2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference, the weeklong meeting which led to the creation of our nation. To celebrate, PEI (@GentleIsland) is going all out this year with celebrations throughout the summer. If there’s ever a time to visit PEI, this is definitely the year.
The celebrations kick off on Canada Day with one of the largest fireworks displays nationwide as well as the Concert for Canada featuring Canadian artists including Barenaked Ladies and Tegan & Sara to name a few.
The festivities are centered around the PEI 2014 Celebration Zone which begins on Canada Day and runs until September 7. The zone will feature daily concerts, culinary adventures, interactive walking tours, children’s activities and cultural exhibits. If you’re having trouble deciding when to visit, try Founder’s Week which takes place from August 28 to September 7 which will include a performance by Shania Twain (of course!).
Other PEI highlights include 1,110km of beautiful shorelines, 33 golf courses around the island and incredible food. Think wonderfully fresh seafood and ingredients provided by local farmers, foragers and fishers.
I recently attended a Tourism PEI event at the Berkeley Fieldhouse which took us on a journey from 1864 to the present. It featured a pop-up feast at Berkley Fieldhouse which was full of history and culture from PEI.
We were treated to an evening of cocktails, incredible food, live music and entertainment. As if that wasn’t enough, Food Network celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford (@CHEF_LYNN) hosted the evening which included a live interactive cooking demonstration.
Chef Lynn, executive chef and proprietor of Ruby Watchco, was the perfect host. She’s even more loveable in person with her witty banter and warm personality.
Without further ado, here’s a look at our fun-filled evening:
The 1864 Anne of Green Gables Raspberry Cordial & Vodka
Freshly Shucked Oysters
Lobster Rolls
Fish & Chips
Steak Tartare
Cheese Biscuits
Green Salad
Sweet Corn with Chipotle-Lemon Butter
Lobster & Potato Salad
PEI Mussels
Grilled PEI Lobsters
Marinated PEI Steaks and Portobello Mushrooms
Strawberry Cheesecake
Learning how to waltz!
Needless to say we were incredibly well fed. This taste of PEI really excites me about the amazing food offerings you can expect on the island. Like I said, if there’s a time to visit PEI, it’s definitely this summer. For more information on the festivities, check out http://www.tourismpei.com/2014 and join the conversation using the following hashtag: #PEICelebration
*This was a complimentary meal. The opinions in the post, as always, are my own.*
Gorgeous, beautiful food. Need some Anne of Green Gables Cordial here in BC!