Hot Dining

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Hot Dining: Heritage Flavours at The Flying Pig

Yaletown's The Flying Pig restaurant. Photo by KK Law

Once the town’s transportation hub and warehouse district, Yaletown has been transformed into a hotbed of great eats, often in funky surroundings. Go early to get a seat at newly landed The Flying Pig (pictured); try the skirt steak and don’t miss the homemade waffle cone. Nibble on sweet and succulent ebi mayo (tempura wild prawns) at Hapa Izakaya. Check in for the cheese and meat board at the Opus Hotel’s edgy pop-up Cento Notti. Or pop by down-east-style Rodney’s Oyster House for a dozen freshly shucked BC bivalves and a healthy serving of no-nonsense hospitality.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Where to See Skaters on the Rideau Canal

We round up the best spots to grab a bite with the added enjoyment of watching skaters on the Rideau Canal.

Skaters take a snack break at the BeaverTails counter.

BeaverTail Shacks
Located on the Rideau Canal Skateway, you can skate up to the window, order one of these delicious Canadian treats, and grab a spot on a picnic bench without ever leaving the ice. Be honest: isn’t one of the main reasons you go skating here to have a BeaverTail and a hot chocolate after?
Several locations along the Rideau Canal. www.beavertailsinc.com

Canal Ritz
This Italian restaurant boasts one of the most scenic views of the canal and is located right near one of the entrances to the skateway, so after you’re done your meal it’s easy to lace up your skates and join in on the fun. Rather watch? Snag a seat by the big windows and curl up with a specialty coffee.
375 Queen Elizabeth Dr. (at Fifth Avenue), 613-238-8998. www.canalritz.com

Canal Oak
Part of the Royal Oak Pubs chain, this unique two-storey location is situated near the Pretoria Bridge, which crosses over the canal. Order a pint, relax by the fire, and enjoy some colourful people watching. It’s also a top spot to head after you’ve traversed the ice and need to refuel.
221 Echo Dr., 613- 234-3700. www.royaloakpubs.com

Hot Dining: 4 Tasty Taphouses

Dockside tempts with pan-fried chilli squid (front) and sauteed tiger prawns (back). Photo by KK Law

The burgeoning beer scene here yields no shortage of hop-friendly dining.
1 Dockside (pictured) Discover Granville Island’s “other” brewery and dine in vista-kissed surroundings.
2 Howe Sound Brewing Take a 45-minute trip to Squamish to sample Howe Sound Lager with seafood chowder or ale-braised pork sliders.
3 Steamworks Enjoy freshly brewed quaffs, such as Lions Gate Lager, in a brass-trimmed, wood-panelled Gastown pub overlooking the harbour.
4 Yaletown Brewing Grab a glass of Downtown Brown along with a steaming bowl of sliced beef tenderloin tip stroganoff in this red-bricked Yaletown haunt.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Tasty Eats at The Village Café

Head over to Westboro for a scrumptious meal at Village Café.

Ever tried a caesar salad with grilled romaine hearts? If not, drop what you’re doing and head to The Village Café in Westboro. The unique, smokey flavour will change how you look at this restaurant staple. Described as “fresh, contemporary, handcrafted comfort cuisine,” there’s really no better way to sum up the food, which includes vegetarian pot pie, a daily sustainable catch, stuffed chicken, and Brome Lake duck salad. And that’s just dinner – they also do lunch and Sunday brunch. 295 Richmond Rd., 613-728-2162.

Hot Dining: Elegant Dining at Hart House Restaurant

Hart House photo by KK Law

In a welcome contrast to the bustle of downtown, elegant and romantic Hart House is set in manicured gardens on the tranquil shores of Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park. This Tudor-style home welcomes lovers and others to cozy up inside. Regional specialties range from grilled BC salmon to Yarrow Meadows duck breast with roasted beets, before dessert of chocolate terrine or espresso crème brûlée, all offered with well-chosen wines from an extensive cellar.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Steak’s New Meating Place at Black + Blue

The bar and meat-aging cellar at Black + Blue. Photo by KK Law

Downtown’s newest steak emporium, Black + Blue (pictured) is a positive stunner with no shortage of buzz, wrapping prime beef and killer cocktails in a dazzling three-tiered setting highlighted by a glass-walled elevator. Uber-cuts from the Himalayan-salt-walled dry-aging room range from PEI Blue Ribbon and Canadian Reserve Angus to USDA RR Ranch and Wagyu, grilled precisely to taste and offered with a variety of sauces. Good sustainable seafood options cater to the less carnivorously inclined. Think high-energy protein palace…then multiply by 100. For a less contemporary though still very flavourful take on steak, wander down to clubby Hy’s Encore, established in 1962. For simple but flawless steak frîtes, and wines to go along, rendez-vous chez Bistro Pastis.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Beyond Sashimi

