What is the best place to dine in Kelowna?

When Atsawin Sumpantarat moved from Thailand to Kelowna with his family at the age of 17 in 2003, he was not made of ketchup Pad Thai Was impossible to find.

"Wow, I never went to a Thai restaurant here," said Sumpantarat, now 36. As a chef and co-owner of

Thai Terrace in the historic downtown of the cityis part of the diverse and changing food scene of Okanagan Valley's largest city, true Thailand Serves food. 

Create menus based on the bounty of local farms and vineyards, even if Kelowna chefs share dishes inspired by family kitchens Even if you do, reliability is important. He pointed out that it was a big change from 10 years ago.

He and his wife, Achara (Ess), create colorful dishes that symbolize the balanced, salty, sweet and sour special flavors of Thai cuisine. Ess is the only restaurant's popular Money Bags fried appetizer, aromatic minced chicken, vegetables, fresh herbs, and the only one that can skillfully blanch the length of blanched green onions on top of a blanched wrapper stuffed with vermicelli. is. She does a tricky job watching a Thai soap opera, San Pantarat praised in his voice.

Thai Terrace is one of the restaurants in Nancy Quinton'sOkanagan Foodie Toursand introduces the depth. It is a walking tour. Here's the variety and talent of cooking.

Quinton started its business in 2015 after moving to Kelowna and unable to find a food tour. Visitors often come to Kelowna for winery tours and experiences, but Quinton wanted to offer people something beyond the vines.

"I thought it was a great way to learn about the city and try out new food and restaurants," she said. "In the restaurant scene, I see the atmosphere of the big city coming to Kelowna."

She's on a three-hour tour, 12 including 5 restaurant Nosh. We have partnered with a restaurant in downtown. The

tour began with the impressiveOkanagan tableby Chef Rod Butters. The table, along with wine expert Audrey Slao, opened in 2019 as a commissioned kitchen for three restaurants in downtown Kelowna. 

Expanded to a long table dinner event space and a teaching kitchen where curious culinary enthusiasts can complete their cooking classes. I did. Risotto or steakhouse skills with cooking instructor Kelsey Oudendag.

As the founding chef of the Wickaninnish Inn Point Restaurant, Butter brought Tofino's finest cuisine to Okanagan more than 20 years ago and has been demonstrating the power of cooking in and around Kelowna. rice field.

He and Surrao opened the upscale Fresco Restaurant &lounge in 2001. It also owns the RauDZ regional table (formerly Fresco), the microbar&byte tapas bar, and the Sunny ’s Modern Diner. 

The Bijou grocery store just inside the entrance to the Okanagan table is full of butter 2017 cookbooksOkanagan table:The art of everyday home cooking "I guarantee it is the smallest storefront in the world," Butters said. "But with over 160 items, I'm a friend of the finest food store I've ever seen."

The spacious main room is secured by a long counter facing the open kitchen. I sat down and saw butter and his team milk pouched leopard topped with edible flowers, sliced ​​burnt broccoli, and lemon hollandaise sauce like mousse. Surrao paired with Fritzi ’s Vineyard Riesling from the local winery Martin ’s Lane Wine. Delicious.

El Taquero Tacos & Tequilatastes the delicious results of Mexico City's Israeli "Izzy" Camarillo's goal of delivering authentic Mexican street food to Kelowna. Gave me.

He and his wife, Marnie Burnett, met in Vancouver and moved to Kelowna to open a small restaurant in 2015, offering homemade tortillas, pozole and tortillas. The menu contains recipes Izzy learned from her mother.

It took me a while to encourage the locals to think outside the roadhouse-style burrito box, but El Taquero is not only busy, but also catering for business. Camarillo said the side was also busy.

Camarillo made us citrus and spicy BC. Halibut and salmon ceviche tostada. The off-menu item was a homage to his first memory of arriving in Canada in 2009 and seeing a huge exhibit of smoked salmon for sale at the YVR shop.

I sipped honey habanero margarita made with pepper-injected honey, smoky mezcal, lemon juice and limoncello splash.

In 2015, the huge two-story brick and beam space that was once the warehouse of the British North American tobacco company in the downtown cultural district wasBNA Brewery&. It was reborn as a restaurant. A large children's playground with a brewery, tasting room, restaurant, indoor bocce court, airstream trailer bar and 10-pin bowling lane.

In addition to burgers and fish tacos, the Eatery menu includes pork belly adobo, beef rendang, cauliflower korma, and spicy campao street fries in the Philippines. Includes fried rice.

A plate of mushrooms on toast with walnut pesto, tarragon cream and stimulating melted taleggio cheese is perfect for tasting three of BNA's dozens of homemade beers. was.

Not a food tour, but worth a visit at the 1717 Harvey multi-restaurant Landmark District Market This is Frankie We Salute You, the destination of the meal. A short walk from the Hyatt Place Hotel in St.

Chef Neil Taylor makes wine an important part of local produce at the newhomeblock restaurantat Sea Dark Creek Estate Winery, a 20-minute drive from downtown East Kelowna. increase. My lunch featured sweet potatoes roasted on an open grill in the dining room, peas puree, wild spring onions, and sprat with spicy tartar sauce. And nothing beats the scenery beyond the vines. A two-course lunch with wine pairing is $ 65.

Don't miss itA discreet butcher opened by Mount Bushley Estate Winery in 2020West Kelowna as part of the expansion of the Dining Room Wine Experience Center. You can dine in the main level dining room, lounge and patio, or book a private long table dinner in the lower level summit room. The four-course epic set menu ($ 155 per person) was not ashamed of its name and included bearnaise sauce, crab and lobster fillets.

Epic.

Linda Barnard was hosted by Tourism Kelowna and Hyatt Place Kelowna, but this story was not previewed.

If you go 

Okanagan Foodie Toursis $ 125 per person, or 95 Dollars Only foods that do not contain alcohol.

Stay

Hyatt Place Kelowna, 1915 Enterprise Way, Opened in 2020, Places Indoor Pool and Free Self-Service Breakfast Lobby restaurant serving Lee. You can use the electric bicycle for free. There is a free shuttle to Kelowna International Airport, 12 km away. A terrace bar on the 3rd floor is planned for the summer.