Where The Food Tells The Story
The Thompson Okanagan is the perfect place for the farm-to-table and slow food philosophy. Purchasing locally sourced produce, meats, and dairy products is a familiar practice for the casual eateries, family-friendly spots and fine dining experiences in the Thompson Okanagan. Food here reflects the people who grow it, make it, and serve it.
Thompson Okanagan
Slow food equals good food: good for the people who grow it, good for you the consumer, and good for the planet. The Thompson Okanagan is the perfect place for the farm-to-table and slow food philosophy. Purchasing locally sourced produce, meats, and dairy products is a familiar practice for the casual eateries, family-friendly spots and fine dining experiences in the Thompson Okanagan. Food here reflects the people who grow it, make it, and serve it. Locals, as well as visitors, have the chance to make an impact for small businesses and farmers when they choose to eat and shop locally sourced products and enjoy meals at establishments that prioritize serving farm-to-table.
Boundary Country
Grand Forks
Fuelling your morning adventure or afternoon lunch hours is Boundary Country’s The Wooden Spoon. Locally sourced ingredients are integral to the passionately made soups, sauces, breads, and pastries. The owner and chef is excited to offer a seasonal menu that reflects the flavours of the season, implementing a slow-food approach that relies on fresh, local ingredients to create their dishes.
Open Monday to Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
221 Market Ave, Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0
Photo by Boundary Country Tourism/Tina Bryan
Greenwood
A Highway 3 must stop in Greenwood is Deadwood Junction. It’s worth trying their fair trade coffee and browsing their shop that supports locals. They offer coffee and bakery options and feature local artisan gifts and antiques.
Open every day 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
502 Silver St, Greenwood, BC V0H 1J0
North Thompson Valley
Clearwater
BC’s highest-rated smokehouse is providing Clearwater and the North Thompson Valley with locally sourced beef and pork. Hop "N" Hog also sources locally crafted ales, lagers, and ciders. They are always striving for organic options for their food and beverages.
Open May to October 5:00 p.m. to late.
424 Clearwater Valley Rd, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N1
Photo by @hopnhog
Clearwater and Wells Gray
A slow coffee break awaits you with freshly roasted beans from Nelson, B.C. at Wild Flour Bakery Cafe. Their wild, fresh, organic food creates nourishing meals that embody slow food and display passion for locally sourced ingredients.
Open Monday to Saturday 8:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.
343 Clearwater Valley Rd, Clearwater BC, V0E1N2
Valemount
Small town brews are a great way to casually check out what North Thompson Valley has to offer. Three Ranges Brewing Co. sources local ingredients as often as they can to provide locals and seasonal travelers with their big flavour beers. “Great mountain water makes great beer,” says owner.
Open Wednesday to Sunday 3:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.
1160 5th Ave, Valemount, BC, VOE 2Z0
Photo by @threerangesbrewing
South Thompson Valley
Kamloops
Seasonal flavours and farm-to-table freshness is what you can expect in the peaks and hills of the Kamloops in the South Thompson. Unique tastes and personality is what Kamloops offers. Learn more about Kamloops and its growing food scene at Great Taste of Canada.
North Okanagan
Vernon
This charming small town provides big flavours for locals and tourists year round. Enjoy seasonal fresh foods that coincide with Vernon’s hot summers and picturesque winters. See what’s going on at Great Taste of Canada.
Central Okanagan
Kelowna
The Central Okanagan has no shortage of agriculture to supply its iconic food destinations, contribute to the growing breweries, cideries, and distilleries scenes, and pair with locally made BC wines. Kelowna’s wine country and bustling city is ready to serve locally sourced meals. Check out Great Taste of Canada for more information.
Photo by Destination BC/Kari Medig
South Okanagan
Penticton
Reflecting the bounty of the land BRODO Kitchen, Italian for "broth," combines Italian cuisine with Okanagan grown foods. With their unique soup flights and Chef Paul Cecconi's motto “simply fresh food,” BRODO Kitchen’s enthusiasm for South Okanagan grown food is displayed in every dish.
Open Monday to Friday 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
483 Main Street, Penticton BC, V2A 5C4
Penticton
Intrigued by history Tin Whistle Brewing Co. purposely invests interest into the South Okanagan’s history to see how they can include slow food practices into their beer making. Focusing on the taste of beer, just as much as their environmental footprint, is at the top of Tin Whistles priorities. Connecting and maintaining the beauty and agriculture of the South Okanagan is integral to this brewery's business.
Open every day 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday Saturday till 8:00 p.m.
Unit 118 - 1475 Fairview Rd, Penticton, BC V2A 7J3
Photo by @thetinwhistle
Naramata
The Thompson Okanagan is home to the Naramata Bench which is known for its wine making and growing sites. The village of Naramata obtained its designation of CittaSlow in 2004, which validates the village as a “Slow City”. The association known as CittaSlow rewards cities and towns with this status to highlight the year-round efforts and attention to the slow food philosophy. Naramata achieved the status of a CittaSlow village because it follows the 72 requirements for quality outlined by the association to ensure farm-fresh food that is good for the community and the environment.
Naramata
Estate grown, locally farmed, and family owned are the key pillars of The Restaurant at Poplar Grove and align with slow food philosophy. Popular Grove includes locally sourced ingredients from the Okanagan in their restaurant alongside their estate grown BC wines. Popular Grove states their food philosophy as primarily looking at the farmers then adapting with the seasons.
Open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the wine shop and 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for the restaurant.