The food at ShuRaku is as lovely as art. Photo by KK Law

Even though the city boasts countless sushi bars, the raw fish specialty is only part of the Japanese scene. Chef Masahiro Omori takes small plates to new heights at Granville Street’s ShuRaku Sake Bar & Bistro (pictured). Tucked away downstairs at Alberni and Thurlow, long-running Aki is a robata specialist. And nearby hibachi-style Kobe Japanese Steak House puts on a knife-whirling teppanyaki show. Warning: don’t try this at home.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Exotic Ethiopian

Photo by Stefane Berube

Ethiopian cuisine is all about friends, family, and sharing—and Langano Skies sets the atmosphere with a decidedly exotic edge. Food is served atop colourful woven baskets boasting a mass of communal culinary delights that will always include injera—a pancake-like sourdough crepe. Simply tear off a piece, scoop up a taste of your chosen dish, and enjoy. A good place to start is with the Doro Tibs, which is a chicken stir-fry bursting with broccoli, green peppers, onions, and a whole lot of flavour thanks to the addition of over 10 spices. Also available is a good selection of vegetarian dishes.

Hot Dining: Editor’s Pick: 5 Spots for a Meal by the Hearth

Confusion Corner Bar and Grill. Photo by Dallas Ludwick Photography.

When the temperature drops outside, nothing beats the warm glow of a fireplace and the comfort of a good meal. Offering outstanding food, these cozy restaurants are the perfect antidote to a winter’s chill. (more…)

Hot Dining: Back Lane Café Earns Title of Best New Restaurant in Ottawa

The pretty interior of Back Lane Café. Photo credit: Miv Fournier.

Every year across Canada, WHERE editors choose the Best New Restaurant in their region; in Ottawa, our choice for 2011 was easy: Back Lane Café. Located in the increasingly trendy Hintonburg neighbourhood, this cozy restaurant excels at the details: fresh bread made in house, homemade spritzers (no manufactured soft drinks here), and décor that is part Parisian café, part farmhouse. Open since August, this charming spot is often packed. And it’s no wonder: the unique menu offers wood-fired pizza, creative salads, and mains such as hearth-simmered fisherman’s stew. Save room for dessert though — a glazed doughnut with homemade ice cream is a must. Open for lunch Monday to Friday, dinner Monday to Saturday, and brunch Saturday and Sunday. 1087 Wellington St. W., 613-695-2999.

Hot Dining: Now Open

Park Café. Photo by Dan Harper.

The family-friendly Park Café serves breakfast and lunch in the new Qualico Family Centre at Assiniboine Park. Chef Heiko Duehrsen’s menu includes Bothwell cheddar grilled cheese sandwiches as well as chocolate chip pancakes. 330 Assiniboine Park Dr, 204-927-6001 . (more…)

Hot Dining: Smashingly Greek

Photo by Stefane Berube

Tucked in amongst the eclectic shops of 124th Street, Koutouki is loud, boisterous, and a whole lot of fun. Yet between all the plate-smashing and belly dancing, it soon becomes obvious that the authentic, freshly prepared Greek cuisine is the real smash hit here. Start your evening with the Saganaki, a platter of kefalotiri cheese that’s been fried until it’s golden, gooey, and sizzling hot. Simply add a squeeze of lemon, spread it on some freshly baked pita bread and—viola!—you’re all set. Once that disappears, consider tackling the Calamari or the savoury Souvlaki.

Hot Dining: Buenos Hermanos

Photo By Ian McCausland (Chef Michael Day)

At Hermanos, Winnipeg’s premier South American steakhouse, Chef Michael Day serves authentic cuisine with some regional-cuisine twists. Plump empanadas and lime-marinated ceviche with Lake Winnipeg pickerel whet appetites for grilled picanha steak with farofa and chimichurri. Tango-red walls and leather banquettes at this bustling Exchange District hotspot transport diners to the Pampas. Indulge in a dreamy dulce de leche crêpe to complete your own sensory trip to Argentina and Uruguay. 179 Bannatyne Ave, 204-947-5434, Map 1: N-4.

