Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • West Coast Galleries
      • Nature Photography
      • Wildlife Photography
      • Cityscapes
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • Contests
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Service
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok Icon
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok Icon
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • West Coast Galleries
      • Nature Photography
      • Wildlife Photography
      • Cityscapes
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • Contests
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Service
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / Food from the forest inspires Alberni Valley Love

Ben Patarin and Célia Auclair cover some 20,000 kilometres of Island logging roads each year to find their edible treasures. Zen Seekers photo

Food from the forest inspires Alberni Valley Love

November 6, 2023 //  by Alberni Valley Tourism

Share this:

By Jim Barr

If you make a living taking the forest home for dinner, then you’ll likely know a thing or two about how to get the job done. Across the Alberni Valley, Célia Auclair and her husband Ben Patarin (who has a masters in agro-forestry), make their living harvesting the 85 different plant species found throughout the year on their forays.

Over the course of a year, they cover some 20,000 kilometres of logging roads around the Island to find their edible treasures.

Good news for those like me who are fascinated by this process, their company Forest for Dinner offers tours and products to place foraging at your fingertips. I recently went on an Alberni Valley foraging tour with them to uncover the opportunity with their bounty of knowledge on what to pick while also learning what tools you use to pick it.

Alberni Valley is right up there for top of the food chain status. Zen Seekers photo

Read the full story on my experience at ZenSeekers.com, and read on for some foraging tips and your next #ExplorePortAlberni vacation itinerary.

“I love the Alberni Valley because of all the natural elements that surround us,” explains Auclair.

For upcoming foragers – here are some key tools:

Extensive knowledge of the forest

And what to look for. Forest for Dinner offer these tours – sign up for the spring series and sign up to their e-newsletter for when the spring tours become available: forestfordinner.ca

A GPS device

The Alberni Valley is one of the biggest valleys in the world. Don’t be that person search and rescue needs to come looking for.

A solid itinerary for your time in the wood

But also what to do with your time once you are out of those woods – click here for Célia’s fall itinerary she suggests for Alberni Valley Tourism

A basket with holes

So when you put the mushrooms in there the spores can flow through and back into the soil

A knife

This can simply be a straight blade from Rona.

Antidote Distillery opened up a new ‘French Café’/West Coast-inspired gin bar and grill in Port Alberni and includes a Forest for Dinner collaboration. Zen Seekers photo

Location, location…

Location, and for Célia and Ben, the Alberni Valley is right up there for top of the food chain status…globally!

Ready to taste the forest, on your plate and in your glass? Here’s how to elevate the experience: Antidote Distillery opened up a new ‘French Café’/West Coast-inspired gin bar and grill in the heart of Port Alberni and with it comes a Forest for Dinner collaboration.

Go #explorePortAlberni this fall to find some love within one of the world’s largest valleys. Alberni Valley Tourism has any upcoming traveller covered via these itinerary suggestions found on their website.

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: Alberni Valley, British Columbia Destinations, Canada, Impressive West Coast, Staycation secrets, Things to do, Things to Do in Vancouver Island, WCT Intro

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Protecting paradise: Waterway cleanups support Victoria’s wildlife, beaches and the Salish Sea

The Gorge Waterway is one of Victoria’s most scenic and beloved places – a tidal…

Protecting paradise: Waterway cleanups support Victoria’s wildlife, beaches and the Salish SeaRead More

Pro LEGO builder brings new space exhibit to life at Vancouver’s Science World

A brand new exhibit at Science World gives people the chance to dive into the…

Pro LEGO builder brings new space exhibit to life at Vancouver’s Science WorldRead More

Port Alberni’s McLean Mill ready to welcome locals and tourists this summer

McLean Mill National Historic Site in Port Alberni is expecting a lot of visitors this…

Port Alberni’s McLean Mill ready to welcome locals and tourists this summerRead More

Celebrate Canada, Celebrate You: Brand new contest features $17,000+ in prizes!

As dream destination, it doesn’t get much better than Western Canada – from wilderness escapes…

Celebrate Canada, Celebrate You: Brand new contest features $17,000+ in prizes!Read More

Mount Revelstoke parkway opens to the summit for vehicles

Revelstoke’s scenic 26-kilometre parkway has opened all the way to the top for motor vehicles,…

Mount Revelstoke parkway opens to the summit for vehiclesRead More

Comox Trolley Tour debuts hop-on, hop-off tour of town’s sights

The Great Canadian Trolley Company has officially arrived in Comox, launching its highly anticipated Hop…

Comox Trolley Tour debuts hop-on, hop-off tour of town’s sightsRead More

A Circus by the Sea takes shape in sand as Parksville Beach Fest returns!

Vancouver Island’s favourite beach festival returns in just a few short weeks, with more than…

A Circus by the Sea takes shape in sand as Parksville Beach Fest returns!Read More

Need an escape? New tech can help you unplug without going totally off-grid

Need an escape? New tech can help you unplug without going totally off the grid.…

Need an escape? New tech can help you unplug without going totally off-gridRead More

North Vancouver Island’s Ha’me’ Restaurant shares bounty of Indigenous cuisine

Ha’me’, the fine dining restaurant at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy, wholly owned by…

North Vancouver Island’s Ha’me’ Restaurant shares bounty of Indigenous cuisineRead More

Previous Post: « Bite into Everett’s Snackin Shack, a sweet museum of offbeat treats
Next Post: 10 US destinations for a car buff bucket list »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Protecting paradise: Waterway cleanups support Victoria’s wildlife, beaches and the Salish Sea

July 4, 2025

Pro LEGO builder brings new space exhibit to life at Vancouver’s Science World

July 3, 2025

Port Alberni’s McLean Mill ready to welcome locals and tourists this summer

July 2, 2025

Celebrate Canada, Celebrate You: Brand new contest features $17,000+ in prizes!

July 2, 2025

Recent Posts

Protecting paradise: Waterway cleanups support Victoria’s wildlife, beaches and the Salish Sea

July 4, 2025

Pro LEGO builder brings new space exhibit to life at Vancouver’s Science World

July 3, 2025

Port Alberni’s McLean Mill ready to welcome locals and tourists this summer

July 2, 2025

Celebrate Canada, Celebrate You: Brand new contest features $17,000+ in prizes!

July 2, 2025

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • TikTok Icon
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved