Category: Okanagan

For years I’ve wanted a tattoo but could never settle on what I wanted to permanently showcase on my body. Then, last year, when a load of tests revealed that I’m living with some kind of auto-immune/chronic inflammation disorder, I decided I wanted to do something symbolic to represent me taking control of my body—a body that had felt so completely beyond my control in terms of pain and mobility issues. For the record, exactly what auto-immune disease I have is still undetermined (there have been a few incorrect diagnoses, so far, including Lupus) but I am working with a Rheumatologist to determine what course of action will best treat whatever condition I have. The Rheumatologist has narrowed it down to some possibilities but more tests will be required for accuracy.

Anyway, I decided it was time to get a tattoo but, being that it was my first, I didn’t know how much it would hurt or how my body would react. I decided on a sprig of lavender for a few reasons. Lavender is really common in the Okanagan region of British Columbia where I live. It even thrives in this semi-arid desert-type region. I can relate to lavender in that way; I also thrive in the dry heat. Also, the Okanagan is the first place in my entire life that I chose to live. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to live in many of the places I’ve lived, but I lived in those places because of circumstance rather than true choice. It just so happens that purple is my favourite colour (I love all the colours!) and I enjoy the scent and taste of lavender.

So, last year I went off to see Paige Johns at Tradesman Tattoo Company. She’s known for her colour work and, after reviewing some of her work online she seemed like a good fit. The tattoo was small and simple, and I certainly can’t describe it as painful. It healed beautifully and I was happy to have done something that was just for me. It didn’t feel finished, though, and I was sure I wanted to add to it later.

I had it in my mind that I wanted a bird and I wanted it to be colourful. I ended up choosing the Lilac-Breasted Roller Bird because they are bad-ass colourful birds.

(It’s really difficult to take a picture of your own arm or do a tattoo justice with my camera phone indoors. That said, I only just got an SLR camera so hopefully I can improve the quality of my indoor photos!)

Things of note:

• There is no dedicated parking so you will have to find street parking. There is a fair amount of metered parking around the shop. Unfortunately, there is a 2 hour maximum parking rule and if you’re getting a larger piece you will be there for more than 2 hours. If you can have someone drop you off and pick you up that is ideal. Otherwise, there is an all-day parking garage a couple blocks away.
• There are no stairs to deal with here.
• The waiting area has wide leather loveseats so you’ll have somewhere comfortable to sit while you wait.
• There is a single, large bathroom.
• The tattoo chairs are super wide and sturdy and I did not feel concerned one bit about them accommodating me!

Paige is a great artist and she’ll take the time to make sure you’re happy with the piece before and after. Also, the artists will cover your tattoo with tegaderm and it is like magical skin! Leave it on for 4 days (you can shower as you normally would but no soaking it in baths, hot tubs, etc.) and then peel it off to reveal an almost completely healed tattoo. No joke, I had only a few wee bits of scabbing after 4 days with the tegaderm on.

I highly recommend Paige for your colourful tattoo needs and there are other great artists at the shop who can help you with other styles if you’re looking for something different. To contact Tradesman Tattoo Company or see some examples of their work, check out their website here: https://www.tradesmantattoocompany.com/

 

I’m already thinking about my next tattoo…

Kaiso is one of our go-to spots for a delicious, quick meal. Sometimes we eat in and sometimes we take our food home, but this is definitely a restaurant I feel comfortable in. It is fairly small and unassuming but the service is good, they use quality ingredients, and there are multiple seating options. So far, of all the sushi places I’ve tried on the west side, this one is my favourite and they also serve Thai food, which makes a nice compromise when selecting a place to eat as my husband dislikes all seafood. He quite enjoys a stir fry from Kaiso, though, with his favourite being the Firecracker Chicken (it’s loaded with spicy chili peppers).

