Sunshine Diner

When our son gets to decide on a lunch spot, he often chooses the Sunshine Diner, probably mostly for its kitschiness but also because they know how to make a good basic burger, without any kind of fillers or fancy schmancy brioche buns that other places insist on using.

DOW: Mulled Wine

Yes, we've made mulled cranberry sauce, but have we made mulled wine? Not recently. Since we were not having turkey for our Christmas Eve dinner, and it's pretty weird to make cranberry sauce for roast beef, we were more than happy to experiment.

Salt Tasting Room

Back in July, during our little restaurant-finding adventure, we nearly made it to Salt Tasting Room, but we eventually ended up at L'Abattoir. Last night, the stars aligned, or should we say, the afterglow of the solstice lunar eclipse held sway, and we stepped into the sleek interior of one the most popular restaurants in Vancouver. After nine o'clock on a Tuesday evening, with the Canucks already in Detroit preparing for their contest against the Red Wings, we were seated immediately.

Peppermint Chocolate Bark

Simple and special, this chocolate bark with crushed candy canes on top will make you spontaneously sing Christmas carols. At least it did for me....

DOW: Cliquet

When the temperature drops, and cold and flu season arrives, people often encourage you to consume plenty of vitamin C. This classic drink, which dates back to before American prohibition, surely fits the bill. To me it's a more interesting alternative to a screwdriver.

Nuba

I don't know what it about Middle Eastern food that is so appealing to us. Maybe it's the extensive use of fresh ingredients. Maybe it's the delicate use of spices and subtle flavourings. Maybe it's the profusion of vegetarian and vegan options.

Even when I am 8,000 kilometres from home, I find myself seeking out Israeli or Moroccan food. Upon learning of its existence, we have been planning a visit to one of Nuba's three (now four) locations, for Lebanese cuisine.

Ganache Pâtisserie

As our regular readers have noticed by now, we like going to bakeries, a lot. We like going to French bakeries even more. We had been meaning to visit Ganache Pâtisserie for a long time. We even made it there one evening, after it had closed; all we came home with was a photograph.

DOW: Grog

Grog can also be served cold or room temperature, but with the chilly temperatures, we might as well go hot. Like the gimlet, grog was another traditional beverage used by the British Navy to stave off scurvy. Now, at least for us, it's just an excuse to liven up a warm drink on a cold December night.

Gingerbread Cookies

Somehow, I have it in my head that anything that has molasses as an ingredient is automatically healthy. Regretfully, I don't think that these gingerbread cookies qualify, but they've got to better than regular sugar cookies, no?

The Ivy Oven

One of the mainstays at the Baker's Market this past season has been The Ivy Oven. Mother and daughter team Lori and Danielle are taking the best organic and ethically sourced ingredients and producing amazing goods, inspired by the best the world has to offer.

La Ghianda

A few months ago, we called to make reservations for dinner at La Quercia, a popular Italian eatery on 4th Avenue, which has been on our wish list for years. As luck would have it, we picked a day during their annual vacation, and we were forced to dine elsewhere. Naturally, we still have yet to go.

Baker's Market

Where in Vancouver can you find top-tier baked goods at rock-bottom prices? If you guessed the Baker's Market, you'd be absolutely correct! Previously located in an industrial area of South Vancouver, they have recently moved to the Creekside Community Centre in the Southeast False Creek neighbourhood.

DOW: Bermuda Highball

After a big day hauling and setting up our Christmas tree, a beer just wasn't cutting it, and I wanted something a little stronger that was cold and refreshing.