At the Naramata Inn, Ned Bell discovers that his roots go deep in the Okanagan

Ned Bell is a pretty happy guy these days. But not so long ago he was lying awake every night, worried about the future, about death and illness and money and losing everything he cherished most.

He was beginning to realize that being a high-flying celebrity chef wasn’t the most important thing in the world after all. And then fate came calling.

Now Bell is the chef and a partner in the Naramata Inn, a historic 12-room property on the shores of Okanagan Lake, where he’s surrounded by vineyards, orchards, friends and family. It’s a return to his roots, to the place he was born, the place that feels his soul.

“I feel like I’ve been trying to get back here for years,” he says. “I feel at home here and that’s pretty cool. And I don’t think I would have wanted this the same way 10 years ago.”

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Joanne Sasvari Publishing date: Aug 14, 2020