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Whistler warms up for summer while Chef Gordon Ramsay heats up Hell's Kitchen for another season
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Photo by Paul Morrison
British Columbia is getting more than its share of exposure via reality TV shows. First it was The Bachelorette, when Jillian Harris wined and dined with her suitors in Vancouver; did the snow thing in Whistler; and traveled across two provinces aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to Alberta. Now Chef Gordon Ramsay is coming to this mountain resort community -- complete with fiery words and cutting no slack. He'll be welcoming a new batch of 16 chefs to the sixth course of his unscripted series, Hell's Kitchen. Each week, Ramsey grills the candidates, putting them through their culinary challenges and seeing who can handle the pressure of a fast-paced kitchen. This season's grand prize winning chef will get a gig at Araxi Restaurant, located in the heart of Whistler Village, and one of Whistler's highly acclaimed restos. The accolades are well deserved. I've dined there numerous times since it opened in 1981, and it's always first rate -- from the food and wine to the warm welcome at the door.
Ramsay was at Araxi in January 2009, doing promos for the upcoming season, which will be filmed in southern California. The winning chef will be awarded the head chef position at Araxi, the first Canadian restaurant to be included as part of the prize. Interestingly enough, there are no Canadian candidates out of the 16 who will appear on the show. The winning chef will also have the added bonus of joining executive chef James Walt in "welcoming the world" during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The two-hour season premier of Hell's Kitchen is Tuesday, July 21 on FOX.
But summer is not about TV, it's vacations and getaways. Whistler is a winner. Here are just a few of the fun offerings that you'll find in British Columbia's super mountain resort. For more details, go to www.whistlerblackcomb.com.
* PEAK 2 PEAK Alpine Experience: The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is making its summer debut, linking Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Great views plus access to hiking trails. The official "season" kicks off June 27 and provides access to a 30-mile hiking network spread out over 19 trails, including six new ones on Blackcomb Mountain. They range from easy to "epic," and include hiking an ancient glacier or dining at one of the mountaintop restaurants.
* Summer Glacier Skiing and Snowboarding: Whistler Blackcomb has the longest ski season in North America (through July 26) and the Horstman Glacier is an ideal location for intermediate to advanced skiers and riders to improve their park and bump skills.
* Blackcomb Base Adventure Zone: Located minutes from the base of Whistler Mountain, the activities include the Westcoaster Luge, mini golf, climbing wall, bungee trampoline, trail rides, human gyroscope, climbing web and a jumping castle and slide.
* Whistler Farmers' Market: Located in the Upper Village, near the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, every Sunday through Oct. 11, 2009. Featuring local produce from the Pemberton Valley and beyond, artisan foods, Whistler chef cooking demos and live music.
* Mountain Top Dining: On Friday, Saturday and Sunday dine at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain. Simply ride up the gondola and take in the views and the cuisine, 4,000 feet above Whistler Village. Depending on the night, it's Whole Hog, BBQ or a Salmon Bake. Live music, too.
* Street Entertainment: Free, family events now through September. Everything from jugglers and circus performers to bike stunt riders and dancers. Upcoming events include Whistler's Canada Day Celebration, July 1; Whistler Dragon Boat Festival, July 4-5; Whistler Children's Art Festival, July 11-12.
* Spas: I can't go anywhere without checking into a spa for some sort of treatment. My favorites at Whistler include Nibbana Healing Spa (holistic, lots of locals go here) and the The Spa at the Four Seasons (high end, but so sublime) in the Upper Village: Vida Wellness Spa at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler for Ayurvedic treatments; Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa (two locations), a Javanese spa using Indonesian bodywork techniques; and Solarice Wellness Spa in Whistler Village, for everything from massage and facials to acupuncture, yoga, Pilates and herbal medicines.
Where to stay: Accommodations come in all styles and price ranges, with last minute deals starting from $89 CDN a night. Go to Tourism Whistler's website for more information or call 800.WHISTLER.
Where to dine: Araxi! On my last trip to Whistler in February '09, I enjoyed two really fine meals at Elements. It's called an urban tapas parlour, allowing for very creative dinners (along with yummy martinis). The next morning, it was Elements Benedicts and Stuffed French Toast (with honey ham and brie) for breaky
Take the train: A fun way to get to Whistler from Vancouver is aboard the Whistler Mountaineer. On the morning trip up, you'll enjoy breakfast, while the return trip features afternoon tea. It's a relaxing and scenic way to travel along the Sea to Sky Highway.
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