James Rose
Special to The Valley Echo
On Thursday, April 2nd, a delizioso new restaurant opened at the Skookum Inn in Windermere. Mr. V’s Italian Grill is being introduced by veteran restauranteur Steve Valenti. Mr. V’s will be a licensed breakfast, lunch and dinner establishment, open year-round and seven days a week, featuring a family friendly atmosphere.
According to Mr. Valenti, the restaurant will look to provide “… a real authentic taste of little Italy in the valley.”
For the first month, no reservations will be required, but thereafter reservations will be highly encouraged, especially on weekends. New to the valley (but a past vacationer), the Italian-born and Canadian-raised Mr. Valenti — who has owned and operated restaurants throughout Canada and the United States — is extremely excited to open the valley’s newest culinary delight.
Signature dishes at Mr. V’s will include homemade desserts (cheesecakes, layered chocolate cakes, and summertime gelatos) and seafood-inspired main dishes, such as his Linguine Pescatore and Fettuccine Mare e Monte — both requiring a love for seafood to fully appreciate. Though not labeled a pizzeria, Mr. V’s will still serve several traditional Neapolitan-style square pizzas baked in a stone oven, a technique Mr. Valenti was an early adopter of in Western Canada over the course of his impressive career (he can build stone ovens too).
For ingredients, Mr. Valenti imports high quality pasta from Italy, and makes his own pasta for his lasagna and cannelloni dishes. Most of the produce used will be locally grown, and the fresh veal and Italian items such as prosciutto ham will be brought in once a week from Calgary. It won’t be uncommon to see Mr. Valenti come into the dining area with a pair of scissors and cut fresh basil for a dish, as a variety of herbs will be grown inside the restaurant. With the valley becoming increasingly known for its culinary offerings, Mr. V’s Italian Grill will look to provide its customers “affordable, good quality, home-style Italian food in a no-frills fun atmosphere,” Mr. Valenti said. For more about the restaurant, which is located at 1470 Highway 93/95, call 778-526-5152 or check out Mr. V’s website at www.mrvsgrill.com.