Four foodie friends from Fairmont Hot Springs in the Columbia Valley have taken a winning combination of business savvy and culinary chops and turned it into an exceptional mountain dining experience. From Scratch…A Mountain Kitchen is a market bistro-style restaurant owned by partners Lara and Adrian McCormack, Holly Brockmeyer and Norbert Kleiber. With a huge deck overlooking the beautiful Columbia Valley and a modern, open kitchen, From Scratch serves hungry customers European and international fair with entrees that include smoked pork ribs and gourmet pizzas.

The gang at From Scratch are known for their fun sense of humor, reflected in their job titles. Lara, “Marketing Maven” and Adrian “Engineer of Fabulous Food” relocated from an urban background in London, UK and Edmonton, AB while seeking a mountain lifestyle in which to raise their young family. Holly “Details Diva” and Norbert “Director of Schmoozing” sought out the Columbia Valley as a retirement destination after both owning and selling their respective businesses in Edmonton and Calgary, but their entrepreneurial spirit took over when they saw the opportunity for a new restaurant and food concept in the area.

The partners also sell food products sourced from the recipes perfected in their own kitchen, everything from preserves to sauces and packaged herb mixes, such as their “Take a Hike” Mountain Herb Mix. The products are part of a diversification strategy that includes catering, cooking classes and kitchen parties.

Whenever possible, From Scratch sources from local suppliers, creating connections with other local food producers. The visitors to Fairmont Hot Springs that make up a large part of the From Scratch market are also seeking connection. “Our customers want to feel part of something, a feeling of coming home, even when they are on vacation” explains Lara. “We provide a place that’s welcoming and familiar and serves great food – as we like to say – We live in the Sticks but our Food Really Kicks!”