Midweek Magic at The Bear, The Fish, The Root, The Berry - A Date Night in Osoyoos

 

Midweek Magic at The Bear, The Fish, The Root, The Berry – A Date Night in Osoyoos

It started with a morning text: “Want to do a date night tonight?” Jacque didn’t hesitate—and as usual, she nailed it with her choice. By late afternoon, we were crossing the border from our home in Omak for a quick trip up to Osoyoos, B.C., heading straight for The Bear, The Fish, The Root, The Berry, a restaurant she had heard great things about tucked inside Spirit Ridge Resort.

The name alone is enough to spark curiosity—it’s inspired by the Indigenous Four Food Chiefs of the Syilx people, and the restaurant honors that heritage with bold, thoughtful flavors and ingredients that tell a story.

We didn’t go overboard—we didn’t need to. We decided to share a couple of dishes that caught our eye, and the meal unfolded with the kind of harmony that makes you stop mid-bite and just smile at each other.

We started with the Three-Sister Empanadas, and they set the tone for the evening. Crisp, golden pastry filled with the traditional trio of corn, beans, and squash offered a warm, rustic flavor that was both comforting and refined. But what truly elevated the dish was the garlic cilantro mayo served on the side. Bright, herbaceous, and just garlicky enough to make a statement, it brought a creamy vibrance to each bite that made it hard to resist going back for more. The other sauces added nice variety, but that mayo stole the show.

Then came Dirt Candy—a dish that surprised us in the best way. A colorful medley of roasted root vegetables, the highlight for both of us was the roasted squash. Deeply caramelized, almost buttery, with a natural sweetness that played off the smoky notes from the grill, it turned a simple vegetable into something luxurious. Every forkful had a balance of earthy, sweet, and savory tones—a dish that felt both grounding and elevated.

To sip, Jacque started with the Basil and Berries cocktail—a refreshing blend of muddled berries, herbaceous basil, and a crisp spirit base that made it feel like spring in a glass. With dinner, we shared a bottle of Culmina Family Estate Winery Saignée Rosé—each of us enjoying a glass of its crisp, elegant character that paired beautifully with the meal. Not wanting to bring the unfinished bottle back across the border, we passed it on to the table next to us. A small gesture that sparked big smiles—and one of the most unexpected joys of the evening: making a stranger’s night just a little more memorable.

One small regret: our planning didn’t quite match our spontaneity, and we missed the opportunity to enjoy wine tasting at the Nk’Mip Cellars, just steps away from the restaurant on the same property. It’s a must for next time—and there will be a next time.

We capped the evening with the Honey & Lemon Tree—a dessert as beautiful as it was refreshing. Delicate lemon mousse, subtle hints of wildflower honey, and a crumbly shortbread base combined into a perfectly balanced, not-too-sweet finale. And just when we thought the night couldn’t get any sweeter, the dish arrived crowned with a little flourish of fresh spun cotton candy—light, airy, and nostalgic. Who doesn’t love cotton candy?

As we lingered at our table, the view to the southwest opened up like a postcard—Lake Osoyoos stretched out below us, catching the last golden light of the day, and the surrounding mountains framed the horizon in perfect stillness. It was a spring evening that reminded us to slow down, savor the moment, and celebrate where we are, who we’re with, and what’s on the plate.

Impromptu date night? A resounding success.