An aerial shot of the second annual Farm to Table dinner in Coulter Parkette. The evening of delicious cuisine went well into the evening.

Hub Staff

Executive Chef Randy Felker had taste buds celebrating under the lights August 19 at the second annual Port Elgin BIA Farm to Table dinner at Coulter Parkette. With jazz music flowing from the Charlie Bell quartet, to excited volunteers dishing out the food, the evening was a rousing success with proceeds going toward the ever-expanding Port Elgin Farmers’ Market.

A sweet toast featuring a new potato Amuse-Bouche between Felker and his 13-year-old daughter Keiryn kicked-off the evening that utilized over 50 volunteers.

Saugeen Shores Deputy Mayor and owner of Hi-Berry Farm, Luke Charbonneau, put on his farmer hat and was excited for the guests to taste his green beans that were the main feature of the first course. “Not only as a member of council but as a local farmer, it really is a special event for me and I want to thank the BIA for putting this event on, because it gives me the opportunity to say thank you to all of you for all of the support that you and all the members of this community have shown me and my family and our business for more than 30 years here now,” said Charbonneau at the beginning of the evening. Charbonneau went on to say that Port Elgin’s downtown core has never looked as good and thanked the Port Elgin BIA for their hard work. “This is a great event for us to be thankful for all the abundance that we’re able to enjoy in this community and this country.”

BIA President Jeff Carver couldn't thank the people behind the scenes enough. “From business owners to volunteers, there’s a ton of people that contributed to this and that’s what makes this incredible,” said Carver, also thanking the Town of Saugeen Shores and Council representatives. “In this day and age people have a real tendency to be down on the ability to attract volunteers... that is one thing that this event has had no shortage of. There was a lot of people that wanted to volunteer because it was something they wanted to be involved in,” said Carver proudly.

The BIA president said he had never been part of something on the scale of Farm to Table that has gone so well. “The fact that tickets sold out almost immediately after being released, I think is a credit to the reputation we built for putting on events as an organization but also the popularity of this sort of event.”

During his time at the mic Carver announced that Coulter Parkette will be getting a facelift to create more open space in the downtown core, with work commencing early September.

“This was a fantastic park when it was built but the downtown has changed from when Coulter was constructed and what people are looking for and what people want to do has changed... so it needs a refresh and a revitalization,” said Carver. In the past year, the Port Elgin BIA has used the space for their weekly Farmers’ Market, Poutinefest, Snowfest, and concerts. Carver then thanked the Council and the Town of Saugeen Shores who who he said have been “incredible to work with” for the revitalization project.

Executive Chef Randy Felker (right) with Sous Chef Julien Martin before the Farm to Table dinner August 19.

Tickets sold out for the second annual Farm to Table dinner that took over Coulter Parkette August 19.

Chef Randy Felker and his daughter Keiryn toasted to the night with the Amuse- Bouche.

Port Elgin BIA President Jeff Carver thanked volunteers for their handwork and the guests for the attendance before the feast began.

The Charlie Bell Quartet kept the music flowing throughout the entire night at the second annual Farm to Table dinner, August 19.

The second course featured a baked chicken and whiskey cheddar pirogi with charred corn puree.