A mouthwatering event taking place this Saturday, Aug. 27 will showcase the talents of three Alberni Valley chefs while raising some funds for Port Alberni Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock rider Brady Mathison.
Mathison is a corporal with the Port Alberni RCMP and one of 17 riders.
The King Edward Liquor store is hosting a barbecue rib competition, and is banking on members of the public to vote for their favourite ribs.
“Three restaurants are competing: Blue Marlin Inn, Starboard Grill and the Port Pub,” King Edward Liquor manager and organizer Ken Porteous said.
Representatives from all three restaurants will be set up in the King Edward parking lot from 12–4 p.m., cooking their signature ribs. For $2 people can sample the ribs and cast their vote.
Chefs are vying for a 22-inch-high trophy for first place, and medals for second and third, Porteous said.
The rib competition is part of the King Edward Liquor store’s customer appreciation day. However, Porteous hopes it will turn into an annual food festival.
“I figured it would be fun and the town doesn’t have anything like it going on,” said Porteous, who has lived in the Alberni Valley for three years.
“It’s my hope to turn this into a food festival in Port Alberni, and we’ll see how that goes.”
He’d like to see the festival tuck into the mid-August space after Thunder in the Valley and before the busy September weekends of Salmon Fest, Fall Fair and Toy Run.
Porteous was looking into partnering with a number of charities when the Tour de Rock literally landed on his doorstep. “The representative for Cops for Cancer came into my office and asked if I could donate something for their silent auction. The timing was perfect,” he said.
“It’s a very good cause.”
While the rib competition takes place from 12–4 p.m., King Edward Liquor’s customer appreciation event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. PEAK FM will be on location from 12–4 p.m.
King Edward Liquor is located at 3684 Third Ave., across from Granny’s Chicken.
The Tour de Rock team will cycle into Port Alberni on Friday, Sept. 30. The community is invited to celebrate with the team at a traditional salmon barbecue, hosted by the Tseshaht First Nation, at Maht Mahs Gymnasium.
Tickets are available from Matilda Atleo and Irma Robinson of the Tseshaht and at the Canadian Cancer Society office on Third Avenue Uptown. Tickets are by donation.
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