Winner Best Restaurant, Best Chef, Best Italian, Best Romantic Dining, Best Wine List, Bestof the Best — the list of awards for Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen just goes on and on.
And for good reason. The 11-year old establishment, run by the husband-and-wife team of Ricardo Scebba and Sue Miller, is tucked unexpectedly into the Holiday Park Resort in Lake Country. It oozes a relaxed Tuscan charm borne of professionalism, passion, and hard work.
The diverse menu, built around seasonal produce, transitions effortlessly from traditional rustic dishes like Mamma’s Spaghetti and Polpette (meatballs) to sophisticated contemporary plates of Coconut Curry Mussels from Salt Spring Island. Even the wine list swings easily from Italian offerings like Pinot Grigio and Montepulciano to some of the Okanagan’s finest vintages. Like a long-simmered sauce, the rich, unhurried blend of old and new in Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen proves deeply satisfying.
For a taste of this well-crafted cuisine, mark October 3 on your calendar. Sue and Ricardo will be hosting a not-to-be-missed pairing of their dishes with outstanding wines from the Gray Monk, Ex Nihilo and Arrowleaf wineries. Enjoy six courses and six wines for $135 per person, with free shuttle service from Kelowna included. Better reserve now.
Then celebrate November with their “Taste of Italy” menus. Each evening will feature special two- or three-course dinners at wallet-friendly prices ranging from $25 to $35. If you wish to pair wine with each course, Sue and her front-room staff will be pleased to guide your senses.
Can’t make it to the restaurant? Grab a copy of That’s Amore, Ricardo’s acclaimed cookbook. Widely available in bookstores and by direct order, this culinary treasure-trove is already a British Columbia bestseller and was recently declared the best Okanagan cookbook of 2012.
Buon appetito!
~ Barry Potyondi