Five fan favourite food joints at Western Canada ski resorts
Joanne Elves
Last run of the day and you’re at the peak with your pals. It’s going to be a race to the base to see who pays for the après ski grub. Will it be wholesome or smothered in cheese? Let the winner decide. Here’s a few of our favourites to race to, let's see if you agree.
Easy to please with too much cheese
If you can boast that you are consistently rated as the best apris ski grub at Fernie Alpine Resort since 1962, you either have very loyal followers or the food is dang good. Let’s assume both for the Griz Bar, located in the village at Fernie Alpine Resort. By watching what comes out of the kitchen the most, it’s the Griz Bar Famous Nachos. The cheesy try of corn chips topped with an abundance of peppers, olives, tomatoes, black beans and jalapenos is huge. Do not attempt to eat it alone.
It looks like the new Legends Mountain Eatery at Fernie is serving up burgers worth tucking into. The Mushroom Bacon Swiss is exactly what it says – a delicious, fresh, made in-house burger dressed with the warm goodness of fried mushrooms, bacon and melted cheese. Pair that with a lager from Fernie Brewing Co. and you’ve capped the day off perfectly.
Brussel Sprouts? Are you serious?
Pass Powderkeg has a secret ingredient and it’s Executive Chef Alejandro Verdi. People will drive up to the restaurant at the Pass Powderkeg day lodge just to have his signature dish. No, not nachos or burgers (which are absolutely delicious too). It’s his brussel sprouts. Don’t pooh-pooh the green orbs until you’ve slipped a few past your lips. Trust me, nobody shares this dish.
Healthy AND so dang good
SilverStar Mountain Resort near Vernon, B.C., has an entire village of food vendors offering everything from fine dining to pub grub, but I fell in love with the healthy fixings at The Red Antler. I didn’t care that the Organic Quinoa Greek Salad was gluten-free and vegetarian. It was the combo of all the feta, peppers, olives tomatoes and cucumbers spilling out of the bowl that did it for me. Over at 1609 Restaurant and Lounge, you can sample SilverStar’s widest selection of craft beers and any (or all) of them go well with the Grazing Plater. Take your favourite ski buddies to share this one.
Enter to win a trip to SilverStar here.
Deck + Burgers = good times
If it’s springtime and the sun is beating down, there is no better place to finish the day at Lake Louise Ski Resort than at the Kokanee Kabin and Smokehouse BBQ. Grab a burger, cooked on the smokin’ outdoor grill, a pint of beer and settle into a picnic table to chow down while watching the stragglers come off the hill. If you are lucky, there is live tunes enhancing the mood.
Dance on the tables, or toss back vodka?
Oh boy ... the list of great food is endless at Whistler, but after a day at Whistler if you still have energy to burn, kick the skis off at the base of Blackcomb in Whistlers Upper Village and waddle into the après ski party at Merlin’s Bar and Grill. Sometimes the action is a bit of a frat house – but they like it like that. Devour the crazy pile of nachos for extra energy.
If you’d rather get cleaned up and dine in a more civilized atmosphere, check out Bearfoot Bistro in the heart of the village. Executive Chef Melissa Craig’s kitchen creates delicious dinners. If you want a special extra, order the ice cream to be churned tableside. If there is a special occasion, why not finish it off by topping off (or sabering) a bottle of champagne. Or, walk into the coldest vodka tasting room in the world to taste any of the 50 vodkas chilling in the thick wall of ice.
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