Sipping Wine Overlooking Okanagan Lake at the Home Block – CedarCreek Winery
The Atmosphere
The combination of great food and a stellar view make for a memorable meal at the Home Block restaurant on the grounds of the CedarCreek Winery located in Kelowna, British Columbia. The open-air side of the restaurant provides breathtaking views of the Home Block Vineyard and Okanagan Lake.
The building’s ambiance come from the large open space built from 100-year-old reclaimed barn wood and fieldstone. The food here is so fresh and delicious drawing from the famed bounty of Okanagan producers. The wood-fired grill’s use of seasoned barrel staves and wood from local orchards imparts a unique flavor to the flame cooked meals.
The Meal
What a great meal, the food was so flavorsome. I think it was because everything was so fresh. What really surprised me was how much my teenage son enjoyed it as the menu is more appealing to adults, but he is becoming a bit of a foodie. The open kitchen concept allowed us to see our meals being prepared.
I love a good wedge salad. Such a simple dish but oh so tasty. The Home Block uses blue cheese, buttermilk, apples, walnuts and the addition of crispy onions which steps it up a bit.
My son had the Wood-Grilled Burger, again a typical dish but the preparation and ingredients really elevated this burger. Bacon, crispy onions and Comte created a unique flavor palate. Comte is a French cheese from the Franche-Comte province in eastern France and is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk. I had to look this up and found very strict regulations for this ingredient, such as it can only come from two types of cows and there is a limit on how many cows per pasture. Once the cows are milked, the milk immediately goes to the production site to start making the cheese.
I had a rigatoni dish for my main entrée, and it was everything I love about a good pasta dish. Al dente pasta catches the creamy sauce with small bits of sausage and other ingredients. Such a comfort food feel especially with the freshly grated parmesan- Reggiano on top.
I am a dessert gal and Home Block has such a scrumptious dessert menu it was tough to choose. After heavy pasta I choose to go with a lighter dessert. It was like a shortcake with ice cream and fresh Okanagan fruits but instead of the dry biscuit normally used; the Chef used torn pieces of a moist cake. So delicious.
The Wine
One of my favorite things about having lunch at a winery is the wine. It is so nice try different varietals and see how it pairs with food before deciding which bottles to purchase. Often you can have a flight with your meal which is small pours of three different types of wine. CedarCreek Winery has three vineyards with the Home Block part of the view from the restaurant and the other two in Osoyoos with its rocky desert microclimate. These varying terroirs make for some complex flavors in distinct wines.
Press Trip: Thank you Tourism Kelowna and CedarCreek Winery
I do love visiting a winery, they are always located in such beautiful places with amazing views. I have been to ones in south africa and new zealand and this one looks like one I would enjoy. I’m hungry looking at that delicious food!!
I rarely drink alcohol and I have never visited a winery, but I think I will in the near future. The idea of a delicious lunch and sampling of various wine varieties sounds delicious. Plus the pleasant location and views, mmm. Never tried a wedge salad, I am going to look for a recipe 🙂
I love wineries and wine-tasting tours. It is such a good idea to have lunch at a winery with the wine and try different dishes to see what pairs with which wine. Food also helps prevent getting tipsy after tasting wine after wine! That wedge salad looks totally yummy!:-)
The best part about breweries/wineries/cideries in my opinion – is the food i’m not a drinker anymore, but I still enjoy visiting and doing tours because I know the food is going to be incredible haha thanks for sharing!