In the Okanagan Valley, everything begins with the land. While exploring the tastes of Kelowna, it’s worthwhile taking time to connect with the origins of the delicious sips and eats that abound.
“The word for land [in nsyilxcən], tmxʷulaxʷ…when you break that down, it means the sphere of living things that turn and rotate,” says syilx Elder Wilfred “Grouse” Barnes.
The tmxʷulaxʷ (land) is not only a living thing, but it is also at the heart of the region’s culinary scene. You can taste the soil when you bite into a juicy, sun-ripened peach. You can see the bounty of the land as you walk among the vineyards rooted deep in ancient soils or drive by the orchards and farms during harvest season.
All this abundance is first brought to life with the addition of siwɬkʷ (water), x̌iyáɬnxʷ (sun), and lots of love from local farmers, viticulturists, and orchardists who are passionate about what they do.
Jas Sanghera and his son, Harkirat, planting in the fields
Farmers like Jas Sanghera, whose family owns and operates Don-O-Ray Farms, take advantage of the region’s climate, topography, and soil to grow vegetables on their 45-acre property, which can then be supplied to local restaurants.
These local connections, including the intimate connection to the land, are woven into Kelowna’s DNA. Farmers, winemakers, chefs, and more collaborate to showcase the very best of the region every step of the way.
“Kelowna is the perfect place for a winemaker. It is really about not just making wine from numbers, it’s being out in the field and looking at everything that’s going on,” says Peak Cellars’ Winemaker, Stephanie Stanley. “Where we are along the lake gives us a really natural temperature moderation in the winter and in the summer. The location is unique and different from anywhere else in the world.”
Peak Cellars' Vineyards
While it’s a given that most visitors to the region will incorporate culinary elements into their trip by eating at a local restaurant or sampling local wine, beer, and craft beverages, there are extra special moments you can create by going deeper:
- Join one of the syilx traditional plant use walking tours offered through the Okanagan Heritage Musem to discover how the region’s Indigenous community use different plant species for food, medicine, shelter, and more.
- Visit area farms, orchards, and markets to savour the freshest produce—some spots even offer u-pick so you can further the connection to your food and where it comes from.
- Browse Tourism Kelowna’s online events calendar before or during your trip to see if there are any collaborative culinary events taking place, with chefs teaming up to create unique and wonderful local creations.
- Celebrate local produce and learn from renowned local chefs by taking a hands-on or demonstration cooking class, like the upcoming Culinary Adventures with Chef Rod Butters class on May 16 showcasing spring asparagus, sourced from nearby Armstrong Farm Company.
It’s clear the Okanagan isn’t just a place to eat and drink; it’s a place to savour, to connect, to celebrate. Make the most of your time in Kelowna by enjoying the unforgettable taste of something grown, crafted, and shared on the land it was grown. You’ll make the most unforgettable, and delicious, memories in the process!
