Salt Spring Blackberries

OMG, I cant believe how long it has been since I have written down my thoughts in my beloved blog!!!!!! Every day I see something or do something I want to write about, but things get so busy...especially with all of the travelling I have been doing!

Last weekend took us over to gorgeous Salt Spring Island to visit my brother and sister in law Stefan and Tracy and our nephew Eric. They recently moved there from Toronto, and we couldn't be happier to have them close by. The ferry ride was beautiful...I LOVE riding the ferry...its so relaxing and peaceful and on a nice day, to sit outside...its like being on a cruise! We arrived and immediately went to their ever so famous Saturday farmers market which was so much fun. Lots of artsy fartsy crafts and shit...fun to look at, but would never buy a giant cast iron bug, or clothes made of lavender....but whateves...some peeps dig it.....I proceeded onto the FOOD! And OMG, was I in heaven....tomatoes every color of the rainbow...we snacked on fresh local cheeses and even bought a few....a gorgeous white truffle goat cheese and a beautiful creamy Camembert.

After this we drove along to the in-laws house, but whoops....spotted a winery...had to stop. Salt Spring Vineyards is a lovely little place with a great view. It also happens to have fantastic blackberry bushes out front....this is what started the blackberry craze (hence the title). I don't' think I ever picked fresh blackberries...just bought them from Capers ...about 5 berries for 100 bucks...hahaha. These were amazing!!! Ivan could barely tear me away from the bush...those little beauties just burst in your mouth like a little juicy cloud. The wine was pretty good too...we bought a bottle of their sparkling called Karma...which was okay, but not our favorite..and we also bought a bottle of their Blanc de Noir, which is a nice and easy summer wine that goes great with a stronger cheese (the truffled goat to be precise). But we enjoyed the tasting experience, as we always do....and this one was great, because they provide little bits of food to pair with the vino...nice!

As we were leaving, I saw this large basket draped in a checkered cloth, with a little sign saying "Heather's Bread"....I had to peek...and glad I did....a beautiful assortment of Artisan breads...my mouth watered...I WISH we would have bought one, but we weren't sure what Tracey and Stefan were doing for dinner.....but apparently this woman Heather-The Bread Lady makes 1,000 loaves of bread for the Saturday market, and is usually sold out by NOON!!!!! We MUST try it next time we visit!

Off to Stef and Tracy's, cheese and vino in hand. We had a wonderful, wonderful weekend with them in their big old house. We nibbled on cheese and sipped bubbles, gazing at the water view from their veranda. We then dined on fresh, perfectly baked wild salmon, new potatoes, sweet corn and salad...yum!

They took us to see the sites on Sunday, including a trip to Ruckle Park, which is rugged and gorgeous. The guys took Eric on an adventure climbing up and down the rocks, while Trace and I took a much more civilized trek on the path through the trees, stopping briefly to admire a mama deer and her fawn. There are deer EVERYWHERE on this Island...they hang out on Stefan and Tracy's lawn everyday and eat her roses!

By now we were hungry and in need of a snack..and what better place than the cutest spot you have ever seen called The Treehouse Cafe! Its a little outdoor restaurant built around this giant Tree, and the food was great! Apparently all of the food on the Island is based on a philosophy of local, organic, good living. So pricy, but absolutly worth it!!

After Ruckle Park, we drove up a long, steep and bumpy road to the top of Mount Maxwell, a MUST do....just don't sit in the back seat of the car on the way up...BARF! The view of the Islands is absolutely spectacular...breathtaking really!

From there we went back home so Tracy could start on her homemade tomato sauce, while Eric, Stefan, Ivan and I went out blackberry picking to use in the dessert!!! Stefan grabbed a ladder, a hoe and a machete type thing...and we went a-hackin like real pioneers...it was wonderful. We spent probably 45 mins out there helping each other to avoid the sharp prickles, reaching to the very top where the most plump, juicy berries hung....we filled one giant bowl (although we could have probably filled two...but you must sample as you pick).

Dinner was wonderful once again....so nice to be cooked for....pasta with homemade tomato sauce, with fresh shavings of Parmesan, salad loaded with local strawberries and veggies and local squash, with Stefans delicious crumble made with apples from their yard and the freshly plucked blackberry's....what a feast!

We look forward to visiting again soon, and please do make a trip over to Salt S]pring as I just know you will Enjoy!