Department Helps With Premier Food Event

When more than 200 delegates arrive this Friday for the start of the Northern Bounty III food show in Halifax, Ellen O'Reilly will see the fruits of two years' work start to pay off.

A planning and development officer with the provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ms. O'Reilly is also co-chair of the Northern Bounty III, a Cuisine Canada conference. The four-day event at the Westin Nova Scotian is drawing food writers, editors and chefs from across Canada.

"This conference will spotlight seafood," said Ms. O'Reilly. "It's a great opportunity to promote Atlantic Canada.

"People still have to be reminded that we can provide a wide variety of seafood despite problems in the groundfishery."

However, she is confident that the meals and program at the conference will go a long way in breaking that myth.

Sessions will include fads and fashions in seafood, aquaculture and seafood preparation. The marketing of seafood will also be featured. A session titled A Couple with Attitude - Seafood and Wine will showcase marketing products from the sea with wines from the land.

"These writers talk to hundreds of thousands of people through their writing and stories," said Ms. O'Reilly. "I think after this conference the message will be clear: we have enough delicious and quality seafood for people all over the world."

Cuisine Canada is a national alliance of food professionals committed to furthering the Canadian fine food and wine industry.