STRATFORD, P.E.I. — There will be a lot cooking in P.E.I.’s coastal communities this year.
The Fall Flavours Festival will be bigger than ever after organizers announced Wednesday a fifth week will be added to this year’s culinary festival, which runs from Aug. 30 to Oct. 6.
There will also be new events, including the Taste of Coastal Communities in Georgetown, Charlottetown Tyne Valley and North Rustico.
During the announcement at the Sobeys Extra in Stratford, Greg Donald, vice-chairman of festival host Food Island Partnership P.E.I., said it’s amazing how much Fall Flavours has grown since its small beginnings 12 years ago.
“It keeps getting better and bigger every year,” said Donald. “It’s not just about the food, it’s about the experience as well. You can pick potatoes, enjoy lobster on the beach, stroll through villages and, of course, taste some great food.”
Taste of Coastal Communities
Atlantic Lottery will sponsor the Taste of Coastal Communities, which will be seaside culinary experiences showcasing local tastes with guest chefs. Chef Austin Cournoyer of Actinolite Restaurant, Toronto will host Taste of Georgetown on Sept. 5. Chef Ryan Crawford from Backhouse Restaurant, Niagara will host Taste of Tyne Valley on Sept. 12 and chef Justin Wolfe from Los lobos, London Ont. will host Taste of North Rustico on Sept. 27.
Atlantic Lottery will also host the Taste of Charlottetown event on Sept. 11 at Top of the Park, which will feature chef Ned Bell, founder of Chefs for Oceans, and Red Shores executive chef Andrew Smith.
Sean Furlong, food and beverages manager at Red Shores, said the company was thrilled to sponsor the event.
“This event celebrates our culinary history, which is part of what it means to be Islanders,” said Furlong.
Another new signature event will be Dinner with Antonio Park at the Montague Waterfront on Sept. 28. The festival’s new fire up fund will also provide support to two new private sector culinary events; Supreme of the South Shore in Crapaud on Sept. 14 and the Great P.E.I. Bake-Off at Hunter River’s Harmony House on Sept. 28.
“You’re in for a real treat this year,” said June Shaw, front end manager of West Royalty Sobeys, which is the festival’s title sponsor.
The festival is also receiving support in the form of $185,550 through ACOA’s regional economic growth from innovation program.
Complete festival details, event links and access for ticket purchase are available at Fallflavours.ca.
