Events
With more than 40 events throughout the month of July this year, the Comox Valley 30-Day Local Food Challenge is one of the largest month-long celebrations of food in Western Canada. Check out the schedule of events below.
Registration is noted when needed. You can visit the Showcase Event Registration Page to reserve your space for any event.
July 2 – Shelter Point Distillery opens its doors to the public for the first time to show off its gorgeous new Oyster River distillery. Tours, spirits and award-winning food will make this a memorable day for all. $5. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More than 400 people came out to enjoy this fantastic day celebrating local food and drink at the West Coast’s only single-malt distillery.
July 3 – Award-winning Coastal Black Estate Winery will host evening winery tours, sparkling wine, oysters from Pentlatch and music. Come experience the Valley’s newest fruit winery in the heart of Black Creek. Tours are at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 and reservations needed.
A wonderful, intimate evening at the winery was had by all as the O’Brennan family wowed people with a tour, tastings and more.
July 4 – Kids and families of all ages can join the crew at Lake Trail Community Gardens for an afternoon of sensory explosion. Walk the gardens gathering plants to make perfume, taste test blossoms and join the team for an afternoon garden work/play party that’s all about community and food. 2 to 4 p.m. Free
July 4 – Canning 101 Workshop – All Things Strawberry. LUSH Valley. 1 to 5 p.m. $40 per person. Registration needed.
July 5 – Strawberry Tuesday at ASHBerry Farm. Head out to pick fresh strawberries and learn about this great Royston farm. All Day.
July 5 – Head on over to Avenue Bistro in Comox where Chef Aaron will partner with Denmann Island’s Hollie Wood Oysters for a great evening of shellfish, sea creatures and tasty treats. Seating is at 5 p.m. Reservations needed.
A great crowd enjoyed a sweet local menu and talking with the farmers right at the table.
July 6 – Make the gorgeous drive to Fanny Bay Oysters and get a hands-on tour of one of the most well-known oyster growers in North America. Tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. by reservation. Tours are $5 per person.
About 60 people made the drive down to Fanny Bay to experience an informative and insider tour of this working shellfish farm.
July 6 – Fresh From The Farmers Market demos with Chef Dawn McRae. Chef McRae heads to the Farmer’s Market every Wednesday to pick up the freshest ingredients and brings them back to show different ways to incorporate them into your cooking. Beyond The Kitchen Door. Today’s highlight: GARLIC SCAPES. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free.
July 7 – Nationally renown Executive Chef Ronald St. Pierre will take guests on a evening culinary adventure of tapas, local wine and music at Locals – Food From The Heart of the Island as folks make their way into town for Vancouver Island MusicFest. 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations needed.
A sold out evening of tapas and music was the talk of the town.
July 7 – Culinary demo at Beyond The Kitchen Door with the Gourmet Girls. They will be pairing savory prepared sausages from Gunter Bros, tapas style with a selection of fresh and dried herbs from Innisfree Farm. Exotically spiced Chorizo Sausage and Merguez Lamb Sausage will show their versatility in a variety of dishes combined with fresh herbs, crusty homestyle breads and other simple ingredients that you can pull from your garden or pantry. These dishes will serve up well from Sunday Brunch to back yard BBQs to picnics on the beach. Noon to 4 p.m. Free
July 8, 9 and 10 – Breakfast and Blues at The Zocalo Café. Come and eat a local-food breakfast and take in a jam session with blues guitarist Jim Lambert before heading off to the big stage each morning of the Vancouver Island MusicFest. 9 to 11 a.m. Drop-in.
July 11 – An Edible Walk for families with Bruce Carron from WildSpirit Nature School. 10 a.m. Lake Trail Community Demonstration Garden.
A fun group of young naturalists turned out to taste test the garden and forest. Yum.
July 11 – Canning 101 – Pickles made with our local produce. LUSH Valley. 1 to 5 p.m. $40 per person. Registration needed.
July 12 – Strawberry Tuesday at ASHBerry Farm. Head out to pick fresh strawberries and learn about this great Royston farm. All Day.
July 13 – Take in the charm and flavour of the Village of Cumberland as the Wandering Moose Café and Royston Roasting host The Comox Valley Barista Championship and Latte Art Competition from 9 a.m. to Noon. Then head to foodie locations throughout downtown to take part in Cumberland Day with the Food Challenge. All events are free and open to the public.
A great crowd turned out for this showdown of barista goodness. Rhodos Coffee owner John took top honors in both categories and the young baristas learned a lot from him.
July 13 – Fresh From The Farmers Market demos with Chef Dawn McRae. Chef McRae heads to the Farmer’s Market every Wednesday to pick up the freshest ingredients and brings them back to show different ways to incorporate them into your cooking. Beyond The Kitchen Door. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free.
