by Andrew Morrison & Michelle Sproule | Yesterday afternoon saw the two staffs of Joy Road Catering and Black Hills Winery sit down together at a long table to take in the first bites of their highly anticipated partnership eatery, Joy Road Vineyard Kitchen, which opens later today to the general public.

Housed in a recycled shipping container, the custom-built vineyard kitchen has been installed next to the winery tasting room and patio. The thing is tight but elegantly constructed – totally purpose-built. As we’ve noted before, Joy Road owners Cameron Smith and Dana Ewart are two of BC’s finest chefs, so it’s a step in a very interesting direction to see them involved in a daily food service operation. Will this eventually lead to the pair opening a restaurant of their own? Wouldn’t that be something!

Their “Cuisine du Terroir” style and celebrated suppers on God’s Mountain have long set a high bar in the Okanagan Valley, and this was very much in evidence yesterday. Those gathered were treated to cold smoke cured salmon with fennel pollen served alongside delicious beets from Covert Farms, a taste of Cam’s phenomenal charcuterie (the guy is a master), a variety of excellent pizzas, dark cocoa cookie sandwiches filled with salted honey caramel, and much more — all paired with Black Hills’ wines (home of the celebrated “Nota Bene” red and “Alibi” white).

There is a media reveal today and then it opens for real in the afternoon. Here’s a sneak peek…

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS