Lolita's Ceviche Habanero

Yesterday I tasted my way through Feast of Fields out in Langley at Krause Berry Farm,  organized by Vancouver’s FarmFolk/CityFolk. It was a beautiful day of fun, food, and drink in the hot sunshine, here are some photos from the day of festivity and libations.

The owners of Meat & Bread

Mark Simpson - Brewmaster of Dockside Brewing

John Jandera making pizzas in the Terra Breads drum oven

Chef Sean Cousins of The Vancouver Club serving their Duck Confit Pizza

The long line-up at Go Fish

Summerhill Wine in a box

Chefs of Beachside Forno

Chef Todd Bright of Wild Rice making Chinese Bbq Duck Confit

Manager of Aphrodite's with their Baked Beet Crisps

Chef Adrian Beaty of Seasonal 56 making his Duck Club sandwiches

Federico's Supper Club and their Risotto ai Funghi

Lee Murphy (l) of Vista D'oro Farms making Peanut Butter & Jam Sandwiches

Isabelle Ranger of Namasthe Tea Company serving Ice Tea

The Vancouver Club and their Ginger Snap Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Wendy Boys of Cocolico and her Caramel Apple Tarts

Chef Chris Whittaker of O'Doul's Restaurant with his Golden Ears Cheeseworks Nuefchatel Cheesecake

Musical Entertainment at Krause Berry Farm

Over 800 tickets were sold to this sold out event at one of the most beautiful farms just outside of Vancouver.

My Feast of Fields favourites were:  Meat & Bread’s Pemberton Meadows Beef Chuck Roll Sandwich; The Vancouver Club’s Duck Confit Pizza; EBO Restaurant’s Roasted BC Salmon Sliders; Lolita’s Ceviche Habanero; Wild Rice Restaurant’s Chinese Bbq Duck Confit; Seasonal 56 Restaurant’s Duck Club; Terra Breads Wood Fired Pizzas; O’Douls Restaurant’s Golden Ears Cheeseworks Nuefchatel Cheesecake; Cocolico’s Caramel Apple Tarts; and The Vancouver Club’s Ginger Snap Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches.

This was my second visit to Feast of Fields, my first visit was Feast of Fields at UBC Farm in 2009.

By: Richard Wolak

Last night I attended a wonderful event hosted by the Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver along with House Wine that was filled with wonderful bites from many of West Vancouver and the North shore’s restaurants as well as BC Wine for guests to sip.

Alain Raye (R) of Le Regalade

Beef Shortribs in peppercorn sauce from La Regalade

Mangia E Bevi

Prawn & Grapefruit Ceviche from Beachside Forno

Dungeness Crab Terrine from The Observatory Restaurant

Fraiche

Fois Gras Tart from Fraiche

Such a spectacular setting for this event, it was held on the pier on the water at Ambelside, the lucky 200 guests at this sold out event were treated to delicious food from restaurants that included Chez Michel, Fraiche, Beachside Forno, Carmelo’s, Zen, Mangia E Bevi, The Observatory Restaurant, The Beach House, La Regalade and Louis Gervais Fine Foods.

Loved the food, wine and the trio playing jazz in a setting that was bar none!

By: Richard Wolak

Making Calamari

I spent the afternoon yesterday in Kitsilano at the Greek Day festivities that were held on Broadway from Macdonald Street going West 5 blocks.

Tasting at the Krinos tent.

Jenny Siormanolakis, chief organizer of the festival gave me a bit of a tour of some of the eats, I tasted the Krinos Spinach Twisters, Feta Cheese, Sheeps Milk Cheese and Olives.  Jenny introduced me to Krinos founder and President Alexander Georgiadis whom I then had the pleasure to interview in their VIP tent and to enjoy some of their Greek specialties.

Krinos VIP Tent

Alexander told me that his company is the largest importer of Greek foods in Canada and they also have operations in the USA and recently opened in Shanghai, China. They sell to retailers and food service, they also make all of their cheese products and yogurt in their own dairy in Canada as well as Phylo and Twisters. I asked him about opening in Shanghai and he said it was quite the experience to open there and it was a lot more work than he anticipated.

Hellenic Experience

I then sampled some of the Greek Coffee and candies at the Hellenic Experience Tent.

Each of the event tents had Chicken and Lamb Souvlaki on the grill and people were lined-up for their Greek favourites.

The sunshine filled day saw upwards of 100,000 people attend the annual festival. The line-up for the Loukoumades was far too long for my liking, so now I`m craving Loukoumades.

