If you happen to be traveling north on Highway 2 on Friday, check out the Sturgeon County Bounty at Cardiff. The edibles on tap this year will keep your calorie count high and your mouth watering.
Celebrating its seventh edition, the festival feeds visitors with an eye on showcasing local products cooked with palate pleasing finesse.
“Initially it started out as a way to connect producers with consumers and develop a wider market,” said Leanne McBean, Sturgeon County economic development.
“Producers made their own food, but it became too challenging for them. And we wanted something more energizing. Producers are still there with their product, but chefs cook up the food.”
Six restaurants are parking their portable kitchens and booths at the food festival.
The newly opened Nineteen, an elegant restaurant that specializes in fusion delights, is whipping up slow braised short rib sliders, spicy Albacore Poké noodle bowl and a crunchy P.O.E. salad named after Peas On Earth Farms.
12 Acres, renowned for its organic fare, serves up a savoury pulled pork croquet, a mini Philly melt and crunchy zucchini fritters.
Not to be outdone, Jack’s Burger Shack is offering three burgers filled with savoury meats and veggies and a decadent poutine doused with cheese or fries on the side. Gluten free buns are provided upon request.
Bon Accord’s Prairie Gardens takes fast food to a new level with a smoked sausage fondue, bida-bang zucchini, roasted gourmet baby potatoes and an heirloom tomato salad. And for dessert, head cook Tam Andersen presents berry n’ rhubarb fool.
For pizza lovers Edmonton’s Urbano Pizza is offering two choices – the sugary-salt pork and pineapple or the cheesy vegetarian.
The final restaurant on the list, Streetside Celebration Food Truck, draws its inspiration from the world with pulled pork, German sausage, an Italian club clucker, Mediterranean bean dip, potato salad and a saskatoon dessert.
New this year, Legal chef Phil Hughes of Premium Food Services, is hosting several one-hour kids’ cooking classes.
“Phil is awesome and passionate about teaching kids to cook. He loves educating them and showing them how easy they can make food,” McBean said.
The classes are $10 and several spots are still available.
Another fresh addition this year is the Agricultural Services Board Tour. It’s a one-of-a-kind guided tour of Sturgeon County where farm operators open their doors to visitors and showcase their specialties.
The tour starts at Cardiff Park at 7:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. Participants then visit four county producers with a stop at Sandpiper Golf Club for lunch. The ASB tour is $25.
Last year 700 foodies attended the event munching on various eats at multiple food booths while the all-star dance band The Retrofitz played a few sets of funk, disco, and old school R&B.
This year Erin Kay headline’s the evening’s entertainment. The Edmonton folk singer released her debut EP, Into the Light, in 2014 and it garnered airplay on CBC and CKUA.
Organizers have doubled the face painters and tattoo artists from last year, and the Town of Bon Accord is ushering in a series of astronomy-based activities to celebrate its Dark Sky Equinox.
The food festival runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cardiff Park.
To pre-register for the kidss’ cooking classes or the ABS tour call 780-939-8349 or go online to sturgeoncountybounty.ca
