Fraser Café (Photo by fieldtripp)
We’ve been following Ottawa Magazine’s online weekly lunch picks of the best places for a midday meal this winter. If you’re visiting our nation’s capital, try these restaurants that received glowing reviews: (more…)
Enjoy a sexy dinner at Kinki Asian-Fusion Restaurant during WinterBites.
Winter in Ottawa “bites” less this year, thanks to a new food event, WinterBites, launching today and running through January 28.
What better way to ward off the nip of a central Ontario winter than by tucking into a gourmet three-course meal—at appetizing prices, no less? (more…)
Photo by Shawna Wagman
Ottawa’s brand-new Fatboys Southern Smokehouse, opened last week, serves up American-style slow-cooked Southern barbecue and all the fixin’s (fried green tomatoes included) in the Byward Market shopping and dining district.
These days, it seems the city has its choice of pulled pork, brisket and coleslaw, with the SmoQue Shack barbecue joint just a few doors down.
Who knew Canada’s capital city was so southern?
Photo by Jack Letourneau
At this time of year, comfort food is on the menu across Canada: the season demands it. French-speaking Canada, in particular, has a knack for concocting the perfect heart-warming rustic fare, like poutine, cretons and—not least of all—tourtière, a savoury mince-meat pie with dashes of cinnamon and cloves.
With equal French and English influences, Ottawa understandably has plenty of worthy contenders for the best tourtière in town.
Hop over to OttawaMagazine.com for their five favourite places for tourtière in Canada’s capital city.
This autumn scene is a familiar Chinatown sight. Photo credit: "Nanny Goat Hill (at Empress)" by Jay Anderson.
Sometimes art can create a distance between the viewer and the subject being portrayed. The opposite is true in the “Simply Ottawa” series by Jay Anderson, which draws people into scenes with familiar Ottawa landmarks, such as the Champlain Lookout, the Rideau River, Hog’s Back Falls, and Chinatown (featured). After three years in the works, Anderson’s exhibit will be on view at Foyer Gallery starting tomorrow, Nov. 16, and running until Dec. 4.
Every Friday we feature an inspirational travel photo of a Canadian destination taken by one of our readers.
Photo by Greg Kolz (Michael Ignatieff/Flickr CC)
Why we chose it: Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. This photo incorporates nearly everything there is to experience at the official Remembrance Day Ceremony in the nation’s capital: buglers, bagpipers and soldiers in formation. The photographer shows off an amazing command of depth of field and captures a soothing nice colour palette in an event that’s usually a sea of red uniforms. A poignant image befitting a somber event.
Want to be featured in our Photo Friday? Join our Flickr Group and upload your favourite travel shots! We’ll credit you and link to your photo.
Here you have it: this week’s most popular stories from our sister sites at St. Joseph Media. This weekend, stay up all night for Toronto’s Nuit Blanche, dress to impress for winter, and settle in with a good book—or take one on the road!
TorontoLife.com: What to hit and what to skip at the annual Nuit Blanche art-stravaganza, on Saturday night till sunup Sunday.
FashionMagazine.com: Gadding about the Great White North this winter? Do it in style with one of these 30 great winter coats.
CanadianFamily.ca: Bob Marley’s daughter has written a new children’s book based on his song “One Love.”
OttawaMagazine.com: Female chefs at six of Ottawa’s hottest restaurants dish on the city’s food scene and discuss the culinary battle of the sexes.
20minutesupperclub.com: Prosciutto-wrapped chicken with asparagus in 20 minutes? Read it to believe it.
WeddingBells.ca: Flower season has bloomed and gone—Wedding Bells comes to the rescue with 21 flower-less bouquets.
Quillandquire.com: Homework is overrated; turn the kids onto these new fall books for young people instead.
Torontoist.com: Have your say in the naming of six new Toronto subway stations. (Write-ins allowed.)
Photo by Ian Muttoo
By Amanda Yiu
Montreal-based bike-sharing company BIXI, which launched in Toronto, Ottawa, and Boston in the past few months, may be expanding to Vancouver in the near future, and plans for a 10,000-fleet New York City launch are set for next summer.
BIXI has grown rapidly since first launching in Montreal in 2009, beginning operations in Toronto, Ottawa and Boston in the past four months and rolling out overseas in 2010, in London, Melbourne and DC. The bike-sharing program is undeniably popular, with more than 3 million BIXI trips taken since the beginning of 2010.
