A CHEF’S ISLAND

By Mark Gregory, President, PEI Culinary Federation

THE PEI FALL FLAVOURS Festival happens each year highlighting the chefs, farmers, fishers, and producers of Canada’s food island. As a wrap-up to the festival each year, the PEI branch of the Culinary Federation plays host to “A Chef’s Island.”

This year’s event took place on October 8 at the Marriott Delta Prince Edward Hotel, featuring some of the island’s top chefs and ingredients that were grown, fished, and harvested from PEI, with 11 food stations featuring island beef, pork, oysters, mussels, gouda cheese, potatoes, halibut, and more.

Each chef was paired with an island producer to collaborate on their dish and to work the station together to answer questions and talk with guests about the dish and locally sourced ingredients.

One station had a “come from away” guest! Chef Nicole Gomes, originally from Calgary, but currently of British Columbia, prepared beef with the PEI cattle producers. Nicole, who won Top Chef Canada season five and was a finalist on Iron Chef Gauntlet, beating Bobby Flay, is the owner of Cluck ‘n’ Cleaver in Calgary.

As part of the event, 150 guests were handed a PEI passport on arrival and encouraged to attend all 11 stations and hand in their passports to event sponsor, Meyer Canada. Meyer provided pots and pans for a “photo op wall” and a full set of pots as a prize draw for one lucky winner.

The host for the evening was local comedian Patrick Ledwell, keeping the crowd entertained with commentary on the chefs and their creations. As well, local musicians Brandon and Jennifer Gillis were on stage playing some classic tunes in between Patrick’s live chef chats.

This event serves as a wrap-up for the month-long PEI Fall Flavours Festival, Culinary Federation PEI’s major fundraiser event.

PEI’S FALL FLAVOURS FESTIVAL

From kitchen parties to community lobster suppers, oyster shucking shindigs, and potato peeling contests, islanders have a long tradition of celebrating food and inviting visitors to join the party.

It’s from that tradition that the idea for PEI’s Fall Flavours Festival presented by Sobeys was born in 2007 as a 10-day celebration in the capital city of Charlottetown. And we don’t mean to brag, but it’s been a hit ever since!

Over the past 15 years, the festival has grown by leaps and bounds, evolving into a month-long celebration. We welcome you to join us, as Canada’s food island offers countless food-loving visitors the opportunity to experience PEI’s incredible food scene during the fall harvest season.

Today, it’s renowned as Canada’s premier culinary festival, drawing in visitors from across the country and around the world.

Check out fallflavours.ca for more info and upcoming events.