Summer means road trips and staycations, exploring the beaches, mountains and forests that make up beautiful British Columbia. For some of us, it’s also about the quality of the edibles that we will find along the way. On Vancouver Island, north of Nanaimo, in the environs of Parksville and Qualicum Beach, there are a few places to eat and drink that will rival anything you’ll find in the big city.
Treetop Tapas and Grill at The Grotto Spa, Tigh-na-Mara Resort
It’s called the Dip ‘n’ Dine and it’s an experience like no other. Available only for guests of The Grotto Spa, you begin with a dip in the warm-water pools of the Grotto. Stay all day, if you like, and sip on infused water while blissing out on the patio. When hunger calls, don your bathrobe and flip-flops (supplied and required, no street clothes allowed) and wander upstairs to Treetop Tapas and Grill. A menu is available, but, really, don’t bother. It’s a set menu of 16 (yup, that’s not a misprint) tapas-sized courses that vary according to what’s in season, fresh and locally available. At around $75 for the pools and the meal mid-week, it’s a bargain (did I mention the tapas are “endless?”). Lovely fresh farro salad with feta, tomatoes and blueberries, local pork and fresh halibut, you’ll need a wheelbarrow by the time you’re done. GrottoSpa.com
Bread and Honey Food Co., Parksville
When I stopped by, owners Michael and Angela Sproul had been open for precisely six days. For an operation that hadn’t even met the one week-mark, Bread and Honey was knocking it out of the park. Everything except the bread is made in-house, including the beautifully-smoked pork. Whipped ricotta with balsamic reduction and crostinis is lush and light, as are the perfectly-crusted polenta squares with truffled mayo. The Cuban sandwich with barbecue pork is a two-fister that quells hunger for half the day. BreadAndHoneyFoodCo.com
Café Brie, Qualicum Beach
Tucked into an inner gallery of a small shopping centre, this tiny tea room and café, with its turn-of-the-century décor, offers up huge flavour in its rustic sandwiches. Try the stupendous grilled cheese, made with four varieties, plus parmesan-crusted bread, and side it with the pear and goat cheese salad or one of the daily soups. A chicken-brie-cranberry combo was another winner, and the lovely teas for sale are worth a visit on their own. Facebook.com/CafeBrie
Radius Food Co., Qualicum Beach
It’s been open for a few short months, but has already garnered a lot of attention. Everything on the menu here is organic, local and GMO-free. Many of the items are also gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free, with a healthy range of vegetarian options. The seasonal menu focuses on healthy bowls and sandwiches like the West Coast bowl with seared albacore tuna, shredded nori and vegetables, ponzu and hemp seeds. The daily soup, made with carrot, ginger, beet and garlic, was a chilled wonder, and the fish tacos are hearty and beautifully-made. RadiusFoodCo.com
Bistro 694, Parksville
“Global flavours, local ingredients” is the mantra sung by chef Tony Széles and his wife Nancy, owners of Bistro 694. The pair formerly owned Haute Cuisine in West Point Grey before packing up and moving to the island. Four years in, and their little bistro is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The small room is augmented by a lovely garden patio that offers plenty of shade. The menu is laced with the likes of Balinese prawn curry and Kashmiri butter chicken, as well as more West Coast-inspired dishes like seafood crepes in white wine cream sauce, and pan-roasted salmon filet with orange-lime butter. Bistro694.com
Where to Stay (and Eat)
The Beach Club Resort, Parksville
Located directly on the beach in Parksville, The Beach Club boasts 180-degree panoramic views of the water and mountains, not to mention family-friendly suites, some with full kitchens and separate bedrooms. Pacific Prime, the main restaurant, under the direction of executive chef Rick Davidson, focuses on steaks and Ocean Wise seafood, much of which is caught locally, as is the better part of the produce and meats. BeachClubBC.com
Qualicum Beach Inn, Qualicum Beach
You might remember this spot as The Old Dutch Inn, but the last couple years have seen it change hands and undergo a thorough renovation. It’s now a cool, contemporary spot that even the original Rat Pack would feel comfortable in (and the beds are just heavenly). Have dinner at CView Restaurant, a room designed in the round, overlooking the beach and water, and with a lot of fresh, local catch daily. Forno-baked thin-crust pizzas are excellent, as are the sourdough-crusted chicken wings and the “big boy” pork chop. QualicumBeachInn.com
• Anya Levykh has been writing about all things ingestible for more than 10 years. Hear her every Monday on CBC Radio One’s On the Coast and find her on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and Facebook.com/FoodGirlFriday.
