The name “Autostrada” – is an expressway in Italy.

I came here with my University BFF to celebrate my birthday. To start, the creamiest and fluffiest burrata from Italy (MP) and house-baked daily Focaccia 6.

Strozzapreti 21: duck and anchovy ragu.

 

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Autostrada Osteria
URL: https://www.autostradahospitality.ca
Cuisine: Italian, Pasta

 

Hours:

Mon 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tue 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wed 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thu 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Fri 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sat 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

 

4811 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R9
(604) 428-6820

 

 

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The long Whistler winter is drawing to a close, and the long sunny days of summer are now just weeks away. While Canada’s popular ski resort might not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning a summer getaway, the months of June, July and August now attract an equal number of visitors as their winter equivalents.

While the winter months offer snow sports and apres-ski, summer travel in Whistler promises an altogether more laid-back feel. While outdoor thrills and stress-busting activities can still be found in abundance, Whistler’s legendary mountain spas draw visitors from all around to enjoy a relaxing summer BC-style.

Here’s our guide to the best spas and top activities to inspire!

WHISTLER SPA RETREATS

The Spa at Four Seasons Resort

The Spa at Four Seasons Resort tops the list when it comes to Whistler spa retreats, having been named the #1 hotel spa in Canada at the Travel and Leisure’s “World Best Awards”. You won’t find a more quintessentially Canadian signature treatment! Consisting of a maple syrup and brown sugar scrub, followed by a clay body wrap and finished up with an Argan oil hair treatment, this is a treatment not to be missed! The spa is family-friendly too, so if you’re travelling with kids check out the kiddo specific manicures and gentle facials. There’s also a comprehensive offering of sports massages, custom facials and nail-care services designed for the active man.

The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge

The Nita Lake Lodge boasts arguably one of the most desirable locations in all of Whistler, and the lakeside spa is the perfect place to relax and recharge. While the rooftop hot tubs offer incredible views, visit the eucalyptus steam room for a truly revitalizing experience. The ultimate HydraFacial experience comes highly recommended. The treatment uses LED light therapy with anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing benefits. Nita Lake is ranked as the number one place to get your relaxation on according to TripAdvisor, and the impressive dining options on site are ideal for grabbing a healthy bite or a more indulgent meal.

Vida Spa at The Fairmont

The Vida Spa boasts an impressive service menu with everything from massage treatments to body wraps on offer. Many of Vida’s treatments are based on the principles of Ayurveda, a 5,000-year old system of holistic Indian medicine. According to Ayurveda, the key to a long and healthy life is achieving a balance between body, mind and spirit. Vida has created its own all natural signature ayurvedic line that is made locally, using treatment ingredients including eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and sandalwood, so you can even take a few products home with you. The de-stress treatments are most definitely worth checking out, comprising a tension target massage, foot therapy and express massage.

Scandinave Spa

If an outdoor spa that operates a “quiet policy” sounds like your kind of thing, make a beeline for the Scandinave Spa. The spa is located on the edge of Lost Lake and Spruce Grove, and the rustic wooden setting includes an array of massage rooms and saunas, as well as an extensive hydrotherapy offering. Journey through three stages starting with the hot installations made up of eucalyptus steam baths, wood burning sauna and Finnish sauna. Move to the cold installations including Nordic waterfalls and showers, before finishing up in the relaxation areas made up of solariums, outdoor fireplaces and yoga studio.

WANDERLUST 2019 (Aug 1-4th 2019)

Whistler’s most laid-back festival returns this summer, and once again the emphasis for Wanderlust 2019 is all about wellness. The event brings together instructors, speakers and influential figures from around the world to celebrate yoga, meditation, and the outdoors. Top musical acts and DJs provide the soundtrack, while top chefs serve up healthy and delicious culinary treats.

