| Copyright by Victoria Elizabeth 2004. All rights | | | | there are oodles of things to whet the whistle |
| reserved. | | | | and appetite of the hobgoblins and ghosts in your |
| WELCOME TO WITCHVILLE | | | | neighborhood. |
| (Home of Scream Cuisine & Other Stuff) | | | | Main Course: |
| Living in Victoria, BC (Canada) has a few perks. | | | | -- Cervelle de Canut (Silkweaver's Brain - an |
| Second to Salem, Massachusetts (the world | | | | herbed cheese from Lyon, France) |
| capital of witchcraft), Victoria, BC is Canada's | | | | -- Cheesy Apple Fangs |
| "most haunted house city". | | | | -- Cheese & Olive Fingers |
| This "California-North", left-coast, cosy community | | | | -- Crispy Bat's Wings with Mushy Green Mash |
| with the unique distinction of being dubbed | | | | -- Goosebump Gravy |
| Canada's "garden city", it also has something else | | | | -- Ghoulish Gruel |
| strange going for it. | | | | -- Halloween Vegetarian Chili |
| According to the most recent Canadian census,it | | | | -- Spider Web Party Dip |
| seems that Victoria has the largest per-capita | | | | -- The Devil's Salsa & Tortilla Spikes |
| witch population in the country. In fact, more than | | | | Drinks: |
| 1,000 folks filled out a form declaring themselves | | | | -- Black Widow Fizz |
| truly "out-of-broomstick the-closet"! However, | | | | -- Bloody Marys |
| more optimistic estimates, by the local pagan and | | | | -- Blue Witches' Brew (...ha-ha) |
| witch community, put this figure closer to 5,000! | | | | -- Cranberry Blood-Curdling Brew |
| Even though Statistics Canada has stated that | | | | -- Pina Ghoulada |
| paganism is the fastest- growing religion in the | | | | Dessert: |
| country, Victoria has earned the novel title of | | | | -- Banana Ghouls |
| being one of the few places in the country where | | | | -- Black Cat Cupcakes |
| witches can legally marry, wear witch attire in | | | | -- Ghoulish Petites Fours (courtesy of Martha |
| public, (and die) in grace. | | | | Stewart) |
| So what makes Victoria such a "happening | | | | -- Ghoulish Gooey Bars |
| Halloween place" all-year round? | | | | -- Langues de chat (Cat's Tongues - a French |
| Some have said, it is Victoria's strategic location | | | | Sugar Cookie) |
| on the San Andreas fault line. (The "energy of the | | | | -- Orange Ooze Cupcakes |
| place" makes it a great spot for those who like to | | | | -- Spooky Spider Cake |
| feel the earth tremble beneath their web-feet -- it | | | | However, should a wisecracking whippet like |
| also rains here). | | | | George Bush Sr. kick up a fuss at your Halloween |
| Other's say it has to do with the ocean (and | | | | Feast Table by stamping his feet and shouting, |
| perhaps far too many seagulls leaving their telltale | | | | "I'm President of the United States, and I'm not |
| signs behind to guide the ghosts around at all | | | | going to eat any more broccoli!" ...fear not. |
| hours of day and night). | | | | Gently remind the offending soul about Hannibal |
| But most scientists agree, it probably has | | | | Lecter's fondness for food and unpalatable friends, |
| something to do with the very strange sort of | | | | "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice |
| people who live here (namely a high proportion of | | | | chianti", (from the 1991 film, "The Silence of the |
| hot-air politicians, and alternative lifestylers who | | | | Lambs"). |
| enjoy wearing point-black hats, hob-nailed hiking | | | | Now the real question is ... who knows what |
| boots, and riding recycled broomsticks to work in | | | | delicious delights wait to be devoured and by |
| Beacon Hill Park (a place where pentagrams can | | | | whom at your Halloween party! |
| be worn openly without anyone batting an eye). | | | | Oh, and the thought of eating frogs eyes, and |
| But hold on now -- there's something missing. | | | | pickled pigs toes doesn't grab you...why not visit |
| After all, what would Halloween be without a little | | | | Victoria and enjoy the "Ghosts of Victoria |
| "scream cuisine"? | | | | Festival" -- a great way to kick back with lots of |
| After checking out the 1,940 websites devoted | | | | other weird and wonderful folk like you! |
| to goblin gourmet and other ghoulish goodies, | | | | |