Go for it Gardyloo.

I've done it twice (once to the Maritimes as a kid, once to Toronto as an adult), and it is an unforgettable trip, whether you travel via the USA or Canada.

As for "chinese" restaurants, there are three in my northern BC town of under 2000 people. The two most prosperous restaurants in town, been around for decades.

They usually serve "chinese and western cuisine" presumably because they have to appeal to the widest possible audience to make ends meet.

I think that also dictates the menu as well. Salty, sweet, and fat, with little or no heat.

And I agree, even though more "authentic" ingredients are available now, my guess is the menus won't change much.

They might not offer authentic chinese cuisine, but they are definitely part of small-town BC culture. And my culture as well.

Thanks for the article. I hadn't thought much about them--they've always just been there, in every town I've lived in in BC and Alberta.