The Farmer’s Daughter Fromagerie, Bistro & Wine Bar
Girls Day Out in Sidney-by-the-Sea!
Pedicures, Wine and Cheese, Oh My!
27 min drive north (up the Saanich Peninsula) to Sidney-by-the-Sea
101-2360 Beacon Ave #101, Sidney, BC V8L 1X3
(778) 351-3500
info@thefarmersdaughter.co
http://www.thefarmersdaughter.co
PN Nails
109-2360 Beacon Ave, Sidney, BC V8L 1X3
(250) 655-1680
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nail-Salon/PN-Nails-Sidney-100938864991180/
There’s nothing better than quality time with good friends, which is what three of my besties and I were thinking the other day! A couple of Saturdays ago we all jumped into my red rocket and headed out to the peninsula, in search of some extreme pampering...
Our first stop was PN Nails for (accessible) pedicures! Yay! I’ll talk about this later in this post.
But the highlight of our afternoon was the decadence of the Farmer’s Daughter Fromagerie, Bistro and Wine Bar!
I must tell you, a visit to the Farmer’s Daughter becomes an instant special occasion the minute you darken the door!
What I love about it:
I can’t tell you if it’s the heavenly smell of wine and cheese, the modern, upscale European bistro ambience, or the friendly and knowledgable staff who make you feel welcome, but all of these factors combine for a thoroughly delightful experience in
Vancouver Island’s only specialty cheese and wine shop!
The Farmer’s Daughter is a treasure, simply put. Where to begin? In my humble opinion, I suggest going with a special person or friends because a visit here is something unique, but not cheap! Save up a little and reserve it for a celebration, because you’re in for a treat!
Before you get into choosing from the extensive selection of BC and international wines, be sure to order the Baked Brie Board - it’s gooey decadence is drizzled with honey, and topped with candied pecans and pistachios, and roasted garlic with rosemary, my favourite!
In the meantime, consider ordering from one of the three cheese and wine flights. Flights consist of cheeses paired with 3 two ounce wines, accompanied by fresh baguette: crisp and satisfying, while not overly filling.
Delicious sharing boards featuring quality sourced ingredients such as unique cheeses, locally cured meats, and freshly baked bread are another excellent choice. Small Bites plates, like marinated olives (had these, delish!), stuffed medjool dates and other yummy offerings will surely tempt you, but for those looking for the most delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, this is the place to indulge. I split the French Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich with my friend, and it sent us both into gooey, gruyere glory! If you are looking for one of the most delicious grilled cheese sandwiches you’ve had in a while, you’re in luck!
Accessibility:
The restaurant is on the ground level, and tables are well spaced from each other in a Covid-friendly manner. Sitting outside is particularly lovely in the warmer months, and there are tables and chairs arranged in the side courtyard, amongst cascading hanging baskets and beautiful planters. Staff were more than willing to shift furniture and planters around to accommodate my scooter. Unfortunately the single bathroom in the restaurant is small and not accessible for a mobility scooter or a wheelchair user, due to the width of the charming barrel sink, but it has a level entrance and would likely work for a person using a cane. The best idea is to use the accessible public bathroom towards the end of the courtyard towards PN Nails (key required). I park in the accessible parking lot behind Home Hardware (access off James White Blvd, which is north of and runs parallel to Beacon Ave), and zoom through their outdoor section to Garden Court where Farmer’s Daughter and PN Nails is located.
The Final Verdict:
If you’re in the mood for indulging in delicious wine and cheese in a euro feeling bistro atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed with The Farmer’s Daughter. From an accessibility perspective, it’s great because there’s not a stair in sight, there is an accessible bathroom a very short jaunt down the courtyard, and staff are very friendly and eager to accommodate. Nothing but pure satisfaction here!
PN Nails
109-2360 Beacon Ave, Sidney, BC V8L 1X3
(250) 655-1680
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nail-Salon/PN-Nails-Sidney-100938864991180/
Everyone needs some occasional pampering, so I wanted to find an accessible nail salon that works for all of us!
I made reservations since three of us wanted pedis, but walk-ins are welcome. The salon is hidden just at the end of the Garden Court, across from the birdbath, with a level entrance.
After a friendly greeting, we were seated in wonderful massage chairs that soothed and relaxed every muscle in our backs and shoulders while our feet enjoyed a warm soak in the jetted bath. I was able to easily transfer onto a chair (with the help of my assistant) because of the available space at the end of the row and the spaciousness of the furniture.
Carrying on with pedi, my sweet aesthetician was very gentle, efficient and thorough. My session included leg & foot massages, leg exfoliating scrub, hot stone leg massage and finished off with a beautiful hot, steamy towel wrap before my toes were done!!
There is a huge selection of nail polishes to choose from for your pedicure (or manicure)...all services are very reasonable prices too! My friends and I all chose the gel nail treatment and were very pleased with the final results!
From there, after a quick stop at the public bathroom across the courtyard (accessible and very clean, key from PN Nails), we wandered a few shops up to our next stop: The Farmer’s Daughter!