Chill tunes in the sunshine, tasty cocktails and mouth-watering pasta set the Four Seasons’ ‘La Dolce Vita’ events in a class above the rest. Thursdays at the hotel’s Braidwood Tavern have always been special for guests and locals alike. This year’s event is no different.
For $65 (excluding drinks), guests can get their own taste of Italy from the carefully curated buffet that will get your weekend off to the right start. Everything on the tables has been planned to give that “wow” factor, and it’s the little details that help transport customers to a sunny afternoon in Italy.
Freshly baked bread, a smattering of cheeses, grilled vegetables and a selection of Italian olives get the meal off to the right start. The buffet style makes the meal a social event as guests chatter while the live band provides ambient background music.
Fresh pasta and risotto are the main-course selections, with the option to add seafood. Sixteen-hour braised veal shank is also available.
The thirst-quenching Rosa Fizz is the perfect patio drink, and the heavenly tiramisu espresso martini provides that added kick. A timeless negroni is also on the cocktail menu for those who want to keep it classy.
According to chef de cuisine Horacio Macias Leon, the food tries to capture the magic of an Italian summer. “Our menu is a tribute to the vibrant flavours and joyful spirit of Italy, crafted with the freshest local ingredients and a touch of contemporary flair—we even have a cheese wheel to ensure pasta is cooked in creamy, cheesy goodness,” he said.
General manager Chelan Goonetilleke said Thursdays at the hotel have always been special. “Thursday is always the day that locals come to us for our events. For the past 20 years, we had our famous barbecue,” he said. “Locals, families and their dogs would all line the streets for these events. A few years ago, we renovated the space.”
The event allows staff to use their creativity to come up with an offering people will keep coming back to over the summer.
“We have a lot of employees who come from different parts of the world with lots of culinary experience,” he said. “We wanted to give them an opportunity to create something exciting and give our local community a different thing every year. It’s a great place for families to hang out and enjoy Thursdays here. A lot of the people who come on Thursday are from outside of the hotel because they hear about it around the village. It’s a good mix.”
Vancouver-based band, Local Motion, played soothing favourites from artists like Fleetwood Mac, the Cranberries and Norah Jones.
“This group doesn’t usually play in a hotel environment,” said Goonetilleke. “They play at events. We decided not to go with the typical hotel band in the hopes that we could get people up dancing and have fun.”
However, the emphasis here is on catching up with friends and making new ones. “Towards the middle of these events, the groups at tables get bigger,” Goonetilleke said. “People come here to have a laugh.”
There is also a sculpting workshop available to keep little hands busy.
Director of communications, Carolina Pires, said the hotel wants locals to feel like they can enjoy its patio without the fear of a hefty price tag.
“Four Seasons has always had the tradition of bringing the community together on a Thursday,” she said. “The whole purpose of Thursdays in our hotel is to create that spirit of gathering. We want music and to bring the hotel to life. Our chefs were very passionate about the fresh pasta and the Italian concept. The bar team was down to create some tiramisu espresso martinis. That’s how ‘La Dolce Vita’ came about.”
Pires hopes people of all ages get to enjoy their hidden sun trap.
“We wanted to make sure that it’s an event that brings the patio to life and brings Whistler as a community here,” she said. “Four Seasons is perceived as a high-end place. We definitely have our fine-dining options, but we also want people to come here for our patio. I think we have the best patio in Whistler.
