Restaurants

Scrumptious, distinctive cuisine

Aboriginal people living on Northern B.C.’s west coast say when the tide rolls out their tables are set. The Pacific continues to sustain the region with a rich supply of deep-sea treasures. Delectable Dungeness crab and succulent salmon are certain favourites, and the specialty of many of the trendy restaurants in Prince Rupert’s Cow Bay area. Coho and King salmon, prawns, oysters and mussels, the seafood choices are abundant in Northern B.C.

For a truly unique Northern British Columbia dining experience, visit Ksan Historical Village and Museum near the Hazeltons, off Highway 16 West. This popular spot along the Yellowhead Highway offers displays of the ‘Ksan culture, with interpreters on-hand to present authentic tours. A restaurant, which serves traditional dishes of the Gitxsan First Nations, makes delicious use of the local bounty, including berries, vegetables, game, fish and breads.

Ever had a fiddlehead?

Northern B.C. has the perfect climate and geography to grow a most rare and delicious vegetable – the fiddlehead. Usually seen during late May, this delicacy has been described as a cross between asparagus and hearts of palm. The vegetable is actually a fern, and it’s eaten raw or cooked.

Exotic mushrooms are also a delicacy served in some Northern B.C. restaurants, but don’t try and find your own. Each year illnesses are reported among mushroom hunters and there have also been fatalities.

Many northern communities regularly host Farmer’s Markets during the summer months, posting notices on days and times of operation. This is the best way to truly get a taste of Northern British Columbia. Of course there is the standard market fare with all the garden produce, but there’s often also home-fired breads, Saskatoon berry pies, sugary sweet Nanaimo bars or buffalo jerky.

Surf & turf

Picturesque Smithers, with its Alpine village look and lovely mountain backdrop, is a perfect stop for lunch or dinner during a drive on the Yellowhead. There are plenty of choices for overnight accommodations, giving the traveler ample time to discover the local coffee shops and markets, and explore the town’s lovely side streets.

Further east, from small communities such as tiny Telkwa, to larger centres such as Prince George, a variety of quality restaurant experiences can be found. Further north in Northern B.C.’s Peace Country, visitors often clamor for the region’s bison. Home to the largest bison herd in the province, the Peace Country is an agricultural centre. The region is also known for its beef production, and producing some of the finest beef cuts in the country. With a perfect countryside and climate to produce quality grains and feeds, Peace Country beef is fast becoming the standard in most Northern B.C. restaurants.