Food Trends 2026: From Awareness to Action explores how the conversations of 2025 are turning into everyday habits in the year ahead. In this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, Chef Jonathan Frazier is joined by special co-host Erin Haluschak to look at what’s shaping how we cook, eat, and gather on Vancouver Island—from functional, fiber-forward foods and mushrooms for health and longevity, to elevated comfort cooking, global flavours through a local lens, and practical sustainability that actually works in real life. With farms, fisheries, and forests close to home, many of these trends are already part of Island life, making 2026 less about hype and more about intention, skill, and connection around the table.

#EdibleValleyPodcast, #FoodTrends2026, #VancouverIslandFood, #LocalFoodMovement, #IslandEats, #FarmToTable, #FoodCulture, #SustainableEating, #FunctionalFood, #ComfortFood, #GlobalFlavours, #LocalFirst, #ChefLife, #HomeCooking, #FoodCommunity

You may remember this episode from when it first aired, but it’s worth another listen.

In Episode 248 of The Edible Valley Podcast, we explored the food trends shaping 2025 — a year defined by awareness, reflection, and big conversations about how we eat.

This episode dives into sustainability, food systems, and gut health as they moved into the mainstream, along with the growing influence of global flavours and technology on home kitchens and restaurants alike. It was a moment when food culture started asking deeper questions — not just what we eat, but why.

Looking back, many of the ideas discussed here still resonate, especially on Vancouver Island, where local farms, fisheries, and producers were already living these trends day to day. What felt like emerging ideas at the time have since become part of everyday food conversations.

Whether you’re hearing this episode again or discovering it for the first time, Episode 248 captures an important snapshot of where food culture stood in 2025 — and why those conversations mattered then, and still do now.

The holidays are busy, cozy, and a little chaotic — and somewhere in the middle, a drink gets poured. In this episode, Chef Jonathan Frazier shares simple, thoughtful holiday drinks that actually show up at home, from sparkling aperitifs to warming, spirit-forward options and inclusive low- or no-alcohol choices.

He also shares hosting tips and reflections on slowing down, enjoying your guests, and creating memorable moments around the table.

🍷The best holiday drink isn’t the fanciest — it’s the one that brings people together.

#HolidayDrinks, #EdibleValleyPodcast, #VancouverIslandEats, #HomeHosting, #SimpleCocktails, #FoodPodcast, #HolidayEntertaining, #WinterCocktails, #ChefTips, #DrinkSeasonally

The Edible Valley Podcast – Holiday Spirits: Local Cocktails & Festive Pairings

1. Comox Valley Holiday Honey Sparkler

Wayward Distillery Unruly Gin (honey-based)

• • • • 45 ml gin,
      • 15 ml honey syrup,
      • 15 ml lemon juice,

• • • • top with sparkling wine

Garnish: Cinnamon stick & orange twist

Food Pairing: Brie with cranberry compote, spiced nuts, citrus-glazed shrimp

Holiday Touch: Sweet honey and cinnamon evoke festive warmth in a sparkling aperitif.

2. Shelter Point Winter Old Fashioned

Shelter Point Whisky

• • • • • 60 ml whisky,
        • 10 ml maple syrup,
        • 2 dashes bitters

Garnish: Orange peel & star anis

Food Pairing: Roast turkey or ham, maple-glazed root vegetables, dark chocolate tart

Holiday Touch: Oak and spice notes make it cozy and rich for winter celebrations.

3. Festive Phrog & Beaufort Vermouth Flip

Phrog Gin/Vodka + Beaufort Vermouth

• • • • 45 ml gin,
      • 15 ml Beaufort vermouth,
      • 15 ml honey syrup,
      • 15 ml lemon juice,
      • egg yolk optional

Garnish: Cranberries & rosemary

Food Pairing: Herb roasted vegetables, cheese & fruit boards, spiced desserts

Holiday Touch: Cranberries and rosemary bring seasonal color and flavor to a creamy cocktail.

4. Wayward Spiced Honey Toddy

Wayward Krupnik Spiced Honey Liqueur

• • • • • 60 ml Krupnik,
        • 120 ml hot water,
        • 15 ml lemon juice

Garnish: Cinnamon stick & lemon wheel

Food Pairing: Gingerbread, roasted turkey with cranberry chutney, baked apples

Holiday Touch: A warm toddy with honey, cinnamon, and citrus — perfect for cozy winter nights.

5. Sunshine Maple Flip

Shelter Point Sunshine Liqueur (Orange Spice Maple)

• • • • 45 ml Sunshine Liqueur,
      • 15 ml bourbon (optional),
      • 15 ml lemon juice,
      • 15 ml egg yolk

Garnish: Orange twist & nutmeg

Food Pairing: Maple-glazed ham, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin cheesecake

Holiday Touch: Creamy, citrusy, and spiced — a rich festive cocktail for holiday feasts.

6. Krupnik Apple Cider Spark

Wayward Krupnik Spiced Honey Liqueur

• • • • 45 ml Krupnik,
      • 90 ml warm apple cider,
      • 15 ml lemon juice,
      • dash of cinnamon

Garnish: Apple slice & cinnamon stick

Food Pairing: Pork roast with apple sauce, aged cheddar & honey, mini apple pies

Holiday Touch: Mulled apple cider combined with spiced honey liqueur — cozy and aromatic.