Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
it's no surprise that the kitchen follows a
Slow Food aesthetic as well. Tendrils pres-
ents itself as a casual wine country bistro,
but don't be fooled by that: Scriver's cook-
ing is sophisticated, indeed. Local king
salmon may be served with fiddlehead
ferns and wild rice; braised lamb chops
come with yellow corn cake and wilted
greens; goat cheese is flavored with the
garden's herbs and roasted garlic, along
with hummus made from local chestnut
beans; and a white onion and potato soup
is topped with, of course, blue sage.
Scriver also collaborates with Cave B's
winemaker Freddy Arredondo to create
food-wine pairings that showcase the win-
ery's esteemed estate wines, which
include an award-winning
Cuvée du Soleil
Bordeaux blend and a full-bodied Syrah.
With vineyards all around, the inn itself
looks like a series of upended wine bar-
rels, with low curved corrugated-metal
roofs arched over rough-cut stone walls
quarried right on the property—they
almost seem to merge into the cliff-top
terrain. The richly appointed guest rooms
range from large rooms in the main lodge
(where the restaurant is located) to spa-
cious one- and two-bedroom “cliffehouses.”
Besides touring the winery, you can relax
in the spa or beside the swimming pool;
the Cellar music club on site and the next
door Gorge Amphitheatre host a number
of concerts as well (REM, Sting, and Bob
Dylan are among the artists who've
recently played the Gorge). The inn, which
opened in 2005, is just the first stage of a
much more extensive resort to be built
over the next several years. SageCliffe is
certainly off to a remarkable start.
344 Silica Rd. NW, Quincy (
&
888/785-
2283
or 509/785-2283; www.cavebinn.
com).
(
Pangborn Memorial Airport, Wenatchee
(29 miles/47km).
Gourmet Inns & Resorts
73
Sooke Harbour House
Where the Gardens Meet the Sea
Sooke, British Columbia
Set at the very tip of Vancouver Island,
with jaw-dropping views over the Strait of
Juan de Fuca toward Washington's rugged
Olympic Mountains, this small country inn
casts a much bigger shadow than you'd
expect. It's known worldwide for its quirky
art-filled decor, splendid gardens, nature-
watching (you can spot seals, otters, and
seabirds right from your bedroom deck),
and above all fine dining, with one of Can-
ada's most acclaimed restaurants.
Walking into the lobby, you may be
excused for thinking you've entered an art
gallery instead—in fact Sooke Harbour
House is a de facto art gallery, featuring
bold original artwork by up-and-coming
local artists, all of it for sale. Each of the
rambling white inn's 28 suites is individually
decorated by the inn's French co-owner,
Frederique Philip, with antiques, polished
wood floors, fresh flowers, striking art-
works, and witty handcrafted furnishings,
all set off by gallery-white walls and drapes.
Every suite has its own fireplace and (except
for one room) outdoor deck; many also
have Jacuzzis or Japanese soaking tubs. A
simple room-service breakfast is included
in the room rate; a full range of spa services
is also available.
Even guests who aren't staying in the
inn come here to dine at the inn's
renowned restaurant. Its emphasis is on
Pacific Northwest ingredients, including
vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers from