July 14 – Beaufort Winery and Atlas Café team up to create a memorable evening of pasta and wine flights. Beaufort will be pouring a white wine flight, Ortega, Beaudacious and Pinot Gris, in addition to offering a sampling of their dessert wine. Chef Jon Frazier Fresh Sheet on the 14th will be exclusively featuring Prontissima Pasta. Dinner service at 4:30 p.m. Open seating. No reservations needed.
July 14 – Innisfree Farm’s Chanchal Cabrera gives a demo on using herbs in cooking at Beyond The Kitchen Door. Free
July 16 – Head on over to the Flying Canoe West Coast Pub for a summer beach party filled with local seafood stations, drink specials and live music by Luke Blu Guthrie. The fun starts at 7:00pm on the pub patio! Tickets are $25 plus HST (food is included, drinks are additional).
July 17 – Prepare to be wowed as the Old House Restaurant hosts a Local Libations competition where area bartenders compete for the title of best local cocktail. Taste test, sample appetizers and enjoy the atmosphere of this friendly competition. 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person. Reservations are needed.
July 18 – Rhythm and Food. Enjoy a facilitated African Drumming Circle experience with Monica Hofer (http://rhythm-spirit.blogspot.com/) for about 45 minutes to 1 hour and then enjoy a sampling of Wain’s Authentic Caribbean food prepared with local products from Carnival Caribbean Cabana, then head over to his take-out window for lunch and enjoy it in the garden! 10 a.m. to Noon at the Lake Trail Community Demonstration Garden. Free
July 18 – Canning 101 Workshop – Chutneys, relishes and antipasto. Lush Valley. 1 to 5 p. m. $40 per person. Registration is needed.
July 19 – Innisfree Farm Open House. Come and explore this incredible CSA farm in Royston. The vegetable and culinary herb gardens supply a Community Supported Agriculture weekly box program, a weekend neighborhood market stand, local stores and restaurants. They keep a seed collection of most of their plants, and sell organic seeds for your garden. There is a seven circuit labyrinth, a pond, and a wooded area where they grow medicinal and edible mushrooms. The apothecary garden is a teaching and therapeutic tool. Students apprentice in the gardens, the clinic and the dispensary. 2 to 5 p.m. Free.
July 20 – Zen Zero Open House. Join the crew at the Valley’s only raw restaurant. Free samples of foods we make using locally grown foods, food specials featuring locally grown foods and a grand prize giveaway basket full of locally grown foodstuffs. 2 to 5 p.m.
July 20 – Fresh From The Farmers Market demos with Chef Dawn McRae. Chef McRae heads to the Farmer’s Market every Wednesday to pick up the freshest ingredients and brings them back to show different ways to incorporate them into your cooking. Beyond The Kitchen Door. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free
July 21 – Royston Roasting Open House. Come and tour the roastery, enjoy local food and coffee drinks while visiting with the owners of one of the Valley’s most prominent coffee roasters. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
July 22 and 23 – Get the whole family together and head out to Plates Eatery for a local-food BBQ on their outdoor deck. Enjoy a mix of local beef, pork and seafood in this casual dining atmosphere. 4:30 to 8 p.m. Reservations needed.
July 23 – Learn about life on the farm as Shamrock Farm – the Valley’s largest pumpkin grower – opens its doors for a day of tours, demonstrations, barnyard fun and more. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
July 24 – Mad Chef Cafe hosts Mad Chef Masterpieces. Come and eat some tasty bites and create a masterpiece from food – Mad Chef-style. The event is also a benefit for Comox Valley Bakehouse owners David and Sonya Thompson to help with David’s cancer treatment. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $15.
July 25 – Meet celebrated children’s author Tina Powell as she reads from her new book Picnic in Pisticci and then join in as she hosts the Silliest Sandwich Making Competition where kids and families can show off their sandwich making skills at Lake Trail Neighbourhood Gardens. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free
July 25 – Canning 101 Workshop – Red, White and Blueberries. Canning and preserving fruit in season. LUSH Valley. 1 to 5 p.m. $40 per person. Registration required.
July 26 – Tsolum Farm Open House. Peggy Carswell of Fertile Ground will give demos and sell compost tea makers, Carol McIntyre shares her master gardening secrets and plant starts for winter gardening and Tsolum’s own Ann and Amy will do a farm veggie tour and discuss how to transform lawns into edible gardens. Free This event has, unfortunately, been canceled.
July 27 – Meet the Maker Farmers Market Luncheon (Invitation Only)
July 27 – Fresh From The Farmers Market demos with Chef Dawn McRae. Chef McRae heads to the Farmer’s Market every Wednesday to pick up the freshest ingredients and brings them back to show different ways to incorporate them into your cooking. Beyond The Kitchen Door. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free
July 29, 30 and 31 – Join Executive Chef Kathy Jerritt of Tria Culinary Studio, Marla Limousin of Natures Way Farm and George Ehrler of Blue Moon Winery for an evening of food, farm and award-winning fruit wines around Chef Jerritt’s table at the farm. Check them out here. Each evening begins at 5:30 p.m. and is by reservation. $35 per person
