Wanting to celebrate Canada’s 150th with a bit of a foodie adventure? Fairmont Hotels across BC are offering special menus and cocktails to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. From an eight course dinner menu, afternoon tea to cocktails, here’s a roundup of Canada 150 offerings in Fairmont-style.
Dinner @ Fairmont Chateau Whistler
At the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, explore Canada’s coast-to-coast cuisine with the Canada 150 Menu in the Grill Room, Whistler’s only AAA/CAA Four Diamond rated hotel restaurant. This eight course dinner features fun takes on traditional dishes including Arctic Char in Smoldering Cedar Paper, Bison Tartare with Fried Bannock and Saskatoon Berry Compote, Smoked Salmon Poutine, and Beaver Tail with Maple Ice Cream. The Canada 150 Menu includes Quails’ Gate wine pairings and is available July 1 – 31 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Priced at CAD $150 per person and advance reservations are required.
Credit: Julie Zoney, Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Afternoon Tea @ Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
The inspirations behind the patriotic Canada 150 afternoon tea theme at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver are the iconic grand railway hotels and luxurious coast-to-coast train journey of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Available now until September 3, 2017, the Canada 150 Afternoon Tea takes place inside the Private Dining Room of Notch8 Restaurant & Bar and has daily sittings at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. Prices are $59 for adults and $29.50 for children 12 and under. For a full review, visit here.
Credit: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Cocktails (various Fairmont Hotels)
GOLD RUSH! Those words created a frenzied migration north to the Klondike and Vancouver became a thriving staging post before prospectors boarded boats to Alaska. The area around Cordova and Hastings streets, where Fairmont Waterfront is today, was lined with outfitters, boarding houses and saloons. And it was the gold rush boom that led to the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. This Gold Rush cocktail has a base of Crown Royal Northern Harvest, topped with Stellars Jay Brut, and garnished with gold flakes. Priced at $15 and available in ARC bar + restaurant at the Fairmont Waterfront.
Credit: Fairmont Waterfront
The signature Canada 150 cocktail, created with Vancouver Island Sheringham Gin, housemade preserve made of local organic raspberries handpicked by the Mallard Lounge team and sweetened with Executive Chef Isabel’s rooftop honey, is topped with foam formed from Quails’ Gate Optima late harvest wine and garnished with a gold-dipped maple leaf. To savour this sipper a little longer, guests receive the gold leaves and crystal coupe glass the cocktail is served in, as well as a personalized jar of honey-raspberry preserve and recipe card so they may recreate their own Canadian cocktail at home. The Canada 150 cocktail is $150 and available in the Mallard lounge at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
Credit: Julie Zoney, Fairmont Chateau Whistler
This Twin Otter cocktail shares its name with one of the country’s most successful aircraft. Built in Victoria and commonly seen around BC, it operates as both a float place and plane with fixed landing gear. A spin on the Whisky Sour, The Twin Otter features a duo of Canadian whiskies – Lot 40 and Canadian Club, with a splash of Stellar’s Jay sparkling wine and garnished true north fashion with chocolate-dipped maple bacon. Priced at $15 and available in the Jetside Bar and Globe@YVR at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport.
Credit: Fairmont Vancouver Airport
The Maple Leaf cocktail is a take on a classic Whisky Sour, with a distinctly Canada flavour profile. Made with bourbon, Canadian maple syrup, lime juice and apple juice, it’s shaken and garnished with a slice of green apple. Priced at $15 and available in the Notch8Bar and restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
Credit: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
The Tragically Hip is Canada’s quintessential band and the Ahead by a Century cocktail was inpsired by the music of Gord Downie, the country’s beloved musician and unofficial poet laureate. This cocktail is delicate but complex and crafted with gin from Vancouver’s first micro-distillery. Priced at $14 and available in the Lobby Lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim.
What celebrates a birthday better than bubbles or a bubbly cocktail like the classic French 75 or a Kir Royale – used for generations to toast special occassions. The Canadian Kir uses local Canadian sparkling apple cider in lieu of sparkling wine and local cassis to reveal new complex flavours. Garnished with Vancouver Island blackberries. Priced at $15 and available at Q Bar in the Fairmont Empress.