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…

Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne’, Blanc de Blancs, 2000 (Champagne, France). The flagship and most prestigious wine from Taittinger.

Joseph Drouhin Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru, 2002 (Chablis, France). A classic wine from a powerful Grand Cru and an excellent vintage.

Grgich Hills Chardonnay, 2008 (Napa Valley, USA). Celebrating 35 years since Mike Grgich’s chardonnay famously won ‘The Judgment of Paris’.

Michele Chiarlo ‘Cerequio’ Barolo, 2004 (Piemonte, Italy). An outstanding producer; one of the top ‘cru’ vineyards in Barolo.

Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva, 1999 (Rioja, Spain). Made by one of Spain’s most highly regarded winemakers, Telmo Rodriguez, at this ancient estate with centuries of winemaking history.

Catena ‘Alta’ Malbec, 2006 (Mendoza, Argentina). From Argentina’s ‘First Family of Wine’, this is blended from the most prime, high altitude vineyard blocks.

Mission Hill Oculus, 2007 (Okanagan Valley, Canada). Representing proprietor Anthony Von Mandl’s vision for the Okanagan Valley and his family estate.

Inglenook ‘Rubicon’, 2008 (Napa Valley, USA). This powerhouse wine celebrates the return of the name Inglenook to the Rubicon Estate. This evening will be the official release of the new vintage.

St. Urbans-Hof Riesling, Leiwener Laurentiuslay Spätlese, 2006 (Mosel, Germany). Only 100 cases were made of this highly rated treasure from an all-star producer.

Quinta do Noval Port, 20 Year Old Tawny (Portugal). Elegant, complex tawny from one of the leading historic and innovative Port houses.

Tickets are $250 per person and available for purchase online.

Bubbles + Oceans Afterparty

Saturday, November 12th, 9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., $155

After CRUSH complete your evening at Araxi’s famed Bubbles + Oceans Afterparty, a chance to let go in the heart of Whistler Village. In celebration of Araxi’s 30th anniversary, join us for an unforgettable night of brilliant seafood and deluxe bubbles from an unprecedented showing of 30 of the world’s top Champagne and sparkling wine houses.

Executive chef James Walt will showcase an impressive selection of finely crafted canapés and his plateaux de mer, offering the finest freshly shucked oysters, sushi and Tofino Dungeness crab. This don’t miss party at Whistler’s premier restaurant is one of the festival’s hottest tickets!

ABOUT ARAXI

The culinary cornerstone in the heart of Whistler Village, Araxi enjoys a long-held international reputation for excellence in food, wine and hospitality. Executive Chef James Walt celebrates carefully sourced local ingredients from nearby Pemberton Valley farms, where he collaborates frequently with local growers. 4222 Village Square, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. 604 932 4540, www.araxi.com.

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In addition to providing daily editorial, Scout is dedicated to supporting and promoting cool, interesting, and independent British Columbian businesses through the publication of their press releases and event info. To learn how to get your news up on our front page, check out our supporter details page here.

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Tickets are $155 per person and available for purchase online.

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

MORE FIELD TRIPS

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, 2008

Cherry 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

MORE FIELD TRIPS

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…

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, 2008

Cherry 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

August + September Events

We are also pleased to announce the incredible winery partners for our other two events: August 27th will feature Naramata’s Foxtrot Vineyards and Napa’s Trefethen Family Vineyards, while September 11th will welcome sister wineries Le Vieux Pin of Oliver and LaStella of Osoyoos.

To Purchase

Tickets for each of the three events are $160.00 per person, all inclusive of reception, four-course menu, wine, tax and gratuity.

Return executive transportation from Whistler Village is available for an additional $35.00 per person, including tax.

ABOUT ARAXI

The culinary cornerstone in the heart of Whistler Village, Araxi enjoys a long-held international reputation for excellence in food, wine and hospitality. Executive Chef James Walt celebrates carefully sourced local ingredients from nearby Pemberton Valley farms, where he collaborates frequently with local growers. 4222 Village Square, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. 604 932 4540, www.araxi.com.

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In addition to providing daily editorial, Scout is dedicated to supporting and promoting cool, interesting, and independent British Columbian businesses through the publication of their press releases and event info. To learn how to get your news up on our front page, check out our supporter details page here.

———————————————————————-

To reserve your place at the table, email: farmdinner@araxi.com.

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…

To Purchase

Tickets for each event are $160.00 per person, all inclusive of reception, four-course menu, wine, tax and gratuity.

Return executive transportation from Whistler Village is available for an additional $35.00 per person, including tax.

To reserve your place at the table, email: farmdinner@araxi.com.

ABOUT ARAXI

The culinary cornerstone in the heart of Whistler Village, Araxi enjoys a long-held international reputation for excellence in food, wine and hospitality. Executive Chef James Walt celebrates carefully sourced local ingredients from nearby Pemberton Valley farms, where he collaborates frequently with local growers. 4222 Village Square, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. 604 932 4540, www.araxi.com.

———————————————————————-

In addition to providing daily editorial, Scout is dedicated to supporting and promoting cool, interesting, and independent British Columbian businesses through the publication of their press releases and event info. To learn how to get your news up on our front page, check out our supporter details page here.

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