Lindsay Anderson just can’t stop thinking about food.
The Richmond, B.C. food blogger who recently completed the epic 365 Days of Dining, is already planning her next culinary adventure. But this time, she’s taking on the whole of Canada.
Feast: An Edible Road Trip is an ambitious coast-to-coast smorgasbord of everything this country has to offer, to be blogged by Anderson and her friend, Dana VanVeller, as they drive, camp, kayak and – most importantly – munch their way across the provinces and territories.
“The idea has been buzzing round my head for years,” Anderson says. “I haven’t seen all of Canada, and my experience of blogging Richmond made it clear to me I wanted to continue my food journey.”
She met VanVeller – a fellow foodie who studies food security issues - at a music festival in Kelowna a couple of years ago, and the two became instant friends, bonding over their love of all things edible.
Once they decided to turn their fantasy food trip into reality, offers of help started flooding in.
From friends-of-friends in Haida Gwaii to various tourism boards proffering suggestions and help, the invitations began solidifying the project.
Though the breadth of what they are about to experience is mind-blowing, the women do have some spots they are particularly excited about.
For Anderson, the chance to go foraging in the Boreal Forest is destined to be a highlight. “Apparently the Vietnamese community in Whitehorse have adapted their cuisine to utilize the food from the forest,” she explains. “That’s just fascinating to me.”
For VanVeller, it’s whale blubber and “a lot of cheese in Quebec” that are top of her “must try” list.
They set off on what they expect to be a four-month journey on June 27, first stop: Vancouver Island – Victoria, the Cowichan Valley and then a kayaking trip from Spring Island, where a dedicated chef paddles along.
Whistler, Pemberton, the Okanagan and Prince George follow, then Northern B.C., the Yukon, North West Territories, down through Alberta and then all points East.
“We are really hoping to visit every province and territory,” Anderson notes. “Although we do have to raise the money to fly from Ottawa to Nunavut.”
Ah yes: Money.
The women estimate they need $30,000 to complete the project and last week launched an Indiegogo account with a video explaining their aims and expenses. They are setting off while the fundraiser is still on, hoping that potential donors will get excited by their early exploits, blog posts and videos, and jump on board.
And if they don’t reach their goal?
“We definitely won’t come back,” Anderson insists. “All you can do is power ahead and hope for the best.
“Anyway, rough times make for better stories, right?”
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