Your letter have moved us, made us cry, but also brought a smile and warmed our hearts. So much compassion, so many dreams. Next week you will receive an email letting you know.

So until then keep on sending your letters telling us why you should receive this getaway and your resolutions for 2012.

* making someone smile   * Hiking in nature  *Star gazing  * Swinging on a swing  * do what you love and  * Love what you do……….! Simple enough?

Until we reopen the restaurant on January 27th, our guest rooms are open to you to help you appreciate life’s simple pleasures.A cozy couch in front of your wood burning fireplace, a double soaking hot tub , a steam shower, a good book, the sound of the ocean, the fantastic views, all the fixings for a healthy breakfast in the privacy of your room, a long list of spa services , tranquility, quietness, time for you! A Taste of Paradise.

Wishing you the best for 2012 and a visit with us!

Congratulations to everyone!

Good luck!

$125.00 per person,  join us! Make a reservation in one of our luxurious guest rooms……..

We will have a draw for a romantic night stay for 2012……..Cheers, wishing you the most joyful, stress free, happy New Year from all of us at Sooke Harbour House

We still have guest rooms available if you want to be there for the first day of 2012! After a gourmet breakfast served in the privacy of your room, participate in the Polar Bear swim that takes place in front of our Inn on Whiffen Spit at noon; your chance to win another night as we will have a draw for all of the brave participants.

There is always more that we don’t know about a Christmas Tree that appears all decorated every year on Whiffen Spit, it is truly the magic of Christmas. Bring a souvenir and leave it on the tree…… a wonderful tradition and a secret that is best kept secret for as long as possible! Merry Christmas to all from all of us at Sooke Harbour House.

“Now that everyone gushes about their three month-old hobby garden, it’s easy to forget that, when Sinclair and Frederique Philip first served guests homegrown tomatoes in their fledgling inn, they were starting a revolution in food”

as seen in  the December issue of Western Living Magazine, 40th Anniversary Issue featuring the 40 Most Important People, Places & Things.

In 1979 when we bought the small Bed & Breakfast that Sooke Harbour House was we never dreamed that we were starting a “food revolution”, we just wanted to showcase what our West coast place on Vancouver Island had best to offer.  It was our idea of the most natural simple thing to do, eat seasonally and locally and purchase what we couldn’t grow in our gardens from local farmers, artisans and foragers. As we lived at Sooke Harbour House (in the basement!) it was also the only way we wanted to raise and feed our family. Thirty two years later we still have the same philosophy and have been blessed with having strong relationships with wonderful passionate food providers.

Join Master Pastry Chef Matthias Conradi for a Gingerbread House Making
Workshop held in the kitchen of Sooke Harbour House.
You will create your very own gingerbread house to keep and enjoy. Learn
the process from start to finish: make stencils, master perfect ginger
bread dough, icing, designs, technique and methods. You will get to work
hands-on, in the kitchen, beside one of the most experienced and talented
pastry chefs.

Take this opportunity to be creative, to have fun, to learn, and to make a
very unique gift for someone you love or for yourself. It is always fun
baking together.

The cost of the workshop is $130.00

Time: December 14th from 1:00 pm to (approx.) 6:00 pm

Place: The kitchen at Sooke Harbour House

Minimum attending : 8 persons, Maximum attending 12 persons

You will receive:

Recipes and notes by the Chef and your own creation – The Gingerbread House
Coffee, Tea and treats from the dessert kitchen

To make this workshop fun, productive and to give everyone room to work
and the personal attention of the chef we are limiting this workshop to 12
people. Please register for this workshop by December 9th by calling our
front desk at 250-642-3421

Please join us. The foray begins at 11am at Sooke Harbour House and is free to Slow Food members and is by donation to participants who are not Slow Food members. Dinner begins at 7pm and is $60.00 to Slow Food members and $70.00 to non-members.

Participants in the event will be offered a special room rate during the weekend of the  November 4th, 5th, and 6th please call our front desk to RSVP for the foray, dinner or to book a room at 250-642-3421

Please watch this short video by Sinclair Philip :

Here is a sample menu from our last Slow Food All Mushroom Dinner:

” October 23, 2011 Menu foraged from the minds of our chefs…

A Mushroom Dinner!  After a mushroom foray in the wilderness of our beautiful West Coast

1. Matsutake Broth in tea cup with an herb under liner and an array of mushrooms to add to the broth or eat on their own, sea salted egg yolk and nasturtium petals, nettle emulsion, shungiku leaves

2. A composition of:
Bear’s Head and spot shrimp, grape seed mushroom reduction vinaigrette, pickled Hedgehogs
Pear poached white Chanterelle sushi style with Nori topping, shaved thin with a tiny bit of Kombu salt
Porcini Quinotto simply done with trimmings of other mushrooms as well, fried Boletes

3. The Wild Plate:

Eric Whitehead’s harvest of BC Morel mushrooms stuffed with mascarpone polenta and wild herbs, rustic Italian arugula, shaved Metchosin apples and braised Sidney Island Fallow Deer neck croquette style with shallots and a mushroom hunter’s stew of all your find, red wine and nodding onions grilled, leek oil, Boletus and Red Fife soil with quince and pumpkin sauces

4. Dessert:

Kaboucha squash pie, topped with tuberous begonia mousse, glazed white bergamot and Japanese plum cherry, served with squash puree, Candy Cap mushroom ice cream, Candy Cap mushroom jelly, meringue mushroom and candied chanterelles.”

Another video recap of our Slow Food Mushroom Event on October 23rd:

• Mushroom Foray – 10am (no charge) 
• 4 Course Mushroom Dinner – 7pm, $50.00 for Slow Food members and $60.00 for non-members Please RSVP by Friday, Oct 21st
• Special room rates available for the participants and Slow Food members, please inquire

Explore, Experience, Enjoy!

Please watch this short video on what to bring along on a mushroom foray:

A short list of what to bring:

1. Comfortable and water proof foot ware, preferably non slip soles
2. Rain gear or weather resistant pants and a jacket
3.  Hat
4. A folding knife
5. Basket or a bag, plastic bags not recommended
6. Your own lunch

A wonderful day at Sooke Harbour House, relaxation, rejuvenation, de-stressing, a pampering day with Great friends, fantastic spa services, good food and at the end of the day a very restful sleep…… How many days and nights do you want to stay?

Please order by Friday, October 7th,by calling 250-642-3421
Cost : $40.00 pp + HST
with pick up available on Sunday,
October 9th 5:00 – 7:00 pm or Monday, October 10th 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

Turkey will also be featured on our restaurant menu Sunday, October 9th and Monday, October 10th. Our 4 course menu is $74.95 per person. Phone today to make your reservation. 250-642-3421