When non-cider drinkers think of cider, they picture smuggling Growers into the basement at family dinners to indulge in the may-as-well-be-juice, entry-level alcohol. But cider has been growing in popularity as a bright, sweet, summer drink and alternative to beer. The first annual Fraser Valley Cider Fest turned skeptics into apple appreciators with its stellar…
It’s an old trope: a bumbling restaurant patron discovers they can’t afford their meal, and, after a big commotion, they work off their debt by washing dishes and serving customers. In the real, less comedic world where everyone needs food but not everyone has the means to get it, this sort of system would have…
A new craft brewery in Abbotsford is emerging. Hathi Brewing (“elephant” in Hindi, pronounced hah-tee) currently has three varieties of beer, with more styles and flavours in the works. Founders Aman and Paul Sidhu are taking cultural cues from Abbotsford’s South Asian population to create an infusion of Indian tastes, craft beer, and community. Hathi…
You may not be decking your halls just yet, but for hundreds of local artists and vendors in the Fraser Valley the Christmas craft season is here. These markets bring together everything, from food and ingredients to ornaments and kids’ clothes, in one place for the season. From now until mid-December you can find these…
By Sasha Moedt When Curly Kale Eatery chef Mike Slanzi was given notice by city officials to leave his location at Chilliwack’s The Local Harvest Market, it was a scramble. “The building wasn’t built to commercial code, so the city came down on them,” Slanzi explained. He’d worked in that space for nearly a year…
By Jess Wind What do you do when you have 25 food trucks and not nearly enough stomach to try ‘em all? Bring helpers! We showed up hungry, at the crack of 11 a.m., ready to take on the Fraser Valley Food Truck Festival’s final event of the season in Fort Langley, and we were…
Spice Train to Scoville If you’ve ever visited the Abbotsford farmers’ market, you’ve probably stumbled across an unassuming booth called Big Mac’s Gourmet Specialties. Behind the table you’ll meet a hot pepper farmer named Mac MacDonald who creates some seriously special sauces: spicy jams, jellies, and hot sauces that pack a punch you won’t soon…
Harvest Grill ‘n’ Greens owner Dion Brisson admits he feels lucky. “Everyday, I go wow, what a great decision,” Brisson said, sitting out on the patio outside of his restaurant in downtown Abbotsford. Since choosing this location for his dream restaurant and procuring it August of last year, he’s been there every day. “No one’s…
