Episode 16: Chef Lesley Stav

It was our pleasure to interview Chef Lesley Stav of the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort, and President of the North Vancouver Island Chefs Association. Lesley took to the kitchen as a second career after an injury prevented her from continuing on with her previous profession. Along the way she has worked at a variety of restaurants and chefs, volunteering and working hard to promote her industry. She is now fully immersed in the NVICA and all the great initiatives that the association has including bursaries for apprentices, a cookbook, chef exchange and Growing Chefs, which is a new thing that connects chefs with elementary school children and teaches them where there food comes from and what to do with it. Thanks Lesley for visiting with us and for all your hard work with the NVICA.
September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic.  SOLD OUT. If you did not get a ticket for this years event, keep your eyes peeled for it again in 2013. I do believe the organizers are still looking for volunteers so this may be a way in. Contact them through the site. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event.
The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy.
Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm.
If you are enjoying the podcast we would appreciate it if you would help us by hitting our donate button. Every little bit helps us to keep our hosting site paid up and maybe sponsor one of our pre-game meals.
Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley

Episode 12: Chef Aaron Rail

Tonight we had a wonderful visit with Chef Aaron Rail from Avenue Bistro. Aaron and Jon have been executive chefs at sister restaurants Atlas Cafe and Avenue Bistro and have worked on various event together over the years. Aaron has worked as a chef, baker, brewer, pastery chef and began his career in the industry at age 13 flipping burgers at a fast food establishment. Thanks for sticking to it Aaron, you have made a great addition to the Edible Valley.
I wanted to elaborate on our pre-game meal. We were lucky to have sausages donated by two different vendors for us to try. Heather McWilliam from Tanadice Farm wanted us to try their new blue cheese and pear pork sausage. I found the blue cheese very mild and it combines nicely with the pear. Thank you Tanadice Farm. Greg at Butchers Block sent Jon home with chorizo sausage, breakfast sausage and turkey kielbasa. All were delicious. I love sausage, and Jon also picked up a few varieties of Natural Pastures cheeses. An easy, local meal. Please support these and other local producers. These are our friends and neighbors, co-workers and customers. Keep it local.
Mt. Washington Food and Wine Festival August 25th
The Comox Valley Exhibition at the Fairgrounds in Courtenay
Chefs Day at the Farmers Market September 8th. Come cheer Jon on as he helps to create from the bounty of the market.
September 23rd- Flavour the North Vancouver Island Gourmet Picnic. Visit the beautiful grounds of Coastal Black Winery and sample products from dozens of chefs and farmers from around the Comox Valley. Once again, Jon will be wearing many hats at this event. Blayne will be walking around and eating, what he does best! Island Soda Works will also be dishing out samples at this wonderful event.
The Comox Valley $100 dollar challenge. Join our initiative and help to keep dollars in the local economy.
Of course the Comox Valley Farmers Market twice weekly Saturday 9-12 at the Fair Grounds on Headquarters and Wednesday from 9-12 at the Comox Bay Farm.
Thanks for listening to our podcast. For suggestions or feedback please contact us ediblevalley@gmail.com, "like" our facebook page and follow our twitter feed @ediblevalley
And the Campbell River Salmon Festival August 10, 11, and 12th. Visit Ray at the Fanny Bay Oysters display

Guest Brian Mccormick

After a wander through Brian garden, we sit down to discuss his various food related endeavours, gardening, home processing and making ham in your garage. Thanks for being our first guest Brian, it was a lot of fun and inspiring what can be grown in ones back yard.
Also, this weekend, the Comox Valley Farmers Market moves outdoors. Visit them from 9 until noon at the Exhibition Grounds, Headquarters Rd, Courtenay.
Please forward on your feedback to the Edible Valley. Email ediblevalley@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter(@ediblevalley) or like us on Facebook. Thanks for stopping by.