HOME BLOCK HITS HOME RUN

Renewed, redesigned, reimagined – Home Block Restaurant at CedarCreek Winery is a force to be reckoned with.

The drive south along the water on Chute Lake road is stunning in itself – with lake views stretching from downtown Kelowna to Peachland. Then the road narrows, the pines tower, a few windy turns, and you arrive at a set of enormous gates. It feels like entering a modern, stone palace.

Concrete steps spiral around the building, ending at a long, open-sky courtyard. To the East is the entrance to the winery’s bright tasting room. Beyond that to the North is the Home Block Restaurant.

Named in honour of the on-site, 50-acre vineyard, Home Block has an unpretentious awe with a modern-farm feel. Thirty-foot, vaulted ceilings showcase walls wrapped with 100-year-old, reclaimed barn wood, and natural fieldstones create a tasteful, welcoming atmosphere.

At the front, the floor-to-ceiling windows present a picturesque view of the lake, valley, and cozy patio. The roaring fire and cabin-style blankets are inviting to anyone wanting sit and relax with a glass of wine. The open-concept kitchen to the back shows-off the expertise and precision of the culinary staff.

The restaurant’s motto – Terroir to Table – defines the essence of each dish. That is, food unique because it is from our land, embodying those elements, presented at this table. Led by Executive Chef Neil Taylor, his style is “simple and uncomplicated but with big, bold flavors using the best of local and imported products with a focus on Italian and Spanish flavors.”

He works with dedicated farmers, ranchers, fishers and foragers to source ingredients for quality and seasonality. Each dish is meticulously prepared in the state-of-the art kitchen, which features a wood-fired grill fueled by timber from local orchards and seasoned barrel staves.

Inspired by the season and fresh, interchangeable ingredients, the menu is re-envisioned daily. Guests can experience a two-course lunch or a three-course dinner paired with a three-ounce wine per course. Both menus provide a variety of mouth-watering meal choices to suit anyone’s taste buds.

The warm, Coal Roasted Beets starter, topped with fresh pink grapefruit, ricotta and avocado simply melts in your mouth. Paired with their unique, no-sunshine Estate Pinot Gris, the light acidity, green apple and pear flavours is balanced wonderfully.

Perfect to share is the Burrata – a soft, creamy Italian buffalo cheese with mild and delicate flavours. Crispy cauliflower, seasoned with rosemary, compliments the plate and the tart pomegranates add texture and a juicy crunch. The Platinum Block 3 Riesling paired perfectly, with citrus, white nectarine and dried apricot flavours. Comfort food at its finest.

For the main course, one finds it hard to decide between a cassoulet (classic French deep-dish casserole with duck, pork, and beans) la plancha (grilled) seafood, or one of Chef’s creative vegetarian dishes: green chick pea falafel or charred WTF oyster mushrooms. In the end, you can’t go wrong.

There’s always a feature-of-the-day not to be missed. It’s been said that their classic Reuben is the best you’ll have from here to Mexico.

These ever-evolving dishes are as thoughtfully crafted as the wines themselves.

Winemaker Taylor Whelan is building upon three decades of winemaking history and defining a new chapter with estate-grown, organic wines.

CedarCreek announced the Home Block Vineyard certified organic in 2019. All weed sprays and insecticides were eliminated and replaced with chickens, bees, worms, and cover crops to create a dynamic and vibrant ecosystem. The goal is that all wines at CedarCreek are produced organically by 2021.

Whether for lunch or dinner, summer or winter, you can experience Neil Taylor’s culinary masterpieces in a variety of ways, including:

• Five-wine tasting, paired with small bites, $25 per person.
• Two-course paired lunch, $60 per person.
• Three-course paired dinner, $80 per person.
• Five-course Platinum Library paired dinner, $150 per person.

Appreciating our province’s new COVID-19 safety regulations, Home Block has the following in place: masking is mandatory while not seated at the table; serving and kitchen staff are masked at all times; and food and wine service is placed at the end of the table, rather than presented over the shoulder or poured directly in the glass.

The restaurant staff are courteous, knowledgeable, and eager to ensure your experience is unforgettable.

The attention to detail stretches throughout the winery from the front gates to the table, from the modern décor to the gender-neutral washroom, and from the food, to the wine, to the people.

Home Block Restaurant, opened in May 2019, truly knocks it out of the ballpark.

Book your dining reservation or tasting online at www.cedarcreek.bc.ca.