Tasters rejoice as Oak Bay boasts its inaugural tasting event.
The inaugural Oak Bay Village Spring Nosh celebrates Oak Bay’s growing foodie culture which emphasizes in-season flavours and local makers and producers.
“We’d been talking for years about having something on this end of the village,” said Cory Pelan, of The Whole Beast. “We’ve got some space, some like-minded food businesses and it’s time to test the waters.”
A variety of Oak Bay Village food businesses offer a range of seasonal flavours.
Sample bites are $2 each and larger portions are available for various prices. A range of food will be available including charcuterie, seafood including spot prawns, sausage barbecue, fish and chips and more.
Anne Best, of Oak Bay Seafood, plans to grill some salmon burgers in the parking lot adjacent to their shop in hopes the community will join.
“It’s working well,” she said of their fish monger location adjacent to the other three Nosh eateries.
“This could be an intro to food events, get the experience, and an opportunity for everybody to congregate,” said Best. Oak Bay Seafood hopes to launch a spot prawn festival and plans to have them on hand this weekend. They’ll also have salmon burgers and seafood chowder alongside bits of salmon roll and scallop “chop chop”.
“Hopefully this will attract more people to get a flavour of what we have here,” Best said, noting they have both fresh fish and the take-out variety. “This is going to be a great opportunity for people to see what we do here. That we do both.”
The Whole Beast plans to offer various grilled sausages on with condiments such as homemade mayo and ketchup alongside various pickles and fermented kimchee and sauerkraut.
“Whatever fun condiments we come up with,” Pelan said. Their $2 options will feature a variety of charcuterie, pepperoni and other bites of flavour.
The Oak Bay Village Spring Nosh is Saturday, May 13 from noon to 6 p.m. in front of 2020 Oak Bay Ave. There will be live music through the afternoon. Beverages, featuring beer and cider vendors from the Oak Bay Village Night Market, will be served in the garden space behind the building from noon to 5:30 p.m.
“Oak Bay Avenue is becoming more and more of a foodie centre. We wanted to highlight what is locally created and locally available in Oak Bay Village from people who are passionate about local food,” said Martin Cownden, president, Oak Bay Business Improvement Association and owner of Chef on the Run. “Spring’s fresh flavours make it the perfect time to celebrate local food and local food people.”
