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Whistler | Destination BC/@viranlly

Rainforest to Rockies

A Culinary Journey

  • Episode 1: Steveston-Dungeness Crab

    Chef Ned hops on a fishing boat and harvests crab from the mouth of the Fraser River, assembling an autumn crab boil with miniature carrots and artisanal romesco.
    8 min
    Rainforest to Rockies

  • Episode 2: Pemberton-Potatoes

    Cruising the sea-to-sky highway, chef Ned turns off at the “no outside potatoes allowed” sign to visit a beer/potato farm.
    7 min
    Rainforest to Rockies

  • Episode 3: Lillooet-Sockeye Salmon

    Chef Ned learns traditional Xwísten net-harvesting and wind-drying techniques before cooking sockeye salmon in a pithouse.
    7 min
    Rainforest to Rockies

  • Episode 4: Vernon-Apples

    Chef Ned bites into the juicy topic of what makes Okanagan apples some of the northernmost, and tastiest, grown in the world.
    5 min
    Rainforest to Rockies

  • Episode 5: Kamloops & Revelstoke-Fermentations

    From Kamloops to Revelstoke, chef Ned meets winemakers, brewers, and charcuterie-makers who are harnessing the flavour-creation power of fermentation.
    6 min
    Rainforest to Rockies

  • Episode 6: Canadian Rockies- Berkshires And Bison

    Chef Ned saddles up in the valleys of the Canadian Rockies, meeting pig and bison farmers before plating his final dish in a boutique bistro.
    9 min
    Rainforest to Rockies

BC Beyond the Plate

A Chef’s Road Trip Across BC

Travel, eat and cook like a chef—Canadian celebrity chef and sustainability champion Ned Bell. Ned visits his favourite makers and foodie friends on a BC road trip from Rainforest to Rockies. Farmers and fishers honouring generations-old traditions, modern purveyors of chef-worthy products—they all inspire him to whip up plates bursting with autumn flavours.

Must-try foods in British Columbia

Road-tripping from coastal Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies is the best way to graze British Columbia’s seasonal harvest.

Must-try tastes include our famous salmon, award-winning wine and beer, and Indigenous foods like bannock. Here are some foodie adventures, from urban gems to small-town secrets, that sample the culinary diversity of the Rainforest to Rockies route.

Vancouver | Indigenous Tourism BC/Point Blank Photo

Seafood

Crack open sweet, nutty Dungeness crab. Slurp creamy, briny Pacific oysters. Flake the tender, coral flesh of wild salmon. Seafood is the essence of BC, with fishers and foodies from First Nations to star chefs eager to share their haul. Reel in these bites.

  • Equal parts working harbour and charming village, Steveston Fishing Village is a neighbourhood south of Vancouver known for fresh-off-the-boat seafood sales and waterside restaurants. Seasonal catches include sockeye salmon, sea urchin, and Dungeness crab.
  • From the first briny sip to a lingering cucumber note, Fanny Bay oysters from the mineral-rich waters of Baynes Sound are a BC signature — and Fanny Bay Oyster Bar in Vancouver celebrates that legacy with a focus on sustainability and quality in fresh-shucked and cooked options.
  • Vancouver’s only Indigenous restaurant, Salmon n’ Bannock, spotlights traditional foods in modern dishes, ranging from maple-drizzled salmon to smoky sablefish and warm, buttery bannock bread.
  • Metro Vancouver has over 600 Japanese restaurants (more than a dozen of them MICHELIN recognized), from takeout sushi to seasonal kaiseki and omakase fine dining. Sample California Rolls where they were invented, at Tojo’s in Vancouver, and connect with the vibrant Japanese-Canadian community, from Hope (Kibo Japanese Food & Café) to Fernie (Yamagoya Sushi). 
  • North of Lillooet, the Xwísten Experience Tour offers a chance to see ancient dip-net salmon harvesting and wind-drying preservation techniques in action at the traditional fishing grounds of the St'át'imc People. Then savour the results, served with bannock and berries.
Vernon | Destination BC/Kari Medig

Harvest Season Produce

In autumn, farmers harvest produce from the glacier-fed, nutrient-rich soils of the Fraser, Okanagan, and Pemberton Valleys to feed restaurants, markets and festivals across BC. Here’s where to crunch into the juiciest apples, sweetest carrots, creamiest potatoes, and more.

