Wednesday 8 June 2011

BC Shellfish Festival

After spending the last month working on flood issues, I am starting to get excited about our trip to BC next week for the http://bcshellfishfestival.ca/. The plan so far is for me to fly to Vancouver on Wednesday, June 15th, pick up the rental unit and spend the day visiting wholesalers, suppliers and restaurant's, etc. If my BC friends are lucky I will bring some Manitoba love and cook them some menno food (farmer sausage, verenikje, holubtchi, Bothwell cheese curds, kielke, schmont fat, crackles, etc.)

Marshall flies in to YVR Thursday morning and I will attempt to wake up early and pick him up so we can catch the ferry (BC Ferries - Cruising the Straits!) to Nanaimo. We are hoping to meet Andrew Dryden at Evening Cove Oyster and then drive to Fanny Bay to tour Fanny Bay Oysters with Ray Silvey before we drive to Courtney and check in at the Old House Village Hotel.

Friday will be a busy day because we want to drive up to Read Island and visit Steve Pocock at Sawmill Bay before the 5:30 BCSF Chefs’ Dinner at Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park in Comox. It looks like an amazing evening of... here, I'll let them describe it - The Chefs’ Dinner is a unique culinary experience. Served outdoors along the banks of Baynes Sound amongst the beautiful gardens of the historic Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, this six-course gourmet supper is prepared by some of BC’s top chefs who have been partnered up with a local shellfish grower to bring you the best of BC. Included in your meal is a selection of Okanagan based Hester Creek Estate wines expertly paired with each course. During the reception, guests will be treated to the intoxicating sounds of Emily Spiller, recently nominated for 5 Vancouver Island Music Awards. Pretty cool hey?

Saturday - we will probably need some spa treatment and a hike up a mountain after the 6 course dinner because Saturday is oyster day at the Festival... oyster shucking contest, chowder contest (what the heck?), music, oyster vendors... be still my beating heart! I may never eat again after this trip... wowsers is all I can say!

Sunday - this should be a fun day... we plan on taking the Comox to Powell River Ferry and then tour Organic Oysters and other producers in the Okeover area with Andre Comeau. Their place looks amazing and we can't wait to learn about their product and harvesting techniques on the Sunshine Coast!

Monday - fly back to Winnipeg, hopefully with our heads full of stories, our stomachs full of food, our phones filled with contacts and our luggage filled with product!

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