Feast of Fields 2015

Feast of Fields is probably my favourite food and wine event of the year. I’ve gone for the past four years, three of which have been with my mom. We’ve now made it into an annual event.

This year it was held at UBC Farm on Sept 13th. “The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS), located at UBC Farm, is a unique research centre that aims to understand and fundamentally transform local and global food systems towards a more sustainable, food secure future. The centre is a living laboratory, committed to finding solutions to both the local and global challenges facing food systems sustainability and translating solutions to improve personal, community, and environmental health.”

My biggest frustration with this location was that there were no transportation options offered from the Fraser Valley. In previous years when the event was held out in the valley, there would be busses available coming from Vancouver. You’d think that they’d provide something going the other way, especially since there are already tons of busses and other public transportation options in the Vancouver area. Having TWO buses within the city and nothing from the other end of the Lower Mainland is a bit ridiculous. I had sent them a few comments/questions about this, and finally about 2-3 weeks before the event they said they’d look into it. Nothing ended up happening, but I really hope in the future that they’ll think about this a bit sooner. It’s always good to provide options so people don’t have to drive after they’ve been drinking all afternoon. Hopefully wherever the event happens next year, there will be buses from both Vancouver and the Valley available.

Now, onto the amazing food!

Duck liver parfait on a spelt cracker with pear pudding and pistachios from Fable

Olive oil poached Kuterra Salmon, pickled Rootdown vegetables, herbed borlotti bean spread, swiss chard aioli served on a rye and chia cracker from Nita Lake Lodge

Farmhouse breakfast, pork fat biscuit, smoked pork shoulder, scrambled eggs from Nicli’s Next Door

This was such a unique item – I loved it!

 Fresh chard rolls, homemade pickles and smoked salmon from Mission Restaurant

This was definitely one of my favourite items of the day. SO flavourful, and salmon is one of my favourite seafood types.

Cured line caught Albacore tuna with preparations of Glorious Organics vegetables from Forage

Braised beef, smoked egg yolk, ramp and pepper pesto, sesame leaf, sesame seed, cilantro from Lips Resto

Compressed apple in juice, ricotta cheese, salt cod chips served with greens to garnish from The Pointe Restaurant at the Wickaninnish Inn

Savoury hazelnut crisp with vegetable mousse and dill pickle mousse melon, sweet pickled carrot and radish sprouts from Aphrodites Organic Cafe

Aged Golden Ears gouda and polenta crips, oregano and nutmeg cured beef tenderloin with UBC Farm ratatouille from Sage at UBC

Bao Chicka Bao Bao – steamed bun stuffed with buttermilk fried Rossdown Farms chicken breast with fish sauce glaze, garlic scape mayo, roasted veg, cilantro and scallions from Bao Down

Another favourite! The portions were HUGE and the flavours were phenomenal. The lineup was enormous for this, but was well worth every minute we waited.

Smoked chicken terrine served with an organic peach mostarda on toasted rosemary lavash from Fairmont Pacific Rim

Earth Apple Farms pickled red beets, red micro, pickled golden, meringue leaves, Okanagan goat cheese foam, Barnston Island nasturtium from Mosaic at Hyatt Regency Vancouver

Seared and chilled sturgeon canape from Pier 73

Gazpacho soup with sundried tomatoes and crispy bacon with a mini bun and tomato jam from Whole Foods Market

Bourbon cured sockeye salmon, wasabi creme fraiche and beetroot salad in a beet cup from Bin 941

Such a unique and delicious taste combination! And I don’t even like beets!

Wild BC salmon gravlax with UBC Farms sorrel creme fraiche, crisp challah melba and pickled vegetable from Ash Street Bistro

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Some of my favourite drinks were:

• Odd Society Spirits’ Wallflower gin
• SIP Soda – Coriander Orange
• Strange Fellows Brewing – Talisman West Coast Pale Ale
• Backyard Vineyards – 2012 Gossip
• Blasted Church – 2013 Chardonnay
• Long Table Distillery – Cucumber Gin
• Capilano Tea House and Botanical Soda Co. – Rose Lemonade

And lastly, a few views of the farm itself.

I can’t wait for next year!