Local, balanced, made from scratch, delicious.
These words are the foundation upon which Wild & Co. operates.
Andy Reese opened the Malakwa restaurant about two months ago in the Malmar Market/service station at 3643 Malakwa Rd., just off the Trans-Canada Highway.
Wild & Co.’s menu offers a diverse range of unique, tantalizing offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“I think the biggest, most important thing for me is everything is scratch made, with the exception of bread and stuff, but I do get that from next door, he bakes bread daily,” said Reese.
Regarding balance, this has to do with both the health and freshness of the food, the types of food offered and how dishes are presented.
“I’m a bit of an artist and I think that transfers to my food. It’s pretty important to me that my plates look attractive,” said Reese.
Hailing from Saskwatchewan, Reese said she had been coming through the region every summer and fell for the charm of the area and its proximity to the mountains and lakes.
“I’ve kind of always just lightly tossed around the idea of moving to B.C. and I’ve been in the food industry my whole life and I’ve just been keeping my eyes open for some little café or restaurant to run,” said Reese.
Wild & Co. got off to a deliberately slow start, giving Reese time to get to know her kitchen and get staff in place. Considering that, she says things have been going excellent, as she’s bringing in the highway traffic as well as locals, including regulars who will come in and “just ask me to make them something.”
“The biggest feedback is the food, people are just very surprised and very happy with their food,” said Reese. “I think they’re surprised that, you see something attached to a gas station on the highway, and the decor and stuff – I think it’s a breath of fresh air when you’re travelling.”
Currently, Wild and Co. is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. For more information, visit www.wildandco.ca.