New Chef for the El
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Last fall, an article in the travel magazine Endless Vacation focused on the food scene in our abundant slice of BC. In a section entitled “Arrival of the Chefs”, author Anita Stewart enumerates the many star-quality Chefs that this valley attracts. Her premise is that where there is fresh produce in abundance, chefs will follow. This is definitely the story for Kelowna, where chefs and farmers pour over seed catalogues together in the early spring to determine what types of heritage tomatoes or asparagus they’ll need for the upcoming season’s menu. And the arrival of Kelowna’s latest chef is the case in point to Kelowna’s growth as a culinary hub.
Chef Lyon stages a plating for the camera at a recent television shoot at the El.
The latest addition to our food scene in Kelowna is Chef Michael Lyon. This rising star in the white jacket is the new visionary at the Hotel Eldorado Dining Room, where he has just introduced a brand new menu. Chef Lyon comes to us from Banff, but has cooked all over the world. A two-time Gold Medal Plates winner (akin to winning an Academy Award twice), this chef is also currently in the production of the Food Network’s next big series, Chef-Off!, set to air in early summer.
The Hotel Eldorado's boardwalk hums with diners in the warmer months.
The new menu at the Eldorado has focused on the lounge and boardwalk menu initially. For the lounge, Chef Lyon sees the “El” as that easy hang-out place for groups of friends, where you can order a drink and share a bunch of tried-and-true appie favourites. Things like falafel burgers, Pacific Prawn Fritters, roasted chicken nachos, and gooey baked camembert. There will also be pizzas, your favourite steak sandwich, and Alberta Beef Stroganoff. The idea being, as Chef puts it: “old school with a new school twist” (hmm – kind of like the iconic Eldorado itself!). The goal for the new menu is to give people a sense of comfort, fun, and a little wow-factor. Price point for the appies is between $8 and $16 – perfect for sharzies!
When I think about the star quality of chefs in this neighbourhood, I’m blown away. You have Chef Michael Lyon at the Eldorado; Chef Bernard Casavant at the Manteo’s Wild Apple Grill; and Chef Ned Bell at Cabana Grille – a veritable Chef triangle that will make this area so dynamic for dining this year!
Let us know what your favourite dish is on this new menu! We’d love to hear from you.
