GOODS: Araxi Celebrating 30th Anniversary With Big Guns Supper During “Cornucopia”
September 12, 2011
Araxi Restaurant is located at 4222 Village Square in Whistler, BC | 604-932-4540 | Araxi.com
The GOODS from Araxi
Whistler, BC | Celebrating its 30th anniversary, internationally acclaimed Araxi Restaurant will unveil its most ambitious Big Guns Winemakers’ Dinner yet: Icons of the Wine World. On Friday, November 11th, during Cornucopia: Whistler’s Celebration of Wine and Food, 10 stellar wineries will represent the world’s outstanding wine regions. Hand selected over the past year by wine director, Samantha Rahn, each of the wineries has received critical praise from around the globe. Executive chef James Walt will create a distinctive eight course menu that showcases the excellence of Pemberton Valley’s autumn harvest, with each plate meticulously matched to the following prized wines… Read more
Field Trip #588: An R&R Weekend At Whistler’s “Nita Lake Lodge”
August 16, 2011
With the kids packed off to grandma’s and our cellphones and computers shelved in exchange for fishing rods, forks and spa robes, we spent the weekend up at Nita Lake Lodge.
There was some work involved, but it was the good kind. It involved many courses of very fine food paired with wine poured by someone who knew what she was doing. No complaints there. The lovely drive up, the fishing and the good old Ayurvedic back rub were merely bonuses.
I’d never before dined in the hotel’s restaurant, Aura, and nor had I ever – to my knowledge – tried chef Tim Cuff’s cooking when he was at The Wick, Mission Hill and West. I’d only heard wonderful things about his skills and that of his number two, Owen Foster (ex-Market), so I’d been keen for a test drive for some time. I also wanted to check out their rooftop garden playground, which was shockingly huge and well stocked (check Tim’s smile below for proof of its awesomeness)
Since we have him competing at the Gold Medal Plates this year against Rob Feenie, Lee Cooper, the boys from La Quercia and a bunch of other heavyweights, I thought it prudent to get a taste of Cuff’s range before I had to judge it in competition (I’d say it helps in calibration, but really I’m just a glutton). I also had to come up with something to write about for the paper that week, so two birds stood to be enjoyably felled by one stone.
How To Get There: The Rocky Mountaineer station is right next door, but I’ve always loved the drive to Whistler. It’s curvy and fast and on even an awful day there are few comparable stretches of beautiful asphalt. Directions are here.
Cost: A summer special until September 30th sees a ding of $109.25 per person per night that includes breakfast, taxes and gratuity (based on double occupancy and availability). A five course tasting menu costs just $70.
Accommodation Type: Studios up to massive, 1500sqft suites. Basically, Nita Lake is a first rate hotel/resort. Our room came with all the mod cons, including a DVD player and an iPod docking station.
Connectivity: Cell coverage is fine. Wireless throughout the lodge.
Things To Do: Gosh. To start, eat and drink. Chefs Tim Cuff and Owen Foster are at the top of their game and they’re allowed (encouraged) to do whatever the hell they want, which is to pretty much blow people away at every turn. A cocktail is a must, too. Bar manager Hailey Posemko has the run of the garden and is a master at pairing natural flavours with spirits. Beyond that, pick up a fishing rod from the concierge and go for broke off the dock. Go swimming, go hiking, do the Whistler thing. Oh, and the in-house Ashram spa is amazing. I’m not a doctor, but following one of their hot oil forehead pours with some housemade charcuterie is the ticket…
My review of the food comes out in the Westender this Thursday, but for a tour and tale of the hotel and to see its food and drink, click through the images below, such as they are…
A WEEKEND AT NITA LAKE LODGE
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Field Trip #587: An Araxi Feast In The Great Outdoors At Pemberton’s North Arm Farm…
August 15, 2011
We recently got away up to Pemberton to take in one of chef James Walt’s outdoor Araxi dinners at Jordan Sturdy’s stunning North Arm Farm. The weather was uncharacteristically cool and the sky more dramatic than previous visits, but the food and drink (all wines from Mission Hill) stole the show.
RECEPTION
Garden Back to Eden Tomato Gazpacho
Yarrow Meadows Duck Liver Parfait with Rosemary
Tofino Dungeness Crab Roll with Cucumber Pearls
Mission Hill Martin’s Lane Riesling, 2010
Schramm Vodka Cocktails (Pemberton Valley)MENU
North Arm Zucchini Flowers
stuffed with Okanagan goat cheese, heirloom tomatoes
Root Down organic greens with red pepper vinaigrette
Mission Hill Perpetua, 2008Cherry Wood Hot Smoked Barkley Sound Sockeye Salmon
roasted North Arm beets, english pea and green tomato salsa
arugula flowers with beet caviar
Mission Hill Quatrain, 2007 (magnum format)Pemberton Meadows Natural Beef
crispy slow cooked beef cheek fritter, pepper and rosemary roasted sirloin
North Arm rainbow chard and baby carrots
Mission Hill Oculus, 2004 (magnum format)North Arm Strawberry Ice Cream Bar
strawberry ice cream dipped in dark chocolate with chocolate crust
Agassiz hazelnut financier with Okanagan apricots
Mission Hill Late Harvest Riesling, 2005
Altogether it was a stunner of an evening, and as per usual, we’re telling the story by way of photographs with captions as memory serves (short form: it was amazing). Should you want to enjoy one of these outstanding al fresco suppers, there are two more on the horizon taking place in the very same spot. August 27th will see Araxi pair up with Naramata’s Foxtrot Vineyards and Napa’s Trefethen Family Vineyards, and then September 11th will witness chef Walt plate alongside pours from sister wineries Le Vieux Pin of Oliver and LaStella of Osoyoos. Find out how to attend here.
