Setting Day Culinary Festival to launch this spring in Charlottetown

Josh Ellis says he noticed there wasn't a lot going on in Charlottetown this spring, so he set outto create something which would reflect the Island way of life and get people excited for spring.

Ellis is the executive director of the annual P.E.I. Mutual Festival of Small Halls, buthe has now created a separate festivalto"celebrate the first lobster catch with some music and a great party."

"It just kind of coincided well with setting day and the first catch, the first lobster coming in, so that is kind of where the idea was born," Ellis said.

Photo contest, chef competition

Setting day is the day hundreds of lobster fishermen around P.E.I. set their traps for the first time. The P.E.I. FIshermen'sAssociation has asked that this year's spring season beginMonday, April 29.

The new festival will run from May 10 to12 and has incentives to getIslanders involved, including a photo contest with a $300 prize.

"We want everybody to participate in the excitement of the festival and get us their best shots of lobster boats that are going out on setting day," Ellis said.

The festival will kick offwith a chef competition.

"We are going to have six Island chefs participating in a tapas-style chef's competition. So, anybody who is attending will be able to get a small appetizer from each chef and vote on their favourite one."

Making waves at the yacht club

The firstnight is scheduled to feature aceilidh on the wharfat the Charlottetown Yacht Club

Saturday is the festival'smarquee event, the Fresh Lobster Feast.

"This is where we want to feature the first catch, the first lobster catch of the season," Ellis said.

The feast won't just be whole lobster there will be scallops, oysters and chocolate torte, Ellis said.

Mystery guest

"We are going to pair that meal with a famous Canadian songwriter who is yet to be named," Ellis said.

The new festival with Tourism P.E.I. and aims to draw Islanders as well as those from away.

Though this is only the first year of the festival, Ellis said he hopes to spread the festival Island-wide in the future.

The festival will finish mid-morning Sunday May 12 with a Blessing of The Boatsconcert.

It has received funding from Tourism P.E.I.

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