Some of Canada’s top celebrity chefs will visit Prince Edward Island during this year’s Fall Flavours Festival, a month-long celebration of local culinary offerings held in communities across the Island.
“Prince Edward Island is increasingly becoming known as a premier tourism destination for food lovers. The continued growth of the Prince Edward Island Fall Flavours Festival is a testament to the excellent products grown and processed right here in our province,” said Tourism and Culture Minister Robert Vessey. “The festival is also a great way to offer our target markets the quality culinary experiences they are looking for, extend our shoulder season and provide packaging opportunities for tourism accommodations.”
Food Network Canada hosts Chef Lynn Crawford, Chef Mark McEwan and Chef Corbin Tomaszeski will all participate in Fall Flavours events this year.
“Our Government's support of unique festivals like Fall Flavours is rooted in the important benefits these events generate for the local economy and for PEI's tourism industry,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie. “In addition, this festival provides us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase our Island's rich cultural heritage and culinary dynamism to visitors seeking unique travel experiences.”
The official host of this year’s festival is the Prince Edward Island Chefs Association, which will be represented by Chef Ross Munro. Munro, the chef at Sim’s Corner Steakhouse and Oyster Bar in Charlottetown, was recently named Prince Edward Island’s Chef of the Year for 2011.
The Prince Edward Island Fall Flavours Festival, held September 2-25, is presented by the Prince Edward Island Culinary Alliance. The festival is an Island-wide event that brings producers, chefs and tourism industry partners together to offer visitors and Islanders some of Prince Edward Island’s best culinary offerings.
“The lineup of some of North America’s best chefs attending this year’s events really speaks to the high caliber of the Prince Edward Island Fall Flavours Festival,” said Chef Jeff McCourt, chairman of the Prince Edward Island Culinary Alliance. “Harvest time in Prince Edward Island is a food-lover’s dream, with some of the freshest produce, meat and seafood products available anywhere.”
Chef Corbin appears as a host on Food Network Canada’s Crash My Kitchen, Dinner Party Wars and Restaurant Makeover. He will kick off the Fall Flavours Festival at Le Festin Acadien avec Homard September 2 in Abram’s Village. He will also host a lobster party on the beach in West Point on September 3.
McEwan, host of The Heat and Top Chef Canada, will be the guest host for the Best of Beef in Summerside September 9. He will also host the Red Sands Potato Fest Cultural Feast September 10 at Port-la-JoyeFort Amherst National Historic Site.
Crawford is a host on Food Network Canada’s Pitchin’ In and Restaurant Makeover. She will be the guest host for the Applelicious Festival September 18 in Arlington. Crawford will also host a special Chef on Board evening cruise along the Island’s south eastern coastline on board NFL’s HMS Confederation September 23, as well as Picnic in the Park at Cavendish Grove in PEI National Park in Cavendish September 24.
A full schedule of events will be released in early July when tickets go on sale. Prince Edward Island Fall Flavours is part of the Prince Edward Island Flavours initiative of the Culinary Alliance.
The Prince Edward Island Culinary Alliance is a partnership between the Prince Edward Island departments of Tourism and Culture, Innovation and Advanced Learning, Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development, as well as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and industry representatives. The alliance was created to develop innovative food industry partnerships, culinary experiences and promotional programs.