This Saturday from 9 to noon, the members of the CCFCC-North Vancouver Island Chefs Association will be featured at the Courtenay Farmer’s Market.
Chef’s Day, as it has become known, is a popular tradition at the market. Market management and the vendors look forward to this event every year, says local farmer and market vendor Bruce Hunter.
“It’s always a treat to have the local chef’s association visit the market, they are so creative with our product, it really inspires our customers,” he says.
Whether it’s a bite of Island Bison stirfry, or Estevan tuna tataki, fresh Prontissima pasta with asparagus, Twigs French toast, or salad greens gathered from the many veggie farmers tossed with a Watrin Orchard cider vinaigrette, tasters will not be disappointed.
Every year the chef’s association and the Comox Valley Farmers Market partner up to create a fun and inspiring day of tastes of the market. What makes this event unique is that the chefs, apprentices and culinary students do not know what they are going to make until Saturday morning when they canvas the vendors for local products.
It is the Comox Valley's version of a giant black box. They might even cook something from their cookbook, Island Inspirations. The market provides the fresh product and the North Island Chef’s association brings their creative talent.
President Lesley Stav of the chefs' association says it’s an important event for them.
“Not only do local chef’s, apprentices and culinary students get to work together to make their magic on fresh local food and feed an eager audience, but the market donates $300 towards our bursary fund to support the culinary arts students in the Valley.”
The public is invited to this special event to see, smell and taste what our valley farmers, fishers and growers have available and what our talented local chefs can create from it.
— Comox Valley Farmers' Market