December 2020 North Shuswap Kicker Article
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year … and even though its perhaps one of the strangest times this year, celebrating with wonderful tastes, recipes handed down from generations and traditional treats will remain a highlight of the holiday season.
Many businesses in the Shuswap have got creative and are offering a variety of ways for you to enjoy your holiday and here is our round up of local suggestions.
Chef Whittaker and his team at Quaaout have put together some inspiring options that mean you don’t have to do any cooking, just simply enjoy. A ‘Holiday Meal for Six’ fully cooked and ready to eat is available for pick up or, if you don’t want to do the dishes, Jack Sam’s is taking reservations for a crafted three course Christmas dinner with all the fixings and at $55 is a very good gift to the tired cook in your house! And yes, it includes their amazing bannock! Check out their website for these and other holiday specials including cosy Christmas getaways with Los Lobos truffles …
Speaking of Los Lobos Artisans, Taste of the Shuswap was very excited to recently discover this young team of culinary artisans. Making their name in the dessert business, Kara and Justine are Red Seal pastry chefs who are expanding their offerings to include Christmas themed SHUboxes full of locally sourced and inhouse made goods. They have partnered with local craftsman Monique Cusson who creates gorgeous charcuterie boards and we think big things are in store for this dynamo team. Check out their Instagram feed @losobosartisan for their Christmas Special details and keep an eye out for their rebranding to SHUcuterie soon.
If you haven’t heard of or seen the culinary visual delights from Zana of @thefridgelight you really should. A self-taught baker with a professional chef background, Zana has been creating and delivering her gorgeous cakes and locally sourced charcuterie boxes with fantastic reviews. For the holiday season, Zana is offering several Christmas Cookie Boxes with partial proceeds going to charity. Due to the custom work required, The Fridge Light books up very quickly so if you are interested in having Zana’s creations as part of your holiday, don’t delay. We just love visiting her mouth-watering Instagram feed.
The Scotch Creek Hub is busy dreaming up ways to support our winter sledding guests with specially curated lunches that can be made over an open fire (how cool is that) and making us drool over their Friday Donuts Day over at the Café. If you’re looking for a break from cooking, you’ll also find the Ross Creek Store weekly specials right here on the back page of the Kicker.
A couple of stocking stuffer suggestions to support our local food merchants include Shuswap Coffee Christmas Packs (3 flavours found at local grocery outlets and online), Shuswap Super Seasonings (4 flavours, 2 sizes found at The Handmade Shoppe in Salmon Arm) and Red Truck Foods delicious chutneys and relishes (perfect for your charcuterie board and made right here in the North Shuswap and available on their Facebook page).
While we hear that most of Celista Estate Wineries whites and reds were sold out this summer (congrats!), you may be lucky enough to get a nice red in your stocking this year.
A Christmas tradition for many of us in the Shuswap is a visit to the CP Holiday Train when it stops for the night in Notch Hill. While the train won’t be coming to town this year, we still have an opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds through their Facebook Livestream event on December 12th. The Holiday Train at Home will feature Canadian artists Serena Ryder, The Trews and more and begins at 5 pm PST.
Whatever local food experience you choose, please remember the North Shore Food Bank need your help too. Consider a cash or in-kind donation please.
From the Taste of the Shuswap to you, please have yourselves a safe and special holiday season. You can find Taste of the Shuswap on Instagram @TasteoftheShuswap and on our website www.TasteoftheShuswap.ca. Please follow along with us!