Snap, Crackle and Pop

Breakfast In The Embrace Of Snowy Mountains

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

When you're in a place as beautiful as the Yukon, all that matters is the scenery, the landscapes, the wilderness and the mountains. You're in rugged territory. The last thing on your mind is fine dining. In a place as awe-inspiring as this, it really does not matter what you eat. Appetite and how you sustain it are purely incidental.

But there is one place where you can certainly find gourmet dining. I first stayed at The Raven in 1999, when I was in the town of Haines Junction. I spent a fair bit of time chatting to the German couple who not only owned it, but had actually created it.

Hans and Christine Nelles put a certain unbridled passion into The Raven. Hans told me about how he was one of the people who actually built this dream project from the ground up, with a propane heater to shield him from the mind-numbing cold of his surroundings.


When I was invited back there a few weeks ago by Yukon Tourism, I was delighted to find Haines Junction on my itinerary and yes, I even got my old room, with its view of the mountains.

And let me assure you that the kitchen still turns out dishes that would do a major hotel chain proud. There are still crisp white linen tablecloths. The cutlery looks as if it has just been polished. The crockery is fine china. And the glasses are so well presented that you can photograph a landscape in the reflection on their pristine surface.

I took these shots at breakfast, when I spent time talking to the chef, Victor Bongo. His passion for his craft is deep-rooted and he told me of his dream to write a recipe book. It's not just an armchair project, either. He has already started photographing the dishes in order to present the whole concept to a publisher.

If a chef has such an appetite for his work, it figures that everyone who comes through the door of his restaurant is going to enjoy what is served. I hope Victor's book is coming along well and that he never says he has too much on his plate!


PS: If you're wondering why I took this last shot, which seems to be in very soft focus, look closely at the surface of the knife. You'll see that the reflection of the glass on the surface of the knife blade is what I've concentrated on.

Visit TNChick, creator of Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Breakfast".