Bigger and better was the underlying theme of the 芒鈧揥hole Hog芒鈧� long table dinner held at the Fraser Common Farm in Aldergrove on Sunday.
The second year of the chef-prepared dinner took on a new flavour with the addition of 芒鈧揅anTina芒鈧� the shipping container turned outdoor kitchen.
One of the farm芒鈧劉s residents, Mark Cormier, explained that everyone wanted to see CanTina functional in time for the feast, originally inspired by chef Chris Whittaker of Vancouver芒鈧劉s Forage restaurant. Funds raised from the dinner will help to pay for CanTina芒鈧劉s arrival and set up.
芒鈧揥e did this Forage event last year,芒鈧� Cormier said. 芒鈧揟his year we worked really hard and sold out. The idea was to get CanTina up and running in time for the event.芒鈧�
The task was extensive with about a month of work to turn the shipping container into the outdoor kitchen facility which will allow for a greater number of events on the farm from kid芒鈧劉s campouts to dinners like the Whole Hog long table dinner.
芒鈧揥e have a blacksmith on site,芒鈧� Cormier noted of the lion芒鈧劉s share of work for the container芒鈧劉s conversion.
The blacksmith, Dustin Pritchard, managed the installation and refurbishing.
芒鈧揑t is a little bit like any household human space,芒鈧� Pritchard said. 芒鈧揑t has to be functional. There are several sort of formal functions that happen here every year.芒鈧�
Levelling the earth, laying foundational timbers, and designing all came before cutting the large holes in the container to allow for special awnings.
It芒鈧劉s a guarantee that CanTina will play a part in future events at the farm.
芒鈧揥e plan to have it [the long table dinner] every year,芒鈧� Cormier said.
Chef Chris Whittaker is no stranger to Fraser Common Farm and its food grown and sold under the Glorious Organics name. In addition to the Whole Hog event, he has worked at the farm and become a friend to those living and working there.
The Whole Hog name for the long table dinner came from Whittaker芒鈧劉s use of the entire hog for the feast. Guests enjoyed both farm-fresh produce and various pork dishes along with wine from Backyard Vineyards and beer from R&B Brewing.
Music was provided by a trio during the guests芒鈧劉 arrival and included the talent of the farm芒鈧劉s own Tallulah Winkelman. While the music played the sense of smell was easily engaged by Whittaker芒鈧劉s barbeques.
Sights enjoyed were as varied as fields filled with vegetables and the numerous functional buildings around the farm. When it came to the sense of touch, guests were set to picking some of those vegetables to supply the feast.
By adding CanTina to the farm芒鈧劉s amenities, Cormier feels it will continue to make the site more inviting.
芒鈧揑 guess one of the big things we want [as a result of the Whole Hog feast and other events] is for people to get to know our farm and see what we do,芒鈧� he said. 芒鈧揥e want them to see what we do and how we do it. The farm is always open for visitors.芒鈧�
Cormier added that support from guests who attended the long table dinner as well as those like Whittaker who take an active role in the farm芒鈧劉s health, is what keeps the farm team inspired.
芒鈧揥e get to see people eating our food,芒鈧� Cormier noted as a benefit of the dinner 芒鈧揥e don芒鈧劉t see that with restaurants. This is opportunity to do that.芒鈧�
