Evolution by Lodging Ovations

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Whistler that is both family-friendly and pet-friendly, then Evolution by the Lodging Ovations is the perfect choice. This hotel offers a wide range of amenities that will make your stay comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable.

First and foremost, Evolution Whistler is an excellent family-friendly hotel. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with plenty of space for children to play and explore.

Amenities

The hotel also offers a variety of family-friendly activities, such as an outdoor pool and hot tub, a fitness centre, and a games room.

Kitchen and laundry

One of the best things about Evolution Whistler is the fact that each room comes with a fully equipped kitchen. This makes it easy to prepare meals for your family, rather than having to rely on expensive restaurants or fast food joints. The kitchen includes a stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, and all the necessary cookware and dishes. There is also a laundry machine!

Pet-friendly hotel

Evolution Whistler is also a pet-friendly hotel. This means that you can bring your furry friend along on your trip, without having to worry about finding a kennel or a pet-sitter. The hotel has a dedicated pet area, as well as plenty of nearby walking trails where you can take your dog for a walk.

Creekside village

If you’re looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of Whistler Village, the Creekside area is the perfect spot to explore. Located just a few kilometers south of the main village, Creekside is a quiet and charming community that’s home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and outdoor activities.

One of the main attractions in Creekside is the Creekside Gondola, which provides access to the world-class skiing and snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb. In the summer months, the gondola transforms into the perfect tool for exploring the surrounding hiking and mountain biking trails. The trail along Creekside and the lakes are also stunning.

Along with its outdoor activities, Creekside is also home to a variety of restaurants that cater to all tastes and preferences. From the cozy and rustic Rimrock Cafe, to the upscale, award-winning Red Door Bistro, there’s no shortage of delicious dining options in this quaint little village.

For those looking for a more relaxing experience, the Scandinave Spa is a must-visit destination. This outdoor spa is nestled in the heart of a spruce and cedar forest, and offers a variety of hot and cold baths, saunas, and relaxation areas.

Overall, the Creekside area is the perfect spot to escape the crowds and enjoy all that Whistler has to offer. From skiing and snowboarding, to hiking, dining, and relaxation, this charming little village has something for everyone. For anyone who is still getting used to the world opening up, this quieter area may be for you if Whistler Village is still a little too crowded for you!

Farm to Table Dinner – The Den at Nita Lake Lodge

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the Den at Nita Lodge as part of the Nourish Spring Series, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience.

The lodge itself is situated in a beautiful location, surrounded by lush forests and overlooking the Lake. The atmosphere inside is warm and inviting, with a cozy fireplace and rustic decor. It was designed by Erin Kincaid, who runs Bliss Event + Design Whistler.

The five course menu at the Den

The food, however, was the true highlight of the evening. Each course was thoughtfully prepared and paired with a delicious wine from Burrowing Owl. The first course, a Pea and Panceta soup with fiddleheads and tarragon crème fraiche, was light and refreshing. The Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris 2021 paired perfectly with the fresh flavors of the soup.

The second course was a Crispy Lamb Salad with fresh Okanagan cherries, poached fingerling potatoes, smoked castelvetrano olives, living salad leaves, pickled shallots, and honey mustard dressing. The Burrowing Owl Sauvignon Blanc 2021 complemented the bold flavors of the salad beautifully. This Sauvignon Blanc is a new favourite of mine and I picked a bottle up at a liquor store in the village after this dinner!

The third course was a Spot Prawn dish with nduja crumble, radishes, grilled fennel, sugar snap peas, cucumber, and lime gel. The Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir 2021 paired perfectly with the rich and flavourful prawns.

The fourth course was a Venison dish with roast venison loin, BC foraged mushrooms, watercress, pickled blueberries, roast squash, and baby carrots. The Burrowing Owl Athene 2019 paired wonderfully with the complex flavors of the venison.

To cap off the meal, we enjoyed a decadent Caramelized Farmhouse Cheddar Cheesecake with Pemberton Quince Chutney, paired with Burrowing Owl Coruja 2020. The tangy cheddar and sweet quince chutney paired perfectly with the wine. This dish actually gave me some inspiration for a future cheeseboard. I was given a recommendation to try Picnic Whistler, a locally-owned and beautifully curated charcuterie box service.

