Skip to content
site-logo

Foodie Town

Travel for the Food

  • About Us
    • Work With Us
  • Cities & Places
  • Recipes
  • Guides
  • Podcast
  • About Us
    • Work With Us
  • Cities & Places
  • Recipes
  • Guides
  • Podcast
British Columbia

Joy Road Catering on God’s Mountain Estate

Joy Road Catering on God’s Mountain Estate

Where has the time gone? If you’ve subscribed to my newsletter you probably know that I am newly engaged! And little did I know what that really meant. I was never the type to plan her wedding at the age of 10 with Barbies and teddy bears strewn across my bed. Frankly, I had told people for years that I wouldn’t get married. My fiancé James and I have been together for 7 years with the last 5 feeling like we were the equivalent to married. So why go through the stress of planning and family politics?
But once again I am eating my words, happily I might add.

To my chagrin when the question was asked and I felt the dizzying effect of life changing before my eyes I said yes and was ecstatic. The high lasted for weeks before I started to understand all the planning that comes with “Yes”. The venue (Hawaii or the Okanagan?), the catering, the DJ and invites… Oye!

But some decisions are easier than others. Having decided to stay in my beloved Okanagan for the big day made my catering decision an easy one….Joy Road Catering.

Joy Road Catering for The Wine Bloggers' Conference 2013 sponsored by Constellation Brands via TheWanderfullTraveler.com #WBC13

Having first discovered their talent at the Wine Bloggers’ Conference in 2013, then again at Sumac Ridge, I knew Dana and Cameron, the husband and wife team who made the trek from the kitchens of Montreal’s fine dinning establishments to the Okanagan to create a phenomenon of terroir dining, are THE catering company for any foodie wedding.

While I was certain my family wasn’t on board. They hadn’t ever had the pleasure to sample Joy Road Catering. And I think my tendency for excitability and perhaps even mild exaggeration (although I don’t seem to think so) made their eyes roll when I stated that Joy Road Catering makes the best food in the Okanagan hands down!

Those were fighting words. But I had to prove my point. So when Mother’s Day arrived I convinced my parents and grandparents to make the trek from Kelowna to Penticton in order to eat perhaps the best meal we’ve all shared in a long, long while.

Joy Road Catering at God's Mountain Estate via @wandertraveler

Held at the God’s Mountain Estate overlooking the Skaha Lake, about 15 minutes from Penticton’s downtown core, you are greeted with locally made sparkling wine and Greek/Provençal architecture. Smells of fresh bread, freshly blooming spring flowers and your mystery meal of the evening cooking away combine to transport you back to sometime or somewhere that feels familiar yet is placeless. MY sister and I, the first to arrive, sat upon the balcony of the main manor staring at the view wondering, Is this Tuscany? Is this Provence? Perhaps this is what Greece feels like? Where ever we were that evening it would be together with my grandparents. Certainly a special feeling considering my grandma refuses to fly for longer than 5 hours and never over an ocean.

The looks on their faces when they arrived though the gates of foodie heaven sipping away with wide eyes and rosy cheeks I could tell the evening was already a success.

Joy Road Catering at God's Mountain Estate via @wandertraveler
Dana, of Joy Road, rang the dinner bell and 20 of us rushed to community table knowing we were going to experience something special in the celebration of mothers.

Joy Road Catering holds dinners at God’s Mt Estate each Thursday and Sunday evening keeping it fresh every time with a newly inspired menu. For Mother’s Day we were to taste their interpretation of Tuscany with Okanagan ingredients. However, the buttery olive oil and dark green olives on the table were all brought from Tuscany as Dana and Cameron helped to harvest the olives and press the oil.

My fiancé and I have decided that after I’ve dragged him all over Italy and France that we would like to have a menu that has reflected our love of their cuisine as well while also transporting our guests to both countries.

This evening the menu was an ideal reflection of Tuscany of which James and I could certainly relate. The menu began with focaccia to be dipped in the previously discussed buttery olive oil. Then proceeded to a long board of one of the best charcuterie platters: ricotta, pea and prosciutto upon crispy bread slices. A much tastier rendition of black pudding than what I had in Ireland. Anchovy butter sandwiched between two slices of radishes and crunchy chicharron (both of which delighted my dad – he loves pork rinds!).

 Joy Road Catering

The entire menu was paired with locally made wine and glasses were always full with the helpful service provided throughout dinner. The idea of “cuisine du terroir”, of which Joy Road specializes, was especially present within the wine. A Riesling, paired with the humpback shrimp upon a salad and what tasted like a chimichurri made of nettles, garlic chives and olive oil, was harvested on site from the vineyard upon the very estate we sat.

Joy Road Catering

Dana would occasionally arrive from the kitchen with a quote from a book she treasures expressing the love of the land, the farmers, vineyards and produce that all result from the Okanagan. In short we are blessed to have access to the most amazing resources and we need to celebrate that as a community together in support of each other and local eating.

I knew Joy Road was in sync with my own heart when Dana told a story an old Italian square that was to receive a McDonalds. She explained how the locals all got together and signed a petition to help ban the fast food chain from entering their historic and local site. Our table of 20 cheered in synonymous zeitgeist! Julia Child’s over-quoted saying “People who love to eat are always the best people” was never more true than at that table.

