The GOODS from Toptable

Whistler & Vancouver, BC | Early summer weather heralds al fresco cocktails and dining at CinCin Ristorante, Blue Water Cafe, and Araxi Restaurant and Oyster Bar, while Whistler’s newest hot spot, Bar Oso, announced it will soon open for lunch.

Following a successful winter season and only days after receiving its first culinary accolade, the team at Bar Oso has announced it will open for lunch daily at 11:30 am from Monday, May 16th onwards. Chef Jorge will introduce bocadillos to the menu plus new soups and salads, in addition to the already popular house-made charcuterie.

Each of Toptable Group’s Vancouver terraces are now open to celebrate the season over cool libations and seasonal menus. The recently renovated terrace at CinCin Ristorante, a quiet repose perched above bustling Robson Street, opens at 4:30 pm every afternoon. It’s the perfect place to meet friends and colleagues to sample cocktails from award-winning Bar Manager David Wolowidnyk’s brilliant new summer list, and to relax into the evening over Executive Chef Andrew Richardson’s delicious summer menus.

The patio at Blue Water Cafe is now open for the summer, and is the finest place in Yaletown for people-watching and drinks, fresh sushi from the raw bar, and Vancouver’s best seafood from Executive Chef Frank Pabst’s award-winning menu. Bar Manager Colin MacDougall will also be crafting lighter cocktails to reflect the changing of the seasons.

At Araxi Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Whistler, guests can soon watch the stream of tourists and locals pass through the Village Square while luxuriating patio-side. Executive Chef James Walt’s seasonal menus kick into full gear, featuring local produce from Pemberton Valley farmers, and fresh seafood from his favorite coastal suppliers. The patio opens daily at 2:30 pm in early June for oysters and après then dinner at 5:00 pm, and will be open for brunch every weekend from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm throughout the summer months.

For more information or reservations, visit toptable.ca.

Details

4222 Village Square | Whistler, BC | VON 1B4 | MAP
Voice: 604 932 4540
Web: Araxi.com
Email: [email protected]

Gallery

Hours

Open daily from 3pm-12am
Oyster Specials: 3-5pm

Our Team

James Walt, Executive Chef
Aaron Heath, Pastry Chef
Neil Henderson, Restaurant Director
Samantha Rahn, Wine Director
Tova Johnson, Restaurant Manager
Pat Allan, Restaurant Manager
Darin Newton, Restaurant Manager & Sommelier
Jason Kawaguchi, Assistant Service Manager + Assistant Wine Director
Rene Wuethrich, Bar Manager

About Araxi Restaurant

Best of the Pacific Northwest

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. His seasonally rotating menus also feature the freshest seafood catches direct from the Pacific Ocean. Walt’s innovative and skillfully executed dishes deliver intelligent compositions and delightful flavours, carefully married to our award-winning wine list. Chef’s tasting menus, and a la carte selections, are popular with Whistler residents and visitors alike.

The dining room resonates with lively ambiance enhanced with fresh flowers and original works of art. The adjoining Bar is the mountain’s popular gathering place for locals and visitors, and in the summer season the patio is the nexus of Whistler’s village life, wrapped by stunning mountain vistas.

The Cookbook

Araxi, Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant

by James Walt $45.00

Gorgeous photography and accessible recipes frame the seasons and chef James Walt’s celebration of our region’s bounty in Araxi: Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant. A graduate of Stratford, Walt’s sterling career includes the executive chef position at the Canadian Embassy in Rome. The highly anticipated cookbook was just released to high praise by both patrons and Walt’s peers, including chefs Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal. Walt’s distinct Canadian style – that celebrates both local farms and coastal fisheries – has won praise and ovations at New York City’s James Beard House where he has showcased his talents three times. Now long established as Whistler’s finest dining experience, Araxi also features exceptional dessert recipes from pastry chef Aaron Heath and wine pairings from Samantha Rahn.

Best Chef Book in Canada, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, 2009.

Nominee, Cooking from a Professional Point of View, James Beard Foundation Awards, 2010

Best Illustrated Cookbook, Cordon d’ Or – Gold Ribbon, International Culinary Academy Awards, 2010

For more details and to order a copy, click here.

Accolades

“Whistler’s first fine dining restaurant, and perhaps its best, satisfies most every taste, thanks to executive chef James Walt’s way with local ingredients, including his carefully balanced 100-Mile tasting menu.”
Vancouver magazine, Eating + Drinking Guide, 2012

“You can’t go wrong anywhere on their menu.”
National Geographic, 2012

“Establishments like Araxi are cornerstones of the resort’s upscale culinary experience.”
The Province, 2012

“The Long Table Dinner was really the event that catapulted our crush on Araxi into a full-blown love affair.”
Greedy Guts Blog, 2012

“If I had to select one dining experience that “wowed” us the most in 2011, it would have to be the Araxi Longtable event.”
Miss604.com, 2011

