May is 'Eat Drink Local' month - the perfect excuse to try new restaurants in your area

May 5 2018, 1:57 am

Everybody knows that BC has a stellar food and drinks scene. From farm to table restaurants, to winemaking in the Okanagan, and locally-brewed craft beer, there’s something for everyone.

And there’s even more of a reason to get out and taste the best BC has to offer since an exciting initiative called Buy BC: Eat Drink Local just launched on May 1.

Launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA), it’s celebrating local sipping and dining experiences and growing the connections between BC restaurants, chefs, farmers, wineries, breweries, and distilleries, at the same time.

After all, it’s the quality of BC local ingredients that make this province’s food and drink truly special.

Buy BC: Eat Drink Local/Amanda Merrifield

Buy BC: EAT DRINK LOCAL has arrived on the tails of BC Wine Month. “We think that the spring is a great time to try unique local flavours and enhance dining out,” says Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association.

Restaurants participating in the province-wide initiative will provide great tasting experiences that highlight BC food and drink.

This differs from place to place; some restaurants have direct relationships with particular farms that grow their vegetables or provide all their pork, and others have pledged to support individual commodities by serving only BC chicken and BC eggs.

At the other end of the spectrum, some restaurants offer a BC-only wine and beer list.

“It’s about celebrating the diversity of BC offerings at different price points and in different styles,” says Tostenson. “Depending on the restaurant, the offerings will differ – but the commitment to buying BC and showcasing local flavours is at the core of every participating venue.

“When we hear of unique partnerships or BC crops you never knew about, Buy BC: EAT DRINK LOCAL will share those stories through our @EatDrinkBuyBC social media and website platforms.”

If you can identify and source local, seasonal, and sustainable food, you are supporting a ton of businesses across your community. And that matters since it creates and sustains jobs across the province.

Tostenson, who came from an extensive background in BC wine, adds: “When BC is in your glass, or on your plate at a restaurant, we know it simply tastes better and we encourage everyone to go out and see for themselves.”

Find participating restaurants near you today by visiting EatDrinkLocal.ca.

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