  • Held on farms around BC, Feast of Fields gathers top chefs and makers for a celebration of local food. Wander the stalls, chat, and try gourmet bites—bison sliders, foraged chanterelle puff pastries, squash scarpaccia—to the tune of live music.
  • Follow a tasting tour of this agricultural goldmine region with Fraser Valley Food Tours . Nibble artisanal cheese and autumn-fruit pastries in charming Chilliwack, or in historic Fort Langley, learn Indigenous-led tea blending or sample local produce at a plant-based café.
  • Strolling through a weekly market in BC communities such as these gives you an insider peek at each town’s vibe and its local treasures.The BC Farmers Market Traill is a great place to start.

    Squamish Farmer’s Market – Find fresh veggies and berries; local beer and beverages; and everything from pakoras to empanadas at the market in this mountain-town centre. Saturdays, year round, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    Creston Valley Farmers’ Market – A past winner of a Best BC Farmers' Market award, this gathering near the town visitor centre features vendors of fresh-picked fruit, baked goods and artisan crafts. Saturdays, April–October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    Kamloops Farmers’ Market – One of the oldest markets in BC, this collection of makers, bakers and growers includes floral bouquets and Okanagan fruit jams. Saturdays, April–October, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Stuart Wood School yard) and Wednesdays, May–October, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (by downtown library)
Osoyoos | Destination BC/Kari Medig

Wine, Beer and Cider

Find your new-favourite seasonal craft beverage on tap at more than 180 BC breweries and cideries, many of them located in friendly small towns. Wine lovers can tour the renowned Valleys and Vineyards of BC or choose an emerging hotspot among our nine wine regions.

  • From bright Riesling to bold Merlot and the rare elixir of sweet icewine, BC winemakers love to experiment. Every winery tells the story of its unique terroir and winemaking.

    Fort Berens Estate Winery – This picturesque Lillooet winery, nestled below the Coastal Mountains overlooking the Fraser River, pours award-winning Cabernet Franc and Riesling. 

    Monte Creek Winery – In the Thompson Valley, an organic winery offers rosé made from a blend of local grapes, plus full-bodied Cabernet.

    Saddle Up and Sip at Nk'Mip Cellars – Absorb the culture of the Syilx Okanagan people while visiting the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America. After a horseback journey through sagebrush trails, taste Nk’Mip wines such as its Quam Qwmt (“achieving excellence”) series of Syrah, Chardonnay and Icewine bottlings, then savour lunch at Sweetgrass at Nk’Mip restaurant.
  • It’s rare to visit a BC town that doesn’t boast a craft brewery. Dip into each spot’s personality by mingling with regulars as you unwind with a local pint after a day of touring and road-tripping.

    The BC Ale Trail – This app offers customizable, self-led itineraries that highlight local sights and outdoor activities along with craft breweries across BC. Here are just a couple of ale trails to sample on the Rainforest to Rockies route.
    • Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail – Mountain culture infuses the character of these craft breweries in historic mining and resource towns. Meet local outdoor enthusiasts on brewery patios with postcard lake and mountain views.
    • Southern Interior Ale Trail – This rich agricultural area has rustic, rural vibes (the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame is here, in Merritt). These breweries are often community social hubs, offering local fare or order-in food from nearby restaurants. 


    Backcountry Beer Tasting Heli-tour – Sky Helicopters departs from Vancouver or Pitt Meadows and touches down in the Coast Mountains, where you’ll enjoy a high-altitude flight of beer from four BC craft breweries.
  • BC makers use tree-fresh fruit, minimal processing, and careful fermentation to craft artisanal cider, sometimes showcasing local botanicals, flowers, and other unique flavours. 

    Left Field Cider Co.  – Two sisters transformed their family farm near Merritt, turning hayfields into apple orchards and the barn into a cozy ciderhouse. Find English-style ciders infused with pear, rhubarb, or raspberry.

    Woodward Cider Co.  – This Kamloops cidery, run by a trio of engineer brothers, toasts to innovation. Sample velvet-textured cider aged in wine barrels or a salted-lime cider inspired by the margarita.

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