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Weekend Roundup: Best Bets for November 25 to 27

Check out the screening of "Billy Bishop Goes to War," on at the Canadian War Museum.

Friday, Nov. 25
The film that received rave reviews at this fall’s Toronto International Film Festival is now coming to Ottawa. Billy Bishop Goes to War, the film based on the two-man stage play of the same name by John Gray and Eric Peterson, is being screened at the Canadian War Museum. This updated version — still featuring the same two men — now features an aged Bishop, a WWI flying ace veteran reflecting on his time in the war with music and humour. Both Gray and Peterson play an array of characters and have been warmly received ever since the stage play first debuted in 1978. Catch the film until Sunday.

Whether your taste in art is widespread or more specific to a certain style, odds are you’ll find something you like at SAW Gallery’s Sketch holiday fundraiser. This annual event has over 175 participating artists this year, so guaranteed there is something for everyone. And with works of art starting at only $10, you might even be able to get your Christmas shopping done – and give original gifts to boot. The fundraiser goes well into the night and features some great musical acts as well as artists, so why not make an evening of it? (more…)

Hot Art: Unique and Unusual at the International Digital Miniprint Exhibition

International Digital Art Miniprint Exhibition. Photo credit: "Distorted Body" by Csaba Pál.

When people think of art, perhaps the more classic Picasso or Monet images come to mind. But if you’re in search of an unconventional display, then the “International Digital Art Miniprint Exhibition” is the perfect place to find it. This annual exhibit, on until Dec. 10 at Le Centre d’artistes Voix Visuelle, showcases 45 artists from around the world and their interpretations of this year’s theme: “Le corps transformé (the Transformed Body).” Presented in both English and French, this show will certainly be a conversation starter.

Hot Art: French Flair

Marcelle Ferron Sans Titre oil on paper 1990S 6 3/8" x 5 3/8" copyright Estate of Marcelle Ferron/SODRAC (2011)

Walk amid the work of a French master in Works on Paper at Granville Fine Art (Oct. 22 to Nov. 5). The late Quebecois artist Marcelle Ferron is best known for her stained glass pieces, but selections from her lesser-seen painting collection grace the gallery’s walls in this exhibit. Strong brushstrokes characterize her abstracts, which vary from bright to muted (“Sans Titre,” pictured in detail).—Kristina Urquhart

More information:

2447 Granville St. 604-266-6010.

www.granvillefineart.com

Rough Week for Air Canada: Told to Improve French Services

Photo by Micheal Gil

By Carissa Bluestone

Though Air Canada averted a strike yesterday, coming to a last-minute agreement with the flight attendants union, the airline didn’t fare as well with Canada’s languages watchdog. It received a slap on the wrist this week from Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser concerning its treatment of French-speaking passengers.

An audit of the airline’s bilingual services conducted from April 2010 to January 2011 was less than impressive: In airports where bilingual services are required (any airport with more than 1 million passengers annually) only one in four Air Canada agents spoke French. Only half of the agents assigned to designated bilingual flights were indeed bilingual. Additionally, the airline topped the list of complaints received by the commissioner’s office between 2005 and 2009. Air Canada is the only carrier that operates under the Official Languages Act.

The audit also revealed systemic confusion: a lack of clear directives from management and uncertainty among agents about their legal obligations to French-speaking flyers. As a result, recommendations put forth by the commission include the implementation of accountability frameworks and multiyear action plans addressing everything from staffing to airport signage. For Francophone customers this should eventually translate into greater availability of bilingual agents at the gate and in the air.

For more on what constitutes a bilingual flight, read the story at www.cbc.ca

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: Stratford, Ontario

Photo by Mandeep Flora

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner is our series highlighting the best local restaurants across Canada. Today we are featuring top restaurant picks in Stratford, in southwestern Ontario, known for its picturesque streets, Shakespeare festival and modern-day Romeo, Justin Bieber.

Have a tip for your city? Let us know on Twitter or on Facebook.