ARAXI SUPPER ON NORTH ARM FARM
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GOODS: Menu And Wines Confirmed For Outdoor “Araxi” Supper At North Arm Farm
July 23, 2011
Araxi Restaurant is located at 4222 Village Square in Whistler, BC | 604-932-4540 | Araxi.com
The GOODS from Araxi
Whistler, BC | The menu and wines have just been confirmed for the araxi longtable @ north arm farm event on July 30th, the first in a trifecta of outdoor dining experiences taking place this summer at Pemberton’s picturesque North Arm Farm.
Araxi’s wine director, Samantha Rahn is thrilled to be showcasing a range of outstanding wines from Mission Hill Family Estate, which represent the very best of their current portfolio. Ingo Grady, Mission Hill’s Director of Wine Education and one of the province’s foremost wine authorities, will lead guests through the wine pairings that he has personally chosen to accompany Chef James Walt’s menu. Take a look after the jump… Read more
GOODS: “Araxi” Set To Launch Long Table Supper Series At Stunning North Arm Farm
June 9, 2011
Araxi Restaurant is located at 4222 Village Square in Whistler, BC | 604-932-4540 | Araxi.com
The GOODS from Araxi
Whistler, BC | Araxi Restaurant is excited to announce araxi longtable @ north arm farm, a series of outdoor dining experiences taking place this summer at Pemberton’s picturesque North Arm Farm, located 20 minutes north of Whistler, British Columbia.
A progression of Araxi’s strong partnership with Pemberton’s farming community, the inaugural year will kick off with four events: Saturday, July 2nd; Saturday, July 30th; Saturday, August 27th; and Sunday, September 11th.
With dozens of ingredients grown just footsteps from Chef James Walt’s outdoor kitchen, diners will enjoy a four-course menu featuring the valley’s freshest produce, beef from its pastures, day-boat catches from our coastal fisheries and wines from leading producers. Each event will begin at 3:00 p.m. with a reception and farm tour led by North Arm Farm’s proprietor Jordan Sturdy.
The 60-acre North Arm Farm is certified organic, and has more than 45 acres planted with multiple varieties of vegetables (six varieties of carrots alone), stone and berry fruits, and herbs. Chef Walt has enjoyed a lengthy ‘growing relationship’ with the Sturdy family, planning seasonal menus around their just-picked produce, and visiting frequently during the growing season. Details after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Top Table Rooms Shine At The 22nd Annual VanMag Restaurant Awards
April 13, 2011
Veteran Top Table restaurant staff have been recognised for their contributions to the Vancouver restaurant scene...
The GOODS from CinCin, Araxi, West, & Blue Water Café
Vancouver & Whistler, BC | In British Columbia’s culinary industry, nothing salutes the advent of spring quite like the annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. Unique in Canada, and now in its 22nd year, the awards were convened on Tuesday, April 12th at the Sheraton Wall Centre. A panel of 19 judges acknowledged industry excellence as Araxi, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin and West were honoured before a standing-room-only audience of leading restaurateurs, chefs and service professionals. Read more
GOODS: The Spring Line Up Of Events From CinCin, West, Araxi And Blue Water Cafe
March 24, 2011
Veteran Top Table restaurant staff have been recognised for their contributions to the Vancouver restaurant scene...
The GOODS from CinCin, Araxi, West, & Blue Water Café
Vancouver & Whistler, BC | Top Table restaurants and our chefs will be leading a number of exciting upcoming events that speak to our involvement with local farmers, ranchers, purveyors, wineries and breweries. And through other events, such as Dining Out For Life and the Red Cross Red Carpet Soiree, we’re also deeply engaged in our community. We invite you to join with us as we celebrate where we live. Browse the exciting line-up of Spring events after the jump… Read more
GOODS: Spirit Maker “Pemberton Distillery” Has Joined The Growing Scout Community
March 22, 2011
We have invited the awesome local spirit makers Pemberton Distillery to join our GOODS section as a recommended company. Tyler and Lorien Schramm produce Schramm Vodka, Schramm Gin and Pemberton Fruit Liqueurs, and are also working hard on a Single Malt Whiskey that should land on shelves in 2015. They are now proud members of Scout, and as such we will be publishing their news on our front page and hosting a page for them in our list of local and independent goodness. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support, and to encourage you to pay their little distillery a visit the next time you’re up in the Whistler/Pemberton area. They’re good people making great things!
If you think your business would be a good fit for Scout, we want to know.
Smoke Break #801: A Day In The Life Of Whistler If It Was Part Of Miniature World
January 26, 2011
Whistler gets given the tilt-shift treatment, making every scene look as if it was filmed inside a rinky-dink snow globe.
Whistler Brewing Co. Presents Winter Dunkel For The Holidays
December 9, 2010
Whistler Brewing Co. is located at 1045 Millar Creek Rd in Whistler, BC | 604-731-2900 | whistlerbeer.com
News from Scout supporter Whistler Brewing Co.
Whistler, BC | For this holiday season, we have brewed a special Dunkelweizen beer with a twist. Our Brewmaster has adapted this classic, filtered dark wheat beer into a unique festive beer. Brewed using 100% organic chocolate from the Whistler Chocolate Company, a blend of spices and a twist of orange zest. Delicious, complex malts and light citrus balancing notes present a soft hint of festive, seasonal flavours. On the palate you experience a rich beer with toffee, chocolate taste. The bitterness from the hops is just enough to compensate for the rich malty flavours without leaving a distinct note. All this is accompanied by a distinct bitterness from the bitter orange. Overall, our Winter Dunkel is rich and full bodied with medium sweetness. Read more
