City Food Magazine, October, 2007
Fifth Annual Tofino Food & Wine Festival
Tofino never looked or tasted so good as this past weekend (May 31 to June 3) at its 5th Annual Food & Wine Festival. Of course the weather was the feather in the Tofino botanical gardens’ cap.
The event got off to a great start at Long Beach Lodge (this writer’s favourite place in Tofino) where new executive chef Jeffrey Young and his brigade served delicious seafood canapés accompanied with wine tastings from Hester Creek Estate winery. And we slurped oysters from celebrity oyster guy Brent Petkau. Of course the backdrop from the Lodge’s Great Room couldn’t have been better —waves crashing onto pristine Cox Bay Lodge, another picturesque sunset…
Next day, about 400 people spent a glorious afternoon strolling amongst 26 wine tables (featuring 50 wineries) and 11 food tables—all from Tofino restaurants, with the exception of “Oyster Man” Brent Petkau. He shucked local bivalves from Cortes Island with a side of oyster culture—that man can talk. Tourists mingled with about 200 locals but you couldn’t spot the Tofitians because they weren’t dressed in their usual attire of fleece, yoga pants and Blundstone boots. Instead they wore flimsy dresses and wedges.
Back to the food and a few faves: Chef Jeffrey Young from Long Beach Lodge resort sautéed Gabriola Spot Prawns with caramelized onion and citrus marmalade, so fresh they could have jumped into the pan themselves; Raincoast Café served a delectable Roghan Josh lamb—a meal in itself with garam masala apple chutney; and of course Sobo was front and centre with a vibrant asparagus, morel and sheep’s cheese tart. Each food table served 600 canapes— that’s 6,600 substantial bites. Quite a feat considering the logistics.
Averill Creek Winery from Duncan made its first appearance with accolades for the Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Elephant Island Orchard Wines also had a great response with their fruit wines.
The organizers technically sold out days before the event. “At 10 am, I had people here on day trips from Comox and Qualicum, Nanaimo and even Edmonton who had come to Tofino specifically for the festival without ticket in hand,” says organizer Kira Rogers. “Since they drove all the way here, we couldn’t send them away --one girl was in tears when she heard we were sold out.” If this year’s festival is anything to go by, rain or shine, it will be wise to get tickets well in advance.
About 400 people spent a glorious afternoon strolling amongst 26 wine tables (featuring 50 wineries) and 11 food tables—all from Tofino restaurants, with the exception of “Oyster Man” Brent Petkau. He shucked local bivalves from Cortes Island with a side of oyster culture—that man can talk. Tourists mingled with about 200 locals but you couldn’t spot the Tofitians because they weren’t dressed in their usual attire of fleece, yoga pants and Blundstone boots. Instead they wore flimsy dresses and wedges.
Back to the food and a few faves: Chef Jeffrey Young from Long Beach Lodge resort sautéed Gabriola Spot Prawns with caramelized onion and citrus marmalade, so fresh they could have jumped into the pan themselves; Raincoast Café served a delectable Roghan Josh lamb—a meal in itself with garam masala apple chutney; and of course Sobo was front and centre with a vibrant asparagus, morel and sheep’s cheese tart. Each food table served 600 canapes— that’s 6,600 substantial bites. Quite a feat considering the logistics.
Averill Creek Winery from Duncan made its first appearance with accolades for the Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Elephant Island Orchard Wines also had a great response with their fruit wines.
The organizers technically sold out days before the event. “At 10 am, I had people here on day trips from Comox and Qualicum, Nanaimo and even Edmonton who had come to Tofino specifically for the festival without ticket in hand,” says organizer Kira Rogers. “Since they drove all the way here, we couldn’t send them away --one girl was in tears when she heard we were sold out.” If this year’s festival is anything to go by, rain or shine, it will be wise to get tickets well in advance.
“We have always discouraged drinking and driving but to ensure that it wasn’t an issue, we declared it a car-free event and offered free shuttle service by Tofino Bus.
The owner George Patterson, was thrilled to see more than 40 bicycles in the parking lot.
Next year we look forward to the second annual grape stomping and even more food stations
11 x 600 canapes were served.
Patterson has a Harvard degree – Tofino botanical gardens. He had a plant business in Boston, lived in Tofino for years, he is a visionary. Every time I walk through the gardens there is something new.
The gardens have been open for about six years and wwofer program for 5. he has taken 12 acres of natural rain forest and instead of developing into condos, he has conserved and preserved with educational outlets and work opps for wwofers.
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Wild woman retreats: 40 plus. Beth |