Whistler What’s New: Summer Dining
Posted by: Feet Banks
Eating outside is a bit of a luxury in Canada — our climate only gives us a few months of truly decent BBQ weather. So it’s no wonder that summer in Whistler is a flurry of patio sessions, lakeside picnics and general outdoor dining fun.
As the summer of 2015 officially kicks into gear there are a few new spots and special events worth checking out in amongst the always awesome Whistler dining scene so The Insider hit the streets and sniffed out these hot new spots and happenings. Autumn will be here before you know it so come get some cool summer eats.
Portobello Dinners
6-9 PM Nightly through Labour Day, Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort
Whistler’s much-loved sandwich shop and bakery is now open for dinner and offers a grilled-right-there BBQ featuring ribs, chicken, salmon, a roast pork shoulder and more. With indoor and patio seating diners can smell the succulent BBQ while enjoying the peaceful Upper Village atmosphere.
“The smell is important,” explains Chef Kreg Graham. “All the senses are involved in a good dining experience.” And if the smell doesn’t lure in meat lovers those first bites will, but Chef Kreg has also loaded his new menu with flatbread pizzas and fresh local salads to keep the options open. With season-appropriate deserts like Summer Berry Cafoutis and Okanagan Stone Fruit Galette Portobello
Portobello BBQ dinners start at $17.95 Reservations are not required but Chef Kreg asks that large groups call ahead and give him a heads up. Portobello 604-938-2040
Grill Vine Summer Series
July 3, July 31, September 19, 2015 Westin Resort Spa Whistler
There is a certain magic in sharing an incredible meal with a large group of people, especially in this day and age, so the Grill Vine is introducing three special 32-seat longtable dinners for summer 2015.
“Grill Vine was one of the first restaurants in Whistler to offer communal tables,” says executive Chef Bradley Cumming. “We loved the energy that this added and we’re excited to bring this outdoors for our summer series.”
Each of three al fresco dinners will feature five courses with beverage pairings (the Grill Vine patio is also perfectly situated to watch the Whistler sunset) but to really spice things up each of the Summer Series meals will feature a theme and special guest. The July 3 event is an “Orchards Estates” theme and features a winemaker from BC’s Okanagan Valley. July 31 is “Wellness Wine” Wanderlust edition and includes a 60-minute pre-dinner yoga session while September 19 is “Barley The Beast” with craft beers replacing wine and a professional brewmaster from Deep Cove Brewers on site as part of the Whistler Village Beer Festival.
Summer Series dinners are $110/person including tax and gratuity and you’ll want to book in advance. Grill Vine 604-935-4338
W’s Restaurant
Open Daily, Whistler Olympic Plaza
The newest eatery to open in the pole-position beside Whistler’s incredibly popular 2010 Olympic Rings, W’s has got summer on the mind with a focus on craft beers, wines and an constantly changing “Fresh Sheet.”
“We are buying from the Farmer’s Market and bringing in Pemberton produce,” says owner Eduardo Vazquez-Vela, who moved his family to Whistler from Mexico permanently after spending a year here on sabbatical in 2011-12.
Eduardo explains the name W’s stands for everything he loves about Whistler: “Winter, water, woods, wellness, warm people, wilderness…. Just everything Whistler,” he says.
Insider Tip: W’s is the only patio in town where you can see the Whistler Olympic Plaza main stage. This means you can sit and drink wine while watching the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performances this July Long weekend, or any of the other free summer concerts. Eduardo recommends the Charcuterie Cheese platter.
W’s is so fresh and new the only way to contact them is to show up or call 604-962-4750
Bonus! Fairmont Fridays special cocktails!
Is there anything more summery than lawn games and fresh cocktails? Runing from 5-7 PM each Friday, Fairmont Fridays combine the best of both. With a sunny lawn and cold, fresh, perfect drinks there is perhaps no better place to spend an afternoon.
Each cocktail is more spectacular than the last but The Insider recommends a game of croquet combined with bartender Fred Lemieux’s “Loosey Goosey,” a sophisticated take on the classic gin juice with Tanquerey St Germain, Elderflower liqueur, gooseberries and lemon.
Gin mallets, you can’t go wrong.
Summer 2015 in Whistler will also see couple wine bars openign soon, the Canadian BBQ championships in Creekside,the return of the Four Seasons Backyard BBQ Thursdays (all you can eat!), the Slow Food Cycle and more. Check out this Insider blog post for more details and you can always find out more at Whistler.com
Article source: http://www.whistler.com/blog/post/2015/06/30/new-summer-dining.aspx
