Field Trip up the Sea to Sky

“FieldTrips” is either a day trip or a few days where I visit food areas of interest which may include farm visits, producers, wineries, restaurants and/or other places that people can visit. This is about offering Vancouver Foodster readers a chance to get out of town and take a “Field Trip” for the day or a few days to explore, learn, taste and experience.

Field Trip up the Sea to Sky in a Honda CRV Touring 

After Honda Canada offered me a 2017 Honda CRV Touring to test drive for a week, I spent one of the days driving up the picturesque Sea to Sky (Highway 99). It is amazing how much one can do and see in a day away from Vancouver. It was a beautiful sunny summer’s day, left Vancouver early in the morning, after a 40 minute drive North from Vancouver, my friend Lawrence and I arrived in Squamish.

Our first stop was to Tall Tree Bakery where Erin and her husband Sean offer up delicious European style breads and baking. Tall Tree Bakery offers artisan breads, pastries, baguette sandwiches, tea and coffee, and cold drinks.

Cinnamon Bun

Lemon Tart

The Gibassier

Asiago Pine Nut Croissant

Seed Twist

Lawrence and I shared one of their yummy Cinnamon Buns with pecans topped with a light delicious frosting; we also enjoyed their notable Lemon Tarts. The Gibassier was a French pastry that I hadn’t had in the past, it is made of a sweet dough with candied orange peel, anise seeds, coated in sugary goodness. The Asiago Pine Nut Croissant was unique adding a savoury spin to the traditional croissant, the Seed Twist is a buttery croissant, twisted up with pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, and flax seeds, millet and oats. We also loved the Peanut Butter Cookies, I took a Sesame sourdough loaf to go and enjoyed that over the coming days at home.

Tall Tree Bakery is located at 1201 Commercial Pl #404 in Squamish

Tues-Fri 8-5, Sat-Sun 9-4 (or until sold out!), Closed Mondays ↟ 604-849-0951

Back on the highway driving North for another 40 minutes we then spent some time visiting one of my favourite markets in the area, the Whistler Farmers Market. One of the features that I loved about the Honda CR-V was the audio options, I found myself listening to SiriusXM Coffee House channel much of the ride on this roadtrip.

The Lemon Square

Nidhi’s Cuisine

Coconama

The market which featured a large selection of vendors selling fruits and vegetables, breads, and snacks, chocolates, musicians playing and so much more!

Whistler Farmers Market

Twitter @whistlermarket

Every Sunday from 11am – 4pm in the summer thru to October 2017.

After a 25 minute drive North on Highway 99 we arrived at our next destination which was for lunch at Mile One Eating House in Pemberton, it is located adjacent to the Pacific Gateway Inn.

Mile One Eating House specializes in comfort food and represents the owners vision of being the beginning, end, or middle of one’s journey. It is a reference to the mile markers you’d find exploring the many back roads and trails of there area.

Farmstead Poutine

FV Nerka #1

Mile One Side Greens

Lawrence and I shared a selection of dishes here including the Farmstead Poutine with Roasted Pemberton Potato Wedges, Okanagan Cheese Curds & Gravy, Okanagan Village Cheese Company Curds; the FV Nerka #1 which is a hearty mac and cheese dish with House Smoked Wild Pacific Albacore Tuna, Green Peas, Red Onion & Arugula; we also had the Mile One Side Greens salad with Mesclun Greens, Red Bell Peppers, Purple Cabbage, Okanagan Wine & Honey Vinaigrette.

The Mile One Burger and the Sable Fish Sandwich

Next was The Mile One Burger, this delicious burger had Smoked Bacon, Aged White Cheddar and “Blue Buck” Beer Braised Onions; we also had the outstanding Sable Fish Sandwich; Panko Crusted, Togarashi Green Bean Slaw, Ginger Scallion Mayo, Lettuce, Red onion.

Mile One Eating House is located at 7330 Arbutus Street in Pemberton, BC

Call (604) 384-3842

A few minutes away was North Arm Farm, in a micro-climate valley where this 60 acre farm is located, they are growing many different types of fruits and vegetables. They also have a store on site along with a bistro and gelato spot.

North Arm Farm is located at 1888 Sea to Sky Highway 99 in Pemberton BC ~ ( 604) 894 5379

It was now late afternoon and we got back on the highway, this time heading South. With a brief stop at Rainbow Park in Whistler, we then drove for back to Squamish.

Backcountry Brewing recently opened in the same complex as Tall Tree Bakery, here we had a tour of the brewery and then enjoyed some delicious food.

Tasting Flight

They offer tasting flights of their beer along with individual size pours, cans and growlers. Lawrence sampled a tasting flight of beer as I was the driver on this road trip adventure.

Flatbread

Beet Salad

Forager Pizza

Harvest Pizza

We shared the tasty Flatbread topped with Heirloom cherry tomato, buratta, arugala flatbread with a basil caper vinegarette; also enjoyed the Beet Salad with Fior Di Latte, beets, arugula, candied pecan. We then had a couple of pizzas including our favourite, Forager Pizza topped with Roasted crimini and oyster mushrooms, kale, parmigiana reggiano, truffled cream; followed by the Harvest Pizza with Roasted peppers, mushroom, zucchini, caramelized onion, vegetable ragu sauce.

Backcountry Brewing is located at 405-1201 Commercial Way in Squamish, BC.

MON-WED 3-10, TH 3-11, FRI-SAT 12-12, SUN 12-10

Thanks to the Honda Canada for providing me with the terrific car for this road trip. The CR-V had been recently redesigned by Honda, the car was roomy and had good driveability, smooth ride, comfortable seating. A few things that I liked in this top of the line Touring model was the Blind spot detection, fuel economy updates, econo mode, and multiple USB charging outlets.

Stay tuned for my next Field Trip outside of Vancouver.

By: Richard Wolak

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