We headed over after I found a good deal from the Salt Spring Harbour House. It was in that Christmas to New Year limbo, my favourite time of the year, if I am off work. There's no commitments, nothing planned, everything is quiet and you can relax a little. If you are in London around then, its the best time to see the place without too many people.
The hotel was fine. We took the non-scenic view room overlooking a corner of a farm paddock and the air conditioning units on the roof of the backside. It was large room with high windows and lots of pine. And a paint job that seemed to be half covering some of the pine beams. The room had two Murphy beds, so I am guessing it is used as a break out room for meetings when not having oiks like me sleeping there (the Brunette is not an oik, just to be clear, just me). No table, so no board games. Because that's what I like to do in hotel rooms... play board games.
I had hoped to get a chance to tour the farm as well too, you know, as part of my continued understanding of where my grub comes from, but that didn't happen as a long lie in was more important for me in the morning. As sadly, dear readers, I got a cold. Everyone feel sorry for me now, please.
Thanks.
Still, I had a decent nights sleep despite my cold and woke up plenty rested. I'd stay there again if I got the same deal. I wouldn't pay high season rates, which I suspect probably means I won't be staying on Saltspring during the high season very often.
Before the hotel stay, we had a wander around Ganges. First order of business was food, and from the choices on one side of Gracepoint Park (nothing to do with the TV show) we went to the Saltspring Wok Bar. A small space with a bar, and prep area for the chef. Who was in residence and happy to tell us all about the daily specials (something laden with peanuts), and his former career as a heavy duty mechanic on VIA Rail.
The food was great, big salty-savoury noodles covered in a Green Thai chilli curry with chicken. Creamy, with some heat and a lovely combination of flavours. The Brunette had the same thing with smoked tofu, something he was happy to let us try before eating. She's not a tofu lover, but she dug his smoked tofu (locally smoked, which doesn't have the same cachet as locally smoked salmon). This was all eaten up happily in The Local, a small corner of the liquor store dedicated to serving beer and letting people bring in food from the row of small eateries. Great idea, and you also get a view of the harbour. There is a patio for the summer, but we kept well inside.
We then hit up all the craft and independent shops that were open, including Black Sheep Books and Fever Tree design. The former, I think I have mentioned before, is an awesome maze of new and used books. The later sells wholesome clothing and interior design pieces, and was being run by Tarquin, an Aussie who has travelled far and wide. Had a good chat with him before moving onwards.
For the evening libations, we stopped in at Moby's Pub for a pint. Seems to be the place for craft beers in town, and I had a very satisfying pint of Russell's Blood Alley bitter. Russell's every day draft beers are terrible, cheap and have the flavour that you'd expect by wringing out a damp bar towel after hosing down the bar top on a Friday night rush. Russell's premium line makes great, flavourful brews well worth finding and spending a little time with. Go figure. I had originally ordered the Mile High Mountain Ale from Vancouver Island. Described as a American Red Ale, it was pretty damn good, but I swapped with the Brunette who preferred it to the hoppier Blood Alley. She's insisted I mention this beer as it was 'fantastic'.
I also ran into my old next door neighbour from Victoria, now serving behind the bar. He lived in the basement of his parent's house when I first got here, while I lived in the much bigger helper suite. Very odd to run into him, but was nice to be recognized after five years... it took me a second to work out who it was, but he knew me straight away. Nice locals style pub, I would certainly drink there again.
We then took a cold, dark walk down to the Salt Spring Inn. The Inn has a medium sized dining room, overlooking the main core of Ganges. It's an open space with high backed booths but with large picture windows. This gives it a cosy feel but not claustrophobic. You can shuffle into a booth with your date, gossip about the day but still part of the general dining crowd.
I ordered up a lasagne, despite there being a tonne of options I could have chosen (burgers, steak, jambalaya) while the Brunette went for Halibut tacos. The lasagne was awesome. Deep filled, lots of juicy sauce and crisp, gooey cheese on top. It was grilled to finish it and that made it piping hot. I was accused of 'Dyson'-ing it up, which I claim was an unfair description of someone enjoying their food. The Brunette said the tacos were delightful, served with a crisp green salad. The fish was well cooked, kept moist and flakey, not a dried out mess.
We finished with dessert. The cream cheese iced carrot cake I had was expertly made. Moist, light and tasting of sweet grilled carrots, while the icing had sharpness to it that offset the cake. The 'Death by Chocolate' my date had was nibbled at and savoured. It had a dark, rich ganache coupled with a dark, dark cake. I was allowed a small morsel, and I have to concur, it was an awesome, intense dish. I couldn't have eaten a whole portion myself, preferring my carrot cake. But others would disagree.
We paid, said hello to the restaurant's very friendly, old cat and toddled back to the hotel, happy and full. And I was about ready for a NyQuil and a long, long sleep.
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