Note: Part 1 of this Escape from Seattle is here.
Waking up in Whistler, this calorie-lover knew there was a big day of eating ahead.
Just a short walk from my base at the Westin Resort & Spa is Lift Coffee Company, with outdoor seating and a morning menu that tempted me with a coddled egg and smoked black cod. I enjoyed this little glass ramekin of comfort food, accompanied by assorted baby lettuces, grilled rye, and puttanesca vinaigrette.
What most made me want to order this dish? "Shaved Montana," which sounds like a great name for a band, but turned out to be a cheese topping for the salad.
Lift's comfortable outdoor sofas looked tempting for a post-breakfast nap, but those seats have view of the entry point for my next stop: the Whistler Village Gondola, which would take me up nearly 6,000 feet to connect to my PEAK 2 PEAK Alpine Experience.
Choose your Peak 2 Peak gondola correctly, and not only do you have a 360-degree, panoramic view from as high as 1,430 feet from the valley floor, but you might also have floor windows that allow you to look straight to the ground.
For someone who no longer skis, this 2-and-3/4 mile journey was a great way to get a feel for the majesty of the Olympic venue, and a sense of awe in the marvel of construction of the peak-to-peak cable connection. Completion of Peak 2 Peak broke records for longest unsupported span, highest lift of its kind, and longest continuous lift system on the planet.
There are great hiking, biking, and skiing opportunities at both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, but for this indoor extremist, a little time taking in the view was enough before descending down the open-air lifts to the Blackcomb base in the Upper Village. (The open-air lifts are thrilling, but while it might be hot down at the base in the summer, you might want a jacket for the rides, and the higher elevation.)
After the exhilarating experience, I was now, appropriately enough, in the Whistler Kids area, watching future outdoor extremists in the making, and in close range of a stroll through the farmers market. The market is open Sundays from June to mid-October and features fresh produce from the nearby Pemberton Valley and beyond, as well as chance to appreciate the work of local artists and musicians. This meant lots of opportunities for sampling just-baked bread, summer fruits and vegetables, chocolates, and more.
But not too much, as my next stop was Sidecut--the newly renamed restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort Whistler. I almost got sidetracked by the wonderful smells of an outdoor barbeque which would have special appeal to families, but instead I had a seat in another outdoor dining area and prepared for a carnival of carnivorous delights. (Diners opting for indoor seating can still enjoy the outdoors, as floor-to-ceiling windows reveal gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains.)
Sidecut is named for the distinctive curved shape of skis, as well as the location of a cut of beef, so it’s no surprise that steak is a specialty of the restaurant. Especially impressive were the choice of custom rubs for the steaks (top-level Canadian beef aged 40 days), which are perfectly cooked using an 1,800 degree infrared grill, along with a presentation of six sauces for each entrée.
For those branching out beyond steak, Sidecut offers double-cut Sterling pork chops, BC Fallow venison loin, bone-in braised bison short ribs, and more. And for those who prefer surf over turf, the choices of locally sourced seafood are also superb. The wine selection is extensive, the desserts are extravagant, and best of all, the Four Seasons' service and style are stunning. I wanted to linger here, but stomach stuffed, it was on to the next stop (but not before making arrangements to return).
Recall that, according to my friends in British Columbia, vodka helps push the food down, clearing the way for more. With a promising grand finale dinner ahead, it seemed appropriate to first visit Pemberton Distillery. Using locally grown organic potatoes (Pemberton is rife with potatoes) and pure mountain water, master distiller Tyler Schramm slowly produces authentic sipping vodka that showcases the uniqueness of the raw ingredients, resulting in a velvet smooth finish.
His first vodka hit the market one year ago, and in producing just 1,200 bottles per month (compared to Smirnoff's 10,000 liters per hour), the care is reflected in the rich character of the final product. (Mark your calendars for 2015, as single malt whisky production has started this year, with the whisky set to age in oak casks for at least five years.)
Just a short drive away is North Arm Farm, site of the Outstanding in the Field dinner, my most anticipated meal of the getaway. Outstanding in the Field dinners epitomize the farm-to-table experience by putting the table on the farm.
These feasts unite farmers, culinary artisans and producers, chefs, winemakers, and diners at coast-to-coast events throughout the year, typically starting with a tour of the farm and ending with a spectacular meal prepared by a local, celebrity chef.
For the second straight year, James Walt did the honors, and based on my meal the previous evening at Araxi, I knew it would be a good one. But this good?
I never imagined that service for 160 people with unique cooking challenges could be of such high quality. (I loved sneaking over to the food prep area to watch Walt gently coax the best out of his cooks. Calmly and gracefully, he'd tell his team to "make it perfect," and perfect it was.)
The menu:
First Course
Dungeness Crab
crab wrapped in a thin egg crepe with gazpacho
North Arm flowers and herbs with garlic scapes
Leggiero Chardonnay 2009
Second Course
North Arm Farm Squash Blossom
stuffed with Salt Spring Island Moonstruck cheese
cherry tomato vinaigrette and grape must
Vivace Pinot Grigio 2009
Third Course
Ballotine of Wild Sockeye Salmon
Sturdy's sweet peas, salmon caviar and peppermint
Root Down organic greens and basil
Lastellina Merlot Rosato 2009
Main Course
Pemberton Meadows Beef Fillet
with crisp beef cheeks and shortrib and North Arm horseradish
salsa verde with North Arm beets and globe carrots
Maestoso Merlot 2007
Dessert
Duo of North Arm Berries + Oliver Cherries
Valrhona chocolate mousse cakes, brandied cherries
almond crusted choux buns with marinated berries
Moscato d'Osoyoos 2009
I didn't think it possible to improve upon the short rib dish of the previous evening, but this was simply stellar. Crispy, fat-enhanced meat…amazing. And made better by the most colorful vegetables, fresh from the farm. Might I mention that the host farmers at North Arm are Jordan and Trish Sturdy, and that Jordan also happens to be the mayor of Pemberton?
I sat across from Jordan and enjoyed the conversation at the table, but I couldn’t stop surveying the scene around me: the bounty of the farm, the beautiful flowers in the fields, and the backdrop of the Garibaldi Range, with snow-capped Mount Currie, over 8,500 feet high, just in front of me.
This was perhaps the most majestic setting I’ve ever had for a meal. Time your trip right, and you can enjoy it, too, as early word is that Outstanding in the Field will return to Pemberton next year. You might be dinner for some mosquitoes, but it's worth it for the magnificent dinner you'll experience.
Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Whistler
Still full from the previous day's food, I woke early the next morning for a final stroll through Whistler. I walked with some early-birds hitting the slopes for skiing and snowboarding, but soon parted ways and found myself back at the Four Seasons.
What better way to wrap up my stay in Whistler than with a Sea-to-Sky Signature Massage at the spa?
In contrast to the previous day's treament, which was deeper and tension-relieving, this was more relaxing—also using long (in this case, Lomi Lomi) strokes, along with warm oils. As much as I wanted to stay and enjoy the tranquility of the relaxation room afterward, I felt invigorated and inspired to move on to my next meals. It was time to take the calorie count to Vancouver.
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