An exceptional dining experience

Overall, the Den at Nita Lodge provided an exceptional dining experience. The food was expertly prepared and paired with delicious wines, and the atmosphere of the lodge elevated the experience to something truly special. The view of the lake, wine glass in hand and string lights that decorate the path to the Nita Lodge is breathtaking.

The farm to table dinners happen during the Nourish Spring Series on Friday Evenings. (June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | Various Whistler Restaurants)

Rockit Coffee

If you’re looking for the funkiest coffee shop in Whistler, Rockit Coffee is the place to be. Located in the heart of the Village, it’s the perfect spot to grab a drink and relax after a long day of skiing or hiking. And its décor and style will delight any music fan, with its retro inspiration and pop memorabilia. Almost 6 decades after the first lifts were built on the south side of Whistler Mountain in 1965, Rockit Coffee Co is bringing back 70’s flower power and deadly 80’s style in a fun space to chill that has a legit soundtrack. Daniel Meloché Designs crafted this unique space.

The coffee at Rockit is excellent. Whether you prefer a latte, cappuccino, or drip coffee, they have it all. They also have a variety of pastries, most notably various flavours of cruffins: Pistachio, Dark Chocolate, and Peanut Butter and Jelly! They also have a great selection of vegan and gluten-free options. Their sandwiches were delicious, my favourite was the Kimchi KPop. It is made with black forest ham, smoked beef, swiss cheese, kimchi, mustard, mayonnaise on a pretzel bun.

Sneak peek of the new restaurant, Mekong

Down the street from Rockit Coffee, a new restaurant called Mekong will be opening. While the restaurant is not yet open, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek.

Mekong will be a Southeast Asian restaurant with a focus on bold and warm Thai flavors, and fresh ingredients. Chef Bonnie Khummuang will execute Barajas and Chef An’s (Maenam) vision and will bring her deep expertise and passion for the traditional methods and flavours of Thai cuisine. Chef Khummuang cooked alongside Chef An for three years and spent three years as head chef of New Westminster’s beloved Longtail Kitchen. Daniel Meloché Designs is also responsible for the exquisite and beautiful interior design of Mekong.

If you’re a fan of Southeast Asian cuisine, keep an eye out for the opening of Mekong in July. It’s sure to be a hit and will have a patio!

Trip to the Farm – Pemberton

Review by Josh Green, edited by Nathalie

During Nourish, another unique experience was a trip to farms in Pemberton. These trips bring you straight to the Pemberton countryside to explore the amazing agricultural scene in BC. The tour was led by wellness guru Astrid Cameron Kent on a refreshing adventure through four farms in the Pemberton Valley. Each farm has its own cool story and vibe. You’ll get to learn about sustainable agriculture and the farm-to-table movement and connect with others who are into food, health, and wellness.

We started the tour aboard a VIP bus experience. The seating is spacious, the lighting within the bus is very aesthetic. During the ride, we were given a welcome snack, which was a gluten free biscotti (almond and chocolate) and hydrated with water. As we drove down a scenic road, we took in the beautiful sites of the Sea-to-Sky highway.

Helmer’s Honour Stand

Our first destination was the Helmer’s Honour Stand. When open, you can purchase fresh produce to take home with you. Honour stands and roadside markers are part of Pemberton’s scenery, and honour stands historically are places where produce are kept and people can pay what they can in a box. Before we embarked on a 2km walk through the fields of Laughing Crow Farms, we were given water because it was an unusually hot day in June.

While we were hydrating, we were briefed on the first two sites: Laughing Crow Farms and the Helmer Organic Farms. We also had a quick detour to a sanitation site, which cleaned our shoes of any outside fungus or bacteria that might harm the plants of the organic fields we were about to walk through.

Laughing Crow Farms

Laughing Crow Farms is a member site of the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (whom call themselves WWOOFers for short), an organization that arranges home-stays on farms. Laughing Crow Farms is a certified organic vegetable and flower farm. We were led on a sunny walk through a few of the planting fields.