Hot Dining: Best New Restaurants 2011: Deseo Bistro

From tapas to chic burgers, Winnipeg’s top new restaurants serve the best bites around. Deseo Bistro tops the list. It’s been chosen one of Canada’s Top 10 New Restaurants by the editors of Where Canada. (more…)

Hot Dining: Best New Restaurants 2011: Brooklynn’s Bistro

Contemporary Cucina

With Italian restaurants seemingly on every corner in Winnipeg, it can be hard to separate prime pasta from ‘past their prime.’

Brooklynn’s Bistro is firmly entrenched in the former category.

For starters, owner Sam Colosimo hired Chef Darryl Crumb, a charismatic rising star to command the kitchen. Earlier this year, Crumb wowed judges and viewers on Top Chef Canada with his classic French cooking.

Calabrian chili mussels, hand-rolled gnocchi and parmesan-crusted lamb are all executed with ace technical skill.

The kitchen also boasts another, less flashy but no less talented star: a bona fide Italian Nonna, aka Sam’s mother, who cook up batches of meatballs and other traditional cucina bites for the masses.

Pizza, the star of any Italian menu, is baked with the smoky authenticity of a Naples pizzeria inside a massive, wood-burning oven, the show horse inside this Exchange District restaurant.

All that, and Brooklynn’s succinct, sophisticated and carefully curated modern Italian menu makes it one of our choice destinations of the year.

With high-ceilings, dramatic chandeliers and an open floor plan, the restaurant buzzes like a New York City eatery. Servers are attentive and knowledgeable.

To begin, settle into a beet salad. Spicy arugula and the smooth tang of goat cheese balance the natural sweetness of the local root vegetable.

Juicy wild mushrooms and truffle oil lend a strong, earthy flavour to a golden risotto. The creamy rice is the foundation for this Manitoba-flavoured meal, which includes roasted pickerel fillets and fried leek slivers served in a gravity-defying tower.

Forbidden Pasta is a tangle of house-made, black squid pasta. Capers, minced tomatoes and a punch of chilli pepper liven up squid ringlets and tame the tang of natural brine.

The roasted veal chop is exceedingly tender and easily satisfies a meat craving.

Finish with a generous dollop of ultra-rich zabaglione, a traditional Italian custard made with eggs, sugar and sweet wine and whipped into luscious submission.

Brooklynn’s is open Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2 pm; Tue-Thu 5 pm-9 pm; Fri & Sat 5 pm-10 pm.

Exchange District

177 Lombard Ave

204- 415-4112

Entrées $16-$30

Hot Dining: Best New Restaurants 2011: Deadfish Cafe

World Kitchen

The menu at Deadfish Cafe is Chef/owner Robin Maharaj’s culinary biography, he says.

If that’s true, then he’s lived a very exciting, adventurous and daring life.

Born in Winnipeg into a Trinidadian family, Maharaj’s food at the 50-seat Osborne Village restaurant spans the globe.

His menu boasts an eclectic menagerie of delicious dishes, many with spicy hints of the Caribbean throughout.

The setting, food and servers all exude a quirky exuberance. But don’t mistake whimsy for nonchalance.

Food is innovative, interesting and consistently marvellous. Cumin and cilantro are Maharaj’s touchstone spice and herb, and flavour many of his meals. Despite that favouritism, he creates unique flavour profiles in different dishes.

The casual restaurant is decorated with vibrant, original paintings and a multi-coloured upright piano. A fish tank sits in one corner, while comfy leather sofas sprawl in the lounge.

For a fresh start, try the lettuce wraps, which are served with crisp, easy-to-wrap vegetables stir fried with hints of soy and honey. The accompanying hot-flash inducing jerk chicken, with habanero chilis, smoky cumin and coriander, make this Asia/Caribbean combo hearty and filling.

Soy-glazed arctic char, a frequent dinner special, delivers delicate and divine flavour. The sweet and salty glaze, peppered with red chilli flakes, offers gentle warmth without overpowering the subtle char.

A hoisin-infused basmati rice stir fry with tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers and onions complement the meal, bringing yin and yang.

Dressed with ribbons of fresh basil and shaved Parmesan cheese, spaghetti with Manitoba veal and pork meatballs is an instant classic. The robust and ripe tomato sauce is simple and well executed with whispers of basil and oregano.

An melty ode to cheese, the pollo piccanti pizza boasts heaps of feta and mozzarella with grilled chicken and pineapple on an extra crispy, thin-crust.

Maharaj’s salute to an eclectic life continues with creamy and gently spiced cardamom cheesecake with warm chocolate sauce. Forks can’t resist the hunt for oozing chocolate treasure buried inside moist banana bread pudding presented on a dreamy pool of caramel.

