Golden Dreams

CURE LOUNGE & PATI O AT NITA LAKE LODGE 604-966-5700 | nitalakelodge.com

“You can’t get [a drink] like it anywhere else,” Head Bartender Hazel Love says with a grin, enthusing over the tranquil lake and mountain views from the Cure Lounge at Nita Lake Lodge. “We’re a warm and welcoming space, overlooking the gorgeous natural environment; even when it rains, it’s lovely here with our fireplace and comfy sofas.” An inviting welcome is what it’s all about at the Cure Lounge, whether you’re drinking alcohol or keeping it zero-proof. “For me, if I have a guest who doesn’t want to drink alcohol, I want them to feel included with their peers who order fancy cocktails, so it’s important to have interesting zero-proof options on the menu. We need to do better than just a diet cola or fruit juice,” Love says.

The Cure Lounge’s Golden Dreams (named after one of Whistler’s most beloved rivers) cocktail is the most popular drink on the menu. Well-balanced with an eyecatching bright yellow colour, it’s an instant head-turner in the bar. “It’s such a fresh and zingy drink. I use a lemon-ginger kombucha with muddled fresh ginger root, a pinch of turmeric, lemon juice and agave syrup to sweeten it. It’s good to make health-conscious decisions when you’re [dining] out, and whenever I see anything with turmeric in it, I always want it! Kombucha has many probiotic benefits, and turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, while fresh ginger gives your immune system a boost. I think people are looking for a drink like this right now,” says Love. And while this particular drink is only available in the warmer months, you will always find a selection of new, seasonal, mocktails at Cure Lounge.