“Food brings people together on many different levels. It's nourishment of the soul and body; it's truly love.” Giada De Laurentiis PUBLISHER + EDITOR-IN-CHIEF letter from Karen Elgersma ART DIRECTOR the publisher As I sat down to write out my resolu-tions for 2025, I started the way I often do — trying to quit something. You know the drill — quit some unhealthy habit and replace it with a healthy one. While plotting out my grand plan of becoming the world’s healthiest woman, I got a text from a friend with a photo clearly taken in the ’70s of a bunch of kids on their bikes, who looked to be around 9 or 10, that said: “Your mom thought you were riding your bike around the block for 8 hours. But in that time you went 5 miles away, explored an abandoned house, jumped over some garage roofs, attempted a Ouija board, built a den in the woods and made your own fire.” My friend sent this nostalgic image to a group of us who grew up together, and we all thought the photo was actually us — the silly texts that ensued from my childhood friends were hilarious. As the day wore on, I started reflecting on my younger self, and I marveled at how much fun I used to be. How adventurous, free, and silly I was — we were. It made me want to jump into the photo and be a kid again. So, this year my New Year’s resolution is simple. I want to have more fun . After having the joy of meeting artist and gallery owner Kim Pollard on Pender Island, and hearing her stories behind her food art, I am going to be more intentional about visiting art galleries and meeting the artist behind the art (page 16). I want to go out more this year and enjoy time laughing, talking, and indulging in the local food scene. Whether I am having a tasting with friends at one of the Island’s cider houses (page 12) or checking out one of the many new foodie establishments that have opened this past year, I want 2025 to be the year that I single-handedly rebrand “The Karen.” (By 2026 I want people to say, “Be a Karen!”) We are going to continue to add some serious fun, laughter, and joy into everything we do at Edible Vancouver Island in 2025. With our new editor, Elizabeth Nyland, on board, and a few other new team members, we are all excited about this next chapter, and we are so grateful to have you along for the journey! May 2025 be filled with laughter, some super silly moments, and a sense of wonder. Tiffany Sargent EDITOR Elizabeth Nyland COPY EDITOR Trish Weatherall SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Jenny Leung PHOTOGRAPHERS Elizabeth Nyland Heidi Richter Saman Rezapour ILLUSTRATOR Sharon Lam ADVERTISING Dawn Postnikoff Peggie Terry Danica Jeffery ediblevancouverisland.com/advertise CONTACT US 10123 West Saanich Road North Saanich, BC, V8L 5T6 editor@ediblevancouverisland.com TO SUBSCRIBE Visit us online at ediblevancouverisland.com Edible Vancouver Island is published six times a year. Subscription rate is $42 annually. LETTERS We welcome your feedback. To write to the editor, use the address above or, for the quickest response, email: editor@ediblevancouverisland.com Edible Vancouver Island is published six times per year by Karen Elgersma Media INC. 10123 West Saanich Road North Saanich B.C. V8L 5T6 No part of these publications may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the pubisher. Every effort is made to avoid errors and omissions. If you notice an error, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us. ©2025. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S. Check out our website and follow us on social media @EdibleVanIsle for up-to-date events, recipes and news from the food and drink community of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the surrounding areas. On the cover: Chocolate Ganache Tart by Heidi Richter ISSUE 31 • JAN/FEB 2025 Celebrating Local Food Stories of Vancouver Member of Edible Communities Island & The Gulf Islands
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