In this series of posts were were visiting Harrison River Valley, and staying at Harrison Hot Springs for the evening.
Our travels coincided with the Harrison Tulip Festival and we were following the “Tulip Trail” to discover new and future favourite businesses. This is a passport program meant to encourage exploration by means of hunting down participating businesses and collecting stamps through visits and/or purchases.
One such stop was Muddy Waters, a popular local cafe. Here, they even have a drink special to celebrate the tulip season. “The Tulip” is a cold matcha latte with a topping of strawberry cloud foam. This gives the clear cup a pink and green appearance, like its namesake flower. I liked the idea, but found the drink all milk and that it barely had any matcha or strawberry flavour to it.
We actually visited Muddy Waters twice during our stay, truly enjoying their farm to table, as a cafe experience. Family owned and operated, the staff are friendly and the cafe is inviting. I can see why it was constantly busy and why this was a favourite for locals and visitors alike.
Breakfast is served before 11am and lunch after. I timed each visit for the latter as I love savoury and heavier meals for my first meal of the day. Not to mention, I thought their lunch sandwiches sounded much more exciting.
On our first visit, both my guest and I eyed the Local Fraser Valley Duck Breast. I had it in a sandwich and she over salad. The former was thick slices of duck, house made blackberry mayo, local farm fresh tomato and arugula greens served on cranberry sourdough. It faintly reminded me of thanksgiving with the pairing of cranberry and game fowl. The duck was delicious and certainly the highlight. Its roasted nuttiness well complimented the sweetness of the cranberry in the chewy bread, the pepperiness in the greens, and the unique tang from a berry mayo. I also thought the serving size just the right amount of food. I finished my plate and was neither left hungry or full. The same went for our second meal.
With each sandwich you get a choice of side between soup, salad, or kettle chips. I went with the tomato and black bean on both days. I like the nostalgia of a tangy tomato with toast and found the influence of black bean minimal. A little too flavourful as is, but it served as a thick and chunky dip.
Like myself, my guest too cleaned her plate. She enjoyed the freshness of her salad greens, the ability to have some meatier bites with the duck, and how tasty and generous the dressing on the side was. What felt foreign in her salad bowl was the addition of whole grain bread, but it also helped to fill.
On our next visit I tried another one of their specialty beverages. The thought of an Orange creamsicle smoothie caught my attention, and sounded like a good time. Although what I imagined as a take on an Orange Julius blended beverage was more like a protein shake with powder and water. It was accurate in its named description, but it didn’t taste all that natural.
After hearing many people ordering it during my previous visit, I too had to try their BLT with pepper bacon, prosciutto, local farm ripened tomato, lettuce, and their homemade Romano aioli; all served on a salted pretzel bun. This was like a jazzed up BLT and better than any I have tried else where. I will definitely be getting this again when I return to Harrison Hot Springs. Not only is it delicious, but tasted and felt healthy too. The saltiness of the meat was evenly balanced with the freshness of the vegetable, and the bun had just the right amount of salt to season it all. Tasty and just the right amount of food with my tomato soup dip.
My guest when for their Grass-fed Bison Burger in order to try something new, but did want more of their salad, so got it on the side. Her burger came with a lean bison patty, farm fresh lettuce, tomato, Spanish onion, mustard, their house made burger sauce, and aged white cheddar on a brioche bun. She did find the flavours here a little timid and wished for a zestier grainy mustard, and more sauce to bring all the ingredients together.
Muddy Waters also serves as a local cafe with caffeinated coffee and teas and a smaller selection of house made pastries. I liked their plain butter croissants and found them flaky and fresh. Whereas the cheese scone I also had was dense and filling, and so full of flavour that it didn’t need the butter it came with.
Once again, we liked every meal we had here. This is the type of cuisine you want on a hot and sunny beach day. Everything was fresh, delicious, and mostly unique onto this location. I will come back again, and can happily recommend them to any one visiting Harrison Hot Springs.
Muddy Waters Cafe
328 Esplanade Ave, Harrison Hot Springs, BC VOM 1K0
(604) 796-5563
muddywaterscafe.ca
