Executive Chef James Olberg
Aura Restaurant, Nita Lake Lodge’s lakeside main dining room, is reopening in December with a new look and a new executive chef.
Executive chef James Olberg comes to Nita Lake following his recent trip to the 2017 Bocuse d’Or culinary competition in Lyon, France where he represented Canada. He brings a strong knowledge of French techniques and a deep love of West Coast ingredients, combining a respect for traditional cooking methods with modern flare.
“I love the intimacy of Nita Lake Lodge and that the team is so passionate about guest service,” says Olberg. “We want people to come to Aura Restaurant, eat, and smile. Food will be approachable; sticking with simple and clean flavours and presentation. We will continue to respect our beautiful natural environment with ethically sourced produce from local free-range farms and sustainable fishing operations.”
Olberg’s previous experience includes being the executive chef at Niagara’s Queen’s Landing Hotel, which was named to the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List, and the opening Chef at Toronto’s brasserie La Société. Over the past years, Chef Olberg expanded his knowledge on local and west coast cuisines by working in kitchens in Vancouver, learning to respect and value local farmers and their produce.
Olberg’s new menu for the restaurant focuses on high-quality West Coast ingredients with a global influence. The refresh of the restaurant includes the addition of an open kitchen concept, and design details that bring elements of the outdoors inside in ways that are modern as well complementary to the Canadiana style of the rest of the hotel.
Olberg will oversee all f&b outlets at the Lodge, including Fix Cafe and Cure Lounge & Patio. He will be supporting local farms and using the rooftop garden in the summer to make the most of fresh herbs and home-grown vegetables.
will continue to be a creative hub, with an abundant selection of house-made and healthy treats, including vegan and gluten free options, while will be the place to go for hand-crafted cocktails and grazing on share plates. Across all Food & Beverage outlets at Nita Lake Lodge, Chef Olberg will be focusing on supporting local farms and utilizing the rooftop garden in the summer to make the most of fresh herbs and home grown vegetables.
About Nita Lake Lodge
Nestled on the shores of a glacier-fed lake in Whistler, B.C., Nita Lake Lodge offers oversized suites, a full-service spa, and innovative local cuisine. It is a five-minute shuttle ride from the heart of Whistler village and is 500 meters from the base of Whistler Mountain and the Creekside gondola.
Leave a Reply