Its not every day that you can feast in a Whistler field. In fact, the outdoor dining season coincides with the brief midsummer bloom of alpine wildflowers and retreats just as quickly. It is thus, appropriately, in a burgeoning lakeside meadow that Araxi Whistlers benchmark for fine dining over the past 20 years chose to stage their second annual summer long table series.
In farm-to-table style, Araxis acclaimed executive chef, James Walt, built his exclusive four-course July menu on local provenance and mouthwatering wow factor.
Flavour profiles of Tofino Dungeness crab in North Arm Farm squash blossoms, smoked BC sockeye with local baby golden beets (pictured), rosemary-roasted Pemberton natural beef, and Lillooet Caribou honey with Pemberton strawberries (three ways!), complemented the personal offerings of the 136 diners conversing astride the very, very long table an ingredient of equal import in the three-hour experience.
The initial cocktail meet-and-greet and subsequent wine pairings the stand-out of which was the LaStella Moscato dOsoyoos 11 meant journalists from National Geographic were nonchalantly sharing stories with business owners from North Vancouver, the eclectic crowd hitting hive pitch within minutes.
While Walt warned Araxi patrons in his opening remarks to expect more relaxed, family-style service than the award-winning restaurant is typically known for, his team quietly took mise en place to four-star share-plates under smoky tents at the head of Rainbow Park. The resulting creations had every diner drooling in anticipation, while waiting for members of the media to take their obligatory photos. After engaging neighbours in a servingware ballet, no garnish was left unshared.
Accommodations at the Four Seasons Resort in the Upper Village offer their own rustic luxury experience, a short car or taxi ride away from the venue, and putting you walking distance from Whistlers trademark European mountain charm.
Post- or pre-decadence, dont miss the opportunity to see Whistler from a whole new perspective by riding the world-record setting Peak 2 Peak gondola, spanning the breathtaking 4.4 kms between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains (adult day pass $42.95). As there is snow year-round at the peaks, be sure to dress warmly.
Araxi located in the heart of Whistler Village rounds out the decorated Top Table group of restaurants of Blue Water Café, CinCin, West and Thierry. Araxis second and final long table of the season takes place Aug. 18. Tickets are $175 a seat; inquire at Araxi.com.
