If sampling a delicious palate of local flavours with the astounding backdrop of the Rocky Mountains seems like an enviable way to spend an afternoon, then you’ll have the opportunity to do exactly this when the Pig Out event, hosted by Slow Foods Columbia Valley and Edible Acres, makes its much-anticipated return.
“It’s a culinary event, the food is excellent calibre,” said Lynn Egan of Winderberry Nursery, where the event takes place. “It’s just a showcase of what we can do locally with our chefs and what we can locally produce.”
Roughly a dozen local chefs will be on hand for the event on Saturday (August 25) from 2 to 5 p.m., which last graced the Columbia Valley in 2010. Egan said they had no trouble getting rid of 200 tickets that year and this year are offering 250 tickets for what is truly a unique event.
“It’s a unique event in the valley because of the way we set it up in our field,” Egan explained. “People have the opportunity to walk around from tent to tent, so it’s very social, everyone just mingles.”
As people move from tent to tent to sample each of the chefs’ locally grown creations, they’ll also be entertained by live music courtesy of local musicians such as Bill Cropper.
There will also be tents featuring seating areas, but Egan said one of the main draws is being able to move around the field freely to interact with all the other people who have come to get a taste of what the Columbia Valley has to offer.
“We wanted to get local chefs involved with local produce and foods,” Egan said. “We also wanted to get our community excited about what we can naturally grow here and let the chefs showcase their skills.”
Tickets are now on sale at Circle Health Foods in Invermere, at Winderberry Nursery itself and are also available at the Winderberry booth at the Invermere farmers’ market on Saturday.
Prices are $45 for Slow Foods members, $55 for non-Slow Food members, $35 for kids seven to 12, and free for kids under seven.
There will also be a cash bar showcasing some local wines and beers for the adults to enjoy.
For those curious about Slow Foods, or those interested in becoming a member, Egan, who is also a Slow Foods Columbia Valley member, said the group is part of a larger movement that sprang up in response to the fast food movement that pervades modern culture.
Slow Foods puts a focus on locally produced, sustainable food sources and also on the social aspect of eating and cooking. Proceeds from the Pig Out event will go to support Slow Foods Columbia Valley, which puts on a couple of similar events each year and also supports a Slow Foods youth group at David Thompson Secondary School. To join Slow Foods, visit their web site at www.slowfood.com. For more information on the Pig Out event, call 250-342-3236.