Edible Valley Food Facts #2-Chicken

Darren Howlett and Jonathan Frazier join up again to talk food. In this episode of Edible Valley Food Facts, the boys sit down to talk chicken. Poultry being such an important part of many of our diets, we thought it would be fun to look into where it comes from and how it gets to our plate. With many questions about the terms used to describe chicken we did some investigating to find out some of the differences between organic, free range , and  free run.  Also we tried touching in on grading , inspections, breeds and classification. With an amazing amount of information out there to learn the two of us have had a chance to scratch the surface of this interesting subject.

Episode 35- Dyan Spink from Royston Roasting Company

Much to the dismay of our former producer Drex, we finally had the coffee lady in! Dyan Spink of Royston Roasting Company was able to join us in the studio to talk about there new cafe, the business of coffee, fair trade and other interesting bits of the coffee trade. With her husband Gary they have built a hugely successful business supporting local charity and fundraisers, as well as giving locals their morning buzz! Thanks Dyan!
Thanks for listening to the Edible Valley podcast. We gratefully accept donations to help with our hosting, as well as contributions of food ingredients to the Edible Valley test kitchen. Please feel free to contact us by email ediblevalley@gmail.com, follow our twitter feed (@ediblevalley) and like our facebook page

Episode 34- Composting with Patty Rose

A little bit of a different show for Edible Valley, in the model of the show featuring Arzeena Hamir back in the fall about winter gardening, we welcome local compost educator Patty Rose. Patty is a familiar face in the community, teaching a variety of composting and organic gardening courses through out the year. She has a passion for local food, and clean eating. And ,of course, her worm bins. Thanks you Patty, it was a great learning experience for us! Thanks for listening to the Edible Valley podcast. We gratefully accept donations to help with our hosting, as well as contributions of food ingredients to the Edible Valley test kitchen. Please feel free to contact us by email ediblevalley@gmail.com, follow our twitter feed (@ediblevalley) and like our facebook page

Episode 28: Vickey Brown of the Comox Valley Farmers Market

It was a pleasure for Edible Valley to bring Vickey Brown, manager of the Comox Valley Farmers Market, into studio for this episode. The Farmers Market is a huge draw for folks interested in local food, community support, and socializing. Now it it's 20th year listen as Vickey gives the origin story of our great market, arguably the best in the province, one of the few that runs year round, and also maintains diligent rules for vendors selling locally sourced, grown, and produced products. They also keep craft items to a minimum and focus on the agricultural side of what a Farmers Market is. Thank you Vickey, it was an honour to have you in. Visit the Comox Valley Farmers Market from 9-12 Saturdays at the Native Sons Hall in downtown Courtenay.
This week in the Edible Valley Test Kitchen, Jon surprised Blayne with making shell-less quiche. Blayne is eating a diet where he avoids grains, so anytime a meal can be made without, it is a wonderful thing. The quiche Lorraine was fantastic and contained some of Blayne's homemade bacon. Jon also made yam pav with mustard sauce and a little garnish of butter lettuce and grape tomato's, dressed with bacon vinaigrette. A quick easy meal, especially for a chef of Jon's caliber.

Episode 26: Prontissima Pasta and Call of the Wild Seafood

A chance encounter this week by Jon and Sarah Walsh of Prontissimo Pasta at Atlas Cafe this past weekend resulted in the news that Prontissimo Pasta was re-opening after a four month hiatus. Sarah is welcoming Julie Edwards who is bringing wonderful central coast seafood to our market, via N'usi Seafood of Bella Bella. The bringing together of pasta and seafood is an easy, one stop shop for a quick dinner or a gourmet party meal for however many you can feed. Prontissimo will be scaling back some flavours and pasta shapes, and will still offer some of their proven favorites, as well as gourmet olive oils and Parmesan cheese. Call of the Wild will be offering frozen dungenese crab, shrimp, salmon and Julie hopes to bring in other gifts of the sea, such as sea cucumber and possibly dried seaweed. This is an exciting collaboration for our food community, bringing an familiar product back to the market and a new face to the scene. Stop by the location in Tin Town this Saturday from 10 until 5 at 2384 Unit C Rosewall Crescent in Courtenay. Sarah and Julie will be offering samples as well as specials on frozen crab. I might just have to show up and pick up a box!
This week in the Edible Valley Test Kitchen was a collaboration between chef and hunter. Blayne supplied some venison meat for Jon to create a delicious goulash. He added some dumplings and steamed broccoli. Goulash is a perfect meal for this time of year. Comforting and hearty.
Thanks to Hans Peter Meyer and Bon Vivant Vancouver Island for participating in Edible Valley with his collection of exciting food events for December.

