THE KOOTENAYS - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 423

Cafés
The counterculture of Nelson is evident at the Kootenay Co-op (295 Baker St., 250/
354-4077, 8am-8pm Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm), where you can pick up goat's milk ice cream,
organic apple juice, hemp toaster waffles, West Coast salmon caught by the Nisga'a First
Nations, eco-sweet chocolate, and preservative-free bread. If you're looking for lunch on
the run, pick up healthy snacks, such as sweet curry rolls and vegan carrot cake, from the
deli counter.
Over the last decade, M Vienna Café (411 Kootenay St., 250/354-4646, 9am-3pm
Mon.-Sat., lunches $6.50-10), in Packrat Annie's bookstore, has lost its counterculture vibe,
but the food has gotten better. You can't go wrong with a chicken burger—free-range, of
course—loaded with feta cheese and green pepper. A generous serving of vegetarian five-
bean chili will set you back $7, or order a bowl of butternut squash soup livened up by a
dash of maple syrup for $8. Excellent!
Up from the main street, duck in to Oso Negro (604 Ward St., 250/352-7661, 7am-6pm
Mon.-Sat., 8am-4pm Sun.) for rich coffee roasted in-house. The bagels and other baked
goods are also recommended.
Casual Dining
Outer Clove (536 Stanley St., 250/354-1667, 11:30am-9pm Mon.-Sat., $15-26) is typical
of Nelson's better restaurants, appealing to modern tastes but in a relaxed, low-key envir-
onment. As the name suggests, the emphasis is on garlic (it's even an ingredient in a couple
of the desserts), including starters such as Inner & Outer Cloves (heads of roasted garlic
served with a wedge of brie and French bread).
The best and healthiest pizza in town comes straight from the oven at Thor's (303 Vict-
oria St., 250/352-1212, 11am-10pm Mon.-Thurs., 11am-midnight Fri.-Sat., 4pm-9pm Sun.,
pizzas from $14). Everything is made from scratch, including the dough and sauces, and
with over 30 choices, there's a flavor for everyone.
Tucked into a back alley behind the main street is M All Seasons Café (620 Herridge
Lane, 250/352-0101, from 5pm daily, $22-32), a small yet stylish place with a delightful
tree-shaded patio. Dishes such as sable fish baked in tequila and coconut milk will have you
raving, while desserts like bourbon pecan pie will have you wishing you had more room.
As a bonus, All Seasons has a well-thought-out selection of wines dominated by regional
British Columbia selections, many available by the glass.