Local Food is Sexy…Seriously
Are you inspired or tired of all of this talk about local food? The 100-mile diet may have come and gone, but eating local remains one of the most buzzed about food conversations throughout North America. You don’t have to spend your weekends at the Farmer’s Market (although I highly recommend heading out there), love a great trend or shop at the local health food store. There’s no certain “type” of person for whom the local movement is made.
Eating stuff grown and made by folks who live here is easy, fun and even – dare I say – a bit sexy. This may not be true everywhere you go. But, here in the Comox Valley, there’s so much local goodness from pumpkins to shellfish. Eating great food is our way of life.
That’s why it makes me so excited to announce that the 3rd Annual Comox Valley 30-Day Local Food Challenge is on. From July 2 to August 2, everyone is invited to come out and eat their way around town – and there is, literally, something for everyone to enjoy.
I’d get a bit more formal, with the whole low down on how this great community event started in 2009. But, really, it’s simple. The Comox Valley is full of amazing food and the Food Challenge is a great way to have fun with it, get to know the folks who have made food their lives and hang out with friends in the process.
The line up this year is a sweet mix of special events, farm and facility tours, educational days for kids, Farmer’s Market events, food demos and community celebration.
You’ll get the chance to meet folks like Jeff Lucas and Don Sharpe, owners of the Old House Restaurant, who will be hosting a fun Mixology competition where local bartenders face off to see who makes the best cocktail from local ingredients.
Get to know Bill and Lisa from Wandering Moose as they cater to coffee lovers, hosting a Barista Challenge where baristas near and far show off their skillz with Royston Roasting Coffee.
Hang out with the O’Brennan family as Coastal Black Estate Winery takes you on a tour of award-winning vintages and local food on their new patio.
Join Kathy Jerritt of Tria Culinary and Marla and George from Blue Moon Winery for an evening of food, wine and farm.
Take a tour of Fanny Bay Oysters and meet the crew who grow and harvest some of the most famous oysters in the world.
Head out to Shamrock Farms where owners Mike and Shannon Farrell open their gates to reveal how they have become the largest pumpkin farm on the North Island – with so much more too.
Local farmers including the folks at Innisfree, ASHBerry and Tsolum will take you into their world and show off how they are making amazing food.
Not to mention there will be some great specials and packages through partner hotels this year that give your summer guests a great reason to stay a bit longer, but not at your house:). Come in to town for the foodie fun.
And that’s just a taste of what is to come. A full schedule of this year’s events will be out shortly.
You’ll be able to start picking up your passports for this year’s festivities in mid-June and you can keep up on all the latest (including promos and contests) on the Food Challenge Facebook Page.
But, right now, the call for restaurants, food processors, farmers and other foodie folks to jump in and be a part of this showcase is being made.
If you or someone you know would like to showcase their take on food as part of the Food Challenge, touch base with Our Big Earth Media Co. (we produce the Food Challenge each year) by e-mailing me at digin @ ourbigearth dot com or give me a call at (250) 702-5404 and we’ll connect you to what has quickly become one of the largest month-long food events in B.C.
Dig In!
Category: EAT LOCAL, Food & Your Family
About the Author (Author Profile)
Robin Rivers is Our Big Earth’s Publisher and Sr. Partner. Able to survive on coffee alone. Often can be found leaping tall buildings with the help of great friends. Predisposed to odd hats and the color orange. In love with imagination, her kids and that crazy guy who married her.Subscribe
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I really appreciate that you bring the importance of wise food choices into the public eye each year with this event. It’s great to read about local food in national papers and hear about it via CBC – but having a “local” passionate individual spread the news in our valley really keeps it a truly home grown issue. Thanks team!