Written and Photographed by Jane Grueber

We attended the 19th Annual Vancouver Island Feast of Fields on Sunday, August 28, 2016 in Metchosin, British Columbia, Canada.

The event was hosted by the FarmFolk CityFolk group which has hosted 50 feasts so far around the province of British Columbia, including in Metro Vancouver, Okanagan, Sea to Sky Country and Vancouver Island.

FarmFolk CityFolk is a not-for-profit society that works to promote a local and sustainable food system, from farm to table. It was founded in 1993 by an organic farmer who realized that there was a ‘disconnect between city folks and the farm folks who were growing their food.’

Although we got some much needed rain during the event, the pastoral ocean-front setting along with the fresh smells of country and farm set the mood for this sumptuous feast of fine foods and beverages.

Mouth Watering Eats 

• Wild Fire Bakery and Fry’s Bakery served up Siften Red Fife Wheat Focaccia with local blackberries, fresh rosemary and black pepper & Double chocolate course rye cookies
• Little Jumbo had Halibut ceviche with cilantro, jalapeno, lime and red onion with an ancho-agave puree
• Royal Bay Bakery dished out Apple Fritters with Royal Bay Bakery honey glaze, Pain a l’ancient Twist and Blackberry Brie Blossoms which we all agreed were absolutely killer!
• Artisan Bistro provided a scrumptious Tuna poke with a mango, avocado chile and soy syrup on a wonton crisp
• In Cahoots offered a lovely Cauliflower Poppycock – puffed cauliflower, chickpeas, rice, sunflower and pumpkin seeds with brewers wort caramel. They are passionate about taking food back to basics. In Cahoots embraces local food and showcase what the Island has to offer.

Drinks for Everyone

• My favorite Gin Ever has got to be Ampersand Distilling Co. Gin.
• Sheringham Distillery Gin made a whopper of a Gin and Tonic!
• Silk Road Tea
• Longwood Brewery
• Lighthouse Brewing Company
• Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
• Phillips Soda Works
• Sea Cider Farm & Cider House
• Venturi-Schulze Vineyards
• Victoria Distillers
• Unsworth Vineyards
• Zanatta Winery
• Driftwood Brewery
• Salt Spring Ales
• Silverside Farm and Winery
• Rocky Creek Winery
• Swan’s Beer

• Growing Chefs! Chefs for Children’s Urban Agriculture is a non-profit society that works with the chef community to get kids excited about good, healthy food. They work with local school districts to teach elementary school kids to grow and cook their own food.
• Soilmate.com is an innovative website that connects consumers with local food producers and how they grow/raise food, when its available and where it is available.