Episode 25: Edible Valley Test Kitchen

This episode we had a scheduling mix up with our expected guest, so we had to make alternate plans at the last minute. We decided to ask our beloved producer, Drex, to join us in studio and talk about the Edible Valley Test Kitchen event that we did at Beyond the Kitchen Door on November 13th. We mentioned this cooking demo on the show several times, which was by invite only to give thanks to several people at Jet FM and we also included Sue and Teresa from Beyond the Kitchen Door to enjoy a meal with us. Jon runs down the whole menu during this episode. Drex was happy to give us some feedback from someone who doesn't get to see a professional chef in action. Thanks for helping us out Drex!
For our Edible Valley Test Kitchen meal before the show, we were fortunate to receive a donated whole pastured chicken from Tannadice Farm in Dove Creek. Jon brined the bird and cooked it "beer can" style. The meat turned our moist and tender, and the skin was crunchy and salty, just the way it should. A side of coleslaw made with Eatmore Sprouts purple cabbage, smashed potatoes fried in butter and garnished with Blayne's homemade bacon, and savoury muffins. A ladle of flavourful gravy topped the whole plate. As always another amazing meal showcasing Comox Valley grown food.

Episode 23: Eatmore Sprouts

Eatmore Sprouts has been a symbol of Comox Valley organic farming for decades with their little operation on the north end of Courtenay, and spreading their lovely product all around western Canada. This episode of Edible Valley we welcome Angie and Amy, two talented ladies left with the enviable task of re-vitalizing the dormant market garden on the Eatmore site. With copious amounts of beautiful organic compost they have quickly created a wonderful environment to grow a large variety of vegetables, from summer squash, spinach, carrots, asian greens, pumpkins, kales, broccoli and so much more. Angie and Amy hope to continue to market this produce all winter long at the Comox Valley Farmers Market, as well as selling at Seeds Food Market and Edible Island. Thank you ladies for your story and input on our local food scene. See you at the Market.

Upcoming Events courtesy of Hans Peter Meyer. Thank you for your contribution to Edible Valley. Visit Hans' site Eat Drink Comox Valley for the full list of events.

Episode 21: Darren Howlett of Kamma Bento Sushi

Something relatively new to the Comox Valley are food carts. Darren Howlett, a local business man, needing a new challenge, decided that building a food cart and focusing on serving sushi. The inherent challenges of setting up a kitchen in a small space, plus having the ability to keep that space up to the requirements of the health inspectors made this project a little more difficult than originally anticipated. After working a few events with Kamma Bento, Darren is excited by the positive feedback of his new endeavor. Thanks for sharing your story Darren, we hope to sample your sushi soon.
Upcoming Events

Episode 20: Winter Gardening with Arzeena Hamir

With Jon away for this weeks recording, Blayne needed a guest and co-host, so he thought that Arzeena Hamir for Amara Farm would fill this role perfectly. The topic of this episode it winter gardening. The Comox Valley has an excellent climate for harvesting vegetables all winter long. If you have been interested in trying out some winter gardening, this episode will have some great tips for you. Remember to keep supporting our local farmers this winter as many of them will have fresh vegetables available during the "off season" Stop by and say Hi to Arzeena at the Market and pick up some Kale, Bok Choy, Mustard greens and many other delicious, fresh veggies. Thanks for being a good sport for join the podcast, and for having such a great community spirit Arzeena.
Up Coming Events:

Flavour

Blayne was fortunate to be allowed to wander the grounds of "Flavour-The North Islands Gourmet Picnic" at Coastal Black Winery this past Sunday. Armed with an iPhone, he wrangled a few interviews from willing participants. Some past guests and some new voices that we hope to have in studio at some point. Thanks to all involved in making this event such a huge success. Look for Flavour 2013, and get tickets early, as it is sure to sell out fast!