The Edible Valley Podcast

This podcast explores the relationship between sleep and learning and how it applies to culinary education. It is based on the article Sleep, Memory, and Plasticity by Walker and Stickgold (2006), which explains that sleep is an active part of the learning process. During sleep, the brain strengthens memories and reinforces newly learned knowledge and skills. As a culinary instructor, I connected...

Episode 270 of The Edible Valley Podcast takes listeners to the Alberni Valley to explore the energy surrounding Roger Street Bistro and the culinary program led by Chef Jonathan Frazier and NIC. This episode highlights how students are gaining valuable hands-on experience by preparing and serving meals to the public while learning the pace and expectations of a working restaurant. From kitchen pr...

The Edible Valley Podcast – What does a chef think about on a snow day? Spring ingredients, new menus, culinary students, and the future of food in the Edible Valley. In this solo episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, Chef Jonathan Frazier takes advantage of a surprise snow day on Vancouver Island to reflect on the transition from winter to spring in the culinary world. With a quiet morning and a...

Seafood is central to life on Vancouver Island. It shapes our identity, supports livelihoods, drives tourism, and connects us to generations of culinary tradition. From wild Pacific salmon and halibut to spot prawns and shellfish, the ocean plays a defining role in our region’s cuisine. In this episode of the Edible Valley Podcast, we explore the choices behind the seafood we serve and consume, an...

On this episode of the Edible Valley Podcast, we dive into one of the sweetest collaborations of the season — the NVICA Chocolate Fest activation at the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market, in support of L’Arche and the ongoing Comox Valley Chocolate Festival. Members of the North Vancouver Island Culinary Association were proud to be part of this community-driven celebration of chocolate, creativity, an...

Erin and I were thrilled to attend Taste of the NFL in San Francisco, one of the most exciting and impactful events of Super Bowl week. This isn’t just a food event, it’s a movement. GENYOUth, a U.S.-based nonprofit, works to increase access to nutritious meals and physical activity for students, and Taste of the NFL is one of their largest fundraisers. Top chefs from across the league came togeth...

This week on The Edible Valley Podcast, we’re talking crispy batter, seaside classics, and a little Super Bowl-fuelled adventure. William is back from England — and he didn’t return empty-handed. Fresh off a dive into traditional British chippies, Will shares what makes a great fish and chip shop: from no-nonsense service and paper-wrapped portions to perfectly fried fish, fluffy chips, and that u...

Food Trends 2026: From Awareness to Action explores how the conversations of 2025 are turning into everyday habits in the year ahead. In this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, Chef Jonathan Frazier is joined by special co-host Erin Haluschak to look at what’s shaping how we cook, eat, and gather on Vancouver Island—from functional, fiber-forward foods and mushrooms for health and longevity, to...

Episode 248 — Food Trends 2025 (Revisit) You may remember this episode from when it first aired, but it’s worth another listen. In Episode 248 of The Edible Valley Podcast, we explored the food trends shaping 2025 — a year defined by awareness, reflection, and big conversations about how we eat. This episode dives into sustainability, food systems, and gut health as they moved into the mainstream,...

The Edible Valley Podcast — Holiday Drinks at Home The holidays are busy, cozy, and a little chaotic — and somewhere in the middle, a drink gets poured. In this episode, Chef Jonathan Frazier shares simple, thoughtful holiday drinks that actually show up at home, from sparkling aperitifs to warming, spirit-forward options and inclusive low- or no-alcohol choices. He also shares hosting tips and re...

If you’re looking for inspiration for a meaningful holiday table, this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast is worth a revisit. Jonathan and Erin dive into what makes a holiday meal truly special, from sourcing local, seasonal ingredients to blending family traditions with new ideas. The conversation explores how food helps set the tone for the season, creating connection, comfort, and a sense of...

Edible Valley Podcast – Holiday Episode  This week, Chef Jonathan and host William dive into the heart of the holiday season with an episode full of food, family traditions, and festive inspiration. Recorded at the Jet FM studios, the two talk about December in the Comox Valley — the cold nights, the lights going up, and the comfort of coming together over great meals. William shares stories in an...

