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Dine on the Friendly Frontier: 10 Top Restaurants on Vancouver Island

November 20, 2018 by Nevin Martell Leave a Comment

Located across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver, Vancouver Island is Canada’s friendly frontier. The adventurous isle is home to a wealth of top-notch restaurants worth exploring after a day salmon fishing, bear watching, or kayaking. From Victoria on the eastern end to Tofino to the west, chefs are utilizing the bounty of the surrounding seas, the forests, and the fields to create modern Canuck cuisine that has North American roots but takes plenty of inspiration from the rest of the world. Here are 10 top restaurants on Vancouver Island to try.

1909 Kitchen, Tofino
Executive chef Paul Moran crafts creative small plates that benefit from the bounty of the island and its surrounding waters. Think local snap peas lavished with soy sake dressing and topped with threads of dried seaweed, steamed clams, and mussels seasoned with herbs harvested from tidal pools, albacore tartare dressed with gochujang and sea asparagus, and an indulgent white pizza featuring golden chanterelles from the forests nearby. Bonus: If you go fishing and get lucky, the kitchen is happy to prepare your catch. Make a reservation at 1909 Kitchen.

Saveur, Victoria
Chef Robert Cassels’s tasting menu gives guests a deep dive into his French-minded cuisine with modernist twists. Expect plenty of local flavors. Dishes might feature halibut from the nearby Haida Gwaii archipelago, Cowichan Valley chicken, and wild elderberries and chanterelles from the island’s backwoods. Optional wine pairings come from the Old World and British Columbia, while the beverage program features local ciders by Lonetree, Tod Creek, and Merridale. Make a reservation at Saveur.

Sooke Harbour House, Sooke
The tasting menu experience (three, four, or seven courses) is the best way to lose yourself in this artful menu featuring a cascade of local ingredients. The restaurant’s three-acre certified organic garden is home to over 200 herbs, greens, vegetables, and edible flowers, which all figure prominently in the dishes. Wild edibles, fresh seafood, produce, and proteins from elsewhere on and around the island are given equal attention. Meals might include Fanny Bay Kusshi oysters, locally foraged golden chanterelles, and rhubarb from nearby Whiffin Spit Farm. As you eat, you get a real sense of the place since the dining room features expansive views of the ocean and the majestic property. Make a reservation at Sooke Harbour House.

Little Jumbo, Victoria
The Fernet Branca-stained bar and its offerings are the center of attention at this genteel watering hole, but there’s a lot to love about chef Gabriel Fayerman-Hansen’s elevated pub fare. There are plenty of small bites that go down well with a cocktail or two – truffled fries, smoked olives, and freshly shucked oysters – but stick around for dinner and you’ll be richly rewarded. The house burger topped with onion bacon jam and smoked Gouda is a winner, as are corn risotto and barbecue beef ribs glistening with rum-allspice glaze. Make a reservation at Little Jumbo.

The Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay
Put your pinky out, it’s time for high tea. With stunning views of Jennie Butchart’s private garden or the Italian Garden and the sea, this is a tea service to remember. The sprawling spreads feature savory and sweet bites – from sausage rolls, salmon chowder en croute, and dainty cucumber and pickled ginger cream cheese sandwiches to vanilla peach cake, Bergamot-infused chocolate mousse, and lemon tart. There’s something for everyone, and no one leaves hungry. Make a reservation at The Butchart Gardens.

Summit, Malahat
Nestled in the woodlands of the Malahat ridge, the Italian inspired farm-to-table eatery looks down on the Instagram-worthy Saanich Inlet. Local elements are menu highlights –including plenty of seafood – while the wine list is rich with regional varietals. Overall, there’s a DIY attitude in the kitchen. Breads, pastas, and ricottas are made in-house. Desserts include creative sorbet and gelatos, such as daylily, and dense Black Forest cake that will send any chocolate lover into paroxysms of joy. Make a reservation at Summit.

All About Autumn: 10 Restaurants for Leaf-Peeping + Fall Flavors

September 26, 2018 by Kelly Merritt Leave a Comment

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When the first day of crisp air sets in and it’s time to search closets and trunks for a fall sweater, OpenTable diners who love autumn pack the car and set out to catch a glimpse of the changing leaves in all their splendor. From Montana to Texas, Western Canada to Nova Scotia, and everywhere in between, there’s no shortage of grand locales where diners can take in the foliage sights and have a dining experience worthy of the fall fireworks we all wait all year to enjoy. Here are 10 of our favorite restaurants for leaf peeping (and fueling up afterward).

