WHISTLER, BC December 15, 2014 – Ever since Wolfgang Sterr took the reigns as Executive Chef in 2011, things have been different at Whistler Blackcomb. Food and beverage locations on and off the mountains have seen a fundamental shift, with quintessential mountain menu items like pizza and fries being complemented by fresh, healthy and locally-sourced alternatives. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are now easy to find on the mountains and changes like these are only the beginning.
“My passion is food and the environment we live in,” says Sterr. “I am fortunate that my job allows me the opportunity to focus on both. In recent years we have been able to introduce a wide variety of new, healthy options for our guests so we can fuel them up properly for their time in the mountains. We can now cater to people with all kinds of dietary restrictions and all the while we are doing what we can to reduce our impact on the environment by using locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible and participating in environmentally-focused food initiatives like the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program.”
The innovation continues this winter with Wolfgang and his team stepping things up in the Whistler Blackcomb food and beverage world even further. From new recipes, partnerships, events and tweaks to old favourites, here is the rundown on everything new and noteworthy in the Whistler Blackcomb kitchens:
Raven’s Nest: Whistler Blackcomb’s All Vegetarian Restaurant
Raven’s Nest, located at the top of the Creekside Gondola on Whistler Mountain, has undergone some major changes for the 2014.2015 winter season. It is Whistler Blackcomb’s first ever all vegetarian restaurant and one of the first of its kind at ski resorts in North America. The all plant-based menu will feature a variety of options inspired by flavours from around the world and will also include some specialty vegan dishes. Carnivores need not worry, the restaurant will have a small selection of meat options available for those who ask, however they will not be advertised on the restaurant’s menu boards. The all vegetarian concept for Raven’s Nest was the brainchild of WB Executive Chef, Wolfgang Sterr, who is a vegetarian, and fellow Whistler Blackcomb employee and vegan, Kristine Leise.
Vij’s Curry Stations at Roundhouse Lodge and Wizard Grill
New this winter, guests will be able to enjoy a selection of Vij’s curries at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain and the Wizard Grill at the base of Blackcomb. Chef Vikram Vij is best known for his award-winning Indian restaurants in Vancouver, Vij’s, Rangoli, and his latest restaurant in South Surrey, MyShanti, as well as his time on the popular television show, Dragons’ Den. Vij will be making four sampling appearances at the Roundhouse Lodge throughout the winter season where guests will have the opportunity to meet him and try some of his curry dishes. His first appearance will be on December 20, 2014 and his second appearance will be on January 22, 2015 when he will also be preparing one of the courses for the Winemaker’s Après event happening that day in Steeps Grill and Wine Bar. The dates for the remaining two appearances are yet to be announced but will be posted to whistlerblackcomb.com once confirmed.
New Reserve Wine Lists by Samantha Rahn from Whistler’s Araxi Restaurant
Whistler Blackcomb will be introducing new reserve wine lists at Steeps Grill and Wine Bar on Whistler Mountain and Christine’s Restaurant on Blackcomb Mountain this winter. The lists were designed by Samantha Rahn, the 2013 Sommelier of the Year as decided by the Vancouver International Wine Festival, and the current Wine Director at the award-winning Araxi restaurant in Whistler. Rahn’s selections for the reserve wine lists will perfectly complement the menus at Whistler Blackcomb’s two full-service, fine dining restaurants and will elevate the dining experience at those locations for serious wine lovers. Rahn will also be making a number of Sommelier appearances at the two restaurants throughout the season. Dates for the appearances are yet to be confirmed but will be posted to the Whistler Blackcomb website once available.
Lunch with David Hawksworth
Whistler Blackcomb is excited to announce Chef David Hawksworth, of the eponymous Hawksworth Restaurant, will be bringing his contemporary Canadian cuisine mountainside in the New Year. Splitting the weekend between his two passions, cooking and skiing, Chef Hawksworth will be preparing lunch on January 10 at Steeps Grill & Wine Bar in the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain. Reservations will be required to attend the event which will celebrate the bounty of British Columbia on what should be a memorable afternoon. Details of the event will be released as they become available towww.whistlerblackcomb.com.
Garbo’s Grill at the Base of Whistler Mountain
Garbo’s Grill, located in the Carleton Lodge at the base of Whistler Mountain, is Whistler Blackcomb’s newest food and beverage location. Specializing in customizable burgers and grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches, Garbo’s Grill, along with the grills in the Roundhouse Lodge, Rendezvous Lodge and Glacier Creek Lodge, now use only naturally raised hormone and antibiotic-free chicken and beef. Garbo’s Grill is open from 7am to 4pm daily.
Whistler Blackcomb Winemaker’s Après Events
Whistler Blackcomb’s popular Winemaker’s Après series returns this winter season with a few fresh changes. There will be four events throughout the winter and as always, they will take place at Steeps Grill and Wine Bar in the Roundhouse Lodge. The events will feature a five course meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients by Whistler Blackcomb’s executive chefs and each dish will be paired with a feature wine from British Columbia. The winemakers to be showcased at this season’s Winemaker’s Après series include: Inniskillin on January 22, featuring a special guest appearance from Vikram Vij, Robert Mondavi on February 24, Nk’Mip on March 12 and See Ya Later Ranch on April 9. More information about the Winemaker’s Apres Series is available at www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/on-mountain-dining/winter-mountain-top-dining.
Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine at the Wizard Grill
This winter the Wizard Grill at the base of Blackcomb Mountain will be home to Whistler Blackcomb’s first and only Coca-Cola Freestyle soft drink dispenser. The machine is the only one of its kind in the Sea To Sky Corridor and allows guests to customize their own drink by mixing any of the 120+ flavours of their favourite Coca-Cola beverages. More information about the Coca-Cola Freestyle Project can be found at www.coca-colafreestyle.com/home.
Guests looking to plan a trip to the consistently rated No. 1 Mountain Resort in North America can visit whistlerblackcomb.com/deals_packages or call 1-888-403-4727.
About Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb, the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is situated in the Resort Municipality of Whistler located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia 125 kilometres (78 miles) from Vancouver, British Columbia. North America’s premier four season mountain resort, Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains which combined offer over 200 marked runs, 8,171 acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls, three glaciers, receives on average over 1,165 centimetres (459 inches) of snow annually, and one of the longest ski seasons in North America. In the summer, Whistler Blackcomb offers a variety of activities, including hiking and biking trails, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola.
For more information, visit http://ww1.whistlerblackcomb.com/media
Posted on Monday, December 15, 2014 | Comments (0) | Category: Resort News | Permalink