Tempting your Taste Buds with Three Days in Kelowna: Day Two
Boy, oh boy. I hope your belly has had a chance to relax from day one in Kelowna, because day two is a busy {and tasty!} one.
First up, the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market. I apologize for all of the photos, evidently I went a little camera crazy. It’s hard not to, though, because everything is just so beautiful.
This market gets up to 120 vendors during the summer, making it the largest market between Vancouver and Calgary. Plus, all of the products there must be locally made or produced — making it a true local market {no out of season produce from the other side of the world, thank you}.
It’s truly an inspiring place, and not just because it makes my mouth water. It’s so incredible to speak with local farmers, producers, and artisans, to learn about their hardships and passions, techniques and plans for the future. The market runs from April to October on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 8:00am to 1:00pm.
Next, we headed to Old Meadows Organic Farm, near Mission Creek in Kelowna. One of my favourite things about this city is that within five minutes of a farm like this, you can visit a winery, a trendy bistro downtown, great little shops, and a beach. There’s so much to see and do, and it’s all so close by. Sorry, I lost track… right… the farm.
Old Meadows is run by Farmer Jeff {he who inspired my Farmer Steph plan}, and he left a life as a financial advisor to pursue his dreams of being a sustainable, organic farmer. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to, right? I love how someone like this starts out his career in one direction, and ends up somewhere so completely different just because he wants to; it’s inspiring, really. Sorry, rambling again. Jeff grows a huge array of fruits, vegetables, and herbs {see the list here}, and sells them at the market {open June 15 to October 15}.
After visiting the farm, we went over to Summerhill Pyramid Winery, a unique winery with multiple award-winning wines, a fantastic restaurant, and lovely gardens that supply much of the food for the restaurant. We went into the pyramid for a bit of a tour, had a delightful lunch, and then toured the gardens as well. It’s a place you could easily spend an afternoon just exploring, learning, and, of course, tasting. It’s just minutes from Kelowna, and is a must-visit when in the area.
A short drive from Summerhill is Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan, a dairy that specializes in handcrafted goat cheeses and goat’s milk gelato. The owners are passionate, talented, and serious about their craft — and it shows. When you go, be sure to take a few minutes to visit with the goats, and leave with couple big scoops of gelato {if you can’t make up your mind, get the salted caramel}.
We finished up the day at micro bar and bites, and then RauDZ Regional Table, just a couple of doors down. Unbelievable cocktails were drank at micro, where they serve a gorgeous assortment of tapas and drinks — in one of the most gorgeous little bars I’ve ever seen {the décor! Quick, distract them! I’m going to steal it while no one is looking!}. RauDZ is owned by the same folks as micro, and there they focus on using local, sustainable, and naturally raised ingredients to create their dishes {which, I must add, are as beautifully presented as they are delicious}.
That’s it for day two, folks. Get some rest and prepare your appetite for tomorrow.
