What a great time we had talking to the owners of Tidal Cafe! Kurt and Blythe Reimer were exuberant, enthusiastic, and gracious guests on this episode the Edible Valley. Their passion for the Valley, good food, and building community bursts forth in everything they do. It's impossible to not get swept up in their energy and dedication to their craft!
 
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 With the easing off on Covid-19 restrictions, people are returning to their daily and weekly routines, including dining out. Jonathan and Darren discuss the process of returning to the restaurant industry under these new conditions, and also touch on what they’ve been doing in food during the closure.    
   

Today, Jon and Darren talk about the relationship between chef and farmer. Not just how they play an important role in each other's lives, but the rippling effect outward, and how far it reaches in the community, local economy, and even food trends. The give and take back and forth plays a strong role in the identity of each other's business and persona. Listen in as we discuss what we feel are the 10 most compelling points.  

Do you eat, drink, think, local? We have “Edible Vancouver Island” to talk with us about their new with quarterly publication and online resource, committed to celebrating and promoting the local food and drink culture of Vancouver Island. Dawn Postnikoff (Publisher / Editor) and Danika McDowell (Creative Director) join us to discuss their new project. 

On Sat. May 26 at Locals Restaurant, Canadian celebrity Chef Ned Bell headlined a special gourmet "estuary luncheon" to benefit Project Watershed's partnership with the K'omoks First Nation to restore the old sawmill site on the Courtenay River. Returning this land back to nature will help save local wild salmon populations in one of BC's top chinook estuaries - and fundraising is essential to "unpave a parking lot and put up paradise". As founder of Chefs for Oceans and the Executive Chef of OceanWise, Chef Ned Bell wants his food to start conversations about supply choices, creative and sustainable seafood options, and working together for a healthier future. We also spoke with Lesley Stav, President of the North Vancouver Island Chefs Association; Tim Ennis, Executive Director of the Comox Valley Land Trust and Project Manager for the Kus-kus-sum initiative; Chef Ronald St. Pierre of Locals; and Vanessa Scott, a writer, community organizer and volunteer with Project Watershed. 

This week the boys have the chance to catch up and talk with each other. Darren takes time to go over of few of his favourite places around the valley that he has had the chance to visit in the last little while. If your looking for a new spots or revisiting an old one ,you may have to check out this episode. With over 100 places around to visit we chat about restaurants, pubs, food trucks, cafes and more.  Jonathan also drops some hints of his next venture.

 There are those places in town where I ask myself “How did I not know about this sooner”? We take  a drive up to Forbidden Plateau to talk with Martina & Max of Wood Mountain Lodge . Do not let their not too distant location keep you away from this breathtaking gem. This Vancouver Island boutique style lodge and spa includes a full commercial kitchen and is open to the public on weekends. They are working towards creating an environment which will encourage a creative yet down to earth experience. Wood Mountain Lodge is a spot to get inspired and find an excuse to invite a bunch of family and friends to come out for a good time and enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Comox Valley.
 

The final in our three part series questioning restaurant expenses . We are looking into restaurants overheads and talking about the expenses that come with running a restaurant. From renting to cleaning we discuss what these expenses are and what you can do to make things run just a little bit smoother.

 
 With the new year upon us Darren and Jonathan spend time discussing 2017 and the events surrounding it. This is a chance for the two to reminisce about the previous year. From farming to food banks, they discuss all the interesting events and people they had the fortune of meeting. Darren and Jonathan also spend some time planning for upcoming food challenges, topics, and their ability to interview and learn more in the upcoming year. Feel free to join with us.

On this podcast we're doing the second part of our three-part series questioning restaurant costs. We're going to get down to the nitty-gritty and find out about labour costs, business expenses, menu prices, and customer views. We also look at some great ways to save on these costs which can make things go a little bit smoother. 

Ever wonder how chefs come up with menu prices? Or what goes into creating the dollar amount you see on menus and how exactly restaurants make their money? On this episode, the first of three, we examine the ever fluctuating cost of food itself. Please enjoy, and as always we enjoy your feedback and reviews.

Looking for a Chef? Looking for a cook? Join the club! Its becoming more and more difficult to find kitchen staff. Jonathan and Darren discuss what is happening in the 'back of house' across Canada.