RIPE has a Play Date with Growing Chefs!

We're excited to announce that Growing Chefs will be hosting kids activities at this year's RIPE event! Helen and crew will help the little ones paint their own garden pot, plant a winter vegetable seedling, and play vegetable exploration games from 4pm - 6pm at RIPE. For more details on RIPE tickets, etc. visit our website at: http://eatlocal.org/ripe/

Growing Chefs are also hosting an dinner gala of their own: From Farms to Forks, on October 23rd at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. Guests can wander from kitchen to kitchen at the Institute and watch the chefs in action as they enjoy tasting plates, canapes, and cocktails from such restaurants as C, La Brasserie, Pear Tree Restaurant, Vij's, and West, to name a few. For more details on the Farms to Forks event, visit the Growing Chefs website at: http://growingchefs.ca/farms-forks-2

Swallow Tail comes to RIPE!

VFM is excited to introduce Chef Robin of Swallow Tail Supper Club as one of the local chefs participating in RIPE this year. A self-confessed wild food and wine obsessive, Robin enjoys nothing more than foraging for edibles like sea lettuce, pine mushrooms, and cleavers (to name just a few) to present at her underground supper club. These popular underground suppers, held at various "pop up" locations around the city, are culinary adventures that explore the finer, more exotic aspects of local and wild food.

At this year's RIPE celebration, Swallow Tail plans to present wild mushroom pate on a bed of micro greens along with deep fried root vegetable chips - yum!

For more info on Swallow Tail Supper Club, Tours, and Events visit Chef Robin's website at: http://www.swallowtail.ca/

Stay tuned for more tantalizing sneak peaks of RIPE's dinner menu as we get closer to the time of the event! For info on RIPE tickets, visit the website at http://eatlocal.org/ripe/

Save the Date! The 3rd Annual RIPE: A Harvest Dinner Celebration

On October 16th, the Vancouver Farmers Markets will host our annual fundraising event: RIPE: A Harvest Dinner Celebration, at the Creekside Community Centre from 4pm - 8pm. RIPE is a casual, family-style feast that features local chefs preparing seasonal dishes using farm product from market vendors. This year, RIPE will showcase chefs from Campagnolo, Meat & Bread, Rangoli, and Swallow Tail Secret Supper Soiree along with local beer, wine, and cocktails, a fabulous silent auction, and live entertainment. Tickets are available at all of the markets, and on-line at http://eatlocal.org/ripe/. Prices are $50 for VFM members, $65 for non-members, and $25 for children under 12.

Stay tuned to our blog for more sneak peak tidbits on the menu and cocktail offerings leading up to the night of the event!