One of the biggest challenges in the restaurant industry is deciding who your customer is. Some businesses focus on families. Others cater to steak lovers, health-conscious diners, or those looking for a quick meal on the go.
There are certain places in a small town that quietly become essential without people fully realizing it – and your local butcher shop is one of them.
A few months ago, I introduced readers to Cherry Bomb Sandwiches and owner Logan Ferreira, whose Portuguese-inspired sandwiches immediately became one of my favourite discoveries in the South Okanagan.
Opening a restaurant with a partner, spouse, or close friend is one of the hardest things a person can do.
This week’s food adventure is a little different. Instead of a restaurant, this is my first “experiment” highlighting a local food product that is heating up the hot sauce market.
Spring has officially arrived in the South Okanagan, and for this week’s Food Adventure with Sheldon, the spotlight lands on a place that has quickly become one of the fastest growing and successful businesses in Osoyoos — Queen of the South Cafe & Tapas.
I’ll admit it — I almost didn’t write this article. Not because there was nothing to say, but because I assumed there was nothing new to say about Gino’s Coffee House.
First off, bonus points if you caught the reference, but it feels fitting. My friends at Barn Owl Eatery & Café claimed “Best Burger” in my year-end awards, and since then no one has really stepped up to challenge that title—until now.
One of the things I love about writing these weekly articles is that I constantly discover places to eat that I had either never tried before—or in this case, didn’t even know existed.
For years, the building that now houses Sunridge Restaurant sat empty, slowly breaking down and becoming an eyesore. Enter Gary Johal, who purchased the building, gave it a complete renovation, and brought it back to life.
This year, I’ve recommended food from restaurants, food trailers, food trucks, wineries, and even gas stations. Now, I’m adding an even stranger location to the list: a self-storage business.
As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, I worked in a Thai restaurant, took Thai cooking classes, trained with Thai chefs, and travelled throughout Thailand—so if I’m going to feature and recommend a place that serves Thai food, you can rest assured that it meets my expectations of what Thai cuisine should be.
I was recently asked to visit and highlight Sweetgrass at Nk’Mip Cellars. Initially, I declined, explaining that I had already been earlier in the year. But then I was informed they had just reopened – and I hadn’t been to their restaurant yet.
If there are restaurants or businesses that truly deserve to be called “community staples,” Big Al’s Bakery might just top the list.
If you’ve stood in line at a grocery store or gas station in the last 40 years, you’ve probably noticed that penny candies, 35-cent Wrigley’s gum, and $1 ice cream cones are long gone. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still relive a part of your childhood.
At least once a week, someone asks me why I haven’t written about the many pizza places in Osoyoos and Oliver. I usually give the polite answer: “Oh, I just haven’t had time — but I will soon.”
7-Eleven Oliver Oh, thank heaven for 7-Eleven. Before we dive into this review, let me be...
The term “food porn” was coined a decade ago to describe pictures of food uploaded to social media that make people salivate or instantly crave what they see on their phone screens or TV commercials.
One thing I dearly missed after moving to the South Okanagan was the charm of a run-down, hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant – those late-night go-to spots my colleagues and I frequented during night shifts in Kelowna.
Full disclosure: I know Dolci Thai Restaurant in Osoyoos very well, and I know the owner and head chef, Yaowapa “Leena” Ferreira, both professionally and personally.
After multiple requests from readers, I visited The Ditch Café in Oliver. As someone who doesn’t drink coffee, I typically avoid coffee-centric spots, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
When I first heard that The Barn Owl Eatery & Café was going to start serving “smash burgers,” I had mixed emotions.
Full disclosure. No matter how hard I try, there is no way to convey, just how spectacular my meal was at Bharawan Da Dhabba Indian Restaurant in Oliver, BC.