Food: Trail Tradition

Where do you go for a good old spaghetti and meatballs these days?  This was my favourite meal as a toddler and it’s still one of my all-time faves. When I was one year old, to my moms dismay I spilled a whole plate of spaghetti over my head on purpose. She was mortified but I was all smiles.  True story (like why would I lie about that?). I was just showing appreciation. And might I add it’s a surefire way to grab attention. So where do you go??

If you live in Vancouver, many hours out of your way to The Colander restaurant in Trail, B.C.  I’ve heard about the place for years but never experienced it until last week. The Colander has been owned by the LaRose family with a history dating back to their opening in 1972.  With an open, casual atmosphere that lends itself to large parties along with intimate dining experiences the main attraction is  plain old good Italian fare. And that’s good enough for me!

GREAT FOOD FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE

The Colander Special remains their most popular meal. It’s what I ordered although their menu has expanded over the years to include things like baked ziti, ribs, lasagna, etc.  My intimate party ordered ribs with chicken along with spaghetti & meatballs and the meal came with simple salad and rolls.

A brief history:

Back in the days when immigrants flooded over from the “old country” to work at Cominco and the C.P.R., the men lived in boarding houses. The wives and children remained in Italy until the men could afford a home and enough money to bring their families here. In the meantime, the boarding houses did a booming business serving all-you-could-eat dinners at low prices.  Meals are still served in the same manner as when they were first introduced back in the fifties. Despite numerous requests from me alone, the famous pasta sauce recipe, which has been carefully developed over the years, to this day, has remained a Colander secret.

The Colander Restaurant has been chosen by Beautiful BC magazine as one of the top 24 restaurants to dine in BC.

After dinner my friend ran into an Italian run store naturally called Formosa Foods to buy me her favourite bread; a homemade sourdough with dates and walnuts to take home.  It was outstanding.  fyi: I only have two pieces left. Another good reason to go back to Trail.

Enough said!

Photos: d. king