Edible News + Notes: September 17, 2019
Things to Know
Qualicum Beach, you have a new restaurant coming your way at the end of September! Make sure to check out Q Burger when it opens to enjoy their culinary creations by Executive Chef Kevin Munroe and his team.
Head Chef Sarah Wallbank has left Riso in Lantzville, and we will be eager to see where she goes next. (But never fear! The new chef, Kristjan Hultin, brings a wealth of foodservice experience and the restaurant promises to continue to provide delicious food in a warm atmosphere.)
Tofino has said goodbye to Green Soul Organics and will be saying hello to Gaia Grocery in January 2020. The town’s newest health food store will comprise 1800 square feet and wrap around the Wolf and the Fog restaurant. The new owners are excited to begin renovating the space in October, with a mind to provide a full-service deli and juice bar when they open.
49 Below Ice Cream recently launched their Philanthropint Series (and yes, that is spelled correctly) in Victoria. This program asks businesses and individuals in the city what their dream flavour of ice cream is, and then they create the flavour to sell. 100% of the proceeds are donated to a charity of that person/business’s choosing. Their first Philanthropint flavour? Coffee and Brownie, with proceeds headed to Big Brother Big Sister Victoria.
Sayward is the new home of Grow Mushrooms Canada. The company is working hard to settle into their new space and update their facilities but expect to have the first round of their mushroom grow kits available by the third week in September.
As fall routines settle in and kids are back to school, maybe you should consider becoming a student and enrolling in a cooking or baking course at Seraphina’s Oven in Ladysmith. There is still availability in many of their fall classes, which include topics like sourdough and artisan baking, pizza, cupcakes and more.
Earth Warriors Composting is a new compost collection service in Courtenay. Sign up for weekly curbside pickup and they will take your waste to Rain Coast Farms to be turned into nutrient-rich compost. The company provides buckets to put your food scraps in (including meat and dairy products).
The fall rains have come, which means it’s less inviting to have to leave the coziness of your home to do your shopping. Maison Cookware and Bakeware has recently launched their online store, so you can now shop for your kitchen needs from the comfort of your couch.
Awards
Congratulations are in order for French Press Coffee Roasters, which operates out of Qualicum Beach and Coombs. The company entered six coffees into the Golden Bean North America competition and not only brought home a gold medal, but a silver and four bronze as well! Out of 1300 competition coffee entries, that’s an impressive feat.
Vancouver Island did very well in the inaugural British Columbia Food Awards. For example, Nautical Nellies Steak & Seafood House in Victoria took home the award for the best seafood establishment in the province, and Metchosin’s My Chosen Café grabbed first place for best café/bistro of the year. Victoria's Canoe Brewpub was awarded the Island's best gastro pub, with The White Whale in Courtenay coming in second.
Hidden Gems
If you're looking for a new place to frequent, definitely consider checking out Ma Maison in Chemainus. The fine foods and catering company sources the best local fare for a farm-to-table style experience, and Chef Lauren Cartmel brings an impressive culinary background to curate her menu of freshly baked goods and deli-style breakfast and lunch offerings.
Places to Visit
It’s the time of year to stock up on tea, and you might as well make a trip to Cowichan Valley’s Westholme Tea Company to do your shopping. Warm up with a cup of tea in their tearoom while you’re there or wander their barn gallery that frequently rotates exhibits.
The leaves are turning colour and the pumpkins are growing, which means it’s almost time for Coastal Black’s Annual Pumpkin Fest. The event is held at the winery in Black Creek during the last weekend in September and from October 5–27. Families can wander through their corn maze, interact with animals and check out the Corn Cannons, which purport to shoot corn or potatoes over 300 feet into the air.
Make sure to drop by the Seahorse Café and Gallery in Telegraph Cove before September 29, as the business will be closing its doors permanently after that date.
Happy Hour
If you’re catching a BC Ferry between Victoria and Vancouver, check to see if it’s one of three that will be offering beer and wine sales. Beginning late October, the company will begin a one-year trial permitting the sale of an alcoholic drink with a meal purchase.
Breweries are the big thing in the Comox Valley right now. Comox recently saw two new openings with New Tradition Brewing and Church Street Taphouse, and Courtenay's newest brewery Ace Brewing has just opened mid-September. The other breweries in the Valley are also well worth a visit: check out Gladstone Brewing, Forbidden Brewing, Land & Sea Brewing and Cumberland Brewing.
