PEI Porktoberfest is something to 'taco' about
This October, Island hog farmers, local markets, and our talented chefs will be in the spotlight as PEI Porktoberfest kicks off its 6th annual campaign.
Between October 1 and 12, the campaign focuses on ‘PEI Pork At Home’, with multiple ways for Islanders to celebrate PEI hog farmers by cooking local pork for their own families. This includes pork specials at several local markets, promoting different recipes and cooking tips, plus several contests featuring fresh, local pork. Two new promotions include the chance to win gift cards to local markets, as well as the ‘Hammy Thanksgiving’ contest where Islanders can win one of six smoked picnic PEI hams to serve as part of their Thanksgiving dinner menu.
"Porktoberfest is an excellent opportunity to showcase the high quality of our pork products, the dedication of our producers and the culinary creativity of our chefs," Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Alan McIsaac said. "This is another example of why Prince Edward Island is Canada's Food Island."
Starting October 13, the restaurant portion of PEI Porktoberfest launches with this year’s signature dish being PEI Pork Tacos. Participating chefs have truly found new ways to reinvent the traditional taco, with grilled apple hickory sticks, fresh mango, rice patties and marinara sauce as examples of featured ingredients. There’s even one taco that uses ham and cheese quesadillas as a taco shell.
Of course, the hero of these gourmet tacos is local pork, with chefs using different cuts such as pulled pork cheeks, pork belly, pulled pork, bacon, smoked ham, and ground pork.
“We are pleased to partner in this year’s Porktoberfest campaign, and are excited about the different approach to the past years with the focus on both at-home consumption, and the centrepiece restaurant dish being tacos,” said Tim Seeber, Manager of the PEI Hog Commodity Board. “The pork industry continues to make a significant contribution to the agriculture community of our province, and PEI Porktoberfest helps to raise that awareness for our producers.”
The full details on the PEI Pork Tacos will be revealed on Friday, October 13. With either two or three tacos being served dependent on the restaurant, all PEI Porktoberfest PEI Pork Tacos will be sold at $12 across the board.
“We are excited to offer these amazing PEI Pork Tacos to Islanders at a set price of $12 this year”, said Melody Dover, owner of Fresh Media, the Charlottetown agency that created and manages PEI Porktoberfest. “When Islanders see the time and effort our talented chefs put into their creations, and most importantly people get to try these amazing dishes, we believe there will be a lot of dining plans for pork tacos this month.”
To determine the Best PEI Porktoberfest Chef title, Islanders are encouraged the eat these one-of-a-kind culinary PEI Pork Tacos, and then vote online for their favourite chef creation until the end of the month, with every vote being an opportunity for people to also win prizes.
PEI Porktoberfest is a month-long celebration of PEI pork created by Fresh Media, and presented in partnership with Prince Edward Island Hog Producers, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Hometown Pork.
To learn more about PEI Porktoberfest, and for the list of restaurants competing for the title of Best Chef, visit www.peiporktoberfest.ca
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