by Caron Olive, Tofino
The Calm Waters Hall in Tofino will be abuzz with the sound of slurpin' at
the 7th Annual Clayoquot Oyster Festival. This year's event will
be held on Saturday November 22, 2003, and will feature oyster culinary
delights diligently prepared by Chefs from local restaurants, a display
and sampling of regional wines, fabulous jazz music from the Vancouver
based Continentals, and the renowned Slurping contest. Last year about
4,000 oysters were consumed during the evening, and we expect to do
the same again
this year!
Seven years ago, the first Clayoquot Oyster Festival started as a
small book and food event sponsored by Wildside Booksellers in Tofino.
The
event featured James Barber the Urban Peasant for an evening of conversation
and good food (and we can't forget about the debut of the Oyster
Bunny).
Since there were (and are) several oyster farms in Clayoquot Sound
and it was the beginning of November, the start of oyster harvesting
season, oysters were the food of focus. Over the past years the Festival,
which is organised by a group of dedicated volunteers and assistance
from the Clayoquot Sound Shellfish Growers Association, has grown in
size, popularity and zaniness.
As a celebration of oysters and the sea, the Festival emphasises
good food and the fun of eating oysters. Chefs from local restaurants
and
resorts present a tempting array of oyster creations. These creations
are voted on for best recipe by a panel of judges, for the Juried Prize
and by Festival guests for the People's Choice Award.
The crowning event of the evening is the Slurping Contest. Gaining
a reputation for being unpredictable and outrageous, slurpers vie for
the prestigious title of "Oyster Slurping Champion". Judged
on merits of Style, Gusto, Acoustics and Sex Appeal, slurpers have
continued to out do themselves.
It is easy to celebrate oysters as they are fascinating creatures,
delicious and good for you. They are bivalve mollusks that eat by filtering
around 25 gallons of water per day. So connected to its growing environment,
the taste of oysters vary from place to place reflecting differing
environmental conditions.
Considered as health food in a shell, they are chock full of things
that are good for you, including glycogen and many vitamins and minerals,
and are said to have almost no fat and few calories. And its' reputation
as an aphrodisiac – well, we'll let you test that out on
your own.
The oysters cultivated in Clayoquot Sound are the Crossostrea gigas,
more commonly known as the Japanese or Pacific Oyster. This oyster
was introduced to the West Coast in the early 1900's. While most
commercial growing of oysters has traditionally been done on tidal
beaches, the long-line method that is popular in this area allows these
creatures to grow on strings dangling deep in the cold waters of Clayoquot
Sound. Put in the water as small juveniles, it takes 2 years for them
to grow to a good eating size.
Tickets for the event are $45/person and can be purchased by visiting
or calling Wildside Booksellers at 320 Main Street, Tofino or tel:
250.725.4222. Doors open at 6 pm at Calm Waters Hall, Tin Wis Resort,
Tofino. The Festival does sell out, so be sure to buy your tickets
early.
Oyster farm tours will be available on Sunday November 23, 2003 (weather
depending). Contact Wildside Booksellers for more information.
Caron Olive has been on the coast for a number of years and has
been involved with several environmental NGOs.
- Tofino Film Festival: February 17-20, 2016
- Pacific Rim Whale Festival: March 12-27, 2016
- Artsplash PRAS Art Show: March 12-20, 2016
- Tofino Shorebird Festival: April 29 - May 1, 2016
- Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet: May 6-22, 2016
- Clayoquot Island Open House: May 21-22, 2016
- Tofino Public Market: May - September, 2016
- Tofino Food & Wine Festival: June 3-5, 2016
- Pacific Rim Summer Festival: June 30 - July 9, 2016
- Ukee Days: July 22-24, 2016
- Tofino Lantern Festival: August 14, 2016
- Tofino Beer Festival: September 26, 2015
- Queen of the Peak: September 30 - October 2, 2016
- Tofino Oyster Festival: November 17-19, 2016
- Tofino Winter Celebration Artisan Festival: Dec. ?, 2016
- West Coast Winter Music: Nov. 2, 2015 - April 2, 2016