The Tea House Restaurant, Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada
In what is one of British Columbia’s most exquisite parks, Vancouver’s Stanley Park and fall colours go hand-in-hand. One of the best reasons to visit Stanley Park is to stop for a meal at The Teahouse Restaurant. Mussels, baked British Columbia goat feta, and lamb riblets with grape olive glaze are just a few reasons to pause from the leaves for some sustenance. For seafood lovers, choices include sablefish, British Columbia salmon and halibut among others, while the tenderloin and wild mushroom ravioli satisfy hungry diners. Make a reservation at The Tea House Restaurant.

The Brewer’s Table, Austin, Texas
Grilled cheese and soup is to fall like ski slopes are to winter – a perfect match. This is especially true when dining in Lager Garden at The Brewer’s Table in trendy Austin, Texas. Prepared with camembert and whipped goat cheeses set in pumpkin and pear soup, this cheesy, melty goodness gets a crunchy treatment with cheese crisps crumbled inside the dried apricot brioche baked fresh daily at The Brewer’s Table. This signature fall dish is served with fresh apple slices and apple butter. Make a reservation at The Brewer’s Table.

The Boat Club at Lodge at Whitefish, Whitefish, Montana
A stone’s throw from Glacier National Park in one of Montana’s loveliest small towns, Whitefish is home to a charming Main Street community and is the gateway to some of the state’s most glorious fall adventures. Culinary-focused guests flock to the Boat Club for the views of Whitefish Lake and dishes like the charcuterie board with elk sausage with pear, proscuitto, soppresata salami, artisan cheeses, and Flathead cherry chutney. The elk meatballs arrive at table with a savory-sweet huckleberry barbecue glaze and crispy jalapeno dust while on Saturdays, guests line up for the prime rib. Make a reservation at The Boat Club.

Sunset Terrace at The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville, North Carolina
The Western North Carolina Mountains are full of legend and lore, historic hotels, and storied cuisine. For one-hundred and five years, the Grove Park Inn has served breathtaking views from its Sunset Terrance, where fall dining includes things like beet steak, bone marrow, and oxtail marmalade, and lamb. Make reservations in advance to catch a seat at the iconic stone lady. Make a reservation on The Sunset Terrace at the Grove Park Inn.

Imperial, Portland, Oregon
Within the historic Hotel Lucia in Downtown Portland, Imperial shares the best ingredients Oregon has to offer, including one of Imperial’s signature fall dishes guests salivate to enjoy. Served in a cast iron skillet, the coal-roasted sweet potato is cooked in the embers of Imperial’s wood-fired grill and paired with housemade charred onion butter and pepita salsa. Make a reservation at Imperial.

LaurieRaphael, Québec City, Canada
National parks, mountains, and fine dining define the outdoor and indoor experience in this thriving region. Between days spend driving the winding rural paths and returning to Québec City, dining at LaurieRaphael is more like stepping into a lovely alternate universe than just a restaurant. An adventure of the gastronomic kind, the chefs present the menu in themes with dishes like green tomatoes carpaccio with Québec red tuna tartar and Kamouraska sea urchin espuma, Orleans Island smoked lettuce with grilled pork confit and foie gras terrine, seared scallops with seasonal vegetable velouté, and seared veal with mixed herbs crust. Make a reservation at Laurie Raphael.

Silver Pine Restaurant & Bar at Little America Hotel, Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is known as much for its breathtaking fall vistas as for its colorful cuisine. Silver Pine Restaurant & Bar at Little America Hotel has debuted a new fall menu to include polar opposites to honor the light and the hearty. The Mother Earth salad is brimming with roasted vegetables, tomatoes, toasted almonds, garbanzo beans, and quinoa while the turkey plate is a nod to home-cooked holiday food. What makes this little gem a great stop for leaf peepers is the neighboring 500 acres of Ponderosa pine forest at the base of the San Francisco Peaks – all enjoyed al fresco at 7,000 feet in elevation. Make a reservation at Silver Pine.

Momofuku Kōjin, Toronto, Canada
Between Allan Gardens, Moss, and other tree-lined city parks, guests at Momofuku Kōjin find hearth-fired goodies like fingerling potato cheesecake layered with aged Gouda, coconut rice topped with caramelized coconut, and a carnivore’s delight steak menu sourced from Ontario purveyors. The menu includes bone-in filet mignon, dry-aged boneless ribeye, and bone-in striploin alongside seafood boxes brimming with oysters, fluke crudo, shrimp ceviche, poached shrimp, snow crab, and seasonal garnishes. Be sure to order the lacquered pork chop for the table or the chicken in a pot with crispy rice, green onion, and corn in a sharing portion that feeds two-three diners. Make a reservation at Momofuko Kojin.

