The Edible Valley Podcasts

 With the easing off on Covid-19 restrictions, people are returning to their daily and weekly routines, including dining out. Jonathan and Darren discuss the process of returning to the restaurant industry under these new conditions, and also touch on what they’ve been doing in food during the closure.    
   

Edible Valley is back!
  After our second hiatus, we’ve found a way to make the show work around our disparate schedules. Thank you for sticking with us as we re-format the show to fit everyone’s needs and directions!
  What a show to re-start on!
  In this episode, Chef Jon and Darren talk about how food habits and availability have changed during the Covid-19 quarantine. They also discuss emergency food measures and Jon’s involvement in the hot meal program with LushValley for those in need.
  We also introduce Will as an addition to the Edible Valley team, and discuss safety measures and etiquette while food shopping in these heightened times. 

Today, Jon and Darren talk about the relationship between chef and farmer. Not just how they play an important role in each other's lives, but the rippling effect outward, and how far it reaches in the community, local economy, and even food trends. The give and take back and forth plays a strong role in the identity of each other's business and persona. Listen in as we discuss what we feel are the 10 most compelling points.  

Well it may have taken us sometime but we are finally able to upload this interview from an earlier time.
With all the chaos in the world to do with the Corona virus its good to know that organization like LUSH Valley (Let Us Share the Harvest) have been looking at food security in our community. Lush Valleys mission is to support the Comox Valley in gaining food-systems skills and knowledge to increase food security, self-sufficiency, and local food production across the region.  We are excited to sit down with Maurita Prato Executive Director of LUSH Valley to learn just a little bit more about all the amazing things LUSH Valley does. We talk about all the program LUSH is involved with such as Fruit tree, Healthy food, Share the harvest and Garden share and learn how they are trying to shape our food community.
At this time we would also bring attention to lush valleys Emergency Food Share Program which is aimed at providing food to those in need in the Comox Valley, including those in need of financial and/or food delivery assistance. The program also provides pick-up and delivery of donated food items from businesses and supports neighbourhood food drives. If you are able to donate at this time every little bit counts.
 
Website: https://lushvalley.org/food-share/
Please direct all questions to foodshare@lushvalley.org or to 250-207-HELP (4357).
Call Centre hours of operation are:Monday/Wednesday/Friday – 9:00 am to 1:00 pmTuesday/Thursday – 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

 Our interview was with Ann Kask, author of 'Ripe' - a book on growing, handling, harvesting and cooking fruit. Recurring guest Lesley Stav of the Vancouver Island Chef's Association was on hand as well, sharing her involvement in making this book happen. It's a wonderful book, a departure from standard recipe based cook books. Love it!

Do you eat, drink, think, local? We have “Edible Vancouver Island” to talk with us about their new with quarterly publication and online resource, committed to celebrating and promoting the local food and drink culture of Vancouver Island. Dawn Postnikoff (Publisher / Editor) and Danika McDowell (Creative Director) join us to discuss their new project. 

What is seasoning and how does it affect what we eat? In this episode Darren and Jonathan discuss  the differences between seasoning and flavouring they also go into some of their tricks and recipe to help you improve some of your favourite meals. 

If you’ve been wondering and waiting for new podcasts, Jonathan’s been a bit distracted by Blue Spruce Ice Cream. Jonathan and his partner opened up this new shop in downtown Courtenay. The host becomes the guest on this episode! Tune in to hear about their incentive flavours, outside of the box creations, community support and upcoming events.

After a long break Jonathan and Darren are back from a busy summer and ready to start interviewing again.  A new event “Farm Fresh Soup Fest” is coming to the Comox Valley. This food competition being hosted at the Black Creek Community Centre with the help of Lush Valley is sure to be a hit. With 10 local chefs using locally sourced ingredients to create masterful soups for 150 lucky guest. In this episode we talk with Jessie Gill marketing and event coordinator for the Black Creek Community centre and learn about the event. We also learn about some of our favourite soup and what goes into a great soup.

 
Well we have been sitting on this interview for a while now. This time we slow things down and find out what makes great bread. Mark from Honey Grove bakery sits down with us to discuss’s his products, where he makes it and what makes it so good. Enjoy this episode as we learn about taking your time to make something right and using only the best of ingredients.

On Sat. May 26 at Locals Restaurant, Canadian celebrity Chef Ned Bell headlined a special gourmet "estuary luncheon" to benefit Project Watershed's partnership with the K'omoks First Nation to restore the old sawmill site on the Courtenay River. Returning this land back to nature will help save local wild salmon populations in one of BC's top chinook estuaries - and fundraising is essential to "unpave a parking lot and put up paradise". As founder of Chefs for Oceans and the Executive Chef of OceanWise, Chef Ned Bell wants his food to start conversations about supply choices, creative and sustainable seafood options, and working together for a healthier future. We also spoke with Lesley Stav, President of the North Vancouver Island Chefs Association; Tim Ennis, Executive Director of the Comox Valley Land Trust and Project Manager for the Kus-kus-sum initiative; Chef Ronald St. Pierre of Locals; and Vanessa Scott, a writer, community organizer and volunteer with Project Watershed. 

This week the boys have the chance to catch up and talk with each other. Darren takes time to go over of few of his favourite places around the valley that he has had the chance to visit in the last little while. If your looking for a new spots or revisiting an old one ,you may have to check out this episode. With over 100 places around to visit we chat about restaurants, pubs, food trucks, cafes and more.  Jonathan also drops some hints of his next venture.