When you live on the West Coast, you’ve got the luxury of an abundance of fresh local ingredients with which to create inspiring meals.
From succulent Fanny Bay oysters to ocean-fresh fish and farm-fresh greens and vegetables, your combinations are virtually endless.
General manager Thom McCann, Chef Jason Harbo and the staff at the Lighthouse Bistro and Pub on the beautiful Nanaimo waterfront feel strongly about creating a menu that sources the best and freshest local seafood, meat and produce. That philosophy led to the creation of the Sustainability Dinner Series, which happens next on Sunday night, May 26 – coinciding with the opening of the Lighthouse outdoor patio.
“Not only do we live on the ocean in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, we want to support our neighbours and be respectful to the ocean to help keep it thriving,” says McCann.
A meal fit for a queen (or king!)
Part of the pleasure of dining out is being able to savour each element. For the May 26 meal, you’ll experience six distinct courses, each of which draws upon the harvest of the sea and locally grown produce:
- The starters You’ll begin with a tuna poke stack featuring marinated albacore tuna, along with young pea shoots, marinated local onions and tomatoes
- Fantastic fish Course 2 includes assorted sashimi, local Oceanwise salmon and albacore tuna
- Tangy flavours Next up is a Ceviche made with citrus-cured Georgia Straight ling cod, plus local tomatoes and herbs
- Bring on the oysters! Oh, the joys of Island favourite Fanny Bay oysters, served with a flight of mignonettes for dipping
- Tradition calls Your fifth course is an old-fashioned clam and crab boil, with Sooke clams, local potatoes and vegetables, served with locally churned butter and house-made focaccia bread
- The finishing touch For dessert, there’s a Yellow Point Berry Crisp, which uses local strawberries and blueberries and is baked to perfection.
“Every ingredient is local, right down to the eggs and the butter and the flour,” McCann says with pride. “Plus, every course will be paired with a local beer or wine.” Featured partners include the Farmship Growers Co-operative, Unsworth Vineyards, Vancouver Island Brewery, Longwood Brewery, Yellow Point Farmship Co-Op, Early Girl Urban Farm and the Vancouver Island Sea Salt Co.
Make your reservations online for this wonderful night of culinary enjoyment, or call the bistro at 250-754-3212. The next one won’t come around until the fall!
Patio time = party time Spring and summer offer a different vibe on the patio, with a more casual menu than the bistro, the music turned up a notch and stunning views every day.
Weekends are for live music Enjoy listening to some of the best live music on Vancouver Island. You can also follow what’s up with the Lighthouse Bistro and Pub on Facebook.
