JASON PARKS

STAFF WRITER

All necessary safe guards and precautions are being put in place as an expanded 2020 Countylicious campaign gets underway this weekend.

This annual shoulder season event features both the standard Countylicious campaign that runs from Oct. 30 to Nov. 22 as well as a precursor, kick off event that involves combining ten local entities with chefs and restaurants from outside Prince Edward County over the coming weeks.

In a sign of solidarity for a sector hard-hit by COVID-19 restrictions, County chefs, vintners, brewers, and food producers are coming together to present 10 culinary events during the fall Countylicious, sharing the stage with visiting chefs from Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.

The culinary events are part of an expanded Countylicious that promotes and includes the traditional fixed-price promotion, which will run from October 30 to November 22. More details about participating restaurants and food providers, as well as special menus and experiences, will be announced soon. All Countylicious events will adhere to the most current public health guidelines around capacity limits, safety protocols, and permitted activities.

“Local restaurants, event venues and event caterers have been particularly hard hit by COVID restrictions, and will continue to struggle with COVID-related restrictions and limitations,” said County communications person Mark Kerr. “We have worked with event curator Natalie Goldenberg-Fife to develop a series of culinary events to build a sense of excitement amongst potential visitors during the shoulder season. An expanded Countylicious was made possible in part by funding from FedDev Ontario, through the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario.”

“We know some of our restaurant operators are facing an uncertain future, with restrictions limiting the number of diners they can serve. I’m proud to see so many people come together to create opportunities for County products to be experienced in a whole new way,” Mayor Steve Ferguson added. “The new events and old favourites like the fixed-price promotion will give people the opportunity to support local, which is more important than ever.”

Residents and visitors will have a chance to ‘get away’ without a passport during the diverse culinary events that will feature cuisines from around the world. Each event features a County-based chef working alongside a visiting chef to create dishes that use local products and ingredients and pair with County craft beverages.

Kerr added all COVID-19 protocols will be followed.

“The health and well-being of the community is paramount whenever we look at planning events. For this year’s Countylicious, we are committed to ensuring all of the event hosts follow current safety protocols. Specifically, tickets are limited in order to meet COVID-19 restrictions,” Said Kerr. “ Guests will be required to keep physically distant and wear masks when not seated at tables. Diners will be asked to provide personal information to help the local public health unit conduct contact tracing if necessary. Should any of the provincial regulations change in the lead up to the events, we will adjust accordingly.

A portion of sales from each event will go to a charity or non-profit, including the Prince Edward Learning Centre, All Welcome Here, Wellington Food Bank, Food to Share/County Heirlooms Cookbook, and the PecSyria Settlement Fund, among others.

Events include:

September 27 | Canoe in The County at Parsons Brewing Company
The County meets The City in this chef-studded afternoon celebrating the best of the County harvest.
October 1 | A Taste of the Middle East at Old Third Vineyard
Ottawa’s Fairouz restaurant teams up with Adnan Mustafa and Suhaila El Husein, aka PapaGhanoush and MommaHummus, for a Middle Eastern feast, featuring fresh caught fish from Sleiman Al Jasem at the County Catch.
October 3 | My New Roots at 100 Acre Wood
Find nourishment of all kinds as vegetarian cookbook author, chef, recipe developer and blogger Sarah Britton of My New Roots collaborates with 100 Acre Wood for a special gathering to celebrate nature and community. Kevin Korslick (100 Acre Wood) welcomes his friend Matthew Ravenscroft (The Dirty Raven) as they create a multicourse menu inspired from the canon of My New Roots recipes.
October 4 | Greek Countryside Family BBQ at Kinsip Fine Spirits
Step from one island surrounded by shimmering blue waters to another during an afternoon of Greek-style barbecue, featuring luscious local lamb and eggplant and a menu of Aegean-inspired cocktails.
October 10 | Savoury Sips & Thai Spices at Lighthall Road, Milford
The spicy, fragrant flavours of Thai street food will be paired with New and Old World wines and bubbles. An unforgettable night transforming rural Milford into a slice of bustling Bangkok to showcase County wines with whole new flavours.
October 17 | Argentine-inspired Asado at the Alpaca Farm at SHED Chetwyn Farm
Experience an authentic Argentine Asado. Although often translated as a barbecue, it’s more of an art form, bringing together friends, families and neighbours to indulge in the mouth-watering, carnivorous tradition of perfectly rendering select cuts of meat over open fire.
October 18 | Midday Feast of Seafood & Game at Slake Brewery
Diners will get a unique view of the new Slake Brewery, for a hedonistic Quebecois-style feast paired with brews and bubbles.
October 24 | Plant-Based Celebration at Karlo Estates
Begin by learning about foraging for ingredients at The County’s only certified vegan winery, then enjoy a sumptuous vegan meal paired with vintages from Karlo Estates.
October 25 | Mind Bender Bites & Bubbles at Walt’s Sugar Shack
Taste what can happen when chefs flex their creative culinary skills, transforming local fare into mind-bending bites.
October 26 | Cooking For Good at From the Farm Cooking School
Chefs Nick Liu (DaiLo) and Cynthia Peters (From the Farm Cooking School) offer an intimate class, where six participants will learn to make small bites with Asian flavours.

Featured County chefs include:

Alexandra Feswick (The Drake Devonshire), Jamie Kennedy (Jamie Kennedy Kitchens), Elliot Reynolds (Bloomfield Public Market), Samantha Valdivia (La Condesa / Koenji), Hidde Zomer (flame + smith), Ian Chislett (Parsons Brewing Company), Zach Littlejohn (Littlejohn Farm), Albert Ponzo (The Royal Hotel Picton), Enid Grace (Enid Grace Culinary), Rebecca Hunt (Picnic PEC), Suhaila El Hussein and Adnan Mustafa (MommaHummus & PapaGhanoush), Sleiman Al Jasem (County Catch), Jens Korberg (The Old Third Vineyard), Kevin Korslick (100 Acre Wood), Paul Tobias (IdleWild), Tomas Crossley (Kaleidoscope), Jim & Jared Hartley (Hartley’s Tavern), Chris Byrne, Tamara Segal (Hawthorn Herbals), Paula Fernanda Teixeira Leite (Caju Winds), Cynthia Peters (From the Farm Cooking School).

Featured County craft beverages include:

555 Brewing Co, Closson Chase, Karlo Estates, Lacey Estate, Lighthall Vineyards, Long Dog, Morandin, Parsons Brewing Company, Rosehall Run, Slake Brewing, Stanners, The Old Third, Three Dog, Trail Estate, Pluck Tea and many others.

Tickets are limited in order to meet COVID-19 restrictions. Guests will be required to keep physically distant and wear masks when not seated at tables. Diners will be asked to provide personal information to help the local public health unit conduct contact tracing if necessary.

Ticket links:

Canoe in The County: https://www.parsonsbrewing.com/merch/canoe-county

A Taste of the Middle East at Old Third Vineyard: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-taste-of-the-middle-east-tickets-121989651331

My New Roots at 100 Acre Wood: https://mynewrootsx100acrewood.eventcreate.com.

Greek Countryside Family BBQ at Kinsip Fine Spirits: https://www.kinsip.ca/new-events

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