Report by Vacay.ca Staff
The second annual Vacay.ca countdown of the nation’s best restaurants will feature a series of videos in which five restaurants in each segment are announced. There will be 11 segments in total, with one segment devoted to the restaurants that missed the cut but are still deserving of recognition in the minds of the Vacay.ca Voting Academy and to rising stars that could find themselves in prominent positions in 2014 and beyond.
The hosts are: Adrian Brijbassi, Vacay.ca Managing Editor and creator of the Top 50 Restaurants in Canada Guide; Rebecca LeHeup, Executive Director of Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance; John Placko, Culinary Director of Modern Culinary Academy; and Renée Suen of Toronto Life. All four were judges for the Vacay.ca list.
The countdown begins with restaurants 46-50.
Among the west-coast dishes you will find at the Blue Door in New Brunswick is pan-seared halibut. (Nick Logan photo)
46. THE BLUE DOOR, Fredericton, New Brunswick (A Public Favourite!)
Chefs/Owners: Chris and Debbie Black
Website: www.thebluedoor.ca. Cuisine: Contemporary, International
Phone: 506-455-2583 (BLUE). Twitter: @theblue_door
2012 Rank: New entry
Price Range: Dinner entrees range from $17-$29; lunch prices range from $9-$13.
You Must Order: Thai Chile Fish Cakes ($9), which take Atlantic Canada’s world-class seafood and infuses it with trendy flavours from across the Pacific.
Need to Know … from Judge Katie Marti of Vacay.ca: Having both worked in such high-end hot spots as Whistler’s Araxi and the Westin Hotel, the Blacks know a thing or two about modern fine dining. The goal with the Blue Door is to blend elements of west-coast style and cuisine with the charms of New Brunswick’s capital city.
Read more about the Blue Door and how it has charmed Fredericton
47. CUCINA MARKET BISTRO, Calgary, Alberta
Chef: John Michael Macneil
Website: eatcucina.com. Cuisine: Italian
Telephone: 587-353-6565. Twitter: @EatCucina
2012 Rank: New entry
Price Range: Dinner entrees run $19 to $29, while popular lunch items are cheaper and popular.
You Must Order: The Market Benedict ($15-$16), a lunch-time favourite that changes daily. A recent Porcetta version featured garlic-rubbed roast pork belly, free range eggs, rosemary hollandaise, and pepperonata.
Need to Know … from Judge Dan Clapson of DansGoodside.com: This downtown hot spot hits it out of the park in every aspect. The interior is gorgeous without being stuffy. The menu is elevated and refined, yet approachable. Their wait staff are extremely knowledgeable and professional, but casual by nature. From morning coffee, to brunch, to lunch, to dinner, Cucina gives diners a reason to come back again and again … and again.
48. OPTIONS JAZZ LOUNGE (at the Brookstreet Hotel), Kanata, Ontario (A Public Favourite!)
Chefs: Clifford Lyness and Naohika Yasuda
Website: www.brookstreet.ca/optionsbar.php. Cuisine: Sushi
Telephone: 613-271-1800. Twitter: @OptionsJazz
2012 Rank: New entry
Price Range: Sushi and sashimi from $15-$35.
You Must Order: Sushi/Sashimi platter ($35), includes nigiri, maki and sashimi.
Need to Know: Vacay.ca followers pushed for recognition of sushi chef Naohika Yasuda and his fantastic creations. Yasuda often gets his fish from Montreal, where it is flown in from Asia. Salmon and tuna rolls are among the specialties, but shrimp and California rolls are also featured at Options.
Read more about the Brookstreet Hotel and its draw for NHL fans going to Ottawa Senators games
49. DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Chefs: Lionel Hounjet and Stephanie Drisdelle
Website: duckduckgoosetapas.com. Cuisine: Spanish tapas
Telephone: 306-649-3825.
2012 Rank: New entry
Price Range: Small plates, $4-$18.
You Must Order: Charcuterie platter ($18), featuring house-cured Duck Proscuitto and ham from Fermin (Spain).
Need to Know: Intriguing dishes populate this menu in the prairies, including Duck Poutine ($11) and Bacalao fritters ($10). As Saskatoon’s culinary star rises, this spot could gain even more attention for its creativity and well-regarded cocktail list.
50. BAO BEI, Vancouver, British Columbia
Chef: Joël Watanabe
Website: www.bao-bei.ca. Cuisine: Chinese fusion
Phone: 604-688-0876. Twitter: @BaoBei1
2012 Rank: 16
Price Range: Small plates, $6-$20.
You Must Order: Kick Ass House Fried Rice (price changes daily, but roughly $14).
Need to Know … from Vacay.ca Managing Editor Adrian Brijbassi: Where Gastown and Chinatown intersect, Bao Bei offers a unique twist of Chinese cuisine, incorporating French cooking techniques and a diverse range of ingredients to create distinct flavours. In a bistro-style atmosphere, the food is splendid and the ambience is fun. The service, though, could be better.
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More About the Vacay.ca Top 50 Restaurants in Canada 2013
Restaurants 6-10: See the video covering Toronto’s favourite and others
Restaurants 11-15: See the video covering 5 great chefs
Restaurants 16-20: See the video covering the 2013 People’s Choice winner
Restaurants 21-25: See the video featuring Araxi in Whistler, B.C.
Restaurants 26-30: See the video showing Brooklyn Warehouse in Halifax
Restaurants 31-35: See the video featuring Momofuku in Toronto
Restaurants 36-40: See the video and read about the top restaurant in New Brunswick
Restaurants 41-45: See the video for these restaurants
Restaurants 46-50: See the video covering the beginning of the countdown
2012 results, judging and more information: Visit the Top 50 Restaurants webpage for full details
Foodie of the Year Contest: Vacay.ca is giving away a luxury getaway that includes airfare, hotel accommodations and dinner to the Top 50 restaurant of the winners choice. See details here.
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