Food

CHEF DEZ: Organize your kitchen properly and food prep won’t be so daunting

CHEF DEZ: Organize your kitchen properly and food prep won’t be so daunting

Think like a restaurant and you’ll perform like one

  • Dec 29, 2019
CHEF DEZ: A different take on New Year’s chips and dip

CHEF DEZ: A different take on New Year’s chips and dip

Baked salt and pepper pita chips with freshly made Greek tzatziki

  • Dec 22, 2019
Store manager Chris Steel and owner Lorne Campbell in the newly opened Old Farm Market at Estevan and Cadboro Bay roads. The renovated store has 6,000 square feet of fresh produce, a deli and fresh prepared meals to go. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

Old Farm Market is new, and open, in Oak Bay

Store thrives on fresh produce and ready to serve hot dishes

Blind taste testing this week was part of a chocolate-making competition at VIU in partnership with French chocolatier Cacao Barry. (Vancouver Island University photos)

Students coming up with signature VIU chocolate

Blind taste testing this week part of chocolate recipe competition

Blind taste testing this week was part of a chocolate-making competition at VIU in partnership with French chocolatier Cacao Barry. (Vancouver Island University photos)
CHEF DEZ: Getting the most from your Christmas baking

CHEF DEZ: Getting the most from your Christmas baking

Ice water and ingredient focus will make a difference

  • Dec 15, 2019
CHEF DEZ: Getting the most from your Christmas baking
Dec. 12, 2019 – Brun Dahlquist, owner of Pluto’s Restaurant, was happy to learn he’d get a one-year lease extension after he was told the restaurant would be demolished to make way for condominiums. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

Victoria restaurant gets one-year extension after facing renoviction

Pluto’s Restaurant set to stay at its Cook Street location until March 2021

Dec. 12, 2019 – Brun Dahlquist, owner of Pluto’s Restaurant, was happy to learn he’d get a one-year lease extension after he was told the restaurant would be demolished to make way for condominiums. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
How to make panforte

How to make panforte

Check out Italy’s medieval-era fruitcake with a peppery kick

  • Dec 13, 2019
How to make panforte
This Oct. 13, 2019 photo shows the tasting room at the Paix Sur Terre winery in Paso Robles, Calif. Winemakers around this central California city can grow a mind-boggling variety of grapes thanks to a wide diversity of microclimates. (AP Photo/Sally Carpenter Hale)

California’s Paso Robles area offers wine-tasters variety

The wine-growing area around Paso Robles is nearly three times the size of Napa Valley

  • Dec 12, 2019
This Oct. 13, 2019 photo shows the tasting room at the Paix Sur Terre winery in Paso Robles, Calif. Winemakers around this central California city can grow a mind-boggling variety of grapes thanks to a wide diversity of microclimates. (AP Photo/Sally Carpenter Hale)
Swiss cheesemaker Levi Friess will be on hand at the annual Christmas on the Farm event at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks to hand out samples of freshly melted raclette cheese. (Emily Vance photo)

A very cheesy Christmas at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks

Annual family Christmas event, this year with raclette hot off the melting wheel

Swiss cheesemaker Levi Friess will be on hand at the annual Christmas on the Farm event at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks to hand out samples of freshly melted raclette cheese. (Emily Vance photo)
CHEF DEZ:	Cranberries and sweet potatoes on your holiday table

CHEF DEZ: Cranberries and sweet potatoes on your holiday table

Discussing a couple of essentials included in a classic holiday dinner

  • Dec 8, 2019
CHEF DEZ:	Cranberries and sweet potatoes on your holiday table
Gary MacDougall turned his front yard into a garden, completely covering the grass five years ago. He’s inviting others to his front garden on Sunday at 1 p.m. to share ideas. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

Vancouver Islanders converting front yards to food production

Front yard redevelopment transforming urban dwellers from consumers, to producers

Gary MacDougall turned his front yard into a garden, completely covering the grass five years ago. He’s inviting others to his front garden on Sunday at 1 p.m. to share ideas. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)
Chef Lauren Cartmel returns to Vancouver Island to open Ma Maison and provides a favourite cheesecake recipe.
Chef Lauren Cartmel returns to Vancouver Island to open Ma Maison and provides a favourite cheesecake recipe.
Alcohol production demands various amounts of water, land, fertilizers, machinery and energy use, notes columnist. (STOCK PHOTO)

Getting into the holiday spirits in a mindful way

Alcohol production demands various amounts of water, land and energy use, notes columnist

  • Dec 6, 2019
Alcohol production demands various amounts of water, land, fertilizers, machinery and energy use, notes columnist. (STOCK PHOTO)
Options for pairing your beer with your favourite holiday fare

Options for pairing your beer with your favourite holiday fare

From saisons to bocks, many local craft beer choices pair well with seasonal meals

Options for pairing your beer with your favourite holiday fare
Joe Wiebe, one of the directors of Victoria Beer Week, speaks to the crowd at the Victoria Public Market. The schedule for the seventh annual 2020 Victoria Beer Week was released Tuesday. (Christian Tisdale Photography)

Victoria Beer Society releases dates for 2020 beer week

Nine-day festival features new brews, new events

Joe Wiebe, one of the directors of Victoria Beer Week, speaks to the crowd at the Victoria Public Market. The schedule for the seventh annual 2020 Victoria Beer Week was released Tuesday. (Christian Tisdale Photography)
Maritimes featuring the taste of the place

Maritimes featuring the taste of the place

Food becoming bigger part of tourism industry in the Maritime provinces

Maritimes featuring the taste of the place
Nov. 14, 2019 – One of the contestants in this year’s Gingerbread Showcase at the Parkside Hotel and Spa, where this year’s theme was “Building a Diverse Community”. Funds raised go towards Victoria’s Habitat for Humanity branch. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

PHOTOS: 11th annual Gingerbread Showcase comes to Victoria

Bakers spent more than 100 hours perfecting their creations

Nov. 14, 2019 – One of the contestants in this year’s Gingerbread Showcase at the Parkside Hotel and Spa, where this year’s theme was “Building a Diverse Community”. Funds raised go towards Victoria’s Habitat for Humanity branch. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
CHEF DEZ: Finding the love of cooking

CHEF DEZ: Finding the love of cooking

Here are some ways to re-inject the joy in your meal prep experience

  • Dec 1, 2019
CHEF DEZ: Finding the love of cooking
Eat. Stay. Play. kicked off with a foodie delight at Brentwood College on Nov. 1. (submitted)

Eat. Stay. Play. in Cowichan this winter

Eat. Stay. Play. kicked off Friday, Nov. 1

  • Nov 30, 2019
Eat. Stay. Play. kicked off with a foodie delight at Brentwood College on Nov. 1. (submitted)
Mount Arrowsmith Brewing was one of 14 breweries represented at the first North Island Craft Beer Festival this past weekend at the Campbell River Community Centre. After the success of this year’s event, organizers have announced it’s now an annual celebration and will get to work on planning the second one to make it even better. Photo by Mike Davies/Campbell River Mirror

First North Island Craft Beer Festival a huge success

Benefit event for the Community Foundation will officially return as an annual event, organizers say

Mount Arrowsmith Brewing was one of 14 breweries represented at the first North Island Craft Beer Festival this past weekend at the Campbell River Community Centre. After the success of this year’s event, organizers have announced it’s now an annual celebration and will get to work on planning the second one to make it even better. Photo by Mike Davies/Campbell River Mirror