The Edible Valley Podcast

Chef Jonathon Frazier and Darren Howlett sit down at the Edible Valley
table to talk about, and bring you up to speed on the local food scene.
After many weeks away, the duo return to catch up on whats been
happening in all-things-food in this great Valley of ours. There's a
little recap on what they've been up to together (the new business
partnership) and their individual pursuits. Listen in and get caught up!

With Chef Jonathan away at food shows Blayne steps in to catch up with Darren to talk about what is going on in his life.

Today we check back in with wonder-couple Brian and Leah of Clever Crow and Clever Crow Farms. There have been many exciting developments with these two in their forays into the local food scene and local food culture; including buying a farm (!) and developing a commercial kitchen / retail shop (!!). Listen in as we get a chance to discuss the last two years with these two - their struggles, achievements and victories! Oh, and the debut of a new product that truly speaks to the Comox Valley's sensibilities...  Don't forget to visit Clever Crow at the Farmer Market which has now moved inside to the Native Sons Hall.

Role reversal; The return of old friends; and a major announcement on this episode of the Edible Valley! Our dear friend and co-creator of the show; Mr Blayne Prowse returns to the podcast, but this time he's back in the 'interviewer chair'. Who is he interviewing? Why it's us - Chef Jonathoan Frazier and Darren Howlett. Alongside us is our mutual friend and now business partner - Mrs. Sarah Walsh! That's right - Darren and Jon have bought into Sarah's Prontissima Pasta! The three partners discuss the details and the future of their endeavour in our 180 degree twist of an episode. Listen in for all of the exciting details!   

Tonight we sit down with Susan and Jeff Vandermolen of Shake the Tree - a consultancy that grew out of their sale of their major contribution to the Comox Valley food culture: Beaufort Winery. Tonight they regale us with the tale of how they traded in their corporate day jobs to pursue a career in their favourite hobby - winemaking! We get to learn a little bit about the process, the history, and exactly what happens next, now that the winery has sold. And of course, it wouldn't have felt right if we didn't at least a couple of bottles of wine to sample during the course of the interview...

Chef Jonathan Frazier and Darren Howlett catch up on the local food scene today. These episodes where we check in on what's going on with us and the Valley in food have become some of our favourites. We touch on upcoming events, what's inspiring us, what's new in our local food culture, and where it's all heading. 

Michelle Hua of Hazelmere farms stopped into the studio today, and what a treat it was! A staple of the Comox Valley Farmers Market, Hazelmere Farms' booth has been a highlight for years. Michelle, who has just returned to the Valley with her husband, was able to give us a wonderful history of the farm and talk about where it's headed as she and her hubby take a more active role in the farms' future. We wish them all the best!Hazelmere
Farm
3222 Grant Rd, Courtenay,
BCPhone: 250-336-2608Email: huawongs@telus.net 

In the studio today, Ben-zion Eni joined us to discuss his newest endeavour, the Hub Café in downtown Courtenay. Ben has stepped out of a 20 year career working with fresh produce and jumped into the service side of the food industry! We talked to him about the jump - the motivations, hesitations, and everything in between. But as we got to talking, the thing that struck us the most is his sense of community. It's obvious that it plays a significant role in his café. This great little spot has great food, a great atmosphere, a great location, and you just know it's going to succeed!   

The beautiful Ms. Toni
Dunne sits down with Chef Jon and Darren today to talk gardening. A self-taught
garden hobbyist, Toni has developed as a semi-professional gardener over the
years as she soaked in and absorbed every bit of information she could. With
an eye on acidity and soil alchemy, Toni and friends have created lush,
abundant gardens out of little backyard dirt patches. And like a modern day
Johnny Appleseed, she plants a little every where she goes.
But taking it further than
that, she discusses how to provide a modest secondary income from her garden,
while still providing plenty for her and her family. It’s truly the new
direction backyard farming is going, so just sit back and listen to this
vanguard of modern hobby farming tell you her journey from amateur to
thriving gardener.

Doug
Smith of Natural Pastures was gracious enough to join us tonight to discuss
cheese! As one of the Comox Valley’s cornerstone food producers that help put
our humble, beautiful Valley on the map, Doug is one of those key talents that
took a small business idea, and turned it into a national brand! He walks us
through the process of getting started, growing to fit your market, and
establishing yourself amongst your peers. We had a great time with Doug – who is
just a wealth of information of Valley history, business planning and above
all: Cheese!

Allen McWilliam of Tannadice Farms sat down with Chef Jon and Darren in the studio today. Allen treated us to the background story of how the farm has grown from its' humble beginnings to the cornerstone-of-the-valley it has become. Humble and gracious, he shared a loving history of the Valley, and was able to relate his unique view on the farming scene here and how it has evolved and grown over the years. And he brought sausages!

On this episode, the ever eloquent Connie Earl joins Chef Jonathan Frazier and Darren Howlett to talk local wine. Connie is easily one of the foremost resources for the Valley on all things wine; her knowledge extending throughout Vancouver Island, BC in general, and worldwide. She brought her expertise and a few bottles of semi-local reds to discuss the first steps in evaluating a bottles' merits, triumphs and shortcomings. What a treat!