Every time I see the signage for Kekuli Café, I wish myself a merry Christmas à la Bing Crosby. Why? I don’t know. There is no reason for me to do this. Kekuli looks nothing like Kalikimaka, does it?

It is early in the morning, but the weather is already comfortably warm in Westbank. When I arrive, the outside patio tables are already occupied by early bird diners.

Coffee

Spending a few days in West Kelowna for a meeting; I arrive in town a little earlier than expected, so I went to grab some phở before Bamboo Chopsticks closes. Bamboo Chopsticks is a Vietnamese cuisine restaurant in Westbank. It is located in the Snyatan shopping complex. Bamboo Chopsticks sits opposite Winners and next to Mr. Mozzarella Pizza.

A few weeks ago in my Café Motivo post, I shared with you that I have mystery plants which sprung up earlier this spring. They were growing with authority, and seem to be evenly spaced, so I suspected they may be something the previous home dwellers had planted. The people who lived here before me were really into flowers (as evidenced by rogue tulips and lilies everywhere in my outside space.)

Yes, breakfast at Caffé Arianna. It’s open on Saturdays now! This makes it so much easier for me to visit. As I mentioned in my previous blog post about Caffé Arianna, it takes a lot of pre planning, and brisk walking, for me to get to Caffé Arianna on a weekday before their closing time at 3pm. Their Saturday hours began this spring. I’m very happy about this new schedule. This is perfect timing, since I am on this seemingly never ending breakfast kick.

Cheryl’s Place is located just off the Cariboo Highway in a dusty parking lot, attached to the Petro Can Gas Station, beside the Bear’s Claw Lodge in Cache Creek. Not only is it a truck stop, it’s a Grey Hound stop too.

I’m feeling a little junk foodish today. These squares show up all the time during holidays and random potlucks. Recently, a co-worker of mine was chatting about this retro treat, and the conversation reminded me of the last time I ate these sweets at the Ashcroft Bakery and Coffee Shop.

Still on my breakfast kick. This is Carolyn’s. Is it still called Carolyn’s Cozy Café? In any event, Carolyn’s is a DDE located amongst the buildings that make up the Acadian Motor Inn on Columbia Street.

You like pierogi, and I like pyrohy.
Pierogi, pyrohy, perogy, pirogi
Let’s call the whole thing off.

No let’s not, because pierogi are tasty. (It’s late. Apologies to Gershwin lovers.)
Pirogi are also handy to keep in the freezer. I am quite fond of these triangular pockets from Katryna’s. Have you tried? I found these little bags of dumplings in the freezer display at Summit Meats while waiting for my meat to be wrapped.

It is a sunny but cool day on the Northshore of Kamloops today. I stop for a quick bit of lunch over at Caffe Motivo. I contemplate heading over to the garden center later as well.

My peas, that I sowed two weeks ago, are coming up. So exciting. I’m learning this gardening thing a bit as I go. Last year I learned: No, I cannot leave garden plants out to fend for themselves, in the middle of summer, for a week; with no water.

Mocha

Smooth and rich. Perfect with a...

Having some breakfast this fine morning, at the Buffalo Station in Ashcroft.
Apparently, “wellness awaits” me in the Village of Ashcroft.
We first visited Ashcroft, BC some years ago on a road trip. What lured us off the highway to check out this community, was a sign that beckons the driver to visit: Historic Ashcroft. As a road-tripper tourist, anything historical makes me curious enough to detour. Ashcroft, like many of the communities in this area has a deep history which I’m sure goes beyond the Gold Rush and CP Railway narratives.