For the month of October, PEI Porktoberfest returns with gourmet pulled pork sandwiches vying to win one Island restaurant the title of “Best PEI Porktoberfest Chef.”
After a successful pilot campaign last year, presenting partners Prince Edward Island Hog Producers, Hometown Pork, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, PEI Flavours, PEI Restaurant Association and Fresh Media are gearing up for an even bigger culinary campaign that celebrates PEI Pork.
“We are very pleased to invest in Porktoberfest,” said Agriculture and Forestry Minister George Webster. “This campaign provides a great opportunity to promote the high quality of Prince Edward Island pork by engaging Islanders and local chefs in a creative campaign that will benefit the pork industry and local restaurants.”
In 2012, PEI Porktoberfest launched with sausages being the featured pork dish. That year, there were 15 restaurants involved who sold over 2,800 sausage during the month. With gourmet pulled pork sandwiches being the pork feature this year, organizers are thrilled to have 32 local restaurants now participating.
“Every chef taking part in the campaign raved about how much they love cooking with Island pork,” said Melody Dover, owner of Fresh Media, the Charlottetown marketing agency that came up with the idea for PEI Porktoberfest and also created the successful PEI Burger Love campaign. “You can see their dedication to local through their flavours and ideas to create truly one-of-a-kind sandwiches.”
Using PEI pulled pork as the main ingredient, chefs have let their imaginations run hog wild to create sandwiches with names such as Professor Oink, Boar-rito, Porkapalooza, and the Big Bad Wolf.
“We are excited to once again be a part of this fun local campaign,” said Tim Seeber, Manager of the PEI Hog Marketing Board. “Knowing we have restaurants across the whole province, all Islanders will be reminded of our important hog industry in the tastiest possible way.”
The expanded campaign includes restaurants from Georgetown, Montague, Morell, Stratford, Summerside, Long River, Charlottetown, as well as Mill River.
Islanders can vote online for their favourite pulled pork sandwich, which will count towards finding PEI’s best restaurant chef. People also have a chance to win prizes with each vote.
The “Home Chef Challenge” also returns this year where people are asked to share their flavour combinations to create their perfect PEI pulled pork sandwich.
All submitted entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges to select three finalists. Islanders will then review the submitted finalist recipes, and vote online to determine the home chef winner.
“A campaign like Porktoberfest helps to raise awareness of our Island’s hog industry and fellow farmers,” added Scott Dingwell, owner of Hometown Pork, and a member of the PEI Hog Marketing Board. “We hope everyone will join us in the return of this month-long culinary celebration.”
To view the full list of PEI Porktoberfest creations, visit www.peiporktoberfest.ca. The campaign runs until October 31.