In this episode of Edible Valley, we dive into one of the most comforting, universal, and endlessly creative dishes in the culinary world: soup. From rustic broths to silky purées, hearty stews to bright, modern bowls, soup is a vessel for culture, technique, and the stories behind the ingredients we choose. Jonathan and William explore why soup holds such a special place in kitchens across Vancou...

In this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, we’re talking about one of the most essential - and endlessly fascinating - ingredients in the kitchen: eggs! Jonathan and William crack into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about eggs — how they’re cleaned, graded, and cooked, plus the many ways they make our food better. From the basics of boiling and poaching to the science behind emulsions an...

In this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, hosts Chef Jonathan Frazier sit down with Chef Avi Sternberg, fresh from his appearance at the Vines & Tides Harvest Dinner at 40 Knots Winery. The conversation goes beyond the event to explore Avi’s fascinating culinary path — from his roots in Colorado to his time training and working in Japan, and finally, to finding his home and inspiration in...

The Island Taste Trail is back - and this year, it’s bringing together the flavours of the Comox Valley and Parksville Qualicum Beach in one delicious celebration of local food and community.   In this episode, we head to the Comox Valley Visitor Centre to chat with Samantha Scholefield, one of the driving forces behind the Island Taste Trail. She shares how the program connects local restaurants,...

In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Culinary Team Canada to the Comox Valley and Campbell River for two incredible culinary events! Host Chef Jonathan sits down with Chef Ronald St. Pierre, one of the team managers, and Chef Lesley Stav, who shares insight into the Senior National Team and their exciting journey toward international competition. We talk about what it takes to represent Cana...

Episode 191 of Edible Valley takes you beneath the tides with Logan Zeinert of NIC’s Seaweed Innovation Hub. We explore how seaweed is grown, processed, and scaled to support BC’s coastal food systems and blue economy. We hope to sit down with the rest of the team soon to see how this exciting project could change things for all of us across Vancouver Island. Listen now — because what grows in the...

Welcome to a special fall edition of the Edible Valley Podcast! In this episode, we dig into the rich diversity of squash - from sweet delicata and creamy buttercup to vibrant Hubbard and nutty acorn varieties - and explore how harvest time shapes our local food system. We talk with growers and chefs about what makes certain squash stand out, flavour tips, storage secrets, and what to expect durin...

Each September, chefs, cooks, and culinary enthusiasts gather at North Arm Farm in Pemberton, BC for three unforgettable days of cooking, learning, and connecting at CooksCamp. Since 2022, this annual retreat—hosted by the Chefs’ Table Society of BC—has become a must-attend event for both rising talent and seasoned professionals. In this episode, we take you inside CooksCamp 2025 (Sept 10–12) to s...

  Join host Chef Jonathan Frazier in this intimate visit to Shamrock Farm, the Comox Valley sanctuary Mike and Shannon Farrell began in 1993. What started as a humble pumpkin patch has blossomed into a biodiverse 20-acre operation, cultivating over 40 vegetable varieties, fragrant lavender, specialty cut flowers, and raising chickens, Nubian goats, and even pigs to support the land and farm family...

Blackberry season is here, and in this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, Jonathan and William dive into everything blackberry. From their wild abundance along Vancouver Island’s trails and hedgerows to their starring role in jams, desserts, sauces, and even cocktails, blackberries are a true taste of late summer. We explore the history of this hardy berry in the Valley, the challenges and oppo...

In this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, hosts Chef Jonathan Frazier and William McStringer explore the vibrant food culture of Vancouver Island through the lens of community and collaboration. Jonathan, in his role as president of the North Vancouver Island Culinary Association (NVICA), discusses the association’s mission to unite chefs, cooks, culinary students, and food producers in advanc...

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the sudden passing of Mary-Jane Douglas, beloved co-owner of Ridgewood Farm in Merville and a devoted member of the BC Cattlemen’s Association. Mary-Jane was a passionate advocate for sustainable farming and a familiar face at the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market, where she proudly offered her locally raised beef, pork, and eggs. In this special episode of T...

Welcome back to The Edible Valley Podcast. In Episode 251, hosts Chef Jonathan Frazier and William Stringer kick off a brand new season by reflecting on the incredible journey so far, and sharing what’s coming next. The Edible Valley is growning alongside the local food movement, and this season promises to be the most exciting yet. Jonathan and William also tease upcoming episodes featuring new v...