Okanagan Slow Road

Book excerpt: Explore the bucolic Okanagan Valley of south-central British Columbia with Okanagan Slow Road. A compilation of the best of the region's food, drink, and recreation, the book reveals local culinary secrets: crusty double-baked bread, lavender-infused pepper, seasonal vegetables, dark red cherries, sinfully rich double-cream brie, and farm-fresh eggs with yolks so dark they will startle. And of course, the wines. What would delicious local food be without famous vintages from the unique Okanagan terroir? Although not a definitive guide to Okanagan wines, this book is a personal journey from southern desert wineries with their "big reds" through to the northern Okanagan where crisp whites rule, and includes a list of the many wineries worth visiting. Explore the entire length of the Okanagan Valley, with experiences such as spying a rare canyon wren, cycling the historic Kettle Valley Railroad across heart-stopping trestle bridges or among neatly planted vineyards, hiking through fields of spring flowers, paddling in a protected bay, and climbing on the world-famous gneiss of the Skaha Bluffs. Use the wonderful resource of Okanagan Valley farmers' markets at the back of the book to guide your shopping in the region. Eat local, buy local, cook the food yourself, pair dishes with local vintages, and have a lot of fun in the process. Take your time. Slow down. Taste. Smell. Those are the messages of Okanagan Slow Road.