What We Love Now
Story by Nikki Bayley | Images By Joern Rohde
Enjoy a Leisurely Brunch at Lorette Brasserie
On a morning off away from his busy restaurant, Lorette Brasserie’s executive chef, Shane Sluchinski, likes to take it slow. “I love Eggs Benedict,” he says. “Classic with ham, the simpler the better for me at brunch. And I want a nice Caesar too.” Since its recent opening, French-inspired Lorette Brasserie has been doing a roaring trade at dinner, but those in the know don’t snooze on its delicious breakfast and brunch. Since my first bite, I have been obsessed with their decadent take on a Croque Madame, drenched with a creamy Dijon béchamel, but that’s only one of the delicious options available.
“I made our French toast on a whim,” confesses Sluchinski. “It’s classic brioche soaked in an egg mixture with spices. We sear it on the flat top, then add caramelized pineapple, candied walnuts, a lemon curd caramel, and powdered sugar. It’s a huge dish; I’ve never finished it!” Keeping things classic, the Lorette Breakfast features sausage, eggs, and bacon, but those staples are anything but ordinary.
“We tried so many sausages!” Sluchinski says. “But the bangers we get from Two Rivers [Meats] are the best. Thick-cut bacon is a must — rather than that flimsy one-millimetre-thick stuff.” Then add creamy mushrooms, aromatic with white wine and garlic, two free-range eggs any style, a potato tartlet and thick-sliced toast; it’s guaranteed to set you up for the day (“but only after it’s put you down for half an hour!”).
Finally, on to that Benedict: Their Royale features a hot-smoked steelhead and a layer of cured steelhead for a decadent contrast, and the hollandaise is made with brown butter. “Good eggs make all the difference,” declares Sluchinski. “And [the] brown butter gives it a sweet, nutty flavour.” It’s accompanied by a crispy-on-the-outside, meltingly-tender-on-the-inside potato tartlet.
There are also vegetarian and vegan delights, as well as lighter options, so visit Lorette Brasserie to find your new favourite French-inspired, Whistler-style brunch.
lorettebrasserie.com | 604-962-1808
Kick-Start Your Day at Provisions Whistler
It's my first time meeting Provisions Whistler’s head baker, Jaylen Wickert, and when I do, I am covered in crumbs and blissed out on butter from his superb croissants. Provisions uses only butter produced from the milk of grass-fed cows to make those flaky marvels, and as Wickert declares, “It’s ALL about the butter.” For a truly decadent delight, try his twice-baked almond croissant — you won’t be able to resist taking an extra one to go, for later.
As an unmissable start to brunch at Provisions, make sure you do double carbs, and order the Provisions Egg Sandwich, a marvel of ooey-gooey, poached-then-panko-coated and deep-fried egg on a house-made, seeded milk bun with tangy smoked cheddar, tomato and avocado. And, if you need an extra protein boost, you can add bacon, sausage or smoked salmon.
However, if you’re looking for a lighter start to your day, the Provisions parfait is your best friend and comes with the rightly famous house-made granola. “We started to make our granola [during] Covid; it was one of the options for our grab-and-go program, [and] it really took off,” Wickert said. Creamy vanilla yogurt, layered with raspberry purée, with a crunchy topping (“it’s a lot of fresh nuts, toasted seeds [and] dried fruits, bound together with local honey, butter, and cinnamon, then toasted for crunch so it’s not too hard and not too sticky!”). This sweet treat is guaranteed to please.
As the lead on the baking program, leisurely mornings are not usually part of Wickert’s world, but on days off, his brunch game is strong! “Coffee is a huge factor; it’s gotta be a diner [style] brunch that’ll hold you till après! I’ll order something savoury over sweet, maybe four or five eggs, sausage, home fries, butcher-style thick-cut bacon [and] toast! It’s the recipe for a good time: mates, drip coffee, that’s perfect!”
Provisions’s coffee, Thierry Espresso Blend, is exclusively roasted for Toptable Group, and their dedicated baristas will prepare your brew to your liking. Their tea offerings are sourced from Ranger Tea, an Indigenous woman-owned organic loose-leaf brand.
This centrally located spot on the Village Stroll is a “must-visit,” and you’ll no doubt be heading back to get one of those eye-catching, house-made pastries or cookies.
provisionswhistler.com | 604-972-0077
