Photo: Poplar Grove BC Halibut with local flavours featured in this Poplar Grove dish. "Chef’s Choice" is a Castanet limited series highlighting the flavours and flair of South Okanagan eateries. Watch for it every Tuesday morning.
At Poplar Grove Winery Restaurant savour the flavours of summer in the Okanagan while taking in gorgeous views high atop Munson Mountain. Executive Chef Stacy Johnston and Chef de Cuisine Minette Lotz have thoughtfully created a summer menu celebrating everything in season from Naramata mushrooms and tomatoes, wild B.C.
halibut, salmon and scallops to locally made burrata cheese and more. At The Restaurant, where every seat has a view, you can dine on a perfectly cooked grass-fed steak, dive into a dry-aged duck breast and finish the evening with decadent desserts paired perfectly with Poplar Grove wines. While the panoramic views from The Restaurant at Poplar Grove are the best in the Valley, especially at sunset, it’s the locally inspired seasonal menus, atmosphere and service that are getting all the attention.
Like a master painter finding inspiration in a beautiful landscape, Chef Stacy finds inspiration for her seasonal menus at local farms and orchards and also foraging with her own hands. “It’s extremely important to us that what we are serving at Poplar Grove is an expression of the Okanagan and Naramata specifically,” said Chef Stacy. “When creating the menu we are conscious of where we are sourcing it from, who we are buying from and what’s in season.
What’s in season tastes so much better than brought in from another place far away. We are so lucky to be working in such a fruitful place.” Not only are they sourcing what’s in season, it’s seeing what will work harmoniously together on the plate, she added.
August is tomato season in the Okanagan and Stacy has created beautiful dishes that celebrate this delicious locally grown ingredient. Take for example the popular Tanto Latte Burrata Toast that features whipped burrata, focaccia, Naramata tomatoes, pumpkin seed pisto and garlic scape vinaigrette. Stacy along with Minette pride themselves on sourcing fresh, seasonal produce from nearby farms like Plot Twist and Puzzlegrass.
This commitment to regional ingredients not only enhances the quality of the dishes but also supports the local community. “Over the last few years, our industry has been forced to look critically at our fragile supply chain. We believe the way to strengthen this chain is to be mindful of where we are purchasing our food.
Buying the amazing produce, meats and goods from our local producers puts money back into our own economy.” Stacy said her favourite dish on the summer menu is the West Coast Seared Scallops. “It’s three perfectly seared sustainable scallops served in an heirloom tomato butter broth with basil oil, big ol’ chunks of bacon and Karla’s heirloom tomatoes topped with fresh basil.
It’s really fresh and a great expression of where we are in the season right now.” Pair it with a glass of Poplar Grove Chardonnay and it’s near perfection, said Stacy. While the food experience is elevated, the atmosphere at Poplar Grove is relaxed where attentive service complements the beautifully presented dishes.
When asked what the perfect food/wine pairing is, Stacy quickly answered the dry aged duck breast served with Poplar Grove’s Pinot Noir. “It’s our first year releasing a pinot noir and it’s gorgeous. I wanted to make a dish that paired really well with it and the duck breast is perfect.
Pinot noir has been a fun addition because it pairs well with so many things like mushrooms, bacon and onion.” The culinary team at Poplar Grove is the best she has worked with and the way they gel is reflected in the quality of dishes they are putting out. “We can teach what we can but we can’t teach people to be great humans and that’s what we have here.
” The front-of-house team also elevates the experience at Poplar Grove with their knowledge of the food and wine being presented, she added. Stacy wants each guest to have an incredible experience sharing great food and wine and getting impeccable service while overlooking Okanagan Lake and surrounding vineyards. “Minnet and I say our favourite way to dine is having really great food with people that we love and talking about the food we are eating.
” Summer is Poplar Grove’s busiest season and it isn’t easy getting a reservation but Stacy is hoping locals support them in the quieter seasons. “We are super lucky that we are busy now but it’s really important to support your local restaurants. Support restaurants that really care about supporting the local economy, the local farmers, growers and fishers like we do.
” The menu is always changing with the seasons which allows them to surprise and delight their guests with new and exciting dishes, ensuring that each visit is a unique and memorable. Poplar Grove Winery is open for lunch and dinner at 425 Middle Bench Road. Reservations are required.
Photo: Poplar Grove Chill time on the patio at Poplar Grove..