By: Richard Wolak

Chef Thierry Busset

I attended the opening event for the West Coast Chocolate Festival on Friday October 15^th, this event was called “Panache” and was held at the top of the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel. It was an elegant affair with canapes and appetizers made by Chef Kevin Greehy being passed around, glasses of Prosecco and wines being poured, along with a walk around Vistas with a 360 degree view of Vancouver while indulging in all things chocolate.

Chocolatier Greg Hook

The room was filled with chocolatiers, chefs, vodka purveyors, wineries, pastry chefs, and many passionate chocolate lovers including yours truly.

Chocolate Macarons, Pistachio filled Chocolates, Soucees by Chef Thierry Busset

Belgian Chocolate in raspberry by the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel

Chocolatier Hodie of Xoxolat

Cardemon Crème Brulee Chocolates by Xoxolat

My favourites were Chef Thierry Busset’s (of CinCin and soon to be Thierry) Chocolate Macarons and his Pistachio filled Chocolates and his Soucees, I also loved Greg Hook’s (of Chocolate Arts) Pumpkin Chocolate Squares, the Belgian Chocolate in raspberry (by the Renaissance chefs) was divine as was the Chocolate Tini made by XFour Vodka, and I always love seeing Hodie Rondeau (of Xoxolat) and indulging with her Cardemon Crème Brulee Chocolates.

Bernard Callebaut Chocolate Ganache

Handcrafted gelato from Bella Gelateria

Many more events to come through November 10th for the West Coast Chocolate Festival and you can see them online here.

By: Richard Wolak

Sundried Tomato Pizza at Rocky Mtn Flatbread

I spent the evening dinner hour inside the food court area of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival tonight, the 1st night of this spectacular weekend festival that is in its 33rd year.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co

Rocky Mtn Flatbread Sundried tomato & goats cheese flatbtead pizza

Foods from all regions of the world were featured including Thai, Ukranian, Japanese, Mexican, and more, I settled for El Salvadoran along with some good old Westcoast Organic Pizza.

El Nuevo Amancer

At El Nuevo Amancer their booth featured delicacies from El Salvador.

Pupupusas (bean and cheese), Tamale (chicken) and Tostadas

Plantains with beans

I had a combo plate of Pupupusas (bean and cheese), tamale (chicken) and tostadas ($8) along with the Plantains with beans ($5). After wandering around I ended up at Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co and had their Rocky Mtn Flatbread Sundried tomato & goats cheese flatbtead pizza for ($12).

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is taking place at Jericho Beach Park July 16-18. There is a wide array of food and drink offered for all tastes in the food court area as well as around the fest site.

By: Richard Wolak

What’s to Eat?

Food and Beverages

Big Rock Beer Garden

Refreshing Big Rock ales and lagers and award-winning Tinhorn Creek wines.

Cheyenne Coffee

Boost your energy and taste buds with a cup of Joe.

Corn Roaster

Fresh roasted corn, melted butter and flavoured salts.

Crepes On The Go

Paris at the festival! Savoury and sweet crepes.

Dim Sum Express

A tantalizing taste of China includes dumplings, chow mein and bubble tea.

Fantastic Hot Dogs

Need we say more? Delicious – with all the fixings!

Frozen Fantasies

Smoothies, lemonade and fruit dipped in chocolate. Yummy!

Happy Planet Juices

The healthy juices that make you smile.

Insomniac’s Coffee

A delicious way to perk up your day. Coffee and more.

Jamaica Mi Juicy

Sun-drenched flavours!  Jamaican patties, jerk chicken and smoothies.

Left Coast Naturals

Healthy natural treats that taste good and are good for you!

Mad Jack’s

Thick cut potato fries and yam fries. Addictive!

Mario’s Gelati

Frozen gelato and ice cream treats. A festival favorite!

Mediterranean BBQ

Grilled European-style chicken & merguez sausage.

Noah’s Soups & Chili

Tasty comfort food in a bowl.

Mr. Fresh

Healthy food and smoothies to make your taste buds sing.

El Nuevo Amancer

Delicacies from El Salvador infused with Latin flair.

The Nutman

The sweet delights of candy, chocolates and nuts.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread

Thin crust pizza even better than mama’s!

Salt Spring Coffee

Fair trade coffee lovingly roasted in beautiful BC.

Skewers

Hamburgers and chicken served in a delicious and different way.

Taste of Thailand

The unique and flavour-filled cuisine of Thailand.

Whales Tails

A scrumptious, sweet, fried, festival tradition.

Yo Quiero Tacos Tacos Tacos

Mouth-watering tacos with that south-of-the-border zing.

By: Richard Wolak

Photo by Alyssa Burtt