CULINARY NOTES ON FERNIE
ROOFTOP COFFEE ROASTERS
FERNIE CATERING CO
Chef Barrie Elliott is a staple of the
Fernie culinary scene and opened
Fernie Catering Co in 2017. Recently
taking sole ownership of the company,
Barrie’s many fans can look forward to
seeing her mouth-watering creations in
a variety of places.
Elliott grew up in Nova Scotia where she
was exposed to the restaurant industry
at the family business. She travelled
west at 17 and found work at isolated
fishing camps and backcountry lodges,
later completing her apprenticeship in
Vancouver and attaining her Red Seal
Chef Certification in Culinary Arts. For
the past 14 years Elliott has made a name
for herself in Fernie working at Island
Lake Lodge and Nevados Restaurant,
and as head chef at the former Livery
Restaurant. In 2015, she competed and
won her episode of Food Network TV’s
Chopped Canada.
Life has been busy since then with
opening Fernie Catering Co. and the
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arrival of a son. Elliott created the
menus at the new luxury lodge Brooks
Creek Ranch, and raised the game
for cocktail events, introducing new
flavours and styles of canapes and
developing a stunning signature ‘harvest
table’ presentation for charcuterie and
cheese boards. Elliott lives on a 15-
acre homestead in West Fernie with
her family, where she grows herbs and
vegetables for her recipes. Her food
philosophy is centred around the best
quality ingredients – locally sourced
wherever possible – and recognizable
dishes with a little extra flair.
Recently, Fernie Catering Co has joined
forces with Fernie Craft Fairs and will
offer a café menu at the events, along
with a range of homemade frozen foods
to go including her popular pies and
lasagna, plus dips, sauces, scones and
more. Fernie Catering Co is available for
private parties and events of 15 or more
guests and is now consulting and booking
weddings and events into 2021.
Ferniecateringco.com
At 492 2nd Ave, a new specialty coffee
location The Tasting Room will open
for the 2019-2020 winter season.
Operated by the family team behind
Rooftop Coffee Roasters, Sarah
Deschenes, David Street, and their
son Keegan Street, the new location
will specialise in the local operation’s
unique roasts and offer additional
insight into the craft of good coffee. In
addition to a full coffee menu and tasty
eats, the premises will provide tasting
flights, workshops and the opportunity
for coffee lovers to learn about the
company’s unique flavour profiles and
sourcing practices.
Rooftop Coffee Roasters was founded
by Keegan when he was just 17, roasting
as a hobby from the rooftop of the same
building where their tasting room will
soon open. Now a full-time engineering
student, his parents have enthusiastically
taken over the reins in a reversal of the
traditional parent-to-child succession.
Their coffee is ethically sourced from
around the globe, and roasted by hand
here in Fernie.
Rooftopcoffeeroasters.com
CATRIDE AND LUNCH AT
ISLAND LAKE LODGE
The culinary team at Island Lake Lodge
have turned the mountain location
– in the scenic Cedar Valley at the
north-eastern reaches of the Lizard
Range – into a dining destination.
Once only available as an all-inclusive
Catskiing resort in winter, the
restaurant is now open to guests for
lunch as part of the Catride & Lunch package. For $89 per person, guests will travel
in comfort in the lodge’s 12-person snowcat through the spectacular old-growth
western red cedar forest to enjoy a gourmet 2-course lunch. The magical resort
location at the upper reaches of the valley is a winter wonderland to enjoy from the
restaurant windows or on a snowshoe walk around the frozen lake. For an extra level
of luxury, add a visit to The Spa. (Snowshoe rental and spa services extra). Packages
are available daily from December 19th – January 5th (except December 25th) and
then every Thursday – Sunday until the end of March.
Islandlakelodge.com
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