While roaming the three-hour gourmet harvest festival that celebrates the connections between farmers and chefs, attendees will get a sneak peek at the new face of a longstanding Victoria eatery.
The 24th annual Vancouver Island Feast of Fields is again being hosted at Heritage Acres in Saanichton.
Among them will be the Brass Monkey, formerly Moon Under Water.
“We just thought it was time for a bit of a refresh,” said Clay Potter, who embarks on a venture with two new partners this summer—Morgan Watson, a hospitality director in downtown Victoria, and executive chef Jason Clifford, who both come with extensive experience.
The Aug. 24 event lands on the anticipated launch date for the renovated Bay Street restaurant and revamp of the menu as the venue shifts to a music focus, after seeing success with live music in the last year or so.
“People need an excuse to go out these days,” Potter said.
Expect to see a double patty smash burgers intended to induce positive profanity, alongside the core beers. Ribfest in September serves as a secondary big launch.
The brewery leans into the tunes with naming such as Scaramouche, Scaramouche (think Queen) pilsner and Licensed to Ale (Beastie Boys) pale ale. While the naming has an international reach, all the barley is grown at Field Five in Central Saanich. Potter says they’re using as much local hops as possible, augmented by others in B.C. – fitting nicely with the event’s goals.
“It’s a celebration of community, sustainability, and the joy of eating local,” said Julia Zado, engagement manager at FarmFolk CityFolk. “Feast of Fields is one of the most delicious ways to spend a summer afternoon, tasting incredible food and drink, meeting local makers, and learning more about where our food comes from.”
As guests explore Heritage Acres, they will enjoy delicious creations made with locally grown and produced ingredients, crafted by chefs, bakers, brewers, distillers, and other talented food artisans. The event supports FarmFolk CityFolk’s work to build resilient and sustainable food systems in B.C., connecting people to the land, to their food, and to each other.
Presenters feature a wide range of culinary offerings, from pizza to seafood, all rooted in local inspiration. Participants showcase bites that not only shine a spotlight on their unique offerings, but also focus on the importance of local ingredients and flavours.
The Q at the Fairmont Empress marks a return to the event, offering up a sneak peek at its coming fall menu, according to Chef de Cuisine, Tyler Paquette.
“Each year, we look forward to being a part of the Vancouver Island Feast of Fields. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect with our community and showcase the best from local farmers, chefs, bakers, brewers, and distillers,” Paquette said.
In addition to learning and tasting, there will be live music, the new Heritage Acres self-guided audio tour that tells the story of selected museum artifacts, as well as some of the Peninsula’s colourful characters and events and a silent auction.
The 24th Annual Vancouver Island Feast of Fields is Sunday, Aug. 24 at Heritage Acres in Central Saanich. Find a full list of participants and get tickets online at farmfolkcityfolk.ca/feast-of-fields/chefs-and-makers/#vancouver-island.
