The North Island Chefs' Association and the Comox Valley Farmers' Market are teaming up this weekend to bring you their annual Chef’s Day event at the Saturday market.
Some of the finest chefs on the Island will be whipping up fabulous samples for market customers with the product on the field that day.
“It’s always a treat because we never know what the chefs will create," says manager Vickey Brown. "They have a look around first thing in the morning and then go around and collect product and put their creative minds together and offer up really yummy tastes of the market.”
The event is meant to showcase the seasonal product at the market, which is all grown in the Comox or Strathcona regional districts, by the people who are selling it at the market.
“This is a fundamental tenet of authentic farmers' markets," Brown says. "Anything that’s sold at the market must be grown or produced here, and sold by the folks who grew, raised, fished, baked or produced it.”
With the abundance of local product being harvested for market right now, there is lots of variety to choose from. President Lesley Stav of the chefs' association says it’s an important event for them.
“Not only do local chefs, 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.”
These events benefit everyone involved by demonstrating what is possible with local food.
The Comox Valley Farmers' Market is a year-round market. The Saturday market runs from 9 to noon at the Exhibition Grounds, and the midweek market runs Wednesdays from 9 to noon on England Avenue in downtown Courtenay.
— Comox Valley Farmers' Market