Remarketeering.

Parksville’s Summer by the Sea Market. It happened today.

This market has in fact been going on week to week. Tuesday nights. The tiny, cozy drive is closed to vehicle traffic. Pedestrians abound. One end of the drive hugs highway 19A. The Straight of Georgia and sandy stretch of Parksville beach lit up by sunset at the other.

People, dogs, scruffy dogs, fuzzy-looking people (and vice versa) about. Palm-fulls of fresh Sunshine Blue blueberries in munching mouths; cheap varieties of lemonade for a toonie; fresh fries . . .

Strolling up and down the drive we ate mini doughnuts at one end, and sampled locally made Swiss style alpen cheese at the other. Stamped and fired ceramic collectible bits for sale? Yep. Cutting boards made from an assortment of walnut and elm? Yes. And everything else in between that you can imagine. Even tarot card readings.

Had a reading done today. I was curious. I still am. Decks shuffled, cards turned, timer set. My guide spoke, I listened. Relevant suggestions shared: take your time; be advised of the opinions of others; family is a good thing, and so on. It was an interesting and enlightening experience. Novel in many ways too. At least now I know.

Oh, yes, food trucks. Not the wild assortment nor the assortment of flavours I’d like to see, but trucks nonetheless. Just Fries, the name of one truck where we ate . . . fries. Russet potatoes smashed in the cutter and fried. No seasoning, said the sign. Just Fries.

On the way back to the car I couldn’t resist trying a handsomely decorated rice bowl. The Pepper Pot Food Truck the culprit. I asked someone about to bite into one where they bought it. They merely pointed and ate.

Chicken was what I ordered. Impressions? Layers of food. Alas no layers of flavour. Handsome looking dish though. Their ghost pepper hot sauce made up for it. Marks for moderate serving size and appearance. Less for flavour.

It’s what ties it all together: the flavours, the colours, the food experience. Can you think of a place you’ve been where the food has absolutely defined or defiled your experience? For us, if you recall, the fish and chips at Thatch Pub and Restaurant highlighted our trip to Hornby Island. On the contrary, buying a case of blueberries without tasting the various varieties first can be disappointing. (Not what happened to us, I might add).

The Parksville Summer by the Sea Market will continue to be defined by the smell and flavour of both Bee’s Knees mini doughnuts and Just Fries’s, well, fries. Flavour and memory are one.

Now get out there and eat something. Just make sure it’s got flava.

(Currently listening to Boxer’s Blue Planet from Anjunadeep’s Explorations series.)