By Waheeda Harris

Breakfast

Despite this resto’s moniker, the first meal of the day can be savoury and sweet at Let Them Eat Cake. Choose from a multitude of options such as the de rigeur eggs and toast, eggs benedict, waffles, pancakes or Stratford scrambles to make sure you get protein, carbs, vitamins and minerals in one bite. Head over to the town’s main street, Ontario Street, pick up a Balzac’s Coffee and stroll the strip of boutiques and galleries.

Let Them Eat Cake, 23 Albert Street, Stratford, 519-508-2253

Lunch

For the midday break, choose from the sustainable and tasty fish and seafood options at Simple Fish and Chips. From the traditional battered halibut or haddock, diners can also choose from Ontario lake yellow perch and lake pickerel, lobster risotto, mac ‘n’ cheese, pot pie or halibut dishes inspired by spicy Indian, Thai or Jamaican influences. Walking along the Avon River and admiring the swans will be a perfect post-lunch afternoon excursion.

Simple Fish and Chips, 118 Downie Street, Stratford, 519-275-0400

Dinner

Reward yourself before or after a visit to the Stratford Festival with a sumptuous meal at this modern French bistro. The daily menu reflects the seasonal offerings of Perth County and the inventiveness of Chef Aaron Linley, and the pretty interior and excellent service is sure to put any diner at ease. Save room for a sweet treat to finish the meal, made in-house by Chef Bronwyn Linley (Aaron’s wife).

Bijou, 105 Erie Street, Stratford, 519-273-5000

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: Sherbrooke, Quebec

Photo by Michel Gagnon

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner is our series highlighting the best local restaurants across Canada. Today we are featuring top restaurant picks in Sherbrooke, Quebec, which is a two hour drive east of Montreal.

Have a tip for your city? Let us know on Twitter or on Facebook.

By Waheeda Harris

Breakfast

The first meal of the day starts with all the right fixings at Eggsfruits – from café au lait and smoothies to bagels and eggs a multitude of ways, this cafe will help fuel your day of wandering the streets. Walk off breakfast with a tour of the Sherbrooke’s 11 fresco murals, which celebrate the city’s history and citizens.

Eggsfruits, 4200 King Ouest Sherbrooke AC 819-562-8686

Lunch

Savour the European way to dine with a table on Restaurant Le Bouchon‘s terrasse, or when the temps turn cooler, a spot near the window in the light-filled modern dining room. The contemporary French menu includes favourites such as bavette de boeuf or pork filet with citron and Dijon, but those in the know will order confit du canard, a regional specialty. Finish with a dessert plate with selections from Fromagerie de la Gare, a well-known local cheese boutique.

Restaurant Le Bouchon, 107 Rue Frontenac, Sherbrooke QC 819-566-0876

Dinner

Fine dining and exploration go hand in hand on The Orford Express, a refurbished train that takes guests from Sherbrooke to Magog and back, as they experience a four course dinner, a video and audio history of the area, live music and the opportunity for an after-dinner stroll by the Magog waterfront. Quebecois hospitality make this a memorable dinner on the rails through the Eastern Townships.

The Orford Express, Marche de la Gare, 806 Place de la Gare Sherbrooke QC 819-575-8081

Our Take: National Geographic Traveler’s Top 10 Foods in Quebec

St-Viateur Bagel. Photo by Backpack Foodie.

National Geographic Traveler’s blog post on top ten foods to eat in Quebec was en pointe. The list recognizes the French Canadian staples that most tourists know and love; the number one choice, of course, is poutine, the gooey combination of cheese curds and gravy. (more…)

Hot Dining: Culinary Kits

Chef Pascal Georges of The Smoking Dog Bistro shows off the roasted duck with caramelized orange sauce and mini ratatouille. Photo by KK Law