Some things of note:

• There is ample parking nearby as Kaiso is located in a large strip mall complex.
• There are no stairs to deal with at Kaiso.
• The washroom is one large wheelchair accessible room.
• There are different kinds of seating including booths and the rest of the tables have chairs on one side and bench seats on the other, and the tables and chairs can be easily moved around as needed.
• I usually opt for the bench seat side of a table but I’ve sat on the chairs a few times and they are definitely sturdy and they don’t have arms.

A few of my go-to items at Kaiso are the tuna tataki (flash seared to perfection and their ponzu sauce is so tasty), the veggie sunomono (to me,  it’s the perfect balance of  sweet and sharp vinegar), and the salmon nigiri (it melts in your mouth), but I often try different items or share with others who have their own favourites. In this picture there are a few pieces of Sunset Roll (salmon, avocado, and tempura flakes), 1 tobiko nigiri, 2 toro nigiri, 2 slices of deep fried California roll, veggie sunomono, and the usual sides of pickled ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce. I ordered this to go and plated it at home, and I was sharing it with someone else which is why there are only 2 or 3 slices of the different rolls.

If seafod isn’t your thing but you still enjoy sushi they have a variety of rolls including vegetarian options and some fun creations like their fried chicken roll!

With Kaiso being a go-to spot for us, I might post about it again with some of the Thai items we enjoy there such as their stir fry and curry options, their spring rolls, and their chicken satay. If you find yourself in West Kelowna and are looking for a yummy, fresh lunch or dinner with lots of options, Kasio is a great place to try!

 

 

We started visiting this deli about a year ago and we’ve been addicted ever since. During the Spring, Summer, and Fall we pop over about once a month to pick up a sandwich and have a picnic at one of the many wonderful places to have a picnic (beaches and parks are plentiful in this area–we are so lucky). The level of access can vary but most parks and lakefront stops have ample parking and level ground. But, more about Il Vecchio Delicatessen…

Things of note:

• There is street parking and we’re able to find a spot right near the deli about 80% of the time. The other 20% I go in and get the food while someone else circles the block.
• There is a small step up into the place from the sidewalk.
• The deli itself is very small and the spaces inside are narrow and crowded to navigate. It may technically accomodate a wheelchair but, personally, I would feel anxious about trying to get around with one in here.
• If you come around lunch time, be prepared to have to stand in line. They are efficient but at peak times we’ve had to stand in line for 20 minutes and sometimes the line is out the door (that should tell you just how delicious the food is here).
• There are 3 tiny tables but this isn’t really a place I would choose to sit and relax. The metal chairs aren’t particularly comfortable (no arms, though) but they are, at least, sturdy. Most people don’t eat in; rather, they take their food to go.
• From what I can tell, there are no public washrooms.
• They only take cash so come prepared.

The menu is small in terms of prepared food and consists of about 8 sandwich offerings, a couple of salad options (summer), soup (winter), and tiramisu that they will proudly tell you is their grandmother’s recipe. Of course, there are plenty of other things you can buy. They have a nice selection of meats, the cheese selection is stellar (they have this walk-in cooler full of wheels and slabs of cheese that I once saw open and you can forget about wardrobes and Narnia because this is the door I want to get lost behind), they offer a variety of European candies, chocolates, & cookies, they have a cooler stocked full of cold drinks, and there is a section with pastas, sauces, and spreads of all kinds.

What I really love is their 4 meat/1 cheese sandwich. It’s always made on a fresh roll and you can select mayo and either sweet or hot mustard. I always pick the sweet mustard because it’s slightly grainy and full of flavour. Aside from the bun, mayo and mustard, I ask for their “regular 4 meats” (it’s some magical combination of carnivorous delights) and usually choose havarti cheese. I ask for it with “all the veggies” which includes lettuce, tomato, pickle, artichoke heart, roasted egg plant, and sun dried tomato.  Additionally, you can ask for hot pickled peppers to be added if you so desire. It’s so fresh and full of good quality ingredients, and makes for perfect picnic food.

To top that off, here are some of the views in the area:

While Il Vechio Delicatessen may not be easily accessible for all people and their needs, the sandwiches are delicious and maybe you have a friend who would pop in and grab one for you if navigating cramped spaces is an issue for you?! They are a real lunch treat, I promise.

