Looking for a delicious – and local – Christmas gift for the foodie in your life?
Give back while giving the gift of great food with Fire to Fork, The Firefighters Cookbook, Recipes from Victoria’s Best Restaurants and Chefs.
Published by the Greater Victoria Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation, with the help of south Island chefs and title sponsors Country Grocer and Eat Magazine, the cookbook supports the B.C. Professional Firefighters Association Burn Fund.
While other jurisdictions have created cookbooks with celebrity or firefighter recipes, for example, the Greater Victoria departments wanted to highlight local talent.
“We have such a food culture here when it comes to locally sourced products,” says Capt. Kraig Devlin, with Saanich Fire.
That’s not to say local firefighters aren’t represented.
A chicken and grilled pineapple burger from Saanich firefighter Bonnie Fiala is a favourite, while a smoked salmon recipe firefighter Mike Grace is simple but delicious.
In all, readers will discover about 100 or so recipes, from appetizers to desserts, with beautiful photos by Rebecca Wellman, design and editing by Gary Hynes, and taste-testing and writing by Shelora Sheldan.
Support the B.C. Professional Firefighters Association Burn Fund
Many locals will be familiar with the firefighters’ annual fundraising calendar, but they wanted to expand their reach, Devlin explains. The solution was pairing firefighters’ celebrated cooking skills with the local focus of south Island chefs as a fundraiser for the Burn Fund.
The fund supports care and research in British Columbia, as well as initiatives such as a summer camp for young burn survivors and accommodation for families whose loved ones are being treated in hospital.
The book retails for $29.99 and firefighters are hoping to raise $10,000.
The opportunity to give back
Country Grocer was eager to support the firefighters’ efforts.
“Firefighters, food and a charity too? We couldn’t pass on the chance when asked if we would sponsor the cookbook,” says Country Grocer Marketing Manager Tammy Averill. “We’re thrilled with the quality of the book and know how much time and effort went into creating it. If you have a foodie in your life, this would make a perfect local Christmas gift!”
You’ll even see a familiar Country Grocer name among the recipe authors as Chef Michael Williams has contributed a number of tasty creations.
Get yours today!
In addition to Country Grocer’s Esquimalt, Royal Oak, Lake Cowichan and Chase River stores, the cookbook will also be available in some local bookshops and through the Saanich, Victoria, Esquimalt and Oak Bay fire halls.
Keep an eye on countrygrocer.com and Facebook for more Fire and Fork events coming!
***
Country Grocer is an independent, Island-grown, family-owned group of seven grocery stores in Victoria, Lake Cowichan, Cobble Hill, Nanaimo and Salt Spring.
