A women shops in the halal food section inside a Metro grocery store in Milton, Ont., on Friday, January 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Halal food industry growing to meet demand as Muslim population rises

Nearly 5 per cent of Canadians are Muslim, according to the 2021 census

 

A child cools down her hot chocolate. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Victoria Hot Chocolate Festival is 32 days of warm, velvety goodness

Event is raising money for the BC SPCA

  • Jan 11, 2024

 

Michele Brynes, third-generation co-owner of the Dutch Bakery holds stollen that is a traditional holiday classic. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Victoria bakery has ‘stollen’ hearts this holiday season

The Dutch Bakery is in high demand in December

 

Industry experts say there’s still plenty of growth in the future for plant-based meat products – and Canada stands to benefit, if it can invest in the areas where the sector still lacks. Beyond Meat products are seen in a refrigerated case inside a grocery store in Mount Prospect, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Plant-based meat still poised for growth despite recent setbacks: experts

More than 40% of people trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets, research finds

Industry experts say there’s still plenty of growth in the future for plant-based meat products – and Canada stands to benefit, if it can invest in the areas where the sector still lacks. Beyond Meat products are seen in a refrigerated case inside a grocery store in Mount Prospect, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
PQB News reader Molly shares this terrific shot of a peach upside-down pudding cake, courtesy an old recipe from Bev Wolf.

WOLF: Break out some of your all-time favourite recipes

COLUMN: Sharing memories among generations

PQB News reader Molly shares this terrific shot of a peach upside-down pudding cake, courtesy an old recipe from Bev Wolf.
Tofino’s beaches are a key draw for tourists, but the wages those tourists bring to the local economy tend to be on the lower end of the scale. (Westerly File Photo)

Low-wage earners cutting corners on healthy foods to make ends meet in Tofino

A large portion of Tofino’s service and tourism industry workers making less than a living wage

Tofino’s beaches are a key draw for tourists, but the wages those tourists bring to the local economy tend to be on the lower end of the scale. (Westerly File Photo)
A worker helps package products for Fishwife, a Los Angeles-based tinned fish company, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at a cannery in Bay Center, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Canned seafood moves beyond tuna sandwiches in pandemic trend that stuck

Tinned fish, as it’s called in Europe, now a regular offering on American menus

A worker helps package products for Fishwife, a Los Angeles-based tinned fish company, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at a cannery in Bay Center, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The new Cozy Christmas Food Tour, which starts on Nov. 17, means you can savour delicious treats like gooey melted cheese, rich truffles, peppermint bark, spiced nuts and rich hot chocolate. (Off the Eaten Track photo)

Eat your face off during Victoria Christmas food tour

Ooey, gooey food is part of the fun

  • Nov 19, 2023
The new Cozy Christmas Food Tour, which starts on Nov. 17, means you can savour delicious treats like gooey melted cheese, rich truffles, peppermint bark, spiced nuts and rich hot chocolate. (Off the Eaten Track photo)
Operational technician Erin Aranda handles flasks containing mushroom spores at the production facility for Meati Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Thornton, Colo. Eventually, the company expects to produce more than 40 million pounds of meat annually at its 100,000-square-foot Mega Ranch in Thornton. That’s about 160 million four-ounce servings, or half the amount of beef served each year at Chipotle, one of Meati’s biggest investors. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Plant-based meat could solve climate woes – if more people would eat it

Removing meat from your diet might do wonders for the planet, but what about the taste buds?

Operational technician Erin Aranda handles flasks containing mushroom spores at the production facility for Meati Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Thornton, Colo. Eventually, the company expects to produce more than 40 million pounds of meat annually at its 100,000-square-foot Mega Ranch in Thornton. That’s about 160 million four-ounce servings, or half the amount of beef served each year at Chipotle, one of Meati’s biggest investors. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A collection of Mum’s old recipes. (Penny Koers photo)

WOLF: Collection of old recipes offers treasured reminder of childhood

COLUMN: Everyone’s mom was an amazing cook back in the day

A collection of Mum’s old recipes. (Penny Koers photo)
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for several types of Yuxiang Aquatic seafood balls because the products contain potential allergens not listed on their labels. (Health Canada)

