The first Feast of Fields, if memory serves, was held in Summerland, and this “wandering harvest picnic festival” has now traveled to numerous farms around the Okanagan, this year landing at Caldwell Heritage Farm in Kelowna.
Feast, though, is not just about spending an afternoon enjoying great food and local libations, but about getting to know those who get their hands dirty growing your veggies and fruits, tending to bees, training grape vines, and much more. Wineries, cideries, breweries and beverage producers are paired with chefs who then create sustainable dishes with their assigned bevvie.
Coming from the south, wineries range from Black Hills, Hester Creek, and Quinta Ferreira in Oliver, to Penticton’s Play Estate Winery (a first-time participant), to Wild Goose and Sage Hills will be pouring. If you’ve missed visiting some of your favourite Kelowna and Lake country area wineries, visit Intrigue, Meadow Vista and Off the Grid in one spot.
Distilleries and breweries are well-represented, as are cideries Dominion Cider Co, Howling Moon, and Left Field. On a hot Okanagan day, multiple stops for a refreshing sample are in order.
But what about the food? No need for breakfast, as nearly three dozen restaurants serve samples, and you can even learn about edible education with Chefs in the Classroom, and watch chefs-in-training from Okanagan College. Pick up a copy of the latest hot cookbook on the shelves: The Okanagan Table, by Chef Rod Butters of Raudz, micro bar & bites, and Terrafina at Hester Creek. A perfect book for the event, as it aims to teach how to cook with the bounty of ingredients in the valley.
You’ll be able to shop at an onsite market, explore the slow food movement, gardening, green tourism, seed security, all while filling up on amazing bites.
Feast of Fields is FarmFolk CityFolk’s annual local food celebration and fundraiser, highlighting the contribution local chefs, restaurants, farmers, ranchers, fishers, food artisans, vintners, brewers and distillers make to our local food economy. Proceeds from Feast of Fields support the continuing efforts of FarmFolk CityFolk to help farmers and food businesses, protect farmland, and engage the public to support local food businesses
To learn more about Okanagan Feast of Fields, taking place Sunday, Aug. 13, and to purchase tickets visit www.feastoffields.com.
Save the Date
July 30, Oliver: Quinta Ferreira celebrates 10 years with an afternoon event featuring live music, paella, and live music. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/10-year-anniversary-paella-wine-live-music-tickets-31605657372?aff=efbneb
Aug. 5, Okanagan Falls: Blue Mountain Winery hosts a Summer Picnic Social, a wine tasting and lunch with food truck Vagabond Kitchen. Purchase tickets by calling Chris at 250-497-8244, or emailing bluemountain@bluemountainwinery.com.
Aug. 5, Naramata: The band Sam Spade is on tour through the Okanagan, including a stop at Bench 1775. http://samspades.ca/shows/
Aug. 18, Oliver: Uncork the Sun features food, live music, and wine — a kickoff to Oliver’s Sunshine Festival. http://www.oliverosoyoos.com/Events
Aug. 27, Naramata: Chef Victoire Bongo of the Naramata Heritage Inn teams up with Upper Bench Winery and Creamery for a long table dinner. https://www.facebook.com/events/1598896806807897/
Aug. 24 to 27, South Okanagan: A number of locations host events for the first Chef Meets B.C. Grape in the Okanagan. https://www.chefmeetsbcgrapeokanagan.com/
Wednesdays, West Kelowna: Every Wednesday through Sept. 6, Quail’s Gate hosts its Dinner in the Vineyard series, four courses plus wine. https://www.quailsgate.com/
Sundays, Keremeos: On select Sundays through to mid-October, head to the historic Grist Mill at Keremeos for its Sunday Dinner series, with themed menus. http://www.oldgristmill.ca/events/
Wednesdays, Naramata Bench: The Naramata Heritage Inn features Tiki Night beginning at 7 p.m. every Wednesday this summer, with local songstress Yanti, and the cuisine of Ambrosia by Chef Victor Bongo. https://naramatainn.com/ambrosia-restaurant-lounge/
Allison Markin is the food and libations columnist for the Penticton Western News. She can be reached at Allison@AllSheWrote.ca and on Twitter @OkanaganTaste.
