The event showcases successful partnerships between local farmers and top chefs in the Okanagan. Thus, there were no bananas, mangos or avocados at Feast of Fields, but there were plenty of farmers, producers and bakers offering up a selection to satisfy everyone’s palette. From Okanagan’s Finest Angus Beef, to Blackwell Dairy, to Valley View and Campbell Farms – eating local has never been easier. When we make an effort, we’re rewarded with improved flavour, quality and nutrition.
At Feast of Fields, guests feasted on a plethora of bite-sized sweet and savoury snacks created by more than two dozen chefs. Naturally, most ingredients were sourced locally. Here’s a sample:
- Codfathers’ - Ted’s Trout Farm Smoked Trout Fillets on Pumpernickel
- RauDZ Regional Table - Honey Glazed Sterling Springs’ Chicken with Dried Apricot and Hazelnut Crust
- Poppadom’s - Okanagan Saag Paneer Pakora
- Vanilla Pod - Smoked Boar Hocks with Peach Salsa / Chocolate Torte with Cherry and Plum Compote
- The Vintage Room – Pulled Bison and Plum Ravioli with Peppered Saskatoon Berry on Arugula
At their leisure, guests also cruised between tents, under sprinklers, and among pear trees to sample wines and beers from up and down the valley. Many cooled off with a glass of chilled rosé or Cannery Brewing’s Apricot Wheat Ale.
Matt & Molly Thurston recently purchased Claremont Organic Farm. Both have agricultural backgrounds and are proving that growing food is cool AND a rewarding way to make a living. Smart, kind, and well-spoken, they are role models for the next generation of farmers.
Feast of Fields (also held in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island) is a fundraiser for FarmFolk CityFolk, an organization that supports community-based sustainable food systems and programs, including farmer/chef partnerships. These relationships make sense not only for environmental and economical reasons but also because its good business: consumers are demanding more local food.
While eating local is now the trendy thing to do, with global warming and rising food prices, it won’t be long before we’ll be doing it out of necessity. That’s why FarmFolk CityFolk is raising awareness now, especially in urban centres. Eating local for the long-term starts with making a connection between the food on our plates, the places it comes from and the people who grow it.
Stay tuned for our video @ Feast of Fields
