A Fall Fundraiser for a Teaching Kitchen

The 2014 James Barber bash will be a culinary celebration of the Cowichan Valley. Local food will be paired with Valley wines and ciders in a tradition that honours a former Cowichanian and bestselling cookbook author, Canada’s late Urban Peasant.

Chef Bill Jones from the renowned Deerholme Farm is organizing the event. Bill has gathered talented local chefs, food, and wine and cider producers to put on a great meal. Each chef will feature local food in a separate course. Each course will be paired with local wine and cider to enhance the flavour profile of each. Local farmers have stepped up to donate food for the event, including exotic ingredients such as wild mushrooms and goat.

Jeff Downie, owner of the Old Firehouse Wine and Cocktail Bar, has donated the space for this event. The venue boasts ample parking and a convivial atmosphere. Centrally located, this venue helps to build community between the dinner participants and the chefs and farmers.

The beneficiary of this year’s event will be Cowichan Green Community’s (CGC) Teaching Kitchen. In purchasing and repurposing the old Phoenix Station Motor Inn ​in​ Duncan (since renamed The Station), CGC gained an Island Health certified commercial kitchen. Here, CGC offers food skills workshops, and makes the kitchen and cooler space available to local chefs, caterers, and farmers in need of extra production and storage space.

“The kitchen is in need of some new equipment,” states CGC Executive Director Judy Stafford. “Our vision is for this kitchen to become a hub for food production and education. We are elated to team up with Bill Jones to make this vision a reality.”

In addition to amazing food, this afternoon event will feature a silent auction of memorable local experiences, and live entertainment.

Tickets are $100.00 per person and can be purchased online through CGC’s website (www.cowichangreencommunity.org), or from CGC’s office (360 Duncan Street, Duncan, BC).  

For more information on this event, or if you are a local farmer or wildcrafter who wishes to donate product to the event, please contact the Cowichan Green Community at 250-748-8506 or email vanessa@cowichangreencommunity.org.