Foodies flock down to Fraser in Langley City

They came, they saw, they ate.

The Fork and Finger Foodie Event took over part of downtown Langley City for the second year on Saturday, with public demonstrations of food preparation and special tastings at several locations on the one-way section of Fraser Highway.

“It was a fabulous day, people are clearly passionate about food in this community,” said Teri James, executive director fo the Downtown Langley Business Association.

The public demonstrations in McBurney Lane were particularly popular, James said.

Parinya Loptson of Ban Chok Dee Thai restaurant transformed a variety of ordinary fruits, vegetables, and melons into elaborate abstract shapes and flowers with a handful of simple tools.

Loptson said she’s self-taught since 2001.

“It’s very enjoyable,” she said of her fruit-carving. “It keeps me calm. I like to do it when the kids go to bed.”

Craig McDougall of Frostings showed off his skills with fondant, the sugary substance from which a wide variety of cake decorations are made.

“Making cakes out of fondant is very similar to playing with Play-Doh,” McDougall said. He said he learned a lot from playing with his young boys.

He showed off to the crowd how to mix together three colours to make “bacon” out of fondant for the top of a cake.

In the past he’s created everything from a guitar to a house to a fish from fondant.

Down the street at 1 Fish 2 Fish, Heather Jenkins was serving up oysters.

“We’re getting some new people who have never tasted oysters before,” said Jenkins.

She also performed a salmon-filleting demonstration for the crowds.

Other demos included mixology and smoking meat.

James said there are plans afoot to expand the program next year.

In total, 16 downtown restaurants participated in either the passport program or through giving out samplers.

Next year, James said they’re shooting for 25 to 30 restaurants, and they may increase advertising to bring in more people from outside Langley.