Island Chefs’ Collaborative 2012 Food Fest
June 1, 2012 by Hedonista · Leave a Comment
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: those of us in the Pacific Northwest have more in common with each other than we do with the rest of our respective nations. Take Vancouver Island, for example. This June 10th, 2012 will be the 5th annual fundraiser known as the Island Chefs Food Fest.
ICC Food Fest logo, provided by ICC and used with permission.
Organized by the Island Chefs’ Collaborative (ICC), which consists of members in the food, beverage, hospitality, and related industries, the focus of this organization is on education, campaigns, and fundraising.
The focus of the Food Fest – their largest fundraiser of the year – is simple: to raise public awareness of both sustainability issues on Vancouver Island as well as to garner ongoing support for locally produced food. This festival accomplishes this by involving chefs from some of the finest restaurants on the West Coast who band together for this day-long event. Profits from this event “go towards increasing local food security by directly supporting those who can increase sustainable production.” They do this in such ways as via a grant program for non-profit projects and a new zero-interest microloan program that supports both farmers and processors.
“I think it’s a pretty exciting venture because it’s a collaboration of chefs; these chefs get together to really promote the local food and agricultural community, ” says Bill Jones of Deerholme Farm and ICC Board Member. “The Food Fest is a special treat for both chefs and diners. The chefs get to play in the outdoors and use great local products to showcase their creativity and passion. The diners get to wander in a beautiful natural setting and experience the true spirit of Vancouver Islands food scene. It forms a magical combination.”
Images from past Food Fests, from left to right: pizza going into the oven, the layout of the grounds, and a Metchosin lamb roast (the man in the baseball cap checking the spit is none other than Bill Jones of Deerhome Farm; he informed me they were up all night in 2011 roasting them). Images provided by ICC and used with permission.
Although your Hedonista has never attended an ICC Food Fest to-date, that will change this year, for I’ll be attending as a media guest. However, here are a few rules of etiquette should any of you hedonists out there plan to attend:
- Enjoy the small bites. This is not an “all-you-can-eat” kind of a deal.
- Bring cash to buy items and a bag to take them home in. Baked goods, fresh produce, etc. will be available for purchase.
- Silent auction away. They’ll take cash or cheques/checks for that one.
- Dress for the weather. As all PNWers know, the weather can be unpredictable, so plan ahead.
- Leave the critters at home. This event is a pet-free zone.
- Drink up. Water is available for free on-site.
This year’s Food Fest 2012 will be held on Sunday, June 10th, 2012 at the National Historic Site of Fort Rodd Hill from noon to 4:00 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for youths, and $100 for a family of four, with admission being free for children under 9 years of age.
So if you PNWers want to band together an support Vancouver Island’s sustainability and locavorism, here’s your chance.
