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Table Scraps

The burrito boys wrap phatties
nicolebyline

Whistler’s got a new wall of fame and you don’t need to chuck yourself off a 50-foot cliff or down a dozen jugs of beer to get there.

A meal that might leave Godzilla passing on seconds landed in Whistler with a giant olé!

The Dups Burrito Mexican eatery is home to the Phatty Burrito, care of new owners Taylor Wilson and Dan Mullen, basically a regular chicken burrito times two in one wrap — and if you eat it all your sour cream-smeared face will grace the Phatty picture wall of fame, so everyone in town can revel in your eating feats.

“Our motto is ‘wrapping the phatties here in Whistler’,” Wilson said.

Cheeky, very cheeky, but it all translates to friendly service.

The Dups Burrito business is still not a recognizable name around town —the owners still haven’t put up the new business sign. Dups replaces the former La Tortilleria at MarketPlace, which was sold to the two Mexican food experts three months ago.

Long-term Pemberton residents, Wilson and Mullen ate at La Tortilleria religiously for more than a decade. On learning former owner Anna Suski was selling the restaurant to buyers who would change the place, the two former Summit Ski managers intervened. Where would they get their daily burritos?

So dedicated to the hand-held meal is he, Wilson traveled far and wide in search of the best chicken burrito even before he decided to pass on skis for rotisserie spears. (All of Dups chicken is rotisserie roasted.)

Walking into the “new” place, the differences are subtle, other than the cheery Mutt and Jeff team manning the tortillas and beans. But if you order the vegetarian taco salad, the new offering of sautéed peppers might catch your interest.

“We want to keep it somewhat the same, but add our own spice of life to it,” Wilson said.

Biting into my regular lunch or dinner quick grab, I rested easy with the familiar homemade salsa, guacamole and spice-soaked beans. The taco salad experience is like a conversation with the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. Waistlines rest easy with the salad filling of lettuce, rice, guacamole, beans and hand-cut salsa, but cry “La Cucharacha” with glee at the crispy tortilla bowl, perfect for breaking off and dipping. It’s nachos with a conscience.

The two boys’ big ideas extend beyond the burrito, with future possibilities including fish tacos, a liquor licence and family-friendly seating.

So why the change of name, and what is a Dups?

The two quickly tired of the La Tortilleria and Trattoria restaurant telephone calls mix up. The new name was the product of a few too many beers one night. Think of the symbol of Pemberton, backwards.

Winemaker’s dinner for Search and Rescue

The Whistler Search and Rescue Society hosts the seventh annual Wine’d Up fundraising winemaker’s dinner and silent auction Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Dusty’s at Creekside.

Chef Bernard Casavant partners with Mission Hill Family Estate wineries to present a set-course dinner showcasing a different wine with each course. Bottles uncorked include the 2005 Five Vineyards Pinot Blanc, 2004 Pinot Noir Reserve, 2003 SLC Merlot and 2004 Late Harvest Vidal.

Proceeds benefit the registered charity, funding operating and capital expenditures such as equipment, supplies and training of the volunteer members.

Dress to impress in your best western gear.

Tickets are $125. Call 604-932-3434 for details.

Changing with the Seasons

The Fifty Two 80 Bistro is undergoing changes with the turning of the leaves.

Scott Baechler is now the reigning executive chef at the bistro, succeeding Jason McLeod who left to head kitchens at the Four Seasons at Great Exuma at Emerald Bay.

There has never been a better time to check out Baechler’s cooking prowess with the bistro hosting a Flavours of Fall tasting menu Wednesday to Sunday. The three-course and four-course specials don’t come with surcharges like some of the restaurant shoulder-season deals. It’s $42 for a New York steak (other choices as well) plus three additional courses, no strings attached.

Whistler bids adieu to high-heeled restaurant manager Shannon McCoy, who will become an official Sex-and-the-City socialite in her new position as assistant manager for the elite L’Atelier de Joel Robichon at the Four Seasons Manhattan.

Also, congratulations to bistro assistant manager Lauren Howard, who recently became an accredited sommelier.

Food is also making its way out of the kitchen and into the spa for the yummiest experience in Whistler that won’t hit your waistline or pocketbook.

Warm cinnamon and paprika season a delicious massage aimed at increasing circulation and boosting the immune system. A girlfriend and I took advantage of the $79 special during the last shoulder season. Fitness facility, eucalyptus-scented steam room, a cup of tea with the latest fashion magazines and of course the massage itself (ask for Warren), it was an all-day pampering perfect for a girl’s day out. The special also includes a complimentary appetizer with the purchase of a cocktail at the bistro.