Just across Burrard Bridge, ever-eclectic Kitsilano yields a range of tasty options. A favourite with locals, The Smoking Dog Bistro celebrates the return of original chef Pascal Georges with French classics such as mimosa salad, lobster bisque, goat cheese with portobello mushrooms and roast duck with caramelized orange sauce. Go early to secure a seat on the sidewalk patio. For family-style Italian with panache, head to Trattoria Italian Kitchen; for modern Greek, cross the street to Piato Estiatorio.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Art: Portrait of a Lady

Portrait of Nina Villard (Madame Callais) by Edouard Manet. Photo copyright RMN (Musée d'Orsay)/Michèle Bellot

As the old adage goes, “behind every great man is a great woman.” Some artists took that phrase to heart: in the mid-1800s, France saw a surge of female-focused landscapes and portraits. See nearly 100 of these drawings (on loan from Paris’s Musée d’Orsay) by artists such as Renoir in The Modern Woman, at Vancouver Art Gallery (Jun. 5 to Sep. 6).—Kristina Urquhart

2009 Where to Dine Awards

By Tim Pawsey// Photos by KK Law

With its rich diversity of year-round local ingredients, from fresh seafood to artisan cheeses, Vancouver has emerged as an international culinary destination. Every year, Where Vancouver surveys readers to find out just which dishes, settings and service left a lasting impression—tastes that linger in the memory well beyond the trip home. And, once again, our well-travelled voters proved the great dining we enjoy here is a vibrant and flavour-filled reflection of this all-embracing, multicultural community.

READERS’ CHOICE

Caprese salad and spicy Kobe meatballs, at Italian Kitchen

ITALIAN
Italian Kitchen
1037 Alberni St. 604-687-2858.
Upbeat ambience and down-to-earth flavours rule at this lively two-tier room that appeals as much for its bar scene as for its multiregional fare. Drop in for a mixed antipasto platter at the dazzling 18-m (60-ft) white marble long bar, and stay for veal scaloppine with Braseola, penne arrabbiata or crab-stuffed prawns, each matched with a vintage from the well-stocked, glass-walled cellar. Must have: the spicy Kobe meatballs.
Honourable Mentions
CinCin
Il Giardino Di Umberto

FRENCH
Le Crocodile
909 Burrard St. 604-669-4298.
A long-running Francophile favourite, Michel Jacob’s burgundy-and-mustard-toned room delivers authentic bistro fare, often with a nod to the chef’s hometown dining mecca of Strasbourg. Top tastes include tarte à l’oignon, foie gras terrine, grilled veal medallions, rack of lamb with mustard sabayon, and wild salmon with saffron velouté. Wines roam from Alsace to the Okanagan, while service, ever thorough, is always discreet. Best-kept secret: authentic Dover sole with beurre blanc.
Honourable Mentions
Lumière
Le Gavroche

OTHER EUROPEAN
Chambar Belgian Restaurant
562 Beatty St. 604-879-7119.
This popular pre- and post-show room continues to evolve, now with its own Chambar Ale, an always-busy private room and The Dirty Apron Cooking School. Settle in for slow-cooked lamb tagine with honey, figs, cinnamon and cilantro; moules frites Congolaise; or bison carpaccio drizzled in truffle oil. This art-festooned heritage room feels just like being in Brussels—minus the airfare. Inside scoop: the city’s best Belgian waffles at next-door sibling Cafe Medina.
Honourable Mentions
The William Tell Restaurant
Jagerhof Schnitzel House

CHINESE

Delectable dim sum at Kirin Mandarin Restaurant

Kirin Mandarin Restaurant
1166 Alberni St. 604-682-8833.
A soaring three-storey atrium welcomes diners to this downtown room, celebrated for its authentic Northern Chinese fare, including the renowned Peking duck, as well as fresh King crab and lobster plucked from live tanks. Regulars pack in for mid-day dim sum, while larger parties choose the affordable but inventive set menus. Top taste: roast suckling pig.
Honourable Mentions
Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant
Wild Rice