STRESS-RELIEVING ACTIVITIES

Yoga: If you can’t make it to the Wanderlust festival, don’t worry. Yoga is popular in Whistler at any time of year, and there are plenty of places to get your yoga on. Heli-yoga is popular in these parts too. Take a short helicopter ride to a secluded area of Whistler backcountry and enjoy a practice like no other.

Axe Throwing: Break from the norm and relieve your frustration lumberjack-style, trying your hand at the rapidly-growing sport of axe throwing. This popular Canadian pastime is kind of like darts but with axes, and Forged Axe Throwing is one of the original urban throwing venues. Lumberjills are just as welcome, and the venue has been in the press for its work on engaging and encouraging more women to try their hand at this fun activity. Trust us, there’s nothing more satisfying than sinking a bullseye!

Hiking: A walk in the wilderness is a sure-fire way to relieve stress and see the stunning scenery that British Columbia is renowned for. Hiking in Whistler is a summer essential and the best way to enjoy it is with a guided hike. An experienced guide will not only share their local knowledge but also keep you safe.

Biking: Biking is another hugely popular summer activity in Whistler and there are over 200 trails ready to explore. Hire a bike from a number of places in Whistler village and get your cardio fix while taking it all in.

Fishing: Whether you’re an experienced angler or are yet to pick up a rod, fishing in Whistler is one of the best ways to let off steam. Choose between wading along the shoreline or casting from a boat, enjoying the peace and serenity of Whistler’s lakes and rivers.

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Have you booked your hotel in Whistler yet?

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Guest Post by: Rachael Hopwood Jarvis. This post contains affiliate links and/or products submitted to Nomss for editorial consideration. To find out more, please visit our About/Disclaimer page.

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Kizami is a small Japanese restaurant that opened up last year in a tiny strip mall on Leslie Road & No.3 Road. The team comes from Manzo and is Chinese owned and operated. Kizami menu offers both fresh sheet and fish flown in from Japan along with a decent izakaya menu with lots of robata choices. What I like most is their pressed oshi sushi.

Unfortunately there is limited parking front of the restaurant and parking can be difficult during peak hours. I highly recommend making reservations. For parents this restaurant is kid-friendly and even has a changing table in the women’s bathroom. Kizami just earned itself plus 10 stars!

We came here for lunch of a quiet Wednesday weekday. Originally, we were going to order off their lunch set menu which includes a variety of Black Cod set, sashimi rice don sets and udon noodles – priced between $13 to $27. Instead we ordered a la carte.

Cheese Chikuwa 6.50: six pieces of deep fried chikuwa filled with a creamy cheese center. These were pretty tasty and would be a great late night snack!

Truffle Chawanmushi 7: Silky smooth savoury soft egg custard has a subtle truffle flavor that is delicate. Comes with one bouncy prawn.

Salmon Oshi 14: A good ratio of salmon to rice with a good balance of sauce. It isn’t too saucy like Hanamori. It’s a good option for pressed sushi when you don’t want to go all the way to Downtown for Miku.

Saba Oshi 13: This pressed sushi also had a good amount of saba but we found this oshi sushi to be less flavourful and bland in comparison.

We also ordered a few nigiri pieces and I was pleasantly surprised they also carried Engawa. The nigiri sushi are well portioned. I also love their A5 Wagyu Beef (fatty and juicy).

• Engawa 7 each
• Botan Ebi 5 each
• Uni 5 each
• Hotate 6 each
• Foie Gras 6 each
• A5 Wagyu Beef 12 each

I’m looking forward to my next return when we try their Chef’s Choice Sushi platter for $28 – 9 pieces of aburi style nigiri sushi and includes foie gras and wagyu beef topped with a quail. And also their grilled robata chicken wings which I hear is tender, juicy and falls off the bones!

Overall I think Kizami is a great Japanese restaurant with fresh quality ingredients. I love that they are kid-friendly! And if you stay long enough, you may run into some Hong Kong celebrities like Bernice Liu.

