Food

Dairy cows are shown in a barn on a farm in Eastern Ontario on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Farm groups say they’re fearful the highly contagious Omicron variant could severely stress Canadian food production. Dairy farms, greenhouses, and mushroom farms are some of the sectors that could be most vulnerable to interruptions if large numbers of employees need to stay home sick. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Highly contagious variant could stress Canadian food production, farm groups say

Outbreaks at Alberta meat-packing plants in 2020 sickened hundreds and killed 4

Dairy cows are shown in a barn on a farm in Eastern Ontario on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Farm groups say they’re fearful the highly contagious Omicron variant could severely stress Canadian food production. Dairy farms, greenhouses, and mushroom farms are some of the sectors that could be most vulnerable to interruptions if large numbers of employees need to stay home sick. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Thierry Fitaire (from left to right), Mayor Barb Desjardins, Nikki Neff of Esquimalt Neighborhood House and Simon Manchip help unpack trucks full of supplies. (Courtesy of Township of Esquimalt)

Esquimalt Neighbourhood House refills emergency pantry with help from township

Esquimalt Township’s annual food drive brought in nearly 5 vans full of supplies for the charity

Thierry Fitaire (from left to right), Mayor Barb Desjardins, Nikki Neff of Esquimalt Neighborhood House and Simon Manchip help unpack trucks full of supplies. (Courtesy of Township of Esquimalt)
Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria runs Jan. 20 to Feb. 6, 2022. Don Denton/Black Press photo

Savour world-class culinary delights during Dine Around, Stay in Town Victoria

The tastiest time for foodies to visit Greater Victoria returns later this…

Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria runs Jan. 20 to Feb. 6, 2022. Don Denton/Black Press photo
November 8, 2021 - Mathieu Lacroix, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager for the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, mixed up a Trade Wind cocktail for a champagne cocktail feature for TWEED. Don Denton photo

Sparkle and shine

With a Champagne cocktail in hand, every day is special

  • Dec 27, 2021
November 8, 2021 - Mathieu Lacroix, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager for the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, mixed up a Trade Wind cocktail for a champagne cocktail feature for TWEED. Don Denton photo
(Pxhere)

More Salmonella illness cases in Western Canada linked to frozen kernel corn brand

People have reported getting ill in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario

(Pxhere)
Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau tours a grain farm in the drought-stricken Interlake Region of Manitoba on Thursday July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

$30 million top-up coming to Canada’s emergency food fund

Fund will provide more money to the charities to help Canadians access needed food

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau tours a grain farm in the drought-stricken Interlake Region of Manitoba on Thursday July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski
October 23, 2021 - Tea at the Empress with Toby Tannas. Don Denton photo

Victoria’s travel secrets

Old-world charm stands proudly amid a modern world

  • Dec 20, 2021
October 23, 2021 - Tea at the Empress with Toby Tannas. Don Denton photo
Christina Loucas. Lia Crowe photo

Christina Loucas pens Cypriot food cook book

Cyprus Cuisine a lovingly curated collection of family recipes

  • Dec 17, 2021
Christina Loucas. Lia Crowe photo
September 9, 2021 -Fall food with Ellie Short. Carrot and golden beet soup Don Denton photograph

Autumn food aromatherapy

Celebrate the season with fall-favourite spice recipes

  • Dec 15, 2021
September 9, 2021 -Fall food with Ellie Short. Carrot and golden beet soup Don Denton photograph
Produce is shown in a grocery store in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canadian families will pay an extra $966 for groceries in 2022, report says

Jump in B.C. and Alberta expected to be higher than average

Produce is shown in a grocery store in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
FILE - Dogs are seen in a cage at a dog meat farm in Siheung, South Korea, Feb. 23, 2018. South Korea said Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, it’ll launch a government-led task force to consider outlawing dog meat consumption, about two months after the country’s president offered to look into ending the centuries-old eating practice. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

South Korea to launch task force on banning dog meat

Restaurants that serve dog meat are dwindling in the country, while pet popularity climbs

FILE - Dogs are seen in a cage at a dog meat farm in Siheung, South Korea, Feb. 23, 2018. South Korea said Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, it’ll launch a government-led task force to consider outlawing dog meat consumption, about two months after the country’s president offered to look into ending the centuries-old eating practice. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
The Good Food Network’s annual gathering, set for Nov. 26 andf 27, allows the community to find solutions to food insecurity in Greater Victoria. (Photo courtesy of Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable)

