Edible News + Notes: September 15, 2021
New Locations
The Big Spoon Soup Company, owned by the same people who caffeinate us at Shatterbox Coffee Co., recently opened at the Victoria Public Market—just in time for fall, also known as soup and sandwich season.
The Root Cellar recently revealed a rendering of their new, additional location at 271 Cook St. Victoria, which will be opening their doors this fall. They are excited to continue the grocery store legacy of Oxford Foods, who was in the building prior, and build upon that foundation in their own way.
Beacon Brewing is a small batch, non-distribution brewery with a tasting room that will soon be opening up in Sidney in the new Oceanna building. The renovation of the bright, welcoming space promises to be a lovely place to enjoy a cold beer with friends.
La Stella Trattoria recently opened Pizzeria La Stella at 504-6581 Aulds Road, Nanaimo. They currently offer classic, delicious pizzas and soon will also be offering Sicilian Style Pies. Who can resist a good pizza?
Jenny Marie’s Crackers has a new address at 2740 Rock Bay Avenue in Victoria, so you can pre-order your delicious vegan crackers and pick them up fresh from their production kitchen.
LUSH Valley has found their first permanent home at 2342 Rosewall Crescent in Courtenay. Their goal is to have the location be an asset to the community, where organizations, individuals and farmers can benefit from its infrastructure: a warehouse space, office and meeting areas, and a future commercial kitchen.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the Cow Café — West Coast Grill in Cowichan Bay on having their Caesar named one of the top ten in the country by Mott’s Clamato Caesar. The winner was chosen based on public vote, so next time you’re in town, make sure you order one of their now-famous Caesars.
Litte Qualicum Cheeseworks was recently purchased by Albert Gorter and Chelsea Enns from Manitoba. They bring farm experience and plans to build upon the success of Morningstar Farm by creating new products and becoming a bigger part of the community.
The little market at Pages Resort on Gabriola is now selling liquor, which is great news for boaters, campers, visitors and the local neighbourhood. Time to settle into fall with a nice glass of wine in the evenings.
Products to Try
If you live on the island, chances are you like seafood. So have you tried candied wild sockey salmon from Jenny’s Smoke Shack? The small-batch, hand-produced products will melt in your mouth with their simple, classic ingredients: maple syrup, brown sugar, sea salt and light alder smoke.
If you're headed out for one last hiking adventure before the snow flies (or even when it does!) and you're wondering what to bring for a meal, consider West Coast Kitchen's freeze-dried meals. They come in a variety of yummy flavours and are made locally in the Cowichan Valley.
Closures
We are sorry to see that The Ainslie in Duncan had to make the difficult decision to permanently close their doors at the end of August. They will be very missed in their community.
Jackknife Pizza just announced their permanent closure of their Saratoga Speedway location. (They promise that they are working to lock down a new location in the area.) But never fear: in the meantime, you can still get their delicious pizza at their food truck in Courtenay.
Events
Growing Chefs' 12th Annual From Farms to Forks is a series of virtual events in October and November celebrating local chefs, restaurants, and food producers while highlighting the importance of community and connection surrounding food. They aim to raise $65,000 for Growing Chefs edible education programming and initiatives throughout the upcoming school year supporting B.C. kids and their families. Tickets are available for purchase now.
Photos from the Facebook pages of La Stella Trattoria, Beacon Brewing, Cow Cafe – West Coast Grill, and West Coast Kitchen.