Deadfish Cafe is open Mon 11 am-3 pm and 5 pm-11 pm; Tue-Thu 11 am-11 pm; Fri 11am-1 am; Sat 3pm-1 am.

Osborne Village

1-167 Osborne St

204- 477-6609

Entrées $22-$34

Hot Dining: Best New Restaurants 2011: Elements

At Elements, food is smart, well executed and environmentally conscious just like its home, the new Richardson College for the Environment and Science complex. (more…)

Hot Dining: Best New Restaurants 2011: Unburger

Gourmet Burgers

With gourmet toppings; fresh, locally sourced ingredients; healthy twists and a stylized interior, Unburger pushes the all-American cuisine to 21st-century heights.

From the divine burger mash-ups to the street-chic decor and down to the printed Unburger philosophy cards slipped in each napkin holder, every detail has been precisely executed in this Osborne Village eatery.

Inside, you’ll find fresh, extra lean Manitoba beef. Manitoba chicken burgers are made with all-white breast meat. Toppings are sourced locally whenever possible. And the ciabatta and multi-grain buns are all made in-house.

The impressive, mod interior showcases the eatery’s eat-right, eat-well philosophy. White walls are adorned with cheeky expressions like “Milk isn’t the only thing that does your body good” painted in black.

Soda pop is served in retro bottles while kooky figurines act as table markers. Single light bulbs strung on red cords and white and black seating give Unburger a cohesive yet minimalist look.

There is nothing minimal about the food.

‘Bold’ best describes the zippy toppings found in the Blue & Gold burger. Funky blue cheese and gentle chipotle aioli dominated this ode-to-the-Bombers burger that was also topped with tangy balsamic onions.

The Tropic of Thunder grilled chicken breast burger zinged with savoury flavour from a melted slice of Bothwell cheddar, thick-cut double smoked bacon and a smear of tangy chipotle mayo. Juicy pieces of pineapple dripped with palate-pleasing sweetness.

Lettuce leaves can be subbed in as a gluten-free bun option, as with the divine vegetarian falafel burger. The crispy, flash-fried patty housed a creamy chickpea mixture. A fiery banana pepper salsa bumped the spice meter, while a dollop of lemon oregano yogurt, lettuce and tomato cooled it down with subtle herbaceous taste.

Sides such as fragrant sweet curry salt edamame and Asian slaw dressed in a light rice vinaigrette deliver both garden-fresh taste. Indulge in some of the best fries in town. These skin-on, hand-cut French fries pair well with the balanced, house-made rosemary-garlic dip.

Unburger is open Mon-Sat 11 am-10 pm; Sun noon-9 pm.

Osborne Village

472 Stradbrook Ave

204- 888-1001

Entrées $9-$15

Hot Dining: Kooky Gourmet Pizza

Zazaza Pizza with Pizazz offers 32 pizza toppings.

How could you not love a restaurant with a dish named The Scary Roommate? (FYI, it’s a pizza with Kraft Dinner and hot dogs). This is the draw at Zazaza Pizza with Pizazz, the brainchild of the original owner of The Works (a local chain of gourmet burger joints). In the same vein, this bistro brings 32 original pizza toppings to the table. Some lean towards traditional (hot Italian sausage, pesto, caramelized onion), while others are more daring (tandoori chicken, twice baked potato, cream cheese). All perch atop a thin cornmeal or honey-oat crust and a healthy dose of homemade sauce. If you still have room, end on dessert pizza. 143 Putman Ave., 613-747-9292.

Hot Dining: Cranberry Bellini Recipe

Cranberry Bellini

Toast the new year with this festive Cranberry Bellini, an updated version of the Italian classic, created by Hendrick’s Gin Brand Champion, Charlotte Voisey. We think it will make the perfect addition to any New Year’s Eve party.

Ingredients
• 1 oz (30 mL) Hendrick’s Gin (which recently won gold for “Best Distilled Gin” at the 2011 International Spirits Challenge)
• 1 oz (30 mL) cranberry juice
• 1 oz (30 mL) simple syrup
• 1/2 oz (15 mL) fresh lemon juice
• 4 oz (120 mL) champagne

Method
• Combine ingredients in a mixing glass (except champagne)
• Shake well
• Strain into a flute glass
• Top with champagne
• Garnish with a sugared cranberry

Serves one

*To make simple syrup: Bring equal parts sugar and water to a boil. Stir to dissolve and then let cool.