Deerpath Lookout and Okanagan Bounty

Eating local in the Okanagan is rather effortless.  I knew this before arriving, but I did not quite anticipate how much excellent regional food we would enjoy in the short time we were there.  Our time spent at Deerpath Lookout B&B in Kaledon, BC succeeded in introducing us to a variety of signature Okanagan edibles.

Deerpath is a large Arizona-adobe style house built by John and Doug in the late 90’s, surrounded by the characteristic pines and dusty desert-mountains of the Okanagan. 

They prepared exquisite breakfasts every morning, featuring the bounty of the local area.  At 600 pounds, even the table we dined at contributed to the grand feeling of brunching at Deerpath, made of immaculately restored wood from on old submerged barge. 

During our stay, we enjoyed poached apricots, eggs from their neighbours, mulberries, rainier and lapin cherries, roasted tomato salsa, bread from Cam and Dana at Joy Road, and fresh, rich and flavourful Upper Bench cheeses.  The Upper Bench Winery is run by a husband and wife team, and they produce both wine as well as artisanal cheeses.  Shana Miller, the cheese maker, handcrafts eight different cow’s milk cheeses including Okanagan Sun, Grey Baby, and Italian Gold. 

Both John and Doug are so naturally hospitable, it’s easy to see why they do the work they do. Before we left, John sent us on the road with two bags of his incredible homemade granola.  This stuff kept us extremely well-fed during the many days of camping that followed.

Deer Path Lookout B&B Granola

4 C     raw oats
3/4C    sweetened, shredded coconut
3/4C    slivered almonds

toss them together in a large bowl.  Then, whisk together the following and blend completely

3/4C    vegetable oil
3/4C    maple syrup
1T    vanilla
2T    cinnamon
2T    dried ginger

  • toss the oat mixture to cover the dry mix completely
  • bake on a large baking sheet in a 375F convection oven, turning when necessary to ensure an even roast and colour – about 15 minutes – remove and cool in large bowl
  • then add a variety of seeds, dried fruits and nuts  -  add flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, dried apricots, a variety of raisins and sometimes chocolate chips – the choice is yours – and enjoy!
  • Thank you John and Doug!

    -DV

     

    Joy Road (Part 2/2): Dinner at God's Mountain

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    Very few places can live up to a name like "God's Mountain," but God's Mountain Estate in the Okanagan has done just that.  Dana and I had the privilege of attending a Joy Road dinner there, a small inn and vineyard located in the hills east of Skaha Lake

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    God’s Mountain looks like a little Greek villa, surrounded by vines and fruit trees and a view that literally shimmers as the sun hits the lake.  Each Thursday and Sunday during the summer, the Joy Road team hosts long-table Alfresco dinners there, and late into the evening guests dine on Okanagan fare paired with local wines. 

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    They’d already sold out the only dinner we were able to attend, but the team graciously squeezed us in by setting up a table for two in God’s Mountain’s new outdoor kitchen.  A DREAM KITCHEN.  I've often joked that I'll never be able to afford to build a whole house, so maybe I'll just build a kitchen.  If I do, it will be this one. 

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    Inside this kitchen, the Joy Road crew worked hard all night – when guests arrived the weather was drizzling, so they moved everything inside.  As soon as the sun returned, they moved everyone back out, all while preparing an epic five-course meal in two kitchens. 

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    Honestly, this was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.  I don’t know if I’ve ever had food that’s combined such high-quality ingredients with this kind of attentive, skilled cooking. 

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    There wasn’t anything I would have changed, which is rare (if almost impossible) for someone who loves food as much as I do, and Dana and I barely talked as we ate.  There were too many flavours to love, too many pairings to appreciate. 

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    Here’s what we ate, followed by more pictures from the evening.  Cheers to God’s Mountain for hosting, to the Okanagan producers whose food we ate, and to Joy Road for working so incredibly hard.  Many chefs make meals, but only a few manage to make meals we’ll always remember.  Thanks for being the latter. 

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    -Dana’s homemade bread with organic Canadian wheat.

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    -Spanish-style roasted olives with fennel and citrus
    A tasting of Cameron’s housemade charcuterie
    Baby vegetables
    Pork rillet with apple butter
    -Paired with God's Mountain Wild Goose Riesling

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    -Minestrone verde with asparagus, freshly-shelled English peas, basil, watercress, lemon zest

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    -Charcoal grilled leg of lamb rubbed with roasted garlic and herbs
Braised beet greens with cream, Dijon, and quince paste
    -
Tapenade aioli
    -Paired with Pentage "Hiatus"

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    -Panzanella (Tuscan bread salad) with roasted red peppers, parsley, basil, anchovy, and capers (my favourite dish of the night)

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    -Roasted broccoli with espellete peppers and lemon

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    -Nicoise-style salad with beans, cherry tomatoes, and potatoes

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    -A salad from their musician/farmer friend, Jordan

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     -Black Forest cake with sour cherries from God’s Mountain and locally-made Kirsch; Lemon pot de crème; locally roasted coffee and fresh chocolate mint tea

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     -LA