Whenever I am up touring in the Kelowna or Lake Country wine regions, I usually reserve a night to dine at Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen on the northern shore of Ellision Lake, just north of the Kelowna airport. To get there, turn east at the blue and white sailboat on highway 97.
Ricardo’s features Italian décor and is a very popular place, given that it’s busy even early in the week. Reservations are always a good idea. They feature an extensive wine selection of over one hundred wines, both local and imported. There’s certainly something for everyone’s taste. It is an impressive offering which includes a fourteen-year-old Masi Campolongo Amarone. You can also bring your own special bottle for a $25 corkage fee. Just remember that it is considered good etiquette not to bring a bottle that the restaurant offers on their list; so call ahead to check on their offerings. I was pleased to see their ‘by the glass’ selection, which includes a local and an Italian red and white wine. They are also available by the litre or half litre. In addition, they have daily wine-by-the-glass selections featuring four red and four white local wines. It’s a good way to sample what the area has to offer.
I was within walking distance of my room, so I decided to take the time to indulge a little. I started with the Pernod prawns, after asking my server, Lindsay for her recommendation; I had been also eyeing the curried mussels appetizer. Trying to break out of my usual habit of always going with a seafood selection, I had the pan seared pork tenderloin, which was cooked to perfection. I usually don’t order desserts, however the panetone bread pudding with Amaretto glaze sounded intriguing and a Taylor Fladgate ten year old tawny served as a perfect accompaniment. A snifter of Hennessy brandy concluded a delightful evening.
Check out their web site at: http://www.ricardos.ca
