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. Thanks to Hans Peter Meyer and Bon Vivant Vancouver Island for participating in Edible Valley with his collection of exciting food events for December. Cindy Holland at the Courtenay VQA Wine Store [7 – 3195 Cliffe Ave (across from Future Shop) 250-871-1444 @courtenayvqa +FB] is hosting a "An Evening of Eclectic Wines" as a fund raiser for the Comox Valley Christmas Hamper fund on Dec 12. Pre-registration required. Cindy is also hosting a series of special tasting events Dec 7 and 21. Check the website or Facebook for details. Note: Thanks to Courtenay VQA Store for co-sponsoring the December #FestiveLocal promotion of Vancouver Island local food heroes! (more below ) "Tantalizing Tastes" is on the menu at for the Delicious Downtown weekend at Zocalo Cafe[250-331-0933, 208 A 5th Street +FB].  The Zo is hosting a Dec 29 pre- New Years Eve party with Flying Debris. Downtown Courtenay it’s another in the series of delightfully dark, delicious, and sparkly events at Union Street Grill. “Candlelight New Years Eve Dinner” marks the 3rd in USG’s candlelit series. We’ve been twice. Reviewed in once. It’s fun.

The Comox Valley’s “sisters in good food experiences,” Atlas Café and Avenue Bistro [2064 Comox Ave 250-890-9200 www.avenuebistro.ca + @AvenueBistro], both regularly closed on Monday nights, are offering special 3 course menus for New Year's Eve with options to customize your dining experience.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day diners are welcome to a festive “Holiday Dinner” at The Breakwater Restaurant[at Kingfisher Resort 4330 Island Highway 250-338-1323 and 800-663-7929 +FB]. New Executive Chef Philippe Gagne is celebrating the Breakwater’s ocean view with a Gourmet Seafood Buffet on New Year’s Eve.

December is the 3rd month of the Vancouver Island #localfoodhero promotion. This month the focus is on #festivelocal - how local food heroes help us celebrate great flavours at this most delicious time of year. Thanks to Dark Side Chocolates [2722 Dunsmuir Avenue, Cumberland 250-336-0126] and Courtenay VQA Wine Store for co-sponsoring this month’s promotion with a $50 (each) gift certificate. That means two lucky entrants this month! For more information: http://j.mp/FestiveLocal (site and promotion launch on Dec 1).

For December, Edible Valley is having a contest. We are offering a gift card to Atlas Cafe, worth $25, to any new followers to Facebook in the month of December. We will announce the winner on our first show in 2013. Let your friends know, because maybe you will get invited for a meal with the lucky winner.

We appreciate your feedback, suggestions and donations. We welcome your inquiries about local food and Jon would enjoy answering cooking questions. If you would like to sponsor a show, either by helping with our operating costs, or with some delicious ingredients for the Edible Valley Test Kitchen, please contact us at ediblevalley@gmail.com. Thanks for listening and keep it local