Come meet Doug the Melon at this downtown restaurant

Inside of RauDZ Regional Table, something extraordinary has emerged, capturing the attention of all who cross its path.

As if a gift from nature's whimsical palette, a Zucca melon, affectionately named 'Doug,' has claimed the spotlight in the restaurant.

Residing comfortably at Sunshine Farms before its grand entrance, 'Doug' is no ordinary melon: he's possibly the largest in Kelowna currently weighing over 60 pounds and standing tall at 30 inches. It needed to be buckled up with a seatbelt when driven to its new location.

Chef James Hannah told Big Ginger from 103.1 Beach Radio this Zucca Melon, an heirloom variety, traces its origins back to Africa before making its way eventually to the Southern Okanagan.

“A lot of people don't know, but melons grow really well in the Okanagan. Cantaloupes, Watermelons, and Honey Dew. So, I'm sure that environment helps very well for this particular species,” he explained.

Hannah added he’s only worked with smaller sized Zucca’s in the past, but he has plans to use ‘Doug’ the way it’s intended to.

“We are going to try and use it as the original format that I've seen as those small diced pieces of fruit in a fruit cake, or a jam, or a preserve. But that will only be part of it,” he said. “The rest of it I'll probably try and use in a savoury method similar to like the way you would use tofu and go from there.”

Come Thanksgiving, the Zucca melon will be utilized somewhere on the RauDZ menu.