JAPANESE
Tojo’s
1133 W. Broadway. 604-872-8050.
The man who kick-started Vancouver’s sushi craze—which shows no sign of letting up—was also the first sushi chef to feature West Coast, as opposed to imported, ingredients. Tojo’s celebrated cuisine is becoming increasingly sustainable. Must-have: the omakase, the ultimate Japanese experience, where the chef cooks what he wants for you.
Honourable Mentions
ShuRaku
Guu

OTHER ASIAN
Banana Leaf Malaysian Cuisine
1096 Denman St. 604-683-3333.
These cheerful and colourfully decorated affordable haunts celebrate the culinary crossroads of Straits cuisine. Laksa (the spicy Malaysian broth and seafood staple) is a mainstay but so too are Hainanese chicken, black cod in caramelized ginger sauce and rendang curried beef. Top tastes: the prix fixe for six, which adds up to a menu-wide sampler.
Honourable Mentions
Thai House
Phnom Penh Restaurant

INDIAN
Vij’s
1480 W. 11th Ave. 604-736-6664.
Vikram Vij, the man credited with bringing modern Indian cuisine to Canada, continues to dazzle with his unique and flavourful style. Go early to avoid the inevitable late-evening wait, and savour celebrated tastes such as curried organic chicken liver paté, mutton kebabs or spot prawns and halibut in coconut lemon curry. Don’t miss: the famous fenugreek-cream curried lamb “popsicles.”
Honourable Mentions
Maurya Indian Cuisine
Rangoli

Filet mignon with crab legs and asparagus, at The Keg Steakhouse and Bar

STEAK
The Keg Steakhouse and Bar
1011 Mainland St. 604-633-2534.
Legendary for consistency and value, The Keg—which has its roots in Vancouver—continues to impress. Go for the New York strip; the baseball top sirloin with shrimp, scallops and Béarnaise; and the lively bar scene. Granville Island, Thurlow near Robson and Yaletown (with its tiered fireplaces) are all popular locations. Don’t miss: sirloin topped with Dungeness crab.
Honourable Mentions
Gotham Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar
Hy’s Encore

SEAFOOD
Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
1095 Hamilton St. 604-688-8078.
East meets west at this Yaletown hotspot, where executive chef Frank Pabst focuses on less well-known sustainable species such as sardine and jellyfish, while sushi chef Yoshi Tabo presides over the raw bar. Highlights range from sablefish with miso sake glaze to coffee-and-ancho-braised Kobe-style short ribs, enjoyed in a heritage red-brick-and-beam setting. The lure: the seafood tower.
Honourable Mentions
The Boathouse Restaurant
Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House

HOTEL DINING & BAR
Yew Restaurant
Four Seasons Hotel, 791 W. Georgia St. 604-692-4939.
The Four Seasons’ gorgeous wood-trimmed room lures the power crowd and celebrities, who come for inspired Pacific Northwest plates, served with flair in a dramatic setting. Want to make friends? Try the communal table. If you’re the exhibitionist type, book the all-glass semi-private room. Highlights range from seared halibut cheek with dashi broth to lobster chowder to roast duck with caramelized shallot tart. Insider scoop: one of downtown’s best coffees.
Honourable Mentions
Market by Jean-Georges
Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge

TAPAS/SMALL PLATE
Bin 941
941 Davie St. 604-683-1246.
Owner/chef Gord Martin’s diminutive haunt ignited a small-plates revolution that swept the continent. A loyal clientele still packs into the friendly room for well-presented plates such as beef tenderloin with grainy mustard masala sauce, and steamed Cortes Island mussels with chorizo and smoked tomato broth. Insider’s perch: a seat right at the bar, overlooking the stove, where you can watch the chefs at work.
Honourable Mentions
La Bodega Restaurante & Tapa Bar
Guu

PUB FARE
Pourhouse
162 Water St. 604-568-7022.
“Don’t call me a mixologist, I’m a bartender!” says Pourhouse co-owner Jay Jones, whose specialty is the Gold Fashioned. Sit at the handmade, 8-m (27-ft) bar for lighter plates, or settle into the gently formal dining lounge for Sloping Hill pork ’n’ beans, local halibut with shaved fennel, or roasted Fraser Valley chicken vol-au-vent. Don’t miss: the six-course chef’s table with wines to match.
Honourable Mentions
Doolin’s Irish Pub
Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant

