My snapshot of Kelowna in British Columbia’s wine country wouldn’t be complete without mentioning BNA Brewing, a brew pub downtown in a large, industrial-chic space with a view of the surrounding hills. Come around dinner time and you can gaze out on said hills bathed in a golden glow.
We ordered tasting flights, which comprised beers that tasted great on site–fresh, with a good zing from the carbonation–but when we took home a growler, we were disappointed in the flavor. Maybe the beer just doesn’t travel well.
The food was quite classy for a pub. I’d stay away from the pizza (it was mediocre) and go for the lovely spinach salad (photo above) and chicken parm (a very tender breaded chicken served on a bed of gnocchi with just the right chew).
For a more high-end foodie experience, you can try the popular KRAFTY kitchen + bar, a casual farm-to-table restaurant with hipster Edison lighting. It’s downtown, near the beachfront and across from a well-disguised strip club. To be honest, there are misses along with hits here. The bison tartare appetizer served with grilled sourdough bread was excellent (photo above). But our main dishes came much later after whetting our appetites. When my fried chicken came, it seemed an amateurish take for the high price, and my side salad had greens that were too basic (they were light green leaves without variety). The kombucha vinaigrette for the salad was a creative idea, but the flavor didn’t pop. The crispy pork belly that hubby ordered was a better choice; well executed with plenty of umami.
ATB 