WHAT WE LOVE NOW

There’s a place in Whistler where love reigns supreme, a place where diners gather to delight in the culinary passions of Chefs Ryan and Melissa Leitch. The married couple have been grilling, sautéing, and flambéing together in kitchens for 23 years, and their enduring love, integrity and passion for food is infused in every element of The Venue.

“We focus a ton of energy on the raw product, where it comes from, how it was grown, and making masterpieces,” says Ryan. The chefs grow or select organic and local food wherever possible, and work with several local businesses to knit together a circle of sustainability. Their restaurant food scraps are delivered to Sea to Sky Soils to compost into soil, which is then used to grow the vegetables for their exquisite dishes.

On the menu are classic French and Italian comfort foods with a twist, such as roasted duck breast with blueberry, port demiglace, and veal osso buco, served Tuscan style with saffron risotto. “We want to make food that tastes really good,” says Melissa, “and isn’t just pretty or trendy.”

Cap your Whistler weekend with The Venue’s fabulous Sunday brunch buffet, featuring a cornucopia of dishes including fresh fruit, eggs Benedict, meats, home fries, baked in-house pastries and cakes, blueberry pancakes and Canadian soft cheeses.

Since The Venue is located a short drive south of the Village, Ryan and Melissa have found their niche in catering special events, including wedding parties of up to 70 guests, birthday parties, celebrations of significant milestones, corporate and community events. An à la carte menu is offered throughout the winter, and reservations are recommended.

Tucked away in the forest, The Venue is the perfect mountain setting to share good times, laughs and delicious food. After all, that is what Ryan and Melissa live for — and with that kind of passion, it’s hard not to feel the love.

604-932-2244 | whistlervenue.com