It was a sellout.

Unsurprising, because the event included roaming a field with a linen napkin and wine glass while listening to Vancouver-based music, while munching tasty delights and drinking numerous beverages.

Feast of Fields is a celebration of local food and its foray into Maple Ridge was hosted by Golden Ears Cheesecrafters whose staff welcomed guests to their field to taste the benefits of eating local.

Among the 30 food vendors with booths, there were bison burger sliders from Big Feast Bistro and Catering, Albion wild salmon from Whet Kitchen Bar patio, and grilled steak from Hopcott's Premium meats.

Thirty local beverage vendors offered wine, beer, soda, tea and coffee.

All combined to leave people with the understanding that local really does taste great, said organizer Dana Reinhardt.

Unique offerings were the expectation and vendors were eager to share their stories.

"Attendees have the opportunity to see where food comes from," Reinhardt said.

One wine vendor was Okanagan Crush Pad Winery with their boxed Haywire Crush Pad white, red, and rose wines.

In addition to their locally grown grapes, they invite small grape orchards from around B.C. to bring their grapes to be made into wine.

It's like a U-Brew for grape growers where they bring their own varietals.

"It's 100-per-cent-Okanagan-grown grapes in our wine," noted Crush Pad's representative.

There was a silent auction, information booths about the importance of supporting local and sustainable food, and hay bales to rest on after a hard afternoon of indulgence.

The rain's appearance midway through the event shortened the most popular lines, but diehard foodies lingered in the wet weather to make second, and third, rounds.

For information about Feast of Fields, go to www.feastoffields.com.

editorial@mrtimes.com