City EATS July|August 2019

Summertime means eating al fresco, whether on one of our city’s many lovely
outdoor patios or packing a picnic and heading to a park or beach. Two local
businesses are making it easier to enjoy eating outdoors, with beautifully packed
picnic tea baskets from the White Heather Tearoom (order online at
whiteheather-tearoom.com) and ready-to-go cheese, charcuterie, vegetable and
fruit boxes from Boom + Batten (order online at boomandbatten.com).

Change is afoot over at Paul’s Motor Inn and by the time you read this, the iconic
diner may already have reopened as Paul’s Diner by Fol Epi. Fol Epi owner Cliff
Leir and Agrius chefs Max Durand and Scott Hopkins are overseeing the transition
from classic diner fare to a new 21 st century version, with traditional dinner menu
items being reimagined with local, organic ingredients. I can’t wait to try this.
paulsdiner.ca

A new brewing company is coming to Market Square this summer. Whistle Buoy
Brewing will be offering a tank to glass model which will allow people to get up
close and personal with the brewing process and enjoy locally-made beer in an
inclusive environment. whistlebuoybrewing.com

Fans of Langford’s Turmeric Indian Cuisine will be happy to hear that Tikka Bar by
Turmeric has opened downtown on Broughton Street (formerly Pang). Family
owned and operated, they are offering wraps, curry bowls and more. Open for lunch
and dinner.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is providing the opportunity to
celebrate summer at one of Vancouver Island’s most beautiful lavender farms. Their
Summer Social Series: Distillers Dinner at the Farm, is taking place July 3 from
6-9pm at Bliston Creek Farm, with a multi-course dinner and cocktails created by
Sheringham Distillery. This event is 19+ only. Tickets must be purchased in
advance. Visit victoriachamber.ca/events for more information.

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is presenting a new series called What Artists Bring
to the Table. This is a series of five workshops, running from July to November,
facilitated by BC-based artists examining how food and eating can be a political and
cultural act. The first event of the series will take place July 6 and features
Vancouver-based artist Amanda Huynh. She and the workshop participants will be
making “Diasporic Dumplings” together while discussing stories around food, race,
and migration. aggv.ca

Vegtoria! Victoria’s annual Veg Fest will be returning Centennial Square on July 20,
from 11am-6pm. Vegtoria is an annual festival that celebrates veganism, cruelty-
free living, compassion and the environment in one fun-filled day. This day will be a
celebration of vegan life with music, vendors, speakers, food and more. Vegtoria.ca

One of my very favourite summer events is Summerdine, taking place at Sea Cider
Farm and Ciderhouse from 5.30-8.30pm on Aug 15. Summerdine is a glorious
celebration of women in the food and beverage industry. Last year’s event began
with a champagne cocktail and appetizers in a magical wooded grove and continued
with a sumptuous dinner served under a marquee. Courses were interspersed with
inspiring talks from women in this incredible community. All funds raised support
Scholarship and Outreach programs for women in the culinary arts and
wine industries. Summerdine is hosted by the BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier
International, an organization dedicated to improving women’s opportunities in the
hospitality industry. Tickets available at www.lesdames.ca/summerdine

Vancouver Island’s Feast of Fields will be held at Snowdon House in North Saanich
on Aug 25, from 1-4pm. Feast of Fields is a three-hour wandering gourmet harvest
festival that highlights the connections between farmers and chefs, fields and tables,
and between farm folks and city folks. With a wine glass and linen napkin in hand,
guests stroll across a farmer’s field, traveling from tent to tent (sometimes through
the barn, past the tractor or around the chicken coop) listening to live music, and
tasting gourmet creations from up to 50 of BC top chefs, farmers, fishers, ranchers,
food artisans, vintners, brewers, distillers and other beverage producers.
Feastoffields.com

The Flavour Trails North Saanich Food and Farm Festival is a celebratory rural
ramble and feast of the senses. With dozens of venues and events to explore, there is
something for everyone. Take a farm or winery tour, sample food, enjoy music and
art, learn about regional indigenous harvesting, watchdog herding demonstrations
and experience farm life past and present.  Take in the weekend by bike or by car
and meet the growers, harvesters, fishers, vintners, chefs and producers that are
creating an amazingly rich bounty right here in our own backyard. Takes place in
August. flavourtrails.com

Coming up in September is the 3 rd annual Urban Food Garden Tour. The tour is a
self-guided tour of 13 home gardens; back yards, front yards, allotments and
boulevards. The tour is a fundraiser to raise awareness for sustainable food
production, local and global and funds raised are divided between Haliburton
Community Farm, 1UP- Single Parent Resource Centre (in the form of sponsored
food boxes grown by farmers at Haliburton Farms, and Hleketani Community
Garden in South Africa.  www.facebook.com/victoriaurbanfoodgardens

Also in September, the Great Canadian Beer Festival returns to Royal Athletic
Park. The  Victoria Beer Society will be hosting the 27th annual edition of Canada’s
oldest beer festival. The two-day festival will run Sept 6  from 4 – 9 pm and  Sept 7
from 12- 5 pm. victoriabeersociety.com

Crush – A Fine Wine Affair, The Belfry’s annual fine wine live auction is a
remarkable theatrical experience itself! Hosted by auctioneer Roshan Vickery and
sommelier and wine educator Earl Wilde. Enjoy wine and cider tastings, hors
d’ oeuvres, silent auction packages and gift certificates for every price bracket.
October 20, Delta Ocean Pointe Resort. Join us for a great party to support a great
theatre. www.belfry.bc.ca/crush

FoodRescue.ca is the creation of Second Harvest, Canada’s largest
food rescue organization. FoodRescue.ca connects your surplus food
directly to social service organizations who will put it to great use.  Donations
support community initiatives, such as snacks for children’s after-school
programs, meals for seniors, food for shelters and drop-in centres. Launched
on Vancouver Island in June, Foodrescue.ca gives food donors a simple
and fast system to connect directly with social service programs in
local communities. Foodrescue.ca