DOW: Dubonnet Cocktail

Yesterday, after shopping in vain for white crème de menthe, I picked up a bottle of Dubonnet. Named after its inventor, Joseph Dubonnet, this apéritif wine was invented in 1846, as a method of delivering quinine, the most effective antimalarial drug of the time.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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....

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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.

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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.

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