Food insecurity in Greater Victoria central theme of Good Food Gathering

Educational, informational event set for Nov. 26-27 to run virtually and in person

The Good Food Network’s annual gathering, set for Nov. 26 andf 27, allows the community to find solutions to food insecurity in Greater Victoria. (Photo courtesy of Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable)
Evacuated residents from Merritt, B.C., gather at a reception centre in Kamloops, B.C., Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Floods another blow for restaurants in B.C. Interior, operators and advocates say

Latest in 20 months of struggles through the COVID-19 pandemic and a summer of wildfire smoke

Evacuated residents from Merritt, B.C., gather at a reception centre in Kamloops, B.C., Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Hassib Sarwari and Winnie Sun (Sarwari’s partner at Afghan Kitchen Group). Lia Crowe photography

Hearty and full of heart

Dishes at Hassib Sarwari’s Zarak inspired by his mother’s cooking

  • Nov 15, 2021
Hassib Sarwari and Winnie Sun (Sarwari’s partner at Afghan Kitchen Group). Lia Crowe photography
Robots navigate the Bowling Green State University campus in Bowling Green, Ohio on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2021. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots __ knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas __ are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Robots hit the streets as demand for food delivery grows

Knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas, robots are now navigating college campuses

Robots navigate the Bowling Green State University campus in Bowling Green, Ohio on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2021. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots __ knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas __ are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labor shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Cocktail recipes from Ellie Shortt with photography by Lia Crowe

Raising a glass to cocktail recipes

Health benefits hide in mixed drinks

  • Nov 3, 2021
Cocktail recipes from Ellie Shortt with photography by Lia Crowe
Baguettes are removed from the oven at Feru bakery in Louveciennes, west of Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. A worldwide increase in wheat prices after bad harvests in Russia is forcing French bakers to raise the price of that staple of life in France the baguette. Boulangeries around France have begun putting up signs warning their customers of an increase in the price of their favorite bread due to rising costs. (AP Photo/Michel Euler

Fears of rising baguette prices pose crunch for the French

Bread crunch has been linked to a 30% worldwide increase in the price of wheat since September

Baguettes are removed from the oven at Feru bakery in Louveciennes, west of Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. A worldwide increase in wheat prices after bad harvests in Russia is forcing French bakers to raise the price of that staple of life in France the baguette. Boulangeries around France have begun putting up signs warning their customers of an increase in the price of their favorite bread due to rising costs. (AP Photo/Michel Euler
September 8, 2021 -Dishes of ( from top left, clockwise) Beef Carpaccio, Spaghetti and Wagyu Meatballs and Prawn Carbonara at the Lot 1 Pasta Bar restaurant. Don Denton photograph

Good pasta, good karma

Lot 1 Pasta Bar changes the game

  • Oct 18, 2021
September 8, 2021 -Dishes of ( from top left, clockwise) Beef Carpaccio, Spaghetti and Wagyu Meatballs and Prawn Carbonara at the Lot 1 Pasta Bar restaurant. Don Denton photograph
Alpina Restaurant at Villa Eyrie Resort on the Malahat was among seven eateries on the Island that made the opentable.com Top 100 best patios list. (OpenTable photo)

Seven Vancouver Island eateries crack national outdoor dining top 100 list

Diner-voted restaurants on Island range from Mill Bay to Oak Bay, Saanich to downtown Victoria

Alpina Restaurant at Villa Eyrie Resort on the Malahat was among seven eateries on the Island that made the opentable.com Top 100 best patios list. (OpenTable photo)
Documentary filmmaker Les Stroud and ethnobotanist Fiona Hamersley Chambers pick salmonberries in the forest for an episode of Wild Harvest. (Photo courtesy of Laura Bombier)

Metchosin farmer lends foraging expertise to documentary filmmaker

Fiona Hamersley Chambers joins forces with Les Stroud on Wild Harvest foodie series

Documentary filmmaker Les Stroud and ethnobotanist Fiona Hamersley Chambers pick salmonberries in the forest for an episode of Wild Harvest. (Photo courtesy of Laura Bombier)