Did you know I operate a food tour business? Well, it was due to launch in April but then we all know what happened in 2020! Nothing went to plan for anyone! In the meantime I wanted to share my virtual food tour with you of my city, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Enjoy!

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We are all itching to travel, share cultural experiences and look for ways to connect right now. I decided to create a virtual food tour experience where I bring you to my favourite local stops within Kelowna for foodie gifts and festive eats in the video above. Watch the video above and follow along with the guide below! We have some pretty unique breweries and chefs in Kelowna, you can find them all linked below for reference.

STOPS & MUSTN’T MISS ITEMS:

 

1.     SANDRINE’S FRENCH CHOCOLATE & PASTRY:

Sandrine’s is the Okanagan’s premier French pastry shop for all authentic goodies like macarons, croissants, opera cakes and more. I had the privilege of experiencing her hands on macaron class but no one makes them like her!

Buy: If you’re shopping for the foodie in your life we recommend all of her excellent jams, chocolate items and caramel spread.

Eat now: If you’re looking for a special treat on the go or to enjoy that day then you can’t miss her Choco/Cara/Sel macarons and her intensely flavoured chocolates with Yuzu, Raspberry and Passion Fruit. All croissants are winners too!

2.     PROVISIONS KITCHEN & CATERING AT KETTLE RIVER BREWING:

I like to think this nan brewery started the trend and helped pave the way for the numerous iconic Kelowna breweries that now call the North End home. They were also the first to host serious talent in their kitchen! Today, most breweries in Kelowna for food focused. Inside KRB is Provisions Kitchen & Catering creating unique menu items like brunch and dinner big boards.

Buy: Look for their preserves, grape and plum syrup, Paisley Notebook spice blends and hot sauce to please any foodie in your life or add to your upcoming charcuterie boards. The unique nano-brews of KRB are a sure win for beer lovers.

Eat now: Their menu changes weekly and serve up inspiring culinary creations that never cease to amaze. Get a big board to go or to stay but book them early, they sell out fast!

3.     PERSEVAL & YOUNG CHEESEMONGERS:

Kelowna’s only cheesemongers know what to recommend no matter what you’re pairing your cheese with. With selections from Canada and all over the world, Desiree and Phil can help you tailor your charcuterie or cheese board with beer, wine, cider, grilled cheese or pasta.

Buy: You can find locally made goodies from all over town in their shop to compliment your foodie gift basket or cheese board. So…everything and anything!

Eat now: For a truly unique cheese experience we suggest the Ski Queen cheese with is borderline sweet but with quality fromage from Brie to blue we suggest you try them all! The St Julien Deco Noix and Piccolo fiore al tartufo (buffalo milk and truffle) are two of our holiday favourites (if they aren’t sold out). Curbside pick up and pick-up locations other than the North End are available. Order online to avoid a line!

4.     RUSTIC REEL BREWING & THE LOCAL CHEMIST:

Fun fact! Did you know women were typically brewers in ancient times? Although a rarity today, boss babe Susi Foerg continues this ancient tradition and is owner of this charming brewery that evokes the coziness we all crave this time of year. Bonus, The Local Chemist is slinging up expertly crafted coffee in the Tackle Box with cinnamon buns as big as your head!

Buy: We love the Gingerbread Ale, newly canned as of November 29th. The staff are raving it is better than ever!

Eat now: We popped in for their mulled wine and apple cider (non-alcoholic or served with a shot of whiskey). We also love Rustic Reel’s entire menu. The Local Chemist has unique flavours of both waffles, cookies and cinnamon buns but the portion sizes will last you all week!

5.     KARAT CHOCOLATE & PASTRY:

Don’t be surprised if there’s a line up out the door but hey, you get to skip it on this virtual food tour! Kelowna is truly fortunate to have Chef Julien and his team creating the most amazing flavour profiles in their decorative and iconic chocolates. Their Entremets look like they belong in a Parisian shop! The croissants are a truly unique creation you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere filled with pastry cream and rotating flavours like banoffee, red velvet, ‘karat’ cake, lemon poppy seed and plenty more.

Buy: Hot Chocolate Bombs! It’s the ‘It’ foodie gift for all ages this year. Also find their show-stopping Christmas trees and smashable chocolate snowballs.

Eat now: Holiday creampuffs adorned with snowmen are the most adorable edible treats. But if they’re sold out like they were for us then grab a gorgeous entremets like the Earl Grey (in video) or, for the smaller appetite, the Canele de Bordeaux.

6.     QB GELATO:

We believe QB Gelato is making some of the best gelato in British Columbia if not Canada. Did you know that only 2% of the world’s gelaterias make their gelato from scratch? That is to say, no premixes or powders! QB is part of that 2% and we are proud to feature them on our Landmark tour as our sweet ending. They’re also making an appearance with their homemade granola in our Christmas Morning box this December!

Buy: Any and all their baked goods! Pre-order online!

Eat now: Hot chocolate to go – their homemade marshmallows and frothy chocolate is a decadent treat for the holidays. Egg Nog, Peppermint Stracciatella, Bailey’s and Raspberry Custard are their holiday flavours. Try them all before the holidays end!

7.     ILLICHMAN’S:

You can really find a taste of the European Christmas Markets at a few of our European delis and markets (Valoroso, Mediterranean Market, Ferrara’s to name a few more) but with their bakery and deli Illichman’s is a one-stop shop for holiday cookies, cakes, gifts, charcuterie, Holiday dinner options and more. 

Buy: This is a foodie heaven for all things European and delicious! I mean, did you watch their appearance in the virtual food tour video? We love their European chocolate boxes, smoked pork chops and other unusual/hard to find culinary items.

Eat now: Head to the bakery and grab a slice of the Rum Egg Nog Cheesecake.

8.     MATADORA CAFÉ Y TAPAS:

A European café by day, a Spanish tapas and wine bar by night what’s not to love about Kelowna’s newest foodie hot spot? This fulfills that wanderlust I need and on a budget too! Located on Osprey in the Tutt St area of the Pandosy Village, we can’t recommend this place enough. Go visit Vanessa and she’ll hook you up unlike anyone else in the Okanagan!

Buy: We purchased the conservas from Spain which included sardines and mussels. The fine slices of Iberico Jamon will also impress any foodie in your life or add a that je ne sais quoi to your charcuterie.

Eat now: The toffee shortbread cookies are insane! Also grab a ham and brie baguette…if not for you then at least for us. Since you’re there anyways and all 😉

9. FOOD TOURS KELOWNA:

Don’t forget to grab your Kelowna Foodie Card before Dec 31st (or before they sell out!). 21 local restaurants offering over $250+ in discounts and deals from Jan 1st until December 31st 2021.