425 Middle Bench Road North, Penticton, BC V2A 8S5
Photo by Destination BC/Kari Medig
Oliver
Seasonal products and a commitment to sustainable practice is what you can expect at Miradoro Restaurant, a partnership with Tinhorn Creek Winery. Visitors and locals can enjoy an elegant yet casual experience in the Okanagan wine country. Excellent pairings between locally sourced ingredients and wine are what you can expect at Miradoro.
Open March through December 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
537 Tinhorn Creek Rd, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0
Photo by @tinhorncreek
Oliver
Investing in the local food economy by supporting its producers is the mission of Oliver Eats. By creating an alliance between chefs, farmers, and grassroots organizations, Oliver Eats fosters a slow food environment that embraces their agricultural neighbours. Fresh food is what you will eat at Oliver Eats.
Open Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
6060 Station St, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0
Photo by @olivereatsltd
Osoyoos
Osoyoos celebrates agricultural and culinary achievements as well as working hard to maintain the quality and freshness unique to the Thompson Okanagan. Perfect climate, with hot day-time temperatures and lake breezes makes Osoyoos a prime agricultural site. Learn about their farm-to-table produce, meats, and more by going to Great Taste of Canada.
Gold Country
Cache Creek
Locals’ favorite and a travelers’ hidden gem is Hungry Herbie's in Cache Creek. With a promise for “fresh, quality food,” the classic burger and fried chicken stop will fill you up after your day of adventures. Over 63 years of business, Herbie’s maintains the value that fast food can still mean fresh food.
Open Wednesday to Monday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
1301 Cariboo Hwy, Cache Creek, BC V0K 1H0
Photo by Thompson Okanagan/Allen Jones
Merritt
Indigenous cuisine embodies slow food and great taste with the understanding that we take only what we need. Kekuli Café offers organic, and Fair-Trade espresso, as well as fresh food and, as their slogan, “Don’t panic… we have Bannock” suggests, bannock. Kekuli Café ensures that they operate with the mindset that they are the caretakers of Mother Earth and have a relationship with all living things.
Open every day 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and till 4:00 p.m. on weekends.
2051 Voght St, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8
Photo by Indigenous Tourism BC/Brendin Kelly/ Kekuli Cafe
Similkameen Valley
Cawston
Agility and ability to move with the seasons is necessary for slow food, and Row Fourteen Restaurant at Klippers is just that with a taste of the Similkameen Valley. The unique valley is considered the organic capital of Canada and Row Fourteen focuses their efforts towards cultivating a better relationship between organic produce and creative cuisine. Celebrate slow food and the bountiful Similkameen Valley at Row Fourteen Restaurant.
Open every day noon to 8:00 p.m. for separate lunch and dinner services
725 Mackenzie Road, Cawston, BC
Photo by @vineyard.videos posted on @klippersorganics
Keremeos
Eat, sleep, and repeat at Tree to Me Inn. This certified organic farm, bistro, and accommodations provides its visitors with the Similkameen Valley experience. Even The Tree to Me Market will inspire anyone to take the farm fresh food home and try their hand at creating dishes inspired by local produce.
Open Monday to Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday to Sunday till 8:00 p.m.
Tree to Me Inn 1217 Hwy 3A Keremeos, BC V0X 1N4
Shuswap
Agriculturally rich, the Shuswap is where farmers and chefs turn to when they want the best crop. This perfectly placed, four-season destination, produces quality and quantity. See what you can do and enjoy while in the Shuswap at Great Taste of Canada.
Photo by Nic Collar
The Thompson Okanagan is filled with an abundance of food for the every day home chef, locals who are looking for their new favourite spot to eat, as well as travelers interested in farm-to-table experiences. Intimately connect with the Thompson Okanagan through slow food and enjoy the story that the local food tells.
Written by Caroline Peterson
BC local, Caroline has lived in the lower mainland but now resides in in the Okanagan. Currently a student, Caroline is hoping to use what she learns in school to highlight, and create interest around the Thompson Okanagan with a fresh, and new perceptive.
Farmer's Markets in the Thompson Okanagan
Enjoy the the many farmers’ markets throughout the region and the elements that go along with them. The Thompson Okanagan has a strong agricultural and artisan presence for us all to enjoy.
This spring, we would like to take the opportunity to discuss why it’s important to shop local by highlighting the farmers’ markets throughout the region and showcasing the elements that go along with them. The Thompson Okanagan has a strong agricultural and artisan presence for us all to enjoy.
By supporting the small and local businesses within the region, every dollar goes directly to the farmers, bakers, and vendors which fuels the local economy. Purchasing directly from growers in the region is just one way we can promote the local communities, and agriculture to better the environment for future generations to come. Visiting farmer's markets allows us to not only support a fellow neighbour, but to receive our groceries knowing they have traveled less than 300 km from the field to our plates, compared to the standard North American meal, which travels over 2400 km. Appreciate the bountiful harvest and enjoy the comfort of knowing where your foods and goods are coming from and who’s helped to grow and create them.
Shopping at a local Farmer’s Market directly relates to The 7 Affirmations for 7 Generations Thompson Okanagan Pledge and the 6th affirmation, “Choose to buy locally and you’ll transform riches into enrichment”. Shopping locally is not only about the food and the earth, but it’s also about connection with the people.
Explore the Regional Markets by Sub Region
Written by Ann-Marie Livingston
Ann-Marie is a Thompson Okanagan local who enjoys traveling, exploring, and taking part in highlighting all local tourism-related initiatives. She encourages her fellow locals and visitors to support the incredible small businesses home to the region and to celebrate the diversity they bring to each community.