BUDGET BITES
White Spot
580 W. Georgia St. 604-662-3066.
It can be challenging to have kids in tow when travelling, but these family-friendly rooms—which started out as a 1928 drive-in—have a history of serving nutritious, affordable fare. Traditional favourites such as beef dip, turkey dinners, clam chowder and the famous burger with Triple O sauce now share the menu with more eclectic tastes such as prawns tempura and chicken quesadilla. The hook: the Pirate Pak meal in a boat for kids.
Honourable Mentions
Vera’s Burger Shack
Cactus Club Cafe

WEST COAST
West
2881 Granville St. 604-738-8938.

Squid a la plancha with squid ink aioli, at WestWest2881 Granville St. 604-738-8938.

The fare at this definitive West Coast room, with its open kitchen and expansive bar, complements its clean and minimalist lines. The ingenious menu changes with the season, based on available, local ingredients such as Pemberton Meadows strip loin with espresso-scented celeriac purée or Queen Charlotte Island halibut with Read Island clam chowder. Insiders go for: the vegetarian tasting menu or the early-bird prix fixe.
Honourable Mentions
Coast Restaurant
Salmon House on the Hill
Raincity Grill

LAST COURSE
Thomas Haas Chocolates and Patisserie
2539 W. Broadway. 604-736-1848.
True truffle hounds head to these dessert outposts, one tucked away in an industrial corner of North Vancouver, the other next to good friend Daniel Boulud’s west side db Bistro Moderne. Make the trip for extraordinary chocolate morsels filled with every flavour imaginable, but also double-baked almond croissants and superb espresso—with chocolate sparkle cookies, of course. Don’t miss: the free samples of truffles given out most days.
Honourable Mentions
True Confections
Sweet Obsession Cakes and Pastries

CRITICS’ CHOICE

WHERE SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD AWARD
The Observatory
6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver. 604-998-4402.
It seems fitting that this mountaintop room, which lays the entire coastline of the Lower Mainland at your feet, should win Ocean Wise’s Sustainable Seafood Award for working so conscientiously to help preserve our marine species. Settle into your table at 1128 m (3,701 ft) to enjoy such local and sustainable tastes as house-smoked oysters, spring salmon lasagne and halibut with fingerling potatoes, all served against the dazzling backdrop of the city far below.

GREEN TABLE AWARD
Cactus Club Cafe
588 Burrard St. 604-682-0933.
“While some may have ‘greener’ menus, or more reclaimed wood tables,” says Green Table executive director André LaRivière, “as yet, no one but Cactus Club has established sustainable policies and practices across all of its 21 locations. Sustainability has become an essential part of the Cactus Club culture, and a measure of their success for its management and staff. We need many more restaurant groups to follow their lead.”

The Sustainable Seafood Award is presented to the restaurant that best exemplifies practices of sourcing, serving and promoting sustainable species, as outlined under the Ocean Wise Program. The conferring committee represents the BC Seafood Alliance, David Suzuki Foundation, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre and Where Vancouver. The Green Table Award is conferred on a restaurant that promotes sustainability in food service at all levels of its operation, as determined by the organization’s executive.

Assorted chocolates, squares and truffles, at Thomas Haas Chocolates and Patisserie

BEST NEW RESTAURANT 2009
Cibo Trattoria
Moda Hotel, 900 Seymour St. 604-602-9570.
Combine the best of Italian cuisine with soundly sourced West Coast ingredients and you have the foundation for Cibo Trattoria, a lively spot in the smartly restored Moda Hotel. Dishes may include agnolotti of suckling pig and veal, baked halibut with black trompette mushrooms, and roast ling cod with young asparagus—all paired with an astutely chosen wine list of Italian and BC bottles. Don’t miss: Uva Wine Bar and Red Card Sports Bar + Eatery, both right next door.

