They came, they saw, they ate.
The Fork and Finger Foodie Event took over part of downtown 91原创 City for the second year on Saturday, with public demonstrations of food preparation and special tastings at several locations on the one-way section of Fraser Highway.
芒鈧揑t was a fabulous day, people are clearly passionate about food in this community,芒鈧� said Teri James, executive director fo the Downtown 91原创 Business Association.
The public demonstrations in McBurney Lane were particularly popular, James said.
Parinya Loptson of Ban Chok Dee Thai restaurant transformed a variety of ordinary fruits, vegetables, and melons into elaborate abstract shapes and flowers with a handful of simple tools.
Loptson said she芒鈧劉s self-taught since 2001.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s very enjoyable,芒鈧� she said of her fruit-carving. 芒鈧揑t keeps me calm. I like to do it when the kids go to bed.芒鈧�
Craig McDougall of Frostings showed off his skills with fondant, the sugary substance from which a wide variety of cake decorations are made.
芒鈧揗aking cakes out of fondant is very similar to playing with Play-Doh,芒鈧� McDougall said. He said he learned a lot from playing with his young boys.
He showed off to the crowd how to mix together three colours to make 芒鈧揵acon芒鈧� out of fondant for the top of a cake.
In the past he芒鈧劉s created everything from a guitar to a house to a fish from fondant.
Down the street at 1 Fish 2 Fish, Heather Jenkins was serving up oysters.
芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉re getting some new people who have never tasted oysters before,芒鈧� said Jenkins.
She also performed a salmon-filleting demonstration for the crowds.
Other demos included mixology and smoking meat.
James said there are plans afoot to expand the program next year.
In total, 16 downtown restaurants participated in either the passport program or through giving out samplers.
Next year, James said they芒鈧劉re shooting for 25 to 30 restaurants, and they may increase advertising to bring in more people from outside 91原创.