For visitors, borrowing a bike at a pay-as-you-go rate can be a fabulous way to explore the city. But be sure to keep your ride short. A friend visiting from Australia last month made the mistake of taking out a BIXI bike in Toronto for the full day and ended up paying over $100 in usage fees. As the breakdown of non-subscriber fees (below) shows, long trips can add up quickly. (Subscribers can pay $95 for a one-year membership, waiving the $5 daily flat fee, but the same time-of-use rates still apply.)
BIXI fees for 8 hours of continuous usage:
$5 flat 24-hour access fee (includes first 30 minutes)
+ $1.50 for 31–60 min
+ $4 for 61–90 min
+ $104 for additional 6.5 hours ($8 x 13 half-hour increments)
= $113.50 before tax
Additionally, a $250 security deposit is charged to your credit card and refunded after 10 days.
Photo courtesy of Ontario Tourism
By Merle Rosenstein
Fall evokes images of warm woolen sweaters, steaming hot chocolate and fresh apple crumble. In Ontario the end of summer is heralded by an eruption of colour—oranges, reds and yellows painted across treetops—and the gabble and squawk of birds as they migrate south. Autumn is a time of agricultural bounty in the province, displayed in farmers’ markets and at roadside stands: MacIntosh, Royal Gala and other tempting apple varieties are ripe for picking. The drama of the season and the cool weather makes this a perfect time for a vigorous hike in the country. In the cities and towns, calendars are bursting with events from film and literary festivals to ghost walks and fall country fairs
Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
For travellers planning their summer trips in Canada this year, the regional editors of Where magazine have released their top picks for summer travel. The winners of Where Canada’s Best New Attractions for Summer 2011 represent the most exciting attractions – new, significantly improved, or celebrating major milestones this year. A diverse group of attractions from coast to coast, this year’s winners offer a wide range of activities and events suitable for any family, art lover, sports fanatic, nature lover or adventurer. Together, these attractions serve as the top must-see and must-dos for anyone travelling in Canada this summer. (more…)
Bikes on trains. Photo by Sandbanks Pro
Bike enthusiasts looking to explore another city’s streets should consider a weekend two-wheel road trip enabled by one of VIA Rail Canada’s bike trains. Cyclists can bring their bikes on board for $20 per direction, and then sit back and relax until they arrive. Cities serviced include the well-travelled streets of Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, and a few lesser-trod spots like London and Windsor in Ontario and Jonquière and Senneterre in Quebec.
Take the family on Ottawa’s Capital parkway network, which is the reason why our capital often pops up on lists of the best cities in North America to cycle. With the views of the Ottawa River and well-groomed parks, you won’t feel like you’re in a metropolis. In Senneterre, bikers can check out Mount Bell and the dense pines of Aiguebelle Park. Cyclers travelling to Windsor have the vast 42 km Chrysler Canada Greenway ahead of them—rural routes, wineries and the beaches of Lake Erie offer something for all.
Via offers bike transportation on trains with bike racks until October 31, 2011. Find details at http://www.viarail.ca/bike.
Where is lucky to enough to have editions all over the country, so here at Where Ottawa, we rounded up the fun events and activities taking place in the different cities. Check them out if you’re on the road this weekend!
Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light takes place annually in Ottawa. Photo credit: Mike Alexander.
Ottawa kicks off the annual Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light, an annual competition that pits country against country in a battle between the best pyrotechnics in the world.
Funny guy Jerry Seinfeld takes a break from producing his TV show The Marriage Ref and heads to Calgary for a good old fashioned stand-up performance.
Halifax hosts its yearly Halifax Seaport BeerFest, which is expected to draw some 5,000 attendees who love their beer and cider.
Get over your fear of dancing in public with Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square in Vancouver.
Why are Canucks so attached to the outdoors? The exhibition Play > Nation, on view at the Design Exchange in Toronto, explores the notion.
Got young ones? Then a trip to the newly renovated, highly interactive Children’s Museum in Winnipeg is in order.
If you’re in Muskoka, put an exciting spin on date night with the dinner theatre production of the British farce Beyond a Joke, on now at the Gravenhurst Opera House.
Sizzling steaks at Sidecut in Whistler
The regional editors of Where recently unveiled their list of 2010’s best new restaurants across Canada.
1. Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie – Vancouver, BC; 604-688-087; www.bao-bei.ca
2. Sidecut (pictured) – Whistler, BC; 604-966-5280; www.fourseasons.com
3. Prime Steakhouse and Lounge – Victoria, BC; 250-386-2010; www.primesteak.ca
4. Charcut Roast House – Calgary, AB; 403-984-2180; www.charcut.com
5. Zinc – Edmonton, AB; 780-392-2501; www.zincrestaurant.ca
6. Habitat Restaurant – Canmore, AB; 403-678-8880; www.granderockies.com/habitat
7. Segovia Tapas Bar and Restaurant – Winnipeg, MB; 204-477-6500; www.segoviatapasbar.com
8. Enoteca Sociale – Toronto, ON; 416-534-1200; www.sociale.ca
9. Taste, the Restaurant at Touchstone – Muskoka, ON; 705-764-5353; www.touchstoneonlakemuskoka.com/taste.html
10. Town – Ottawa, ON; 613-695-8696; www.townlovesyou.ca
11. Fujiyama – Halifax, NS; 902-492-1133; www.sushifujiyama.ca
Where editors from across the country have cast their ballots for the Best New Restaurants to open in Canada in 2009. From creative twists on traditional cuisines to stylish décors and high quality food for reasonable prices, these are the eateries you won’t want to miss from coast to coast.
Veneto Tapa Lounge, Victoria
Victoria’s best new restaurant takes traditional tapas to a whole new level. Led by chef Tod Bosence, the sophisticated, urban Veneto Tapa Lounge offers both a hip bar area and quieter dining room, ideal for enjoying Bosence’s creative dinner menu. Each entree is presented tapas style – those in the mood for beef, for example, will enjoy it three ways: veal ravioli with portabella mushroom ragout and roasted garlic cream sauce; marinated short rib with parmesan polenta cake; and New York strip roulade with spicy lobster stuffing and bordelaise sauce.
Cibo Trattoria, Vancouver
With London’s River Café alumnus Neil Taylor heading up the kitchen and ex-Lumiere general manager/sommelier Sebastien Le Goff in charge, it didn’t take long for Cibo to gain a solid reputation for its vibrant rustic Italian cuisine, thoroughly grounded in West Coast ingredients. Taylor’s dishes, which change by the week (if not the day), are constructed with uncomplicated—but wickedly exacting—flair.
Parker House Grill & Wine Bar, Calgary
Parker House is the kind of place where diners can experience high quality service, ambience and food, for a reasonable price tag. Chef Andrew Keen, known for his excellence in “forgotten fare,” has created a menu inspired by traditional New England comfort dishes with creative twists. For dinner, most entrees (with the exception of their steaks) sit in the mid-twenties range, while diners on a budget can try one of their thin-crust pizzas for as low as $12.88.
Creations Dining Room & Lounge, Sawridge Inn Edmonton South, Edmonton
Artful, delicious dining at Creations—the paint’s barely dry and the buzz is on for the eclectic Canadian fusion cuisine of Creations, the stunning new dining room and lounge in the atrium of the Sawridge Inn Edmonton South. Walls of fire, water, badlands hoodoos and a huge dreamcatcher treat the senses as menu items entice patrons to explore palate pleasers such as Sherried Beef Caprese.
Rustica Steakhouse, Canadian Rockies
Rustic has earned its place as one of the Canadian Rockies’ top restaurants for its elegant ‘mountain lodge’ atmosphere and uncompromising dedication to Canada Prime Beef. But it’s the cuisine of Caribbean-born Chef Stefan Mahon that keeps them coming back for more. Only the top 0.3% of beef in Canada earns Prime designation (a superior grade to AAA)—Stefan’s New York cuts, grand filet mignon and prime rib chops are prepared with a signature dry rub, seared under a 1500°F (815°C) broiler and presented on 500°F (260°C) plates with garlic butter.
Hermanos, Winnipeg
Winnipeggers are feeling the Latin heat thanks to the fiery flavours of South American cuisine at this year’s arrival of Hermanos Restaurant and Wine Bar. Set in a 5,500-square-foot warehouse in the Exchange District, fast lunches, tapas and mains are found on the mainly Argentinean- and Brazilian-influenced menu. The crispy fried empanadas are a must-try.
Raw Aura, Mississauga
Raw Aura, true to its name, offers a menu of entirely raw cuisine—the better to emphasize the natural and nourishing properties of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts. In an intimate yet airy space, friendly staff dish out delectably fresh fare including a “peace wrap” bursting with avocado, tomatoes, carrots, kale, sprouts and hummus, and zesty lo-mein featuring noodles made of zucchini and golden beets.
Loire, Toronto
Loire, a self-described “casual gourmet” spot, well-situated along increasingly foodie-friendly Harbord Street offers fresh, seasonal dishes that could include chili- and cornmeal-crusted Lake Erie whitefish, grilled New York striploin and a succulent beef or lamb burger on challah bread. This intimate restaurant effortlessly straddles the line between relaxed neighbourhood fave and boldface fine-dining destination.
