Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Dining
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast may not be known as a culinary destination in BC, but it still has many unique dining options to enjoy a bite to eat off the beaten track.
The variety of landscapes in this region – ranging from larger cities to tiny towns and grassy ranchlands to lush coastlines – translates to diverse dining.
Sample traditional Aboriginal delicacies or shimmy up to a large table for a hearty ranch dinner. Skip the chain restaurants (they don’t always exist in smaller towns) and try home-cooked meals at family-owned diners. For a bite of history, visit Barkerville for authentic dishes from the 1800s and Chinese food.
Seeking a fine dining experience? Look to larger cities (such as Williams Lake or Quesnel) or even a guest ranch in the wilderness, many of which have top chefs cooking everything from Italian to Thai.
Aboriginal CuisineNibble on fresh, hot bannock or slurp sxusem (“Indian ice cream”) at First Nations Pow Wows and rodeos, such as the Nemiah Valley Rodeo (southwest of Williams Lake) and the Quesnel Tillicum Society Pow Wow.
For a few days in July, Lillooet holds an annual Apricot and Tsaqwen (Saskatoon berry) Festival. During the festival, local restaurants and farmers’ markets features baking and treats made from these fruits.
Guest Ranch DiningGuest ranches dot the grasslands, especially near Clinton in the South Cariboo. Dig in to hearty home-style cooking and baking after a day of riding, fishing, hiking or exploring the outdoors.
Most guest ranches serve breakfasts and dinners family-style around large tables in a main lodge. Laugh and recount the day’s activities with fellow guests or ranch wranglers. Lunch is typically packed “to-go” in order to maximize time spent playing outside.
Regional Foods in the Cariboo Chilcotin CoastRich buffalo burgers are on the menu at a number of restaurants in the South Cariboo (100 Mile House, Watch Lake and Green Lake). Visit the buffalo ranch at 70 Mile House to pick up organic buffalo meat and see these animals roaming the grasslands.
Cattle grazing across ranchlands are a common sight while driving through the region. Order grass-fed “pasture-to-plate” beef from a local producer to create a home-cooked culinary masterpiece.
In late summer, keep watch for sweet corn on the cob from the Soda Creek and Marguerite areas (north of Williams Lake). Look for signs on Highway 97 that lead to “u-pick” sites, or inquire with local stores and restaurants for a taste of local corn.
The coast is drastically different from the dry grasslands of the interior, and dining options reflect the aquatic environment. Seasonally, order local, fresh seafood in coastal restaurants such as those in Bella Coola.
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