Edible Vancouver Island Summer 2022

I nitially, picnics were actually an indoor affair created by the French—much like a potluck in which guests would bring a contribution. Yet, over time, they moved into fresh air, quickly becoming enshrined in book pages by the likes of Jane Austen. More recently, they have become a popular (and photo worthy) engagement event—an elevated spread with a magical view, a bottle of something bubbly and often loved ones hiding in wait to join the happy couple at the perfect moment. In 2012, the infamous Dîner en Blanc (an elegant “white pic nic”) was formed in Paris. Now taking place in 80 cities around the world, including Vancouver and Victoria, they are a secretive event where thousands of guests wear white to attend a gourmet pop-up dining experience in a public space, with the location announced at the last minute—an astounding visual experience for passersby. Yet most picnics have few obstacles to access. They are, in their simplest, joyful form, an outing or occasion that involves taking a packed meal to be eaten outdoors, inclusive of all who wish to create a moment to take in a view, to pause on a trail, to be close to water with a side of nourishing food. Across our islands there are undoubtedly innumerable locations to have such a moment. Leaning into the meadowy, countryside settings of the picnics encapsulated in novels, the likes of provin cial parks East Sooke Regional Park, Ruckle Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island, Helliwell Provincial Park on Hornby Island, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville and Goose Spit Park in Comox are just a few that provide tall grasses and open field-like spaces. Other locations come about from businesses offering their own picnic experiences, such as Bilston Creek Farm. Their fire pits are replaced by picnics in the orchard come summer—a wonderful family gathering place. Think carefully curated cheese boxes, a Ploughman’s Lunch, an Afternoon Tea package, and plenty of options to add drinks (their Lavender Simple Syrup in a cold

Opposite page: a uniquely curated picnic at Bilston Creek Farm.

This page, clockwise from upper left: a picnic complemented by wine at 40 Knots Winery (photo by Ali Roddam); a perfect picnic box for two from The Farmer’s Daughter (photo by Hattie Root Photography); a beautiful outdoor picnic created by Jam & Co. (photo by Emily Yew Photography).

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