Teca, Muskoka
Overlooking Lake Rosseau is Teca, a fine Italian restaurant located within the luxurious Rosseau Resort & Spa. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Muskoka Lakes, find this decidedly urban dining room and a centrally located open kitchen that dishes up authentic rustic Italian fare. Tuck into freshly made pasta—from papperdelle and gnocchi to spaghetti and meatballs—or thin crust pizza made in a wood-stone oven, as well as veal chops, fish, striploin and rack of lamb.
The Grand Pizzeria & Bar, Ottawa
Nestled on one of the most auspicious corners in Ottawa’s bustling ByWard Market, The Grand Pizzeria is a popular addition to the downtown dining scene. Built in the late 17th century, this enviable location once housed The Grand Hotel. Today, it’s home to the perfect pizza pie. Traditional Italian appetizers (antipasti, salads) make way for the main attraction: authentic Napoletana pizza. The dough is created and hand-pressed by Master Pizzaiolo Pasqualino Oliveri, who placed first in the 2004 European Pizza Championship, among other honours.
Pipa Restaurant & Bar, Halifax
Chef Luis Gaspar and partner Victoria Dunham Gaspar are longtime veterans of Halifax’s dining scene. And when they decided to embark on a project all their own, they saw a glaring omission in the city’s dining scene. Specializing in Portuguese cuisine, with rich, filling and full-flavoured dishes. Pipa is the only restaurant of its type in Halifax, specializing in Old World and Brazilian dishes such as Moqueca (fish stew) and Feijoada (a stew of meats and black beans). Seafood dishes abound, including fresh grilled sardines.
Halifax
Roots-rock legends Blue Rodeo return to the Halifax Metro Centre on January 28, performing concert classics like “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” and “Diamond Mine,” along with their newest material.
Vancouver & Whistler
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are almost here, and they’re bringing a lot more than just sports to Vancouver and Whistler. The Cultural Olympiad 2010 (Jan 22 – Mar 21) is the culmination of three years of Cultural Olympiads on the West Coast, and it features some of the world’s best artists, musicians, dancers, actors and performers. Vancouver highlights include Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and the Drum at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Jan 22 – 24), Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe at the Granville Island Stage (Jan 21 – Feb 6), and Steve Earle and Joel Plaskett at The Orpheum (Jan 23).
Whistler highlights include Canada’s first theatre of snow and ice, Nix (Jan 22 – Feb 27), Corb Lund at Whistler Village Square (Feb 19), and the Nunavut-based circus Artcirq at the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre (Feb 20).
Ottawa
During the Carleton Cup Triathlon on Jan 30, fearless participants—athletically inclined or otherwise—skate for nearly 7km up and down the Rideau Canal, run through the ByWard Market, then slide into The Aulde Dubliner & Pour House to pound back a drink. First one in gets the bragging rights, but the real winner is the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Led by controversial-yet-charismatic frontman Axl Rose, the newest incarnation of Guns N’ Roses will tour to promote Chinese Democracy, an album that was 15 years in the making. They stop into Ottawa Jan 31.
Calgary
Known for its memorable songs like, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” the Tony Award-winning musical, Fiddler on the Roof plays at the Jubilee until Jan 17. Throughout the month of January, One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo offers theatre-lovers innovative plays, skits and acts from around the world. Highlights include Kawasaki Exit, a play about the dark-side of Japanese social networking sites and The Pajama Men, a comedy duo who perform their act in their pjs.
Winnipeg
World-class men’s curling talent sweeps into Winnipeg for the BDO Canadian Classic Open Jan 20 – 24. Top names like Canada’s Olympic representative Kevin Martin and Scotland’s reigning World Champion David Murdoch are expected to participate.
Edmonton
Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, one of Canada’s most accomplished dance organizations, brings three brilliant performances to Edmonton Jan 20: In Paradisum; Soudain, l’hiver dernier; and Fifteen Heterosexual Duets, all choreographed by James Kudelka. Artistic Director Laurence Lemieux promises “an exhilarating voyage to the heights of paradise and the depths of the heart.” Edmontonians revel in the winter months at the Winter Light Festival. Every weekend brings a blizzard of family fun with many events such as ice carving, ice-skating, art shows and much more. On until Mar 12, free admission.
Canadian Rockies
The Olympic Torch Relay comes through Banff Jan 20 and the town is celebrating outdoors with live music. Watch as teams carve massive blocks of ice into glittering sculptures at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise during the Ice Magic Festival, Jan 22 – 24 (if you can’t catch the carving, admire the art until it melts away in a few months). Or hit up Jasper in January for ski lift ticket and hotel discounts, plus fun events like the polar bear dip, Taste of the Town, music and skating parties, Jan 15 – 31.
