2012-09

Blayne was fortunate to be allowed to wander the grounds of "Flavour-The North Islands Gourmet Picnic" at Coastal Black Winery this past Sunday. Armed with an iPhone, he wrangled a few interviews from willing participants. Some past guests and some new voices that we hope to have in studio at some point. Thanks to all involved in making this event such a huge success. Look for Flavour 2013, and get tickets early, as it is sure to sell out fast!

As we mentioned last week in the Edible Valley, Jon and Blayne had the opportunity to visit Island Bison as part of the North Vancouver Island Chefs Associations meeting. We had a facinating tour and informative conversation with Mark Vance, owner of Island Bison. Mark, along with his wife Lisa and four children, and mother and father purchased Island Bison about a year and a half ago. With no farming background of this scale, just the dream and passion the farm is running successfully and they are having a great time with this new adventure. Bison are an amazing animal that was brought back from the brink of extinction. While the population is still a sliver of what it once was, it is being successfully farmed as alternative meat source to beef and farm raised venison. Thanks Mark for sharing your story. Check Island Bisons website at islandbison.com and you can find the product at the Saturday farmers market, Seeds grocery in Cumberland and Edible Island in Courtenay. September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic.  SOLD OUT. If you did not get a ticket for this years event, keep your eyes peeled for it again in 2013. I do believe the organizers are still looking for volunteers so this may be a way in. Contact them through the site. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event. October 5 and 6-The Foggy Mountain Fall Fair in Cumberland. Come for the pie of the year contest, apple sports, crafts, walking and biking tours and so much more. For more information check this link The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy. Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm. If you are enjoying the podcast we would appreciate it if you would help us by hitting our donate button. Every little bit helps us to keep our hosting site paid up and maybe sponsor one of our pre-game meals. Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley

It was our pleasure to interview Chef Lesley Stav of the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort, and President of the North Vancouver Island Chefs Association. Lesley took to the kitchen as a second career after an injury prevented her from continuing on with her previous profession. Along the way she has worked at a variety of restaurants and chefs, volunteering and working hard to promote her industry. She is now fully immersed in the NVICA and all the great initiatives that the association has including bursaries for apprentices, a cookbook, chef exchange and Growing Chefs, which is a new thing that connects chefs with elementary school children and teaches them where there food comes from and what to do with it. Thanks Lesley for visiting with us and for all your hard work with the NVICA. September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic.  SOLD OUT. If you did not get a ticket for this years event, keep your eyes peeled for it again in 2013. I do believe the organizers are still looking for volunteers so this may be a way in. Contact them through the site. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event. The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy. Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm. If you are enjoying the podcast we would appreciate it if you would help us by hitting our donate button. Every little bit helps us to keep our hosting site paid up and maybe sponsor one of our pre-game meals. Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley

This week we had a great opportunity for two guests. The episode runs longer a little longer than we usually shoot for, but it is full of good information. Allen McWilliam from Tannadice Farm has been farming in the Comox Valley since 1974. He and his wife moved here and began their farm on 15 acres in Dove Creek and now they have become the biggest pork producer on Vancouver Island. The farm has grown to 105 acres, and also includes grass fed Black Angus beef and pastured poultry. Tannadice has the highest standards for the health of the pigs, keeping the herd healthy so they rarely need medications. Find Tannadice products at Butchers Block and Edible Island in Courtenay and Seeds in Cumberland. Thanks Allen, you are a doing things the right way and the Valley is lucky to have you. Tara Grant is Primal Girl. This San Francisco CA based blogger has been writing about her un-successful results with western medicine and journey into the Primal lifestyle, along the way losing over 100 pounds and healing herself of many illnesses that conventional doctors couldn't. Her and Blayne connected on Twitter and by chance she happened to be in Comox for a few weeks. A coffee meeting yesterday resulted in her appearance on Edible Valley. She loves the area and is jealous of the amount of varied and vibrant agriculture and fabulous restaurants. Tara you are welcome back to the podcast anytime, and we look forward to taking you oyster picking when you come back in the winter. If you are interested in Primal/Paleo read Tara's blog for great information on the movement. Upcoming events: Chefs Day at the Farmers Market September 8th. Come cheer Jon on as he helps to create from the bounty of the market. September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event. The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy. Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm. If you are enjoying the podcast we would appreciate it if you would help us by hitting our donate button. Every little bit helps us to keep our hosting site paid up and maybe sponsor one of our pre-game meals. Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley