Edible Vancouver Island September/October 2023

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New Faces and Spaces » Jason and Rochelle Roy-Allen recently bought Fernwood Cafe on Salt Spring Island and opened the Hen and Hound Brassiere . They offer farm-to-table dining at their oceanfront French-inspired restaurant and also have a robust farm stand and luxury boutique accommodations.

Cool Things to Know » On Sunday, September 24th, from 1pm-4pm, Merridale Cidery & Distillery will host the 5th annual Cider Harvest Festival at its farm and orchard in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island. Bringing together over fifteen of B.C’.s top land-based cideries, the festival is a celebration of true craft cider, inviting attendees to experience extraordinary products and meet the makers in this annual tasting adventure. » Moon Under Water Brewpub and Distillery in Victoria offers something you won’t find at most breweries: beer for your dog. Bring your four-legged friend to their dog-friendly patio and order up a Chicken and Peanut Pilsner alongside a healthy meal from their dog menu. » Have you heard of Upcycled Ice Cream? A new partnership between 49 Below and The Root Cellar grocery stores has resulted in a new line of icy treats. The ice cream company takes ripe, but not saleable fruit from the grocery store to create new flavours of ice cream. The type and amount of fruit always varies, so it’s a fun challenge for the ice cream team to constantly invent new combinations.

» A couple from Frankfurt are the new owners of Avenue Bistro in

Comox. Matthias and Claudia Lingkost kept on all the original staff in the sale as well as the menu, with plans to add a few German dishes over time. » Saltspring Kitchen

Company has opened a new tasting room and retail space at The Jam Factory, a stunning venue showcasing a delicious array of local food products. Now open Wednesday to Sunday, the store has an impressive selection of Saltspring Kitchen Co.’s

premium jams, preserves, and hot sauces where guests can taste everything and learn about pairings and recipes.

» If you’re on the hunt for a good whisky tour, consider The Northwest Whiskey Trail , which

» Guido’s, a beloved Italian restaurant in Esquimalt, closed its doors permanently this summer, but in its place is new life: Benjamin’s serves an all-day breakfast from 7am-4pm as well as a menu full of Filipino recipe dishes and more. » RAD Brewing Company is a new brewery by Church St. Taphouse that has taken over the location previously occupied by New Tradition Brewing Company in Comox. They offer RAD beers on tap, as well as cider and wine and a variety of flavourful tacos to accompany your bevy. » Bray’s West Coast Tapas + Wine Bar is a new restaurant in Victoria. The sharing-style plates are filled with local and seasonal ingredients that encourage guests to order a variety of dishes to share, a fun option for families, friends or couples.

features seven whisky distilleries from B.C. to Oregon, including three from Vancouver Island: Shelter Point Distillery, Macaloney’s Island Distillery and Goldstream Distillery. (To read more about whisky on Vancouver Island, check out our article on page 38.)

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