Seeking travel inspiration for the coming year? British Columbia’s tourism industry is embracing global trends with noteworthy experiences, promising plenty of adventure in 2023. We’ll be sharing three top travel trends over the next few weeks. First up, it’s culinary travel!
Trend: Culinary Travel
BC’s diverse communities are home to a bountiful buffet of dining experiences. Whether tasting your way through the brunch capital of Canada, participating in a citywide dinearound, or sampling new food offerings, culinary travel in BC will whet any appetite.
S'mores around the firepit | The Josie Hotel
Food News
From a new food hall to a highly anticipated MICHELIN reveal, BC is bursting with food news:
- The Josie Hotel in Rossland has welcomed Takashi Harada as executive chef. Boasting global experience—he’s worked in Vancouver, Tokyo, Hawaii, and St. Kitts and Nevis—Chef Harada will amp up The Josie’s menus with bold and flavourful dishes. Hotel guests are also invited to nosh on complimentary s’mores around the slopeside firepit and attend an intimate Social Hour, offering signature drinks alongside stories and recommendations from Rossland residents.
- The Yew Street Food Hall recently opened in Kamloops, convening 10 food and drink vendors in one location. Inspired by food halls around the world, Yew Street Food Hall features locally owned restaurants dishing up succulent duck and pork dishes, vegan street food, inferno-cooked pizza, craft beers, and cold-pressed juice cocktails.
- MICHELIN Guide unveiled its first-ever group of restaurant winners in Vancouver on October 27. Eight restaurants earned one-MICHELIN-Star distinctions and 12 restaurants received the Bib Gourmand designation, which recognizes great food at a great value. The full selection, including Recommended eateries, totals 60 restaurants, with 19 cuisine types reflected. The guide showcases outstanding restaurants and professionals, with anonymous inspectors awarding One, Two, or Three MICHELIN stars to purveyors offering unparalleled cuisine.
Dine Out Vancouver Festival | Destination Vancouver
‘Tis the Season to Dine Around
During the winter months, which are generally less busy, restaurants in many regions participate in citywide dinearounds that offer discounted menus and culinary-focused experiences:
- In Vancouver, Dine Out Vancouver Festival (January 20 – February 5, 2023) unites more than 300 restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, and suppliers for a month of dining that connects culinary enthusiasts to the best flavours of the city. During Canada’s largest food and drink festival, gourmands can also book special hotel packages to extend their Dine Out to an overnight affair.
- In Victoria, Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria (January 20 – February 5, 2023) features dozens of top restaurants offering three-course menus at deliciously low prices. Culinary purveyors also host winemakers’ dinners, brunches, and other culinary activities, and many accommodation providers offer special festival rates.
Brunch in Victoria | Destination Greater Victoria/Edward Long
The Brunch Capital of Canada
Did you know Victoria has the largest number of restaurants per capita in Canada, and the second largest in North America? Here, there’s a tantalizing array of eats to choose from, though brunch holds a special place in locals’ hearts (it’s no wonder Food Network named Victoria the Brunch Capital of Canada). Here’s where to brunch in BC’s capital city:
- Brunch the European way at L’Apéro Wine & Cheese Bistro, where the menu consists of small plates meant to be shared (think locally and globally sourced cured meats and cheeses). Cap off the morning with a colourful mimosa flight. Brunch is served every Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Friends of Dorothy Cocktail Lounge is an enchantingly eclectic space with a brunch menu to match. Expect picturesque portions and plentiful mimosas, including a delicious plant-based breakfast and seafood omelet. Brunch is served weekends between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Step into the pink-hued Floyd’s Diner and prepare for a hearty meal to start the day. The morning menu has something for everyone—roasted yam and squash bowls, crepes, lumber cakes, and mouthwatering bennies. If you’re the gambling type, order The Mahoney—you’ll be served whatever the kitchen feels like making, and you’ll flip a coin to either pay the price or nosh for free.