Try The Okanagan's Best Outdoor Dining Experience
One of the South Okanagan's most scenic dining spots might also be one of the Valley's best-kept secrets: the Vineyard Kitchen and Patio at Nighthawk Vineyards in Okanagan Falls, BC. With a new addition to its outdoor dining area, Nighthawk Vineyards now has expanded seating options for its dinner guests, proving yet again why it has been consistently listed as having the Okanagan's 'Best outdoor dining experience.'
Lux Life Magazine has chosen Nighthawk Vineyards as British Columbia’s best outdoor dining experience for three straight years, so one might ask – why the new pergola? "The view of the lake is fabulous," says owner Daniel Bibby. "With the addition of our new log pergola, we have expanded the dining options for our guests but still maintained the intimate setting we are known for."
Summer evening dining is superb at Nighthawk, but it is not just the scenery that makes it such. Chef Carson Bibby – who also happens to be the son of Daniel and his wife Christy – is a big part of the reason this patio restaurant keeps racking up awards. His latest dinner menu continues the theme of celebrating all things Okanagan; ingredients are locally sourced, grown on the farm, or foraged. The commitment to community shines through in everything Nighthawk Vineyards does, so it makes sense that their vision would also carry through to the food.
Wood-Fired Culinary Perfection
The centrepiece of the Vineyard Kitchen and Patio is a wood-fired oven, custom-designed and ordered from Portugal. Carson has made full use of the oven in designing the menu, and local cherry wood smoke infuses many of his dishes. Pear and jalapeño glazed pork belly, wood-fired braised short ribs, rabbit confit with peach soubise on potato gnocchi — the list goes on. While the Nighthawk patio in Okanagan Falls is well-known for its amazing wood-fired pizzas for lunch, its dinner menu also does a fabulous job of showcasing a range of delicious local cuisine.
If fresh pasta is what you are craving, Chef Carson has crafted what might possibly be the perfect summer pasta dish. Ricotta and lemon thyme filled pasta - crowned with heirloom tomato bruschetta, buttered asparagus and fresh basil leaves. These perfect flavour combinations spotlight the unique crops of the Okanagan. Carson’s “From Lake to Forest” dish featuring smoked Road 17 arctic char, roasted oyster mushrooms, garden cherry tomatoes, charred red cabbage, spruce tip and sumac vinaigrette, Saskatoon berries and baby arugula — is another example of B.C.'s finest ingredients being carefully crafted into culinary excellence.
Fabulous Food with Perfect Wine Pairings
The menu items at Nighthawk Vineyards are tied to perfectly compliment Nighthawk wines, some of which you might only be able to sample at the winery. Enjoying the spectacular Nighthawk Vineyards wines, fabulous at any time, is made that much better with the breathtaking scenery and exquisite cuisine.
The surroundings of Nighthawk Vineyards are so beautiful that you may feel inspired to stay, and, well, that is possible, too! Recently opened luxury mountainside tent houses are available at Nighthawk Vineyards. Of course, like the Nighthawk patio, accommodations are limited, so you will want to make your reservations soon.
Reserve Ahead For Dinner!
The Vineyard Kitchen and Patio at Nighthawk Vineyards in Okanagan Falls is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. They take dinner reservations for seatings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday to Sunday — and you will need that reservation. Due to the intimate size of the space, and popular demand, dinner service is by reservation only. You can either book on-line through Tock or call the winery at 250-497-8874.
Did you know that another way to enjoy the fabulous cuisine of Chef Carson Bibby is to have your event catered? Nighthawk Vineyards can host group events on their property or off-site. For all the info on their luxurious accommodations, wine offerings, or general inquiries, visit the Nighthawk Vineyards website or send an email to info@nighthawkvineyards.com.
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