Long Table Dinner at the Victoria Spot Prawn Festival

Left: Gregg Best of Cowichan Bay Seafoods shows a spot prawn trap at Spinnakers Brewpub. Middle: A plate of local spot prawns prepared by Ali Ryan, chef at Spinnakers. Right: The old car port at the Roundhouse where The Long Table Dinner will be held.

Victoria Spot Prawn and Sustainable Seafood Festival

On May 25 and 26 Vic West will be the home of the first annual Victoria Spot Prawn Festival, a celebration of seasonal, sustainable and local seafood.

Held at the historic Roundhouse at Bayview Place at 253 Esquimalt Road, this free event offers the tastes, sights and sounds of sustainable food and lifestyle choices, with a special emphasis on spot prawns and other sustainable seafood.

“Several partners in the industry have come together to showcase locally available seafood. By bringing suppliers, chefs and restaurants together, people have the full picture from harvest to plate,” says Paul Hadfield owner of Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, a festival sponsor. “When people are able to find out how the seafood is harvested, see the cooking process, taste the food and see where it comes from they are more connected to that local choice.”

The Festival kicks off with a long table dinner with the Island Chefs’ Collaborative on Saturday, May 25, featuring six seafood courses (paired with local beverages) each prepared by a different ICC chef. Tickets are $150 each and will be available at Vintage Spirits in the Rialto Hotel,  Cook Culture, Niagara Grocery, The Whole Beast and Origin Bakery.

Participating Chefs at the dinner are

Garrett Schack – Chateau Victoria Vista 18

Sean Brennan – Brasserie L’Ecole

James McLellan – Shawnigan Lake School

Jeff Keenliside – The Marina Restaurant

Stephan Drolet – Camilles

Kerry Park – Tre Fantastico

Along with many other fabulous ICC Chefs!

The main event on Sunday, May 26 runs 11 am to 5 pm. This free celebration of local seafood and sustainable food choices combines learning opportunities with eating opportunities to tangibly show the importance of local food and supporting local food producers. Attendees will be able to find out more about spot prawns and how sustainable seafood is harvested from local suppliers who will have booths set up at the event.

Cooking demonstrations by local restaurant chefs will provide some inspiration for cooking a variety of seafood, offering ideas and recipes using locally-available ingredients. A number of local restaurants will also be set up as food vendors selling a variety of ready-to-eat dishes of seafood and local produce. Fresh caught seafood, including live, wild Spot Prawns will be available for purchase.

Tents set up around the Roundhouse will showcase resident artisans and crafters. Information tents will also be offering details about local seafood and sustainability initiatives. Additionally there will be a kids activity area, providing interactive experiences and activities for the whole family. Live music will be performed throughout the day.

Updates are posted to the Island Chefs’ Collaborative FaceBook page.

The Victoria Spot Prawn Festival is presented by the Island Chefs’ Collaborative, Cowichan Bay Seafood, Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, Bayview Properties and many of Victoria’s restaurants and seafood suppliers. The Festival aims to bring groups together to celebrate sustainable local seafood and provide opportunities for the public to access fresh, local seafood. Proceeds from the Victoria Spot Prawn Festival support the ICC microloan fund and the development of a community food hub and processing kitchen in the City.