Dining in Northern British Columbia centres around fresh seafood coupled with local produce and game. Restaurants here create mouth-watering dishes set against a stunning landscape. Some of BC's best seafood comes straight off the boats of the north coast. Try dungeness crab, halibut cheeks, spot prawns or salmon.
Taste traditional Haida cuisine on Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands or catch and prepare fish with a top chef on a Langara Island fishing trip.
In Prince Rupert, stroll the Cow Bay Historic Waterfront District in search of unbelievably fresh sushi and fish 'n' chips, or head to a Prince George restaurant for a casual homestyle lunch.
Aboriginal Cuisine
Visit the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate to experience traditional Haida cuisine and food preparation. Or take a cultural tour of Pike Island (from Prince Rupert) to see an archeological site once home to a First Nations tribe, then feast on salmon in the recreated longhouse. Make sure to try Aboriginal favourites such as fried bread, candied or smoked salmon or oolichans, a small fish.
Fresh BC Seafood and Local Food
Try dungeness crab cakes in a fine dining restaurant or salmon cooked on a traditional cedar plank. Sample local favourite halibut cheeks or stop by for sushi prepared in an old fishing net-loft in Prince Rupert. Spot prawns and rockcod are other ocean-to-table options.
For a hands-on seafood experience, join a fishing charter – many operate out of Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii and provide sport-fishing excursions. After a day of fishing at the West Coast Fishing Club's Langara Island lodge, prepare seafood under the guidance of renowned chef David Hawksworth (formerly of West restaurant) or special guest chefs such as Vikram Vij (of Vij's and Rangoli restaurants).
Try local meats and game such as venison in Haida Gwaii, moose in Smithers or Telkwa, and bison in the cities of Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, and Chetwynd (known as Peace River Country).
After a hearty meal, enjoy a slice of Saskatoon berry pie, a berry common to Northern BC that is similar in size and color to the blueberry.
Food Festivals
The Nisga'a village of Gingolx hosts Crabfest (July), a celebration of crab as well as Aboriginal music, arts and crafts. Visit Prince Rupert's Seafest (June) to try great Filipino and Aboriginal cuisine or witness the winners of a chili cook-off.
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