A large part of the attraction of staying at a British Columbia Bed & Breakfast concerns the bigger word in “Bed & Breakfast”, our breakfasts of course! The BC B&Bkeepers Guild definition of what is a Bed & Breakfast includes the requirement that breakfast must be provided and included in the room rate.
So, what about breakfast? As many different B&Bs as there are in our Guild, probably as many different kinds of breakfasts are provided. Breakfast may be served at a communal table in the dining room, or individual tables, may be delivered to your room, may be set up as a buffet, may be served outside on the patio or deck, weather permitting, or may be provided for you to help yourself to at your convenience. You may enjoy 5 courses or 3 courses or an expanded continental version, a breakfast menu or a choice of breakfast selections. Always check when you’re deciding which Bed & Breakfast to stay at, so that you will know what to expect.
B&Bkeeper Sharon at Race View B&B , a Greater Victoria Bed & Breakfast in rural Metchosin, offering a single private suite, may start you off with home made banana icecream topped with maple blackberry “swoosh”, followed by smoked salmon and asparagus rouladen with rosemary roasted potatoes and whole grain toast made from locally grown red fife flour. At the Bee & Thistle Guest House, a Vancouver Bed & Breakfast in a 1908 fully restored historic home in the Commercial Drive area, innkeepers Lynn & Michael offer fresh brandied strawberries in lace toffee cups, feta and scallion scones with whipped chive butter, creme brulee french toast with fresh banana slices and Canadian maple syrup accompanied by chorizo potato petals with sour cream and chives. Yum, is your mouth watering yet?
Bed & Breakfasts can cater to special dietary restrictions, or specific activities that require flexible breakfast times, but please let them now in advance. At St. Marys River B&B a Kootenay Bed & Breakfast in the small community of Wycliffe, British Columbia, innkeepers Dale & Doug Martin have devised a self-serve breakfast as they cater to a lot of fishermen and other early risers. Hot and cold cereals, seasonal fruit and yoghurts, home baked goods or breads, and a quiche or french toast casserole that guests can pop into the oven whenever they are ready to eat. Dale & Doug still find opportunities to host their guests as well. A gluten and dairy-free menu served at La Pause B&B, a Courtenay Bed & Breakfast on Vancouver Island, starts with a super soy smoothie. B&Bkeepers David & Lucille may then serve gluten and dairy-free lemon blueberry muffins and individual apple wood smoked bacon quiches. There is no reason to sacrifice taste when dealing with diet restrictions.
How about one more to tickle your taste buds? ThistleDown House, a North Vancouver Bed & Breakfast, is known for its unique breakfasts. On Friday May 13th, this was the menu: ThistleDown porridge, pineapple poached in kirsch with crushed frozen raspberries, and a main course of wild British Columbia steelhead trout with sea asparagus.
Of course there are many more great breakfasts served by our BC innkeepers. All will be accompanied by delicious coffees and teas and a variety of fresh fruit juices, and are very often locally sourced and organic. As we could not possibly include them all here, keep an eye on our Facebook page for further delectable offerings from our British Columbia Bed & Breakfasts!