The Old Bauernhaus Restaurant

No one can drive up to the Kimberley ski hill without noticing the amazing log building about halfway up. It is a pleasant surprise to find that it houses The Old Bauernhaus Restaurant, which has been a local fixture for more than 20 years.

On entering the restaurant, one notices the stunning post-and-beam construction (Ziebundstadel). It is hard to believe that this 350-year-old building, brought over from Germany piece by piece, was originally a shelter for pigs, sheep and chickens.

The owners of the restaurant are Michelle and Nils Fughe. Michelle, born and raised in Creston, B.C., met Nils, who is German, in Switzerland while they were both working in the hotel industry.

“I always joke that Nils is my big souvenir from Europe,” said Michelle.

For the couple, running The Old Bauernhaus Restaurant in Kimberley has been a great experience.

Michelle said when she returned to the Kootenay region from Europe in need of some hometown mountain air, taking over the restaurant from the original owners became a perfect opportunity for the couple to continue their passion for food and the restaurant business. In 2000, the business became their own, after they had worked with and for the previous owners for a year.

The business has simply evolved from there. 

“We have retained all the same menu items, while adding to it,” said Michelle. “We are part of the slow-food movement; we like to focus in on local ingredients.”

Michelle said they get all their vegetables locally in the summer, and they use local mushrooms as well as cheese from Creston-based Kootenay Alpine Cheese Company; she added that they try to support local vineyards too. 

“This is really important to us," she said. "I think we have to keep control of what we eat. We know where our food comes from, and what our cows or pigs eat. We like to do everything properly—from braising our pork hocks for three hours (to) making fresh bread every day and making our own sausages and saurkraut."

Michelle said that the restaurant sees a lot of repeat customers.

“We have been serving the same families for years," she said, "and we have a really great clientele base.”

Customer service is very important, said Michelle, adding that she was brought up with the idea that the customer is always right. 

“I would like to think that we have a product that people return for,” said Michelle, “whether it is about our food, our ethics surrounding the food or our customer service.”

For Michelle, 350-year-old log building feels very comfortable.

“The Old Bauernhaus is timeless,” she said. "I love wood—I grew up in a log house, we have built one, and I just feel part of nature here. It is a pretty special place; that is why we are here too.”