Other Notable Newcomers
Au Petit Chavignol
Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie
Cafe Barcelona
The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe
db Bistro Moderne
Lumière
Judas Goat Taberna
La Brasserie
Lupo Restaurant & Vinoteca
Market by Jean-Georges
Maenam
Miku
Mis Trucos
Nook Restaurant
Oru
Voya Restaurant and Lounge

BIRKS SILVER SERVICE AWARD
Coast Restaurant
1054 Alberni St. 604-685-5010.
This dazzling new space—with its circular bar and hip O Lounge—is more than just a pretty face. Nobody knows (or hears) more about the overall guest experience than Vancouver’s concierge community, which honours this buzz-worthy room with its coveted Birks Silver Service Award. On the menu: everything from fish ’n’ chips to Dungeness crab cakes to line-caught chum salmon, all served with a fine melange of polish and pizzazz.

EDITOR’S CHOICE
Il Giardino di Umberto
1382 Hornby St. 604-669-2422.
Since 1973, Umberto Menghi has helped set the pace for Italian dining in Vancouver. Today the “little yellow house,” with its cozy, multi-tiered, terracotta interior, still lures the glitterati with its romantic surroundings and power-lunch scene. Few settings can compare to the vine-wrapped, well-concealed terrace for a lingering summer meal, truly an oasis in the heart of the city. Wow factor: succulent, tender osso buco with 2006 Sassicaia.

TOP DROPS

Lesser-known BC wines from smaller producers can be hard to find but are often available at either VQA or private wine stores. What to look for? Any on this list would be a welcome addition to any cellar.

Cassini Cellars Chardonnay
Fairview Cellars The Bear
Foxtrot Pinot Noir
La Frenz Shiraz
Laughing Stock Portfolio
JoieFarm Riesling
Poplar Grove Syrah
Quinta Ferreira Obra-Prima
Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Noir
Twisted Tree Six Vines

Hot Dining: Tasteful Trips

TASTEFUL TRIPS

Appetizer plate at Le Bistro Chez Michel. Photo by KK Law

Hop on the SeaBus to discover Le Bistro Chez Michel, a family-run, North Vancouver bistro serving eclectic French fare and overlooking the harbour. On the menu: baked-onion soup, a chef’s charcuterie plate, juicy rib-eyes with fries, bouillabaisse and the cassoulet Toulousain, the owners’ hometown recipe. Or take the newly opened Canada Line SkyTrain to explore Richmond’s wealth of authentic Chinese rooms, including bustling Fisherman’s Terrace Seafood Restaurant in Aberdeen Centre and award-winning Gingeri Chinese Cuisine in Lansdowne Centre.—Tim Pawsey

All in the Family

Father and son at O Bistro

The phrase “like father like son” certainly applies to Olivier and Jean Gouin. Growing up, Olivier was influenced by the culinary prowess of his chef father Jean, owner of Chez François. Now, all grown up and with cooking skills of his own, Olivier has followed in his dad’s footsteps with the opening of his own French restaurant, O Bistro. Try the O Clubhouse—brie, grilled chicken, bacon and mixed greens layered on a croissant ($12), for a French take on this American classic.—RM

June Editor’s Picks: Dining

Ultra (photo by Device 222).

1. One of Toronto’s swankiest dining and nightlife destination just got even more posh. Along the see-and-be-seen strip of Queen Street West, Ultra recently unveiled a new Munge Leung–designed interior that melds candlelit intimacy with cheeky features like a 15-foot-high wall of giant rooster photos and a communal table fashioned by edgy local firm Castor. The menu has been overhauled, too. While steaks ($28 to $45)—a supper club staple with varied accompaniments—remain, chef Chris Zielinski also serves up eastern-inspired small plates such as hoisin-ginger salmon with pineapple-coriander jus ($20) and half-baked lobster with avocado salad and chipotle hollandaise ($19). Don’t forget your dancing shoes—top-tier DJs spin late four nights a week.

(more…)