The Tofino Buzz | Sept & Oct 2016

Winding into fall is probably my favourite time of year in Tofino. The weather is still amazing, and there’s time to appreciate the town at a slower pace.

More and more specialty products are being created on the west coast every year. This is perhaps a natural evolution of the town’s vibrant culinary scene, but regardless it’s a most welcome development. Purveyors like Chocolate Tofino, making handmade chocolate and ice cream, Tofino Brewing Company, with their line of craft beer, and Tofino Coffee and Rhino Coffee Shop, with coffee roasted in town, have been around for some time. Picnic Charcuterie also came on the scene a couple of years ago with smoked and cured meats and preserved foods.

Adding to this growing trend is Boulton Spice, a family blended spice that has been enjoyed by friends of the Boultons’ for many years. It’s now being more widely shared with the public with the launch of the spice as a business. Touted as an all purpose seasoning, the spice, “works great with your imagination, and with your meat and potatoes too!”. This local favourite is available at the Tofino Public Market on the Village Green (runs Saturdays until Sept. 20^th), at various local shops including Green Soul Organics and Beaches Grocery, and by visiting them on Facebook.

Another new local player is Tofino Salt Company. Hand harvested, Tofino Salt is pure flaked sea salt directly from the Pacific Ocean. Owner Chris Heisterman is working hard to meet demand at the moment, and you will find Tofino Salt also at the Tofino Public Market and on the shelves at Merge Artisan Collective.

The satellite location of Wildside Grill – Surfside Grill – is now open at Pacific Sands Beach Resort at 1421 Pacific Rim Hwy. Located next to Surf Sister’s Surf Shack, Surfside is operating with a similar but slightly different menu to their other location, in the Beaches/Live to Surf complex at 1184 Pacific Rim Hwy. Fisher Jeff Mikus and Chef Jesse Blake’s combination of delicious, freshly caught fish and chips, burgers, fish tacos, oysters, and more is sure to delight beach goers at Cox Bay. They’ve also added soft serve ice cream to the menu and the occasional beach barbecue with fresh fish, salads and corn on the cob. For more information, please visit Surfside Grill on Facebook (SurfsideTofino).

There seems to be more and more opportunities to enjoy live music around Tofino these days. Jamie’s Rainforest Inn is featuring live music on Tuesday and Sunday evenings at their 1258 Pacific Rim Hwy location. Jamie’s features local and other music, and even offers a free shuttle bus to customers. Please visit www.tofinorainforestinn.com for details.

The Driftwood Café at the Wickaninnish Inn is another locale for live music. They continuously feature both local and visiting singer/songwriters in their beachside location (located on the lower level of the Beach Building at the Inn). For a schedule of upcoming artists, please visit www.wickinn.com/events-calendar.

Also look for live events at the Whalers on the Point Guesthouse at 81 West St. on Tofino Harbour. For more information, visit Whalers on the Point on Facebook (TofinoHostel).

All of the above shows are non-ticketed events. For more information on events in Tofino, please visit Tourism Tofino at www.tourismtofino.com.

-Jen Dart