RED DOOR BISTRO

One of Whistler’s coziest rooms, Creekside’s Red Door Bistro is known for its unpretentious bistro food served in a friendly, low-key environment. Chef/owner R.D. Stewart offers well-balanced, fullflavoured rustic plates of Mediterranean-influenced food, using ingredients as fresh and local as possible. Come winter, of course, the variety of local produce is very different from what’s available during the summer months. “That’s when we really get into the beets, squash, carrots and potatoes,” he notes. “I try to use what’s in season, as fresh as possible. Diners are educated and they come in and want to know where the fish is from, how it’s caught, and you’ve got to have the answers for them.” This winter, he suggests trying a new dish: Arctic char served with a pearl barley ratatouille made with Rootdown Farms organic root vegetables. Barley brings a lighter starch to the plate, and the slight oiliness of the char is balanced by the acidity in the tomatoes,” he says. “And then a saffron beurre blanc brings that richness we all crave in the winter.” He pairs it with a Tightrope Pinot Gris, a winery in Penticton, B.C. that he’s been working closely with since he opened Red Door Bistro in 2014. “It has nice apple and pear notes to it,” he says. “It’s not super fruitforward; it’s subtle, and it doesn’t overpower the dish.”