Laughing Crow Farms is chemical-free, and use inventive, mechanized method of farming as well as demonstrating the importance of hand-farming methods of food cultivation.

The Helmer Organic Farm

The Helmer Organic Farm, our second destination and the neighbor of Laughing Crow, is a fourth generation farm. The site itself hosts a beautiful hand-built house, which was crafted by materials in the local region. The Helmer Organic Farm has been organic since 1980.

There is also a garden that show the generational love and care for the land and the property, down to the vibrant flowers and vegetables and the cheerful, thoughtfully placed decorations that breath a special kind of life into the place.

Some of their success is from cultivating seed potatoes, that are sold to potato farms in Idaho, Prince Edward Island, and other mass-producing potato farms across the world. Anywhere that is prosperous with potatoes probably owes that to a handful of Pemberton farms and the seed potatoes that they produce.

We snacked on their prepared and packaged organic foods, while Astrid and the Helmer family spoke of their legacy in the Pemberton area, and how the foods we were eating had been grown right in the valley around us. We had organic local cheeses from the valley, mushrooms and veggies grown by the farm (pickled and micro greens), and crackers and hummus from vendors from the valley. Eve’s Crackers were my favourite, particularly the Chilli Pepper Pumpkin Seed flavour. I’m a fan of growing and eating mushrooms, and these hearty, plump mushrooms were only seasoned with butter and were amazing.

The Beer Farmers

Our last stop was The Beer Farmers, which timed out especially well in that unusually hot June day. This was another intergenerational organic farm (a common theme in this valley), but with a recent pivot into the craft of beer-making. Everything is grown and brewed by the family on-site. The beer is brewed with fresh barley grown in their fields. Their mastery of farming has obviously paid off in dividends, as their brew-master, who is also the mother of the family, has already crafted award-winning beers.

The best beer was the Farmer’s Daughter White Beer, which won the overall Judges’ Choice Award at the BC Beer Awards in Vancouver on Nov 5, 2022. I also tried a strawberry saison, a salted plum sour (which was another favourite of mine) and the locals only lager.

Miller’s Fries

Miller’s Fries is a local french-fry themed food truck, that uses local potatoes from the valley. The fries are a great salty, snack that pairs well with the beer and makes for a great afternoon out in the country.

The farm tours happen during Nourish: Spring Series on Saturdays (June 3, 10, 17, 24 | Various Pemberton Valley Farms)

Sunday Brunch at the Station House on Alta Lake

The Nourish Brunch Series at Station House is a truly unforgettable dining experience that combines wellness-focused cuisine with breathtaking views of Alta Lake. Chef Worden’s culinary skills are on full display in this brunch series, with a menu that is both inventive and delicious.

Every dish served at the Nourish Brunch Series is thoughtfully crafted with fresh and locally-sourced ingredients, ensuring that every bite is packed with flavour and nutrition. The honey-grilled French toast topped with strawberries and basil was a decadent way to start the meal, leaving a lasting impression on my taste buds.

The breakfast bowl with tomato, portobello, greens, and chipotle poached eggs was a hearty and satisfying second course. My favourite bit was breaking the egg over the vegetables and savouring each bite.

The grilled fruit salad with mint on lemon loaf was a delightful surprise, with the sweetness of the grilled, spiced fruit perfectly balanced by the tartness of the lemon loaf. This was my favourite dish.

But what really sets the Nourish Brunch Series apart is the location itself. The once artist residence on the shores of Alta Lake offers breathtaking views that create the perfect backdrop for a leisurely and indulgent brunch, that is pretty private or away from the bustle of Whistler. The serene atmosphere and stunning scenery allow guests to fully unwind and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Whistler.

Overall, the Nourish Brunch Series at Station House is a must-visit for anyone looking for a unique and memorable dining experience in Whistler. The combination of exquisite cuisine and stunning views make for a truly unforgettable brunch experience that should not be missed.

The Sunday Brunch series happen during the Nourish Spring Series on Sunday Mornings. (June 4, 11, 18, 25 | Station House on Alta Lake)