It’s easy to stoke the fire (a.k.a. work up an appetite) when carving tracks on prime British Columbia ski terrain. It’s even better when mountain menus offer the perfect mash-up of local flavours and forward-thinking cuisine.
Silver Star Mountain Resort
Sure, there’s plenty to entice powderhounds on-slope at Silver Star Mountain Resort, near Vernon, but off the skis and boards? No problem with this delectable lineup: ditch the boots and settle in for après-ski delights in the Den, swirl and sip some fine Okanagan wine paired with sophisticated menus at the Silver Grill or kick back for a night of fun at the Saloon. For those eager to take it up a notch, an evening snowcat ride to Paradise Camp or a spirited snowshoe tour to The Wild Horseman’s Cabin are sure to produce delicious results. Starry skies included. skisilverstar.com
Sun Peaks Resort
Further northwest near Kamloops, Sun Peaks Resort is known for its light, dry, easy-to-ski powder that spans three unique mountain faces: Mount Tod, Sundance Mountain and Mount Morrisey. For foodies, the resort’s annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival and over 20 eateries that range from cosy cafes to family-friendly restaurants and pubs are sure to hold equal sway. Tip: for something a little outside of the box, pull up a chair at the French Canadian-inspired Voyageur Bistro, where daily menus feature bison, berries and bannock. sunpeaksresort.com
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Continue your edible journey northeast to the Kootenay Rockies where Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, near Golden, offers up loads of fluffy champagne powder alongside some of the most progressive in-bounds skiing anywhere. Then there’s the cherry on top or, should we say, restaurant on top. Set 2,346 metres (7,700 feet) in the sky, Kicking Horse’s Eagle’s Eye Restaurant reigns as Canada’s most elevated restaurant — a pretty perch to indulge in sophisticated menus and the glorious panorama below. kickinghorseresort.com
Whitewater Ski Resort
For Kootenay Rockies menus served in a slightly unorthodox manner, head to Whitewater Ski Resort near Nelson. Here, the resort’s own Fresh Tracks Cafè Express at the base of the Glory Ridge chair ensures that the snow isn’t the only legendary offering at this powder-packed resort. Indeed, this food truck, the first to make its home at a ski resort, satisfies even the heartiest cravings with nibbles that include the Indian butter chicken flavours of the Backside Bowl and the Blast Burger’s honey- and miso-glazed bacon and Thai-basil guacamole. skiwhitewater.com
Whistler Blackcomb
Can’t decide what whets your appetite? Choice is on the menu at Whistler Blackcomb, where on-slope eats include, among other mouth-watering selections, Steep’s Signature British Columbia Wild Smoked Salmon Chowder, served up in Whistler Mountain’s Roundhouse Lodge. Come sunset, the more than 100 restaurants and bars sprinkled though the bustling pedestrian-only village are sure to give your taste buds a workout. Here’s a start: sample seasonally inspired dishes at Alto Bistro, or crank up the wow factor with out-of-this-world food and wine pairings Araxi or Bearfoot Bistro (pictured). whistlerblackcomb.com; whistler.com
Text courtesy of DestinationBC.ca
Photo: Chef-made ice Cream at Whistler’s Bearfoot Bistro, by Lori Knowles
SnowOnline Editor: Lori Knowles