 

Milestones is one chain restaurant that I enjoy for a number of reasons that will hopefully become clear throughout this review. It’s a great go-to place in that it’s centrally located near Orchard Park Mall, they offer some good deals on certain nights of the week, and it’s the type of place that everyone can find something they enjoy on the menu.

Some points of note:

• There is loads of parking as Milestones shares a parking lot with the mall. While it’s a busy lot, we’ve always managed to find a spot quite near the door.
• It can get busy at this place so I recommend making reservations but I want to point out something wonderful…when I called to make a reservation the hostess asked me if we required any special accommodations “such as a table with wheelchair accessibility”. She asked me that completely unprompted! That’s how it’s done, people!
• The bar/lounge side of the restaurant has those high chairs that I really dislike but the dining side has mostly booths and one wall with booth seats against the wall and tables and chair that can me moved. But the great thing is that the booths are large, and wide, and comfortable. I can easily fit in them! Again, this place pays attention to people’s comfort and that means a lot to me.
• There is an outdoor seating area but I haven’t eaten out there so I’m unsure of the seating arrangements (it has a privacy fence between it and the parking lot, and walls separating it from the main areas of the restaurant). Maybe I’ll check it out this summer.
• I have never had anything but excellent, friendly service at this location.
• The washrooms are wheelchair accessible.
• They offer some items on the menu permanently but they also have seasonal items (the lobster bisque I had this past winter was excellent!).

Two of my favourite nights to eat here are Monday nights and Wednesday night. On Mondays you can order 4 appetizers with either 4 bellinis or a pitcher of beer for $40. Wednesdays are “Date Night” and you’re welcome to order from the regular menu at regular prices but they have a smaller menu that allows you and your “date” to share an appy, each have a main, and share a dessert for $50. It usually offers a choice of about 5 appetizers, 8 entrées, and 2 desserts.

I ordered myself a bellini as I love them here. In the past, I’d only ever had the regular size. On this night I went all wild and crazy and ordered the large! As much as I enjoy them, I think I’ll stick to the regular size going forward as I’m a light drinker and a fishbowl of alcohol is a bit much for me. Still delicious, though!

On this particular night, I chose from the Date Night menu and shared an appetizer of spinach and artichoke dip with tortilla chips, had ginger soy-glazed salmon with bok choy and spicy pineapple shrimp fried rice, and for dessert spilt a piece of white chocolate cheesecake that we weren’t quite able to finish between two of us. It’s a lot of food and I took half of my entrée home for lunch the next day.

If you’re looking for excellent service and consistently good food, this is a great place to enjoy a meal.

 

 

 

You may know of Buy The Sea as a place to buy wonderful fresh and frozen seafood items but you can also eat in or get takeout from their small menu of tasty items such as fish & chips or seafood chowder.

Things of note:

• The West Kelowna location is located in a small strip mall with its own parking lot. The parking lot does get busy but we’re always able to find a spot not too far from the entrance.
• There is a sidewalk curb but there are no stairs outside or inside the place.
• There is a single unisex bathroom that is wheelchair accessible.
• The chairs are free of arms and held my weight without complaint, and the tables and chairs can be moved around as needed.
• Most days they have a lunch special at a discounted rate.

The place is not fancy but the food is fresh and tasty. You go up to the window at the back and order from the board, pay at the till, and they bring your food out to you when it’s ready.

I had the one piece cod and chips meal. The batter was so crispy and the fish inside was flaky and tender. It was perfectly cooked! The fries were hot and fresh. I will definitely order this again, and I’d like to try their chowders sometime, too (they make the Boston and the Manhattan varieties).

Also, if you’re looking for seafood to cook at home, I can tell you that their tuna is excellent! I look forward to trying more products from Buy The Sea in the future.

If you happen to be in Penticton and are craving seafood they also have a location there.

For more reviews, you can check out Buy The Sea on Zomato: