Hot Dining

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Hot Dining: Fantastic Food Fills an Ever-Changing Menu at Allium

Diners can always find something inventive (and delicious) at Allium.

The low-key dining room at Allium has all the makings for a great night: attentive service, delicious food, and a fun atmosphere. The menu changes on the first Thursday of every month, meaning you can make many return visits and try something different each time (they also offer a popular tapas menu on Monday nights). One of the items you don’t have to worry about changing though is the banoffee pie. This to-die-for treat (and local favourite) features a graham cracker crumb crust, banana slices, toffee, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings. A perfectly decadent way to end the meal. 87 Holland Ave., 613-792-1313.

Hot Dining: Cool Chinese Cuisine at Chinois

Chinois Restaurant photo by KK Law

Yaletown’s newly minted Chinois, a cozy brick room that brims with funky, vibrant art, blends classic Chinese fare with smartly sourced local ingredients. Faves from the glass-walled kitchen range from barbecued pork, roast duck and kung-pao chicken to steamed sablefish and jumbo prawns with candied walnuts.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Culinary Art at Diva at the Met

Corned Yarrow Meadows duck with pickled North Arm Farm vegetables, foie gras walnut and quince, at Diva at the Met. Photo by KK Law

Executive chef Hamid Salimian of Diva at the Met crafts modern plates to please both palate and palette. Favourites include Northern Divine caviar on fluffy brioche; bone marrow and veal tongue with pickled local vegetables; and wafer-thin Sunshine Coast sturgeon over salmon roe and side-striped prawn, teased with slices of dill ash–cured scallop. Dishes are paired with well-chosen wines.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Contemporary Food and a Great Atmosphere at Absinthe

Contemporary Canadian soul food at Absinthe

What to expect from a restaurant named Absinthe? Well, five varieties of this spirit, of course (“Yes, it’s legal, and yes, it does have the real ingredients,” says general manager Thomas McVeigh). You’ll also find seasonal menus and contemporary Canadian soul food to fill your belly, such as the much-loved steak frites and the “Benevolent Burgers” ($1 from which goes to charity). Round out the experience with an extensive wine list, creative cocktails, and a relaxed ambience that lets you laugh loudly with your friends. 1208 Wellington St. W., 613-761-1138.

Hot Dining: 5 Spring Flings

Truffles Fine Foods Cafe. Photo by KK Law

Even though it’s not quite patio season, these blooming spots still prime the taste buds.
1 Shaughnessy Restaurant Enjoy bucolic views and West Coast fare in the heart of VanDusen Botanical Garden. Pop by Truffles (pictured) in the dramatic new visitor centre for more casual bites.
2 Seasons in the Park In the tranquil surroundings of Queen Elizabeth Park, savour West Coast cuisine along with downtown and mountain views.
3 The Fish House in Stanley Park Sustainable seafood is on the menu at this quaint house in the heart of the park.
4 Horizons Restaurant Head up Burnaby Mountain for regional cuisine in a stunning, vista-kissed setting bordered by rose gardens.
5 Hart House Restaurant This Tudor-style mansion, nestled among flowering shrubs and manicured lawns in Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park, caters to classic tastes.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Late Night Bites

When you’re in the mood for an evening snack, we’ve got a few places that will fit the bill.

The Traditional Poutine from Smoke's includes hand-cut yellow fleshed fries, fresh Quebec cheese curds, and their signature homemade gravy.

Smoke’s Poutinerie
An after-bar staple, here you get fries smothered in gravy, cheese, chicken, beef, or even veggies.
407 Dalhousie St., 613-789-2873
www.smokespoutinerie.com

Zak’s Diner
Open 24 hours, so you can order breakfast morning, noon, or night.
14 ByWard Market Square, 613-241-2401, and 499 Terry Fox Dr., 613-435-5483
www.zaksdiner.com (more…)

Hot Dining: Going Green at Trafalgars Bistro

The GreenGood Composter at Trafalgars Bistro. Photo by KK Law

Kermit the Frog said it’s not easy being green, but Trafalgars Bistro and its bakery sibling Sweet Obsession would disagree. Thanks to their new GreenGood Composter (pictured), they no longer send any organic waste to the landfill. Instead, the high-tech composter converts food waste into garden-ready compost in just 24 hours. Of the businesses’ remaining garbage, 98 per cent is recycled. Going green, indeed.—Sheri Radford

Hot Dining: Movie Nights at Society

Society. Photo by KK Law

How’s this for an offer you can’t refuse: movie nights at Yaletown hot spot Society (pictured). Reserve a seat in the upstairs lounge to see this month’s flick, Michael Jackson’s This Is It (Apr. 4, 7 p.m.), on the big projector screen. There’s complimentary popcorn, but why settle for kernels when you could sample some specials? Try the addictive buffalo wings on the $5 snack menu or pastas and pizzas for $8 each. Meals, movies and mingling—now that’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dining: Five Greenest Tables

Sous-vide duck breast with balsamic reduction and mandarin-and-toasted-almond green salad, at Trafalgars. Photo by KK Law

Socially conscious diners find no shortage of eco-friendly options.
1 Laidback Trafalgars (pictured), a tasteful West Side bistro, along with its bakery sibling, Sweet Obsession, has almost completely eliminated garbage with a revolutionary in-house composter that makes garden-ready compost in just 24 hours.
2 More than just a pretty place, the upbeat Cactus Club Cafe chain employs sustainable policies across the board, from sourcing local ingredients to waste-water reduction.
3 The Observatory and more casual Altitudes Bistro, atop Grouse Mountain, use power from the resort’s own wind turbine and observation tower, the Eye of the Wind.
4 O’Doul’s Restaurant & Bar adheres to Green Table, Ocean Wise and Get Local programs that put ethically raised local ingredients and carbon-neutral practices first.
5 The grandfather of regional seasonal cuisine for 27 years, Bishop’s continues to offer almost all organic, understated plates, delivered in an intimate, art-filled setting.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: Wild Rice Comes to New Westminster

Wild Rice in New Westminster. Photo by KK Law

Hop on the SkyTrain to explore Westminster Quay on the Fraser River, and check out modern Chinese specialist Wild Rice, which recently opened this second location, overlooking the water. On the menu: creative plates such as seared Ocean Wise albacore tuna with ginger shallot daikon and black vinegar reduction, or, more traditional, Chinese barbecued Sloping Hill pork on rice. For more cutting-edge Asian tastes and seductive cross-cultural cocktails, drop by Xi Shi Lounge in downtown’s Shangri-La Hotel.—Tim Pawsey