales of hay offered ample seating and there was even a brood of chicks and a few Berkshire piglets on hand.
Along with tastings of fairly substantial proportions, a farmers’ market, silent auction, live band and educational speeches on the importance of such things as ethical sustainable fisheries, local grain production and land conservation, rounded out the half-day event.
All-in-all, certainly worth the $45 price of admission.
More on B.C.’s ICC
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Other items of possible interest:
Food & Wine Festivals across Canada
Food & Wine Festivals across the U.S.
Canadian Wine Regions
Some of the Best Farmer's Markets in Canada
Some of the Best Farmers' Markets in the U.S.
