Fundy Food Festival
Taste the Original Flavours of Saint John
The Fundy Food Festival is in its 10th year, but the search for the "Original Flavour of Saint John" is just beginning.
The festival is accepting applications from chefs until June 1 for a new appetizer in honour of Saint John's 225th birthday.
"It's up to their ability to do their research, their creativity, and presentation to make the perfect Original Flavour," says organizer Margaret Begner, who owns and operates Opera Bistro with her husband Axel.
The six best will be judged at the festival, from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. on June 5 at the Marco Polo cruise terminal. The winning dishes will reflect Saint John's culture and heritage and include Crosby's molasses. Three finalists advance to be judged at the Celebration 225 festival July 3 in Rockwood Park, with the winner remaining on Saint John menus in honour of the city's 225th.
The Begners, who emigrated from Germany, helped start the festival back in 2001, along with Inn on the Cove owners Ross and Willa Mavis. This year's edition will have all the food and drink Saint John taste buds expect, from Japanese sushi to Iranian pastries to Jamaican patties and West African stews. Other twists include a chef auction, and the first screening of Margaret and Axel's Smart Eat web series.
"I believe it's absolutely important and crucial to let the community know we - immigrants - are people that are part of their community. We bring changes with us through our culture and we add on to the community," Margaret Begner says. "Loyalists, Acadians, (First Nations), those were the ones that established the flavour of this city. Now this is 2010 and you see Germans have influenced the cuisine. So have the Asians that have come. The circle never ever will close."
Proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of Saint John. For tickets, visit the Boys and Girls Club (1 Paul Harris Street), Opera Bistro (60 Prince William Street), or phone 642-2822. Visit Fundy Food Festival for more information.
Written by freelance journalist Nathan White for saintjohn225.com.
The Saint John 225 Spotlight is posted biweekly on Thursdays. Comment on this story or send us your story ideas info@saintjohn225.com
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