There is no denying that British Columbia offers some of the finest cuisine to be found on the continent. Truth be told, the culinary experiences available here hold a unique position on the global stage as well.
BC has always been an A-class destination for the savvy gourmand,
but thanks to the proponents of Culinary Tourism, the appeal of British
Columbian cuisine is poised to reach a larger audience than ever
before.
What is culinary tourism? It is potential. It is celebrating the
very best of BC's platters on all levels, from fine dining to roadside
attractions. It is a passion for cuisine which extends beyond the
dining experience. From the field or ocean to the plate to the palate:
this is the road that culinary tourism walks. Thanks to the ongoing
efforts of the BC Culinary Tourism Society that road now leads to our
doorstep.
Though the term "culinary tourism" was only recently minted - to
capture the idea of experiencing other cultures through food - the
concept has existed for a long time. One can not mention Paris without
the scent of freshly baked baguettes stirring the imagination. Napa has
become synonymous with long, lost weekends of wine and food foraging.
The very same is beginning to happen here. In the Okanagan Valley,
the vines are yielding internationally-recognized wines and attracting
greater numbers of tourists to a region already renowned for its
cultural artisans. On Vancouver Island, agri-tourism efforts have been
attracting droves of locals and tourists alike to local farms and
artisan food producers.
What this amounts to is career opportunity. There is a tremendous
web of support behind every great dining experience. The hospitality
industry has always provided a wealth of opportunity for professionals
of every stripe. With the BC Culinary Tourism Society working hard to
ensure the culinary experience is used when promoting the province,
those opportunities will become more diverse, numerous and profitable
than ever.
This article was provided by the BCRFA and featured in the Vancouver Sun's Hot Jobs 2005: Hospitality, Tourism Industry and Education Opportunities in British Columbia on February 19th, 2005.