Photos: What it’s like to enjoy a meal 130 feet in the air with Dinner in the Sky Vancouver

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      Imagine yourself getting ready to go on a gravity-defying attraction. You finally take a seat and the ride operator starts strapping you down, strategically tugging on your safety belts to make sure you don’t fall off mid-ride.

      A countdown begins, which indicates that you’ll be lifted into the air momentarily. Just as your nerves start to kick in, there’s a loud tune playing in the background to get you and your fellow ride cohorts excited for what’s to come.

      No, we’re not referring to an amusement park ride.

      What we just described is the Dinner in the Sky experience currently taking place on the North Shore. Located at 415 West Esplanade, this attraction runs through July 29, and will make its way to Ambleside Beach later in the summer.

      Each lift can accomodate 22 guests.
      Tammy Kwan

      As soon as the 22-seat platform gets lifted 130 feet in the air, the staff and crew make you feel at ease by pouring you a glass of water or—if your ticket includes them—alcoholic libations. 

      Depending on which food experience you choose (lunch, brunch, dinner, or happy hour), you’ll get to enjoy everything from brunch-inspired canapés on the ground to a signature happy hour dessert to a three-course dinner with wine pairings.

      Some of the menu items include a B.C. blueberry bowl (banana, toasted coconut, house-made granola, and berries), Ocean Wise wild B.C. salmon (Chilliwack corn, fennel-and-lemon emulsion, and charred green onions), organic Beretta Farms beef strip loin (summer veggies, cracked wheat, and caramelized onion purée), and a vegan coconut panna cotta (B.C. lavender, macerated berries, and balsamic caramel).   

      A lunch experience would feature a wild B.C. salmon dish.
      Tammy Kwan

      If you settle for a daytime excursion, a clear view of the Downtown Vancouver skyline, North Shore mountains, and boat-filled waters will be available for Instagram-worthy shots.

      Safety guidelines are laid out just as you ascend into the sky, and you’ll be informed on how to swivel and recline your seat as you please. Use your electronics at your own discretion, because you’ll realize there’s a far distance between you and the ground if you decide look down.  

      Dinner in the Sky’s executive chef Evan Elman and chef ambassador Ned Bell (Vancouver Aquarium) keep guests entertained with good food and drink, so your elevated meal (figuratively and literally) comes to an end in the blink of an eye.

      Left to right: Dinner in the Sky's ambassador chef Ned Bell and executive chef Evan Elman.
      Tammy Kwan

      As the crane lowers you down, you may start to wonder why you even felt uneasy about signing the waiver form when you first arrived.

      Now you can boast to friends and family about what it’s like to enjoy a meal in the sky—just be sure to clarify that you’re not talking about eating on a flight.  

      Scroll through the photos below for a look at Vancouver’s Dinner in the Sky experience.

      Tammy Kwan

       

      Tammy Kwan

       

      Tammy Kwan

       

      Tammy Kwan

       

      Tammy Kwan

       

      Tammy Kwan

       

      Tammy Kwan
      Follow Tammy Kwan on Twitter @ch0c0tam and Instagram @ch0c0tam.

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