“Executive chef James Walt created a menu that was both innovative and mouthwatering.”
AOL Travel Canada, 2011

“The expanding food scene owes much of its growth to Araxi, known for years as the place to go for creative, outstanding dishes.”
Toronto Sun, 2011

“Whistler’s world class Araxi Restaurant.”
Vancouver Sun, 2011

“Fast forward three decades and Araxi has not only blossomed into one of Canada’s most celebrated restaurants (after all, Gordon Ramsay doesn’t exactly drop in by chance) but it’s become the cornerstone of Top Table, among an elite group of success stories.”
North Shore News, 2011

“Araxi is the natural choice for exquisite food, superb service, and vibrant atmosphere in the heart of Whistler Village.”
Whistler Question, 2011

“A creative institution that’s not only survived, but thrived by continually evolving during its 30-year reign at Whistler.”
Pique Newsmagazine, 2011

“This splendid restaurant is one of the best things about Whistler.” “The commitment to local products and suppliers shines through the inventive dishes from chef James Walt’s kitchen.”
Vancouver magazine, 2011

“Standout restaurant…”
Wall Street Journal, 2011

“Araxi is a restaurant hitting on all cylinders and clearly at the top of its game. Ambiance and service are impeccable – a real model for other restaurants to emulate.”
Food Network Canada, 2010

“Locally minded, universally delicious dishes.”
Food & Wine magazine, 2010

“Everything at Araxi is of the finest quality and is always executed with brilliant precision and thoughtful sophistication.”
Huffington Post, 2010

Best List Award, Silver
Vancouver International Wine Festival, 2015

Best Whistler, Gold
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 1999-2008, 2010-2015

Best Formal Whistler Restaurant
WHERE Magazine ‘To Dine’ Awards, 2010-2015

Best Whistler Restaurant
Georgia Straight Golden Plate Awards, 2009-2015

‘Best of’ Award of Excellence
Wine Spectator, 2013-2015

Best Chef, James Walt
Best Bartender, Jason Redmond
Best Wine List
Best Martini/Cocktail
Pique ‘Best of Whistler’ Awards, 2015

Top 50 Restaurants in Canada
Vacay.ca, 2012-2015

Wine List Award, Gold
Vancouver International Wine Festival, 2013-2014

Best Server, Benjamin Parizet
Best Bartender, Jason Redmond
Best Martini/Cocktail
Pique ‘Best of Whistler’ Awards, 2014

Sommelier of the Year, Samantha Rahn
Vancouver International Wine Festival, 2013

Premier Crew Service Award, Samantha Rahn
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2013

Achievement of Distinction in Dining
DiRoNA, 2013

Best Dessert, Aaron Heath
Best Overall Experience
Best Chef, James Walt
Best Service
Best Wine list, Samantha Rahn
Pique ‘Best of Whistler’ Awards, 2013

Top50, Canada’s Best Restaurants
Maclean’s Magazine, 2012

Four Diamond Award
AAA / CAA, 2012

Premier Crew Service Award, Neil Henderson
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2012

Most Popular Whistler Restaurant
Zagat Restaurants Survey, 2012

Nominee, Cooking from a Professional Point of View – Araxi: Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant
James Beard Foundation Awards, 2010

Best Illustrated Cookbook – Araxi: Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant
Cordon d’ Or – Gold Ribbon, International Culinary Academy Awards, 2010

Grand Prize Restaurant, Hell’s Kitchen Season 6
Selected by Chef Gordon Ramsay and the Producers of FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen as the grand prize for the winning chef, 2009

Best Chef Book in Canada – Araxi: Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant
Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, 2009

Best Whistler, Gold
Urban Diner Restaurant Awards, 2009

Best Whistler, Silver
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2009

Guest Chef Dinner @ James Beard House
Three sold out events at the prestigious James Beard Foundation. New York City, 2006 + 2002 + 1998

DETAILS

150 – 4222 Village Square | Whistler, BC | V0N 1B4
Email: [email protected] | Telephone: 604-962-4540 ext. 1
Web: baroso.ca | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Hours: Open Daily from 3-12am

Gallery

Our Team

James Walt, Executive Chef
Jorge Muñoz Santos, Chef
Neil Henderson, Restaurant Director
Jason Redmond, Bar Manager

About Bar Oso

Bar Oso – “oso” meaning “bear” in Spanish, an homage to Whistler’s local wildlife –offers a profusion of Spanish-influenced small plates including raciones (platters), pintxos (skewers), charcuterie boards, and a wide range of tapas drawn from Araxi Restaurant Executive Chef James Walt’s international repertoire and Chef Jorge Muñoz Jorge Muñoz Santos’ provenance in Spanish cookery. Open daily from 5pm till late, the long, convivial bar is the ultimate gathering place in Whistler. The cuisine pairs perfectly with Bar Manager Jason Redmond’s selection of contemporary cocktails – including a gin and tonic feature menu – handcrafted using classical techniques and seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, as well as inspired local and Spanish wines, and craft beers.