Where to eat on the Sea-to-Sky Highway

Ski season is almost upon us and that means more trips up the Sea-to-Sky Highway. On The Coast food columnist Anya Levykh has some suggestions about where to fuel up.

West Vancouver

Your journey on the Sea-to-Sky Highway really starts in West Vancouver, and a good road trip starts with a good hot beverage.Caf a Va in Ambleside, on Marine Drive, is a great little French bistro and caf/patisserie.

They serve up proper French press coffees and espressos, as well as some really outstanding sandwiches, desserts, and baked goods.

But they're also a bistro, so they have moules frites, duck confit, roasted chicken, braised beef and goat cheese souffl. They have an excellent dukka chicken sandwich, Moroccan spiced chicken in a lovely baguette, along with a chai latte made from scratch.

Squamish

As you pass through Squamish, you want to stop at Fergie's in Brackendale for breakfast or lunch or both.

It's part of SunwolfResort, which offers cabins, river rafting and eagle viewing, Fergie's is open year round and sits right next to the Cheakamus River overlooking Mt. Alpha. Breakfasts are outstanding, almost all of the food is organic, free-range and sourced locally and changes with the seasons.

They're famous for the buttermilk country biscuits, which are the base for their numerous bennies, including the corned beef and pulled pork versions. Their house-smoked brisket sandwich is also worth trying.

Whistler

When you hit Whistler proper there is lots to choose from. For sushi, try Sushi Village and Sachi Sushi.For Mexican there's Mexican Corner's La Cantina.

Hotels in Whistler have some good offerings as well. The Westin Grill and Vine is worth a visit. At the Westin, grill doesn't just mean steak, try their quail and waffles. And Sidecut at the Four Seasons has a new chef and a new menu.

In the heart of Whistler Village, try Alta Bistro. They have a great wine selection, use local food, and do amazing things with parsnip. Below Alta Bistro's recipe for their Millionaire No. 1 cocktail.

Recipe

Millionaire No.1 cocktail

Recipe courtesy of Alta Bistro bartender Ted Low, and based on the original, classiccocktail as published in the 1930s in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock.

3/4 oz five-year-old Florde Caa rum
3/4 oz sloe gin
3/4 oz apricot brandy
Dash of grenadine
Juice of lime, amount according to taste

Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a martini glass.

Do you have a favourite place to eat and drink on the way to Whistler? Tell us in the comments below!