Recently, on one of your Hedonista’s regular returns to the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island in my beloved home province of British Columbia, Canada, I discovered an annual event that is one of those hedonism-worthy experiences that I strive to share with your, dear hedonists.

A Fernwood Bites attendee wears his love for the Fernwood neighbo(u)rhood on his chest.

Fernwood Square, complete with the tops of: Fernwood Bites attendees, numerous sampling tents, and the spire of the Belfry Theatre.

That event is none other than Fernwood Bites – an annual event put together by Fernwood NRG to raise funds for itself, it is a group – to be exact, a neighbo(u)rhood resource group – that offers a wide range of services and businesses in Fernwood, from childcare to the Cornerstone Café. Sunday, June 26, 2011 was their second annual foodie fundraising event. Held in Fernwood Square under the spire of the Belfry Theatre, this event was filled with bites of food, sips of beverages (beer, wine, cider, and tea), and a silent auction. Tickets went for $45 a piece (including HST). With over 30 participating businesses – including Devour, Paprika Bistro, Stage Small Plates and Wine Bar, The Superior, Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, and Silk Road – and an estimated hundreds of attendees, this event was a success – not to mention a simply helluva hedonistic good time.

Favs included cream tarts topped with blackberries, strawberries and mint from Wildfire Organic Bakery & Café, locally sourced and hand-crafted pasta from the Cowichan Pasta Company (sold at Fernwood’s Aubergine Specialty Foods), and perfect pork sliders from The Parsonage Café.

Some of this year's tasty offerings (left to right): Blackberry cream tarts from Wildfire Bakery, chive-finished asparagus ravioli from Cowichan Pasta, and local Berkshire pork sliders served up with green apple slaw and salted watermelon cubes from The Parsonage Café.

All in all, a great time seemed to be had by all, including yours truly!

So consider attending next year’s third annual Fernwood Bites – believe me, you’ll be glad you did.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Devour: very deli-icious in its appearance.

Devour is possibly one of the best foodie-fantastic places in Victoria. Open not even a year, this teeny, tiny treat of a restaurant – a licensed Euro-bistro with deli-style ambiance that seats 12 on a good day (that’s 12 people, dear hedonists, not tables) – is the brainchild of Jena Stewart and Alison Bigg.

In a recent private media tasting, your Hedonista discovered that this perfectly petite place peddles “gourmet comfort food” – with both in-house and catering clients, Jena (as chef, formerly paired her creations with various art exhibits) and Alison (self-taught chef with a local foraging bent) are really more food artists than chefs. Tasting notes below (speaking of notes, note also that their menus changes daily):

Cashew apple curry: The smell of this vegetarian dish is as good as the taste – even for us omnivores. The comfort of curry ‘n’ cumin’ … served up on a fluffy bed of jasmine rice … is hard to resist.

Lamb Shank: Braised lamb shank on a bed of Yukon Gold potatoes – all dressed up ‘n’ basted in truffled celeriac and roasted quince. Comfort food in its purest form

Galloping Goose: Galloping Goose ‘n’ black-eyed peas – who knew? Served with duck confit and roasted yams. The crisp, crunchy skin of this fab fowl is splendidly prepared, as is the tender flesh hidden underneath.

All this located within walking distance of Victoria’s Inner Harbour, which is a mere four blocks away.

They cater, too – everything from office shindigs to house and cocktail parties. Pick-up or delivery. They’ll even work within your particular budget.

So go have your senses devoured by Devour – a must-try culinary conquest that’s almost impossible to resist … but what happy, healthy hedonist would want to? Why, none of course!

Go on … Jena and Alison will treat your gastronomic system with the utmost, artistic care. Closed weekends and statutory holidays.)

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.