are you gonna eat that? » fine dining

CALGARY: Chef’s Table

are you gonna eat that? — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:01:38 +0000

Some kids love new toys, or mini-golf, or roller coasters; eating out at a fancy restaurant was one of my favourite childhood activities. It was something my parents (who weren’t really mini-golf, roller-coaster people) could do with me and my sister with their undivided attention, and it was always such a special occasion.

I loved [...]

TORONTO: A thing of beauty

are you gonna eat that? — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:22:17 +0000

When I say Japanese food, you probably think sushi or teriyaki. It’s both the good and the bad of sushi’s popularity that you can now get it anywhere from your corner store to the mall. But as the Globe and Mail’s restaurant reviewer Joanne Kates wrote: “Japanese food is one of the world’s most refined [...]

TORONTO: Great expectations

are you gonna eat that? — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:38:41 +0000

I’m not sure why I first wanted to try Thuet. It might have been an intriguing review or an episode of Opening Soon. The bistro is named after chef Marc Thuet, who hails from Alsace, France and has a bit of a bad-boy reputation. He smokes like a chimney and swears like a sailor, but [...]

ST. ANDREWS: The best for last, part III

are you gonna eat that? — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:16:40 +0000

Our second dinner at the Rossmount Inn was part of the amazing package deal I wrote about before. We had a choice of three-courses from the menu and unlike other places, they didn’t care if we nixed one dessert for an extra appetizer. Oh swoon – flexibility AND great food.

I was blown away by [...]

ST. ANDREWS: The best for last, part II

are you gonna eat that? — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:27:33 +0000

Once we arrived in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, the plan was to wander around town and grab dinner. But we were so tired once we checked into the Rossmount Inn that we decided to stay for dinner, even though we had the next night booked there as part of a package deal.

I’m so glad [...]

TORONTO: Return to Susur

are you gonna eat that? — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:34:52 +0000

UPDATE: Susur has closed as of May 2008. The restaurant has reopened as Madeline’s under Susur Lee’s longtime, former sous chef Dominic Armanal. Named after Lee’s mother, Madeline’s is still owned by Lee who is heading Shang in New York City.

I should’ve waited longer but my first visit to Susur in February was so [...]

CALGARY: Fine dining splurge

are you gonna eat that? — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 03:02:42 +0000

There’s a pretty rustic lodge in Calgary that serves stellar food – and you don’t have to hike or ski to get there. In fact, a short stroll from downtown Calgary suddenly brings you across the Bow River onto leafy Prince’s Island Park and the folksy River Café.

Don’t be fooled by the cabin, roaring [...]

TORONTO: Once in a lifetime

are you gonna eat that? — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:11:00 +0000

This is one meal I will remember forever. Even years from now, if I’m leaving [...]

VANCOUVER: Heaven in a strip-mall wasteland

are you gonna eat that? — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 21:00:00 +0000

UPDATE: also Lounge and Restaurant closed as of 2008. A Chinese restaurant has taken over its former location.

The same fine dining restaurants dominate the “best of” lists every year in Vancouver. There’s my perennial favourite Bishop’s, crazy award-winner West, and TV chef Rob Feenie’s baby Lumiere. So when I offered to treat my parents to [...]