You can see Dana's, of Joy Road Catering, passion for local and sustainable food as she discusses her experiences both abroad and in Canada.
You can see Dana’s, of Joy Road Catering, passion for local and sustainable food as she discusses her experiences both abroad and in Canada.

As the main arrived we all had a spirited glow on – a sense of community and wine with a good view was stirring the recesses of our hearts. Heavy platters of white wine herbed risotto, milk braised pork coppa (made from a pig Joy Road had raised), and refreshing local salad as well as asparagus with eggs were passed around diagonally, horizontally, arms crossing ensuring the next new friend would not go without a full plate or two.

Joy Road Catering

By the time the wine was consumed and the honey & orange blossom crème brûlée was seated before our stuffed bellies we groaned for tea and coffee. To my surprise the tea did not disappoint either, made with freshly picked chocolate mint – one of my own favourite herbs to grow on my balcony – it was just what I needed to make enough room for the best crème brûlée my sister and I have ever tasted. Which is saying a lot as we’ve tasted the best around the world and back again.

Joy Road Catering

It is evenings like these that bring happiness to my heart. When I see my family gathered around the table enjoying the best of food, the best of views on a soft spring evening I can only aspire to share such emotions on my wedding day with 60 people or so next summer. At least I know I’ve left the catering in the most capable of hands…those who hold the hands of local farmers, vintners, fishermen, in supporting the community I have come to love so dear.

Joy Road Catering

But the main event was in celebration of two generations of mothers and as we toasted as the sun descended and the bulbed lights illuminated our faces around the table I couldn’t help but wonder about the future and the faces yet to come.

I urge you to book your own Joy Road Catering event this summer before they are sold out!

I was not in any way supplemented. I paid full price for this dinner as did everyone in my party. We were there purely for the celebration of good food and Mother’s Day. All opinions are always my own. Please share your experience using #MyOkanaganSummer!

SHARE THIS

About Murissa

Murissa is founder of FoodieTown.ca, producer and host of The Okanagan Food Show Podcast, video editor and co-creator of the Foodie Card.

More articles by Murissa

Related Posts

Top 10 Hot Chocolates to Taste During the 2nd Okanagan Hot Chocolate Fest!
Top 10 Hot Chocolates to Taste During the 2nd Okanagan Hot Chocolate Fest!
The Best Food in Vancouver is on Granville Island; How to Visit
The Best Food in Vancouver is on Granville Island; How to Visit
Vancouver Christmas Market Food Tour 2022
Vancouver Christmas Market Food Tour 2022
4 Smart Ways to Reduce Your Food Waste
4 Smart Ways to Reduce Your Food Waste

Post navigation

Fermented Firmament: Vancouver’s Craft Beer Market
#MyOkanaganSummer Begins!

8 comments

  1. Doktorskaya Grill says:
    May 28, 2015 at 10:07 pm

    Hi!

    Very beautiful table setting.
    Beautiful views of nature.

    Food is great.
    The best material on the restaurant’s theme.

    This is a great saga of the festive feast.

    Thank you

    Reply
  2. Sand In My Suitcase says:
    May 28, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    We’ve had dinner here with Joy Road – it was so delightful! We sat with other guests we didn’t know at the big table shown in your photo, and drank, ate and got to know each other as dusk fell. It was magical!

    Reply
  3. Andi says:
    May 24, 2015 at 9:37 am

    You know you are a foodie when you get chills from reading this post! What a PERFECT expression of your love for food and travel and such an incredible venue. This evening would have gone on my 10 best lifetime (if I had been a fly on the virtual wall!).

    Reply
    1. Wanderfull says:
      May 25, 2015 at 10:58 am

      Wow! I am so glad I could invoke chills Andi! Thanks for your kind words.

      Reply
  4. Kelly @ TastingPage says:
    May 20, 2015 at 8:33 pm

    First of all congratulations! Second of all, congratulations on finding the most amazing caterer. Wow! What amazing work they do. They’re definitely not “phoning it in.” I can feel the love and care that they put into each and every item., right down to beautiful stories. I now know where I’m planning my next trip!

    Reply
    1. Wanderfull says:
      May 21, 2015 at 8:43 am

      That’s great Kelly!
      Let me know if you come my way and I can show you a few special local spots as well as “must-see” locations.

      Reply
  5. Laura says:
    May 18, 2015 at 6:33 pm

    What a lovely post Murissa. I enjoyed this immensely and I commend you on your choice of caterers! I agree with you 100%. If I were ever to get married again (ha!) they would be my choice as well. 🙂

    I’ve only been to one of the dinners at God’s Mountain. The food was amazing and the location really lived up to it’s name. There was something almost spiritual about the beauty of the night.

    Cheers!

    Reply
    1. Wanderfull says:
      May 19, 2015 at 8:22 am

      Thank you Laura!
      Inspiration arrived after a long drought and brought on none other but my own home valley. It never ceases to amaze!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

Hi! Murissa & Taryn here. We are sisters, foodies and founders, formerly The Wanderfull Traveler. Join us as we explore the Canadian food scene! Check out our YouTube foodie adventures and trusted restaurant recommendations here. We created the Foodie Card - coming to a Canadian city near you!

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Get daily tips, freebies, and advice delivered to your inbox every week.

Follow @foodietownca

These Canadian girls run on brunch and beer.

Welcome to FoodietownCA
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | Owned by Wander Full Food Tours Inc.