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Food and Dining
Worldwide Reviews |
| VANCOUVER, B.C. | |
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OUEST
2881 Granville Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 3J4 (604)738-8938 |
Chef David Hawksworth comes home to Vancouver after 8 years in Europe working with some of
the most talented chefs at many of the UK’s leading restaurants. His apprenticeship in
Europe began at Marco Pierre White’s restaurant The Canteen in Chelsea Harbour. White was
the first and youngest chef in the UK to be awarded three Michelin Stars. The Canteen was
one of the first of the larger style fine dining rooms to open in London.
Chef David Hawksworth serves up a menu that combines traditional French recipes with the best of the West Coast. To compliment, a carefully chosen wine list offers some rare and sought after vintages including a great selection of half bottles. Highly Recommended! |
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CIN CIN
1154 Robson Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 1B5 (604)688-7338 |
Located on Robson Street, the city’s busiest and most fashionable shopping district,
CinCin’s warm Mediterranean inspired décor with arched windows and high ceilings
invites diners to relax, enjoy fine food & wine and to absorb the ambiance. As well
as seating in the main dining room, CinCin’s bar accommodates up to 30 and the
pretty, outdoor terrace is heated and used well into the fall.
Chef Romy Prasad offers a menu that features classic Italian dishes, combined with strong French and Mediterranean influences. Dishes are prepared in CinCin’s wood-fired rotisserie and grill, and the menu focuses on seasonal variety and fresh local produce. An extensive wine list offers a variety of Old and New World Wines with thousands of bottles being housed in The Wine Room, which caters for parties of up to 30. This award winning restaurant has been established for over a decade. Recent accolades include the following: The Birks Silver Spoon Award - Concierge’s Choice for Best Restaurant in Vancouver, as well as Wine Spectator ‘Award of Excellence’ 97,98, 99 & 2000. Highly Recommended! |
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Rome, Italy |
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ENOTECA CUL DE SAC
Piazza Pasquino (Piazza Navona), 73 00186 Rome tel 06/68801094 |
A fantastic little find near the Piazza Navona! With over 1,500 wines and sparklers this
wine bar/restaurant is a must stop when in Rome. The wine list is extensive and well-priced.
But then again, who needs a list, you can just point to one of the hundreds of bottles
lining the walls. They have great sliced meats so start off with some delicious proscuitto.
The food is more enoteca fare but we had dinner there and left very satisfied. Try
the stuffed grape leaves or sample some of the home made Italian dishes. The selection of
Italian regional cheeses and cured meats is vast, and the soups, pastas, and salads have
homemade appeal. Especially refreshing are the international dishes: hummus, Greek salad,
and various pâtés that can be difficult to find in these parts.
They also have a large selection of wines by the glass so you can experiment with several outstanding selections - since there are plenty to choose from. Prices are very reasonable, moderate. Quarters are tight, both inside and at the tables outside on the small piazza, but once you've snagged a seat and begin sipping the wine and sampling the food, you realize it's worth it. Highly Recommended! |
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ARA PACIS LA CAPRICCIOSA
Largo dei Lombardi, 8 00186 Rome tel 066878636 www.arapacisrestaurant.it |
The Arapacis Restaurant is located in the historical center of Rome very close
to the Spanish steps. It was constructed in the 1937 and originaly named:
“La Capricciosa”. It has open-air as well as in-restaurant dining. The Piazza
is buzzing with activity adding to the good feel of the experience.
Located in a very distinctive and charming little square. The Restaurant has delicious Italian cusine including some delicious pastas, fresh fish and variety of sea food dishes. They are probably best know for their outstanding Italian style pizza prepared in their wood burning oven. They have a very good wine list specializing in Italian wines. It's not hard to find a well-priced wine to compliment your meal. Recommended. |
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA. |
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RISTORANTE BACCO
37 Diamond St. (at 24th Street) San Francisco (415) 282-4969 |
When you pull back the printed curtain at the door of Bacco, you enter into a
decidedly Italian world. You can smell it in the air, you can see it in the ceramic
platters on the walls, and you can hear it from the waiters as they flit around the
room and charm diners.
Since it opened in 1993, it's been a consistent winner, serving solid and delicious food created by chef-owner Vincenzo Cucco. It also doesn't hurt that on Monday through Thursday night you can get an excellent three-course meal for $23. On our visit we started with a very good version of Caesar salad topped with croutons, flakes of cheese and a creamy garlic-spiked dressing. Other choices of starters include a soup or a house-made beet fettuccine with pancetta, leeks and cream sauce. As in Italy, the meal is served at a leisurely pace. Waits between courses may be a little longer than at some other restaurants, but the customers -- a mix of established families seeing their children off to colleges, new families (one taking their 3-week-old baby out for her first restaurant visit) and friends catching up with one another's lives -- don't seem to be in an eat- and-run mood anyway. In all, Bacco is a top neighborhood Italian restaurant, and truly offers a meal to savor. Recommended. |
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SPAIN |
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Irreductibles
de la Font 38 43770 Gratalops 988-262-373 www.irreductibles.org |
A fabulous restaurant that is co-owned by Rene Barbier's son and daughter-in-law, Sarah Perez (who is
also the winemaker for Clos Martinet). It is
located next to Clos Figueras in the charming town of Gratalops. The views are fantastic
of the terraced Priorat vineyards. The food is regional and quite good and the wine
list has incredible Spanish wines heavy on the Priorat. A must if you can make it here!
Highly Recommended. |
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La Vi-zzeria
c/. Sant Marcel 10, Falset, Tarragona 43730, Spain 977-831-379 www.lavi-zzeria.com |
A nice restaurant in the small town of Falset. Just steps away from the only
hotel in town - Hotel Sport.
La Vi-zzeria offers a good dining experience in a regional setting. The restaurant is stylishly
furnished. The menu has been described as "modern rustic" and draws
its inspiration from local and regional specialities as well as the vast international experience of
the master chef. They also have a wood burning stove to do really good "Spanish" pizzas for those
who long for home - but these are topped with local goodies like jambon, peppers, and the like.
Located in the medieval town of Falset, set within the Tarragona countryside, the region is famous for its viniculture and outstanding natural beauty. The 'bodega' in La Vi-zzeria stocks a good range of the Piorat and Montsant vintages to suit all budgets. Recommended. |
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Meson Castellano 2,39
Antonio Machado, 39 47320 Tudela de Duero 983-520-239 |
The Tudela de Duero 239 restaurant features some of the most outstanding cuisine that be found
in the Valladolid region. Seasonal vegetables and traditional plates are prepared as if you were
in someone's home. Everything is fresh, clean and delicious.
We visited this outstanding restaurant as the guest of Mariano García (pictured at right) - the world renowned former wine maker at Vega Sicila and founder and winemaker at Bodegas Mauro. It was and is fabulous! A must if you can get here! Highly Recommended. |
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Els Tres Porquets (the 3 pigs)
Rambla del poblenou, 165 08018 Barcelona 933 00 87 50 |
A great out-of-the-way tapa's restaurant with outstanding local cuisine - specializing in seafood.
Named after the 3 brothers who run the restaurant by their parents who run a great restaurant in Barcelona
as well. Daily menu is written on a black board for you to discuss with the waiter to find what tickles
your fancy. They have some of the best iberian acorn-feed jambon you'll find anywhere and great cheeses.
You must try the razor clams and the tiny baby eels - served like a bowl linguine (pasta with eyes) that is incredible. A fantastic wine list with some of the best Spanish wines and champagnes in Barcelona. A small, locals type place, that is really good. Highly Recommended. |
