Each September Salt Spring Island gets festive with Sip & Savour Salt Spring Island. This year the events take place during National Organic week from Friday, September 19th to Sunday, September 21st, 2014. The festival brings together growers, food providers and chefs from Salt Spring Island and partners them with vintners representing the wine growing regions of British Columbia and the finest Vancouver Island Craft Brewers. Three days of sipping, savouring and living the Salt Spring Island farm-to-table dream! Last year Michael and I joined in on the fun and had a great weekend getaway.

Getting there:

The current BC Ferry schedule to Salt Spring Island means that unless you have all the time in the world on your hands, you should fly. Salt Spring Air has three flights a day from the Vancouver Airport as well as right from downtown through Coal Harbour. Pack light and jump on the float plane for a scenic twenty minute flight and you’ll arrive in style.

Stay:

We love love love, did I say love? Hastings House, but last year we checked out Mariner’s Loft and I am going to suggest you book into here for the festival as there are full kitchens and you’ll want to shop the local market and make some meals of your own with the local bounty. I also did check in to Hastings House the following night for Chefs Across the Water and it was once again an entirely pampered experience with top notch food and service, but you don’t get to do your own cooking!

We picked up some peppers, squash, green onions, tomatoes and Salt Spring Island Cheese and made a simple pasta that we enjoyed on the patio looking out to the Harbour. Or should I say Michael made the pasta as I think I just watched. Thank you!

 

On the Friday night we chose to dine at Auntie Pesto’s, one of my musts every time I visit the Island. They did a spectacular job of showcasing the local farmer’s products with a squash soup, fish cakes, beet carpaccio and tender local lamb. This year there are many more dinners for both the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights including the Hastings House, Harbour House, Auntie Pestos, Moby’s Pub and Rock Salt Restaurant. Make your choices here.

In the morning we checked out the Salt Spring Farmer’s Market and gathered our produce for our Sunday night dinner and then made our way to the Saturday Grazing Experience.

This year the event is held at the Salt Spring Island Farmers Institute and will be a similar casual afternoon of craft beer and cider from the islands a samples of delicious local food prepared by island chefs.

After a nice break back at our loft we headed to Moby’s Pub for their Sip and Savour Meal, another well done meal consisting of a savoury zucchini panacotta, a delish and rather overwhelming pork chop with squash and roasted apples with locally churned ice cream and sponge toffee sprinkle.

If you enjoy exploring gardens, you should arrange to have a look around that of Harbour House Hotel’s Organic Garden while on the Island. This amazing acreage provides the majority of the produce for the Harbour House Hotel’s restaurant. They also serve up some flavourful Salt Spring Island mussels which you of course have to have while on the Island.

This year the Harbour House hosts a sparkling brunch on the Sunday should you wish to extend your feasting to another day, as well as a dinner on Sunday and Monday night.

It’s hard to leave this idyllic spot where farms and local food are always front of mind. Details on 2014 Sip and Savour Salt Spring Island here.