Toronto
Important figures of history continue to draw crowds in the present. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart looms large over the city on select dates between Jan 13 and 24 as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents the Mozart@254 Festival, its annual concert series commemorating the 1756 birth of the Classical Era’s greatest composer. This year’s program features guest artists including famed baritone Russell Braun, violinist Pinchas Zukerman and many others. Or, have an archeological encounter with the great rulers of Egypt, by visiting the Art Gallery of Ontario’s ongoing exhibit, King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs. The massive display showcases rare artifacts from the days of Khafre, Amenhotep IV, Rameses II and other significant monarchs, as well as more than 50 exquisite treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun. On until Apr 18.
From coast to coast Where Editors have chosen the best new or improved attractions in the country. From dramatic glass pyramids in the prairies to canopied aerial bridges in the rain forest to exploring the wonders of the ocean, these are attractions you won’t want to miss.
Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre – Victoria, British Columbia
At the new Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, explore the wonders of the Salish Sea, the name given to the inside waters off Vancouver Island. Designed to appeal to all ages, visitors can chat with knowledgeable Oceaneers about the wonders of the ocean and enjoy “hands on/hands wet” experiences, surrounded by massive aquarium habitats showcasing hundreds of fish, invertebrates and marine plants.
Greenheart Canopy Walkway – Vancouver, British Columbia
Walking the nine aerial bridges of the Greenheart Canopy Walkway at UBC Botanical Garden is a unique experience; from high in the forest canopy, it’s possible to see unusual insects and birds. You don’t have to be a daredevil to enjoy this eco-attraction, which opened last year, but you can’t fear heights: the 308m (1,010ft) walkway tops out at more than 17.5m (57ft) off the ground.
Peak 2 Peak Gondola – Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler’s new $52-million Peak 2 Peak Gondola boasts the world’s longest unsupported lift span. State-of-the-art 28-person cabins travel a 4.4km (2.7mi), 11-minute journey between the two mountains, affording a spectacular view to all on-board.
Stoney Nakoda Resort – Morley, East of Canmore, Alberta
Nestled on the eastern edge of the Canadian Rockies, Stoney Nakoda Resort offers Vegas-style gaming while the 111-room hotel boasts an indoor waterpark and meeting facilities. Along with a restaurant, café and sports lounge, guests can also catch live entertainment and dinner shows.
Gasoline Alley Museum at Heritage Park Historical Village – Calgary, Alberta
In the last year, Heritage Park Historical Village has expanded their size from 66 acres to 127 acres, and added five new attractions, including the Gasoline Alley Museum. The museum is made up of a $5 million collection of restored vintage cars, gas pumps and paraphernalia.
The Muttart Conservatory – Edmonton, Alberta
Four glass pyramids in Edmonton’s lush river valley make up The Muttart Conservatory, home to a spectacular display of flowers and vegetation. Newly expanded and renovated for 2009–with more educational program space as well as a gift shop and cozy cafeteria–it’s a memorable destination for all ages.
The West End BIZ Mural Tours – Winnipeg, Manitoba
The West End BIZ Mural Tours’ stunning outdoor mural galleries tell visitors about the West End, one of Winnipeg’s oldest neighbourhoods. Stories about the area’s prominent people, culture and heritage are depicted, while tour guides share related facts and history.
Art Gallery of Ontario – Toronto, Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario has undergone a massive redesign by famed architect Frank Gehry completed in late 2008. An additional 97,000 square feet means striking visuals abound in both edifice and artwork: rooms devoted to the ambitious Thomson Collection–Canadian paintings, European objets d’art, First Nations works and much more.
Canada Aviation Museum – Ottawa, Ontario
When the Canada Aviation Museum opened at Ottawa’s Uplands Airport in 1960, it contained a small collection of aircraft owned by the Canadian government. Nearly 50 years later, it houses over 130 aircraft and artifacts celebrating aeronautical achievements. After some recent major renovations, the museum has emerged as one of the most esteemed institutions in Ottawa, and a major player on the world stage, even hosting the Genie Awards in April.
Murphy’s Cable Wharf – Halifax, Nova Scotia
Although Murphy’s has been a landmark on the Halifax waterfront for years, 2009 saw dramatic changes. The restaurant, store and tour operator is now known as Murphy’s Cable Wharf. The restaurant is now open year-round, and the $1.6-million facelift includes a catch-your-own lobster tank, an interpretive walkway along the wharf and a tank showcasing local marine life.
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Stay, Dine, Do
