Kelowna's Juicy Tips

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With Earth Day coming up on April 22 (next Thursday), here are some ways that a local restaurant and resort are marking the occasion with on-going green practices and a very special 100-Mile Menu…

Make your mouth water - Ricardo's offers 100-Mile Menu for Earth Day

Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen is celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of Earth Day (April 22, 2010) with a locally inspired “100 Mile” menu benefiting both the planet and the palette. Ingredients include Carmelis goat cheeses from Kelowna, Enderby trout, Okanagan-raised duck and grain-fed pork and almonds from Vignola Farms.  To complement your palette, Ricardo’s offers an extensive variety of excellent and affordable wines from the Okanagan’s finest vineyards.

Owners Sue Miller and Ricardo Scebba invite you to celebrate Earth Day

Founded in 2001, this award-winning family-run restaurant has always been committed to sustainability with eco-friendly initiatives including:

• Serve yourself water program
• Rain-catcher runoff
• Many herbs and salad ingredients are picked fresh from the family garden
• All front of house cleaning products are made by local green-clean legend Kylie Routley

Recently voted #1 Italian Restaurant in BC by Open Table diners, Ricardo’s long list of awards includes “Best Restaurant”, “Best Service”, “Best Italian”, “Best Romantic”, “Best Dessert”, and “Best Italian” from Okanagan Life Magazine and other publications. 

Located just 20 minutes north of downtown Kelowna, Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen is open for dinner seven days a week from 5 p.m.. Reservations are highly recommended. To make yours, call 1-250-766-6810. Check out the 100-Mile Menu below:

EARTH DAY – APRIL 22, 2010

GOAT CHEESE & CAMEMBERT FIG TARTS

Carmelis in Kelowna provides the cheese with local
free range eggs & asparagus     $13

PEAR & DUCK CONFIT SALAD

Okanagan raised duck leg extra crispy & served over wild organic greens in a Dijon vinaigrette & Anjou pear slices & Tiger Blue Cheese from Naramata     $18

TROUT ALMONDINE

Enderby raised Lake Trout pan seared & sprinkled with Vignola Farms toasted almonds, an extra virgin olive oil drizzle & fresh squeezed lemon     $27

PORK TENDERLOIN

Grain fed local pork tenderloin medallions oven roasted to perfection &
topped with caramelized onions and chorizo crumbles     $27

Incidentally, Ricardo’s is located right next to the Holiday Park Resort in Lake Country. I mention this because this resort is also known for its green tendencies and won a Mayor’s Award for Environmental Sustainability last year.

RV camping near Kelowna

The resort employs green practices by purchasing equipment and supplies that are power-smart; by using no chlorine in their industrial laundry and reducing chemical requirements by using coloured linens; by composting and recycling; and by cultivating community gardens. The resort also protects the Painted Turtle through an extensive program of education, awareness, and shoreline management.

This is a wonderful resort to keep in mind if your visiting friends and relatives are looking for RV camping spots or just want to be in a relaxed atmosphere while on vacation close to Kelowna.

Happy Earth Day on April 22, and be sure you mark the occasion with a toast at Ricardo’s!