Oktoberfest 2018: Make a Reservation on OpenTable for Germany’s Biggest Party

August 30, 2018 by Kelly Merritt Leave a Comment

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There are thousands of unique dining experiences available on OpenTable, but perhaps none more unique than Oktoberfest. Out of all the gatherings in the world, it stands out as number one on travelers’ bucket lists, for beer lovers in particular. Oktoberfest in Germany has played host to millions of visitors. Nearly 10 million liters of beer consumed, and from grills, ovens, and roasters emerges world-class food in seemingly endless trays of meats, cheese, and radishes to eat with that beer along with pretzels finished with a bevy of Bavarian sweet treats.

This traditional folk fest in Munich dates back to 1810 and runs for two weeks. Oktoberfest 2018 begins on Saturday, September 22 and ends on Sunday, October 7, during which time the region lights up with parades, more than 100 fairground attractions, live music everywhere, and streets filled with smiling people in costume.

Once the mayor taps the keg and the parades of horse-drawn beer wagons commence, the fun really begins, but tables sell out very fast even though the festival is largely dedicated to community seating. In all its culinary glory, Oktoberfest can be notoriously crowded and snagging a seat at one of the thousands of long wooden tables and benches is a feat unto itself.

This year, OpenTable diners can get the jump on Oktoberfest 2018 planning, For the first time ever, guests can book reservations through OpenTable at the following tents, making the rich culture of this food-centric country accessible and infinitely more convenient. Menus are subject to change throughout the weeks leading up to Oktoberfest, but here is a snapshot of these swoon-worthy options to try this year.

Bodo´s Cafezelt
After decades at Oktoberfest, Bodos Cafézelt & Cocktailbar has perfected the art of sweets. In what patrons call a rousing atmosphere (thanks, in no small part, to the owner and his air guitar), guests at Bodo’s have become hooked on its festive scene, welcoming atmosphere, and Bodo’s famous pastries. Here the noshes to try include cakes, strudels, and kirschwasser, a traditional German jam-filled pastry variety of Krapfen similar to a doughnut but without the center hole. No one other than Bodo E. Müller, who first trained as a confectioner back in the 60s, could create something this good. Make a reservation at Bodo’s Cafezelt.

Heinz Wurst and HühnerBraterei
As another centennial Oktoberfest eatery, Heinzwurst HühnerBraterei is an intimate place to gather to enjoy a selection of schmankerl, fresh from the restaurant’s sausage and chicken roastery. The owners describe the vibe in this welcoming tent as “hearty and homely,” but the cuisine is unforgettable. The logo says it all: Cupid riding a suckling pig with the slogan, ‘There’s something fine about getting Heinz.’ Make a reservation at Heinz Wurst and HühnerBraterei.

Münchner Knödelei
“The breadth of the dumpling kitchen makes the hearts of every Oktoberfest enthusiast beat faster.” This quote from host couple Florian and Bettina Oberndorfer speaks volumes about their representation of Bavarian food and, more specifically, the knödel, or dumpling, which has earned its way to the top of every Oktoberfest goer’s culinary wish list. The 800-seat Münchner Knödelei with half and half indoor and outdoor seating offers a variety of dumplings, all bio-certified as part of preserving the history of how Bavarians prepared knödel in the form of dumpling pretzel, a trio of vegetarian dumplings, Rostbratwürstel, roast pork, and plum dumplings, among others. Visitors to the Münchner Knödelei website can dive into learning more about this practice through a dumpling film that reveals a few of their secrets. Münchner Knödelei offers a family-friendly Royal Bavarian lunch menu, but don’t miss the Stenz von der Au appetizer tower. Make a reservation at Münchner Knödelei.

Cafe Kaiserschmarrn
Café Kaiserschmarrn marries art and baking at Oktoberfest in the form of coffee and sweets, including oversized pies, strudels, and whipped pancakes with traditional applesauce. The owners believe that there is no difference between bread and art and it shows in a cake buffet spilling over in frosting and cream against the decorative backdrop of a salute to Ludwig II’s Bavarian castle. Be sure to save enough time to catch a glimpse of the Kaiserschmarrnbacken, or baking process. Make a reservation at Café Kaiserschmarrn.

Wirtshaus im Schichtl
Meatloaf may be reported as dating back to fifth century medieval Europe, but a flavorful version of it happily haunts the Wirtshaus zum Schichtl tent at Oktoberfest. This variation of Bavarian meatloaf is served tavern-style alongside other traditional items, like grilled sausages, roast pork, bread dumplings, sauerkraut, and pork tenderloin, all of which are, of course, best paired with a mammoth glass of beer. Kids are welcome at Wirtshaus zum Schichtl and there is a special children’s menu available. Make a reservation at Wirtshaus im Schichtl.

Raise a Glass! 6 Top Winery Restaurants in Ontario to Try this Weekend

August 23, 2018 by Kelly Merritt Leave a Comment

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Among the endless things to do on a weekend, Canadians have no shortage of choices when it comes to winding down with a bottle of ice wine, cabernet franc, or buttery chardonnay. The Vintners Quality Alliance, which monitors Ontario’s appellation of origin system, lists the cool-climate Niagara Peninsula, rich terroir of Prince Edward County, and sunniest of the appellations, Lake Erie North Shore, as primary wine-growing regions along with multiple sub-appellations within each. And Wine Country Ontario, which promotes Ontario’s wine-growing regions, lists as many as 13 wineries to watch as emerging regions.

Where there is good wine, great food follows. Such is the case across culinary conscious Canada. Hundreds of Ontario wineries provide picturesque places for oenophiles to kick back, glass in hand. While the menus are ever changing, here are a few reasons to whisk yourself away to these top winery restaurants in Ontario this weekend.

Peller Estates Winery & Restaurant
To choose between slow-braised lamb, wild salmon, rabbit saddle, and entrees like potato-crusted beef with creamed leek, jalapeño, and ramp pico de gallo or ice wine-glazed squab with scallion gnocchi seems unfair – especially when one of the must-have signature dishes at Peller Estates Winery & Restaurant is the lobster linguini, prepared with hand-rolled black truffle linguini, ice wine-poached lobster, smoked bacon, and Sur Lie Chardonnay cream sauce. A dish is only as good as its garnishes and Peller knocks it out with these, too, in things like grilled fiddleheads, crispy escargot, and beetroot tuile. Peller Estates Winery & Restaurant is a destination with lots of dining event choices like Sunday harvest dinners, garden dinners, and barbecue dinners. In Canada, there’s no need to wait for dessert to indulge in a glass of ice wine. Save some time to hang out at the 10Below Icewine Lounge at Peller. There’s nothing like tasting ice wine in minus-10 degrees Celsius surrounded by ice like the winemakers must endure to harvest the grapes. Make a reservation at Peller Estates Winery Restaurant.

Oxley Estate Winery Restaurant
On the north shore of Lake Erie, south of Harrow and east of Colchester, Oxley Estate Winery is a lesson in why small batch wines are so special. This County Road 50 winery is home to the ultimate hangout, a renovated barn that dates back to 1920 and a wine garden patio with wood-burning fireplace. But Oxley Estate Winery is also esteemed for its wow-factor yet unpretentious cuisine. Known for the sticky pickled duck wings with honey and Szechuan vinaigrette, sugared chiles, and radish scallion salad, Oxley’s culinary team presents an inventive take on old favorites. Try the Arctic char with roesti and house garlic sausage and angolotti with peas, smoked radish, brie, smoked tomato butter, and frisée. Make a reservation at Oxley Estate Winery Restaurant.

Ravine Vineyard Winery Restaurant
On land owned by the Lowrey-Harber family for five generations since 1867, this St. Davids Ravine Vineyard Winery is a 34-acre retreat. Family ancestors grew cherries, pears, peaches, grapes, plums, and vegetables on this Niagara Peninsula land, making it ideal for wine production. These organic vineyards and winery make up an inviting place to sprawl out and get ready for wood oven-baked pizza, salmon steak, or butcher’s board of charcuterie, along with produce from the kitchen garden. On the patio overlooking the chardonnay vines, Ravine is an ever-popular gathering spot to hear local artists and sample wines and Lowrey Bros. Hard Cider on tap. Stop by Ravine’s own grocery store for Niagara jams, pickles, sauces, and canned whole fruits and veggies. Make a reservation at Ravine Vineyard Winery Restaurant.

Trius Winery Restaurant
Falling in love is as easy as ordering the ice wine-cured and smoked salmon with goat’s cheese croquettes at Trius Winery & Restaurant – just save room for the Ontario mushroom collection with ice wine onion jam, he Atlantic halibut, and the confit duck leg with fondant potato, red wine cherries, duck liver parfait, and chocolate crumble. Vegetarians love this winery for tasty entrees like fresh chick pea falafel with Ontario mozzarella garnished with crispy fried chick peas. All that said, perhaps nothing can top this winery’s Trius Hero platter – with chicken liver parfait, sopressata, salmon rillettes, hen’s egg, pig head terrine, elk summer sausage, and aged Ontario cheddar and other such treats. Before dinner, take part in Trius’s Art of the Blend during which guests learn about blending red wines in the winery’s underground barrel cellar, a sample of which they get to take home in their own custom blended wine. For extra fun, try the black glass tasting, a secret wine pairing disguised in opaque black stemware sure to test any oenophile’s palate. Make a reservation at Trius Winery Restaurant.