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Kizami Japanese Cuisine
URL: facebook
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi

Hours:

Mon Closed
Tue 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Wed 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Thu 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Fri 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Sat 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Sun 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm

120 8031 Leslie Road, Richmond B C, V6X 1E4
(604) 247-2682

The other night I attended a “When Poultry Meets Wine” popup dinner at Edible Canada with Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry. The action-packed evening was filled with delicious eats featuring different poultry products, wine pairings from Ripples Estate Winery and a culinary demonstration by Chef Tobias on how to cook the perfect tender juicy chicken!

To begin the evening, Sommelier Ashley West introduced us on new wine pairings and how to pair wines with poultry. For example, always match your food intensity with wine intensity. And choose a wine that has stronger acidity than your dish.

Pro Tip: Regional Pairing – featuring wine and food that complements each other geographically. For example: Loire Valley, France goat cheese and Sauvignon blanc with high acidity.

Amuse Bouche

• Crispy Duck Hearts: garam masala honey and ginger aioli.
• Duck Liver Pate: truffle, stone fruit compote with sourdough.

Wine Pairing: Radiance – Sparkling Blueberry Wine: sweet & refreshing flavour

Chef Tobias demonstrated how he prepares a butter poached free range chicken breast with a golden beets salad.

Pro Tip: Always cook chicken in low heat – 250F for 25 to 30 mins. The result will be buttery, tender and juicy! Never ever cook with high heat where you char the skin. The result will be dry, burnt chicken.

Fraser Valley Smoked Duck Salad: A perfect half boiled ajitama duck egg with endive, apple, pistachio, chervil and julienne Pekin smoked duck.

Wine Pairing: Cheam – a lovely blend of Gewürztraminer, Ehrenfelser, Chardonnay and Muscat sourced from the Okanagan. It is loaded with fragrant fresh flowers and ripe stone fruit, this medium bodied wine is a perfect table wine for any occasion.

Grilled Squab: Chermoula, buckwheat honey, white bean croquette and parsley. The meat is widely described as “tasting like dark chicken meat”. It is tender, juicy and hard to resist when cooked perfectly.

Wine Pairing: In·tem·per·ance– This rich deep dark colour fruit table wine bursts with intense flavours of blueberries. It has a high quantity of antioxidant and rich content of tannins.

Pro Tip: The “peanut butter” mouthfeel of rich tannins helps to cut fat from the food. 

Butter Poached Free Range Chicken Breast: This is the same dish that Chef Tobias demonstrated earlier and it is absolutely deliciously soft and buttery. Served with crispy skin, golden beets, red grapes, fingerling chips and tarragon.

Roasted Okanagan Peaches: A soft and moist brown butter cake served with creme fraiche and basil.

Wine Pairing: Cu·pe·re – A beautiful end to any meal, this dessert wine is sweet to taste and has a deep dark colour full of intense blueberry aroma.

Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry offers a wide range of fresh family farmed products and Ready-To-Eat products like Smoked Pekin Duck Breast and Duck Farmer Sausage that contains no MSG and raised without antibiotics. These will be available for purchase at Edible Canada in Granville Island “pop up” store between August 17 to September 30.

The products are also available at The Farm Store in Chilliwack and at the following locations listed on their website.

Personally, I’m so excited about Yarrow Meadow Specialty Chicken (that are organic and raised without the use of antibiotics), Loong Kong Chicken (for testing recipes at home) and Silkie Chicken for making nourishing Chinese Soup.

Which products are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below. For more information follow Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Follow us on Instagram to watch the Behind The Scenes at “When Poultry Meets Wine” event on our IG Stories.

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Disclaimer: this post is sponsored by Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry and may contain affiliate links and/or products submitted to Nomss for editorial consideration. To find out more, please visit our About/Disclaimer page.. All opinions are my own. 

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Edible Canada At the Market
URL: https://ediblecanada.com
Cuisine: Canadian, Grocery

Hours:
Mon 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tue 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wed 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thu 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fri 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sat 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sun 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

1596 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9
Phone: (604) 682-6681