Yuxiang Aquatic brand oyster, shrimp and shrimp balls with cheese recalled

There have been no reports of any illnesses linked to the product

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for several types of Yuxiang Aquatic seafood balls because the products contain potential allergens not listed on their labels. (Health Canada)
Anastaiisa, Bohdan, and Polly Konstantynova arrived in Canada in 2022, with just one suitcase. Anastaiisa now works with Help Ukraine Vancouver Island. (Anastaiisa Konstantynova)

Donations dry up for Victoria group helping Ukrainians ‘arriving with 1 suitcase’

Families can access up to $400 in groceries and household supplies

Anastaiisa, Bohdan, and Polly Konstantynova arrived in Canada in 2022, with just one suitcase. Anastaiisa now works with Help Ukraine Vancouver Island. (Anastaiisa Konstantynova)
According to anecdotal evidence collected by Food Banks BC, more post-secondary students in B.C. are turning toward food banks. (Black Press Media file photo)

Food Banks BC sees ‘notable’ increase in food bank use on campuses

BC Greens are calling on government to help more students

According to anecdotal evidence collected by Food Banks BC, more post-secondary students in B.C. are turning toward food banks. (Black Press Media file photo)
Ed Currie holds up one of his Pepper X peppers on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Fort Mill, S.C. The pepper is now the hottest pepper variety in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Hot stuff: the world now has a newly certified hottest pepper

Only five people so far have been able to eat an entire Pepper X

Ed Currie holds up one of his Pepper X peppers on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Fort Mill, S.C. The pepper is now the hottest pepper variety in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)
Greater Victoria singer and pianist Michael Kaeshammer opens his kitchen door to celebrity musical guests in a new television cooking show. (Courtesy Michael Kaeshammer)

Peninsula pianist takin’ care of business in the kitchen with Randy Bachman

Michael Kaeshammer kicks off fall tour with Salt Spring, Victoria shows

Greater Victoria singer and pianist Michael Kaeshammer opens his kitchen door to celebrity musical guests in a new television cooking show. (Courtesy Michael Kaeshammer)
Huy Fong Foods brand of sriracha has been hard to find this year due to drought conditions in the U.S. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

‘I miss it so much’: Victoria sriracha lovers lament ‘shortage’ of fave brand

The familiar brand with the rooster and green cap has been missing from shelves

Huy Fong Foods brand of sriracha has been hard to find this year due to drought conditions in the U.S. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
A package of Paqui OneChipChallenge spicy tortilla chips is seen on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Boston. Authorities are raising the alarm about a OneChipChallenge social media trend that encourages people to avoid seeking relief from eating and drinking for as long as possible after eating the chips, days after a Massachusetts teenager died hours after taking part in the challenge. The dare is popular on social media sites, with scores of people including children unwrapping the packaging, eating the chips and reacting to the heat. (AP Photo/Steve LeBlanc)

Death of U.S. teen raising questions about spicy food challenges

Food challenges have a long history, but have they become too extreme?

A package of Paqui OneChipChallenge spicy tortilla chips is seen on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Boston. Authorities are raising the alarm about a OneChipChallenge social media trend that encourages people to avoid seeking relief from eating and drinking for as long as possible after eating the chips, days after a Massachusetts teenager died hours after taking part in the challenge. The dare is popular on social media sites, with scores of people including children unwrapping the packaging, eating the chips and reacting to the heat. (AP Photo/Steve LeBlanc)
July 5, 2023 - Roast for a story on slow food. Don Denton photo Food photography

Take it slow…and even slower

Lessons from a slow-food lifestyle

  • Sep 4, 2023
July 5, 2023 - Roast for a story on slow food. Don Denton photo Food photography
An orchard worker picks Red Delicious apples from an Okanagan orchard. Many fruits in Canada are now ripening. (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: Are you ready for the fruit harvest?

Agricultural workers are harvesting various fruit crops

An orchard worker picks Red Delicious apples from an Okanagan orchard. Many fruits in Canada are now ripening. (Black Press file photo)
Upcoming Tombo restaurant is under renovations while the Agrius sign still hangs above on Yates Street. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Wave of new Victoria restaurants taking over space of closed eateries

La Taqueria on Fort Street is the latest to close down

Upcoming Tombo restaurant is under renovations while the Agrius sign still hangs above on Yates Street. (Ella Matte/News Staff)