On July 1st Four Seasons YEW Seafood Restaurant and Bar's chef Ned Bell set off to cycle across Canada. He'll be keeping us posted with his journey from the road for the full eleven weeks. Here now, the fourth of his diary entries.
Today was a special day. PEI is a special place, and Michael Smith is an incredible host, chef, leader, mentor and a friend. He created an experience the last few days I will never forget. Opening his home, his kitchens, sharing his team, he introduced me to some of the best PEI has to offer. The Inn at Bay Fortune is an extraordinary spot, no wonder 24 years ago Michael was hooked. Michael still lives and works three minutes down the road. I can see why. Tonight's event was a Grand Slam Home Run!
I love how the Chef community is supporting and engaging our journey. I also love how CFO is being embraced by the fishermen and women, and the communities they live in. Fishing is their life; whether it is for lobster, scallops, the world famous PEI mussels or my new favourite - oysters of Colville Bay from Johnny and Leo Flynn in Souris ( pronounced Surrey). They took us around the Bay this morning and explained the magic (and very hard work that goes into producing almost 1 million oysters a year) it takes multiple steps and stages, in and out of the water, and four full years to bring a single oyster to maturity. Talk about passion and commitment. Not to mention resources and investment. I am hooked. These guys are my heroes, fishermen are my heroes. They came to the event tonight, along with the team from Sustainable Blue Arctic Char, the Halibut Farm in Victoria PEI which we will be visiting tomorrow on my ride from Fortune to Charlottetown towards the Confederation Bridge.
Tonight, this past week, the sold-out Halifax event on Saturday with the amazing chefs there - Dennis Johnson, Ray Bear, Craig Flinn and Michael Howell - has been extraordinary.
The East Coast rocks.
Follow Ned's Journey at #chefsforoceans and via @Nedbell on Twitter. See you on the road.
· Chefs for Oceans. [Official Site]
· All Ned Bell Coverage [EVAN]
· All Chefs for Oceans Coverage [EVAN]
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