roll with jen

Sometimes you crave a bit of ambiance to go along with your meal, but you don’t want to break the piggy bank. This is the second of a 3-part series on Whistler eats:  On a tight budget, in 25 loonies or less, and I don’t mind throwing down some bones. Araxi’s Happy Hour:  Fondue from [...]

Santouka:  Motomachi’s neighbor has a global ramen presence with longstanding roots in Japan’s northern island Hokkaido (where the first store modestly set up shop in 1988) and now a well-established franchise with numerous outposts throughout Tokyo, Kyoto, Hong Kong and select parts of the US. The usual “full house” scene at Santouka, but rest assured, the [...]

I am not embarrassed to admit part of my motivation in planning a recent trip to Whistler was to make a food pit stop in Vancouver. This time, my target was a ramen-off (which sounds far more grand than what it really is – pretty much just me eating a bunch of ramen) and my [...]

There is no denying Whistler, British Columbia is a premier winter destination with world class slopes (did you know every Blackcomb run was designed on a computer so there would be less flat spots for snowboarders), extensive cross country ski trails, and now even an ice rink. Unfortunately, Whistler gets a bad rap from hard core [...]

Located in a well-traveled section of Whistler Village, I naturally assume Araxi is just like its neighboring establishments – either dated, overpriced, over-hyped, divey or just plain average. But this first class dining establishment is different and it is because executive chef James Walt is different. (I should have known better after eating and drinking myself silly at last summer’s [...]

Why make the 2.5-3 hour trek from Seattle to Horseshoe Bay ferry in Vancouver, hop on the 1.5 hour ferry to Nanaimo and then make the 3 hour drive to Tofino? Because this west coast stretch of Vancouver Island is gorgeous, laid back, peaceful and non-commercialized.  There is a reason why people refer to Tofino [...]

On a 70F sunny picturesque day, I set out for my 3rd Outstanding in the Field, a unique event in its 7th year that brings together farmers and chefs from across North America to collectively host a 4-hour outdoor dinner party levearging organic and local produce, seafood and meat from the host farm and surrounding local areas. [...]

After a day of hitting the Whistler Mountain Bike Park or playing 18-holes on the famed Nicklaus Golf Course, nothing sounds more optimal than enjoying a cocktail and some extraordinary eats in a relaxed and hip setting.  Up until the opening of Cure Lounge & patio, Whistler-bound vacationers had to settle for the Village’s badly clad and only ok-tasting [...]

After three memorable days on the Naramata Bench, our itinerary tells us we are supposed to be heading west to Whistler.  The Okanagan has sucked us in though so we add a quick side-trip to Kelowna in the northern part of the valley. After an hour drive and a rather harrowing last 8 km up a sandy [...]

When multiple people with different backgrounds and interests – a Vancouver wine enthusiast, two-time Ironman competitor, avid mountain biker, and golfer – all talk up the Okanagan Valley, BC, you had better believe I am going to check it out. A six-hour drive from Seattle puts you in the heart of the Southern Okanagan Valley, [...]