I was introduced to a unique dining experience aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train as a pop-up restaurant for the 2018 Dine Out Vancouver Festival. It was held at their Vancouver station for two nights only. This is the very first time that guests get the opportunity to dine on-board the Rocky Mountaineer, without travelling into the Rockies. The train stays stationary for the duration of the event, so we didn’t have to worry about any turbulence. It brought me back to my childhood when we would take the train to Whistler back in the early 90’s with our relatives to explore the beauty of British Columbia.
Welcome + Tour
We were greeted with a welcome beverage aboard the luxurious GoldLeaf railcar, as is customary on a Rocky Mountaineer train journey. Cheers!
We spent about 10 minutes exploring the bi-level, glass-domed train car and played around with all the seat features like heated seats, adjustable lumbar support, and reclining seats.
We got a glimpse into a Rocky Mountaineer journey on this luxury train with our wonderful hosts on-hand to educate us.
3- Course Dinner + Drink Pairings
We went back downstairs to the dining room to begin the meal. All the seats were in groups of 4 and I had a blast dining with a lovely couple throughout the entire evening. I don’t usually like dining on my own, but this was a great way to make new friends and share a unique experience.
We got to enjoy a delectable three-course meal, featuring fresh, local ingredients, prepared by Rocky Mountaineer’s acclaimed culinary team. Plus, a selection of BC wines. The menu is inspired by the Western Canadian regions the train travels through. Beautiful crisp clean flavours.
Bread and Butter
Before the meal began, we all got some bread and butter to share among the table.
Appetizer
We got a choice of the Butternut Squash Soup or Winter Greens Salad. I chose the Winter Green Salad as I love seasonal veggies. Plus, the addition of caramelized pears and the stilton crostini went well together to add texture. This was paired with the Sumac Ridge Gewurtztraminer.
Main
For the main course, we had a choice between Steelhead Salmon, Beef Short Ribs, or the Farmers Market Risotto. I had a hard time deciding, but I went with the Steelhead Salmon.
At first, I was a bit unsure about getting this dish, but the salmon was very moist and delicate. It is served with garlic herb jasmine rice risotto, local market vegetables and a grainy mustard seed vinaigrette. I was not disappointed at all. I would have like more of it. This was paired with the Sumac Ridge Sauvignon Blanc.
My friends both got the Beef Short Ribs, which are braised in Okanagan Valley Merlot, with mashed horseradish potatoes and local market vegetables. The wine pairing was the Black Sage Vineyard Shiraz. They finished every bite on their plate, so it was a very good sign.
Dessert: Decadent Chocolate Brownie
For dessert, we were treated to their decadent chocolate brownie covered in a warm fudge sauce and then vanilla ice cream with a raspberry coulis. This is paired with the Black Sage Vineyard Pipe is a port with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Pairs well with chocolate desserts like this brownie.
Farewell
At the end of the meal, the lovely staff signed a card for each guest. A great personal touch to remember this experience. The spots for this Rail Car Pop-up sold out very quickly and I really enjoyed it. If they have this again next year, definitely take a look into because it was fun.
If you’re interested in learning more about Rocky Mountaineer, they offer more than 65 uniquely Canadian luxury rail vacation packages and travels only by daylight through the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. Especially in the Summer, the views are just stunning.
Website:
https://www.rockymountaineer.com/
Address:
1755 Cottrell St, Vancouver, BC
