Flavour Gourmet Picnic 2013

It rained. It poured. But 800 people still smiled their way through 70 offerings of Vancouver Island food and drink at the second Flavour Gourmet Picnic.

Most of the offerings came from what locals call the “heart of the Island,” the greater Comox Valley region. Drawing on local talents and producers, Flavour showcased the best of a region that is emerging as a “good food, local food” region second only to the south Island’s Victoria/Cowichan Valley. Restaurants and “renegade chefs” paired with local producers, several musical stations provided entertainments, whilst the lightening crackled and the thunder boomed. Umbrellas appeared, people huddled under tents and awnings and against the walls at Coastal Black – and kept tasting until the event wrapped up at 4pm.

Congratulations to the Flavour Gourmet Picnic team at North Island College Foundation for making this a signature food and beverage event for the region – rain or shine!

ps. Tickets sold out for this year’s event in less than four days. Rain did not dampen spirits or enthusiasm. Watch the GourmetPicnic.ca website for updates on 2014 ticket sales.

By Hans Peter Meyer

left to right: 1) My Mom gets out of the rain and enjoys her rhubarb soda in the Island SodaWorks “living room” shelter. 2) Simon from Red Tree Specialty Coffee pours a cuppa. Photos by Hans Peter Meyer