Vancouver Island's Wolf in the Fog named Canada's Best New Restaurant by enRoute magazine

A Vancouver Island restaurant came out on top in enRoute magazine's annual Canada's Best New Restaurants. Wolf in the Fog, located in Tofino on the "wild side" of Vancouver Island, bested nine other restos in enRoute's annual roundup of top restaurants in Canada. For those not familiar with enRoute, it is Air Canada's award-winning inflight magazine (and one of my favorites).

Selecting the best restaurants was the mission of food writer Andrew Braithwaite, whose month-long culinary journey took him across Canada from Tofino, BC to St. John's, Newfoundland. The ten winners represented seven of Canada's provinces: British Columbia 2, Ontario 2, Quebec 2, Alberta 1, Newfoundland 1, Nova Scotia 1, Saskatchewan 1.

Chef Nick Nutting of Wolf in the Fog in Tofino on Vancouver Island
 ©JohnCullenPhoto courtesy enRoute magazine 



CANADA'S BEST NEW RESTAURANTS 2014 | Air Canada's enRoute magazine 

1. Wolf in the Fog (Tofino, BC) | "On the extreme west coast of Vancouver Island, where rainforest meets ocean, you stumble up a flight of stairs and into a soaring cedar-clad room above a surf shop where chef Nick Nutting leads a crew trained in the precise details of fine dining." 

2. Farmer's Apprentice Restaurant | Vancouver | "Each small plate -- more often, a bowl -- conjured by owner David Gunawan is a precise jumble of textures and flavours. Digging in is a sort of black magic." 

3. Le Vin Papillon | Montreal | "Long-time Joe Beef guru Vanya Filipovic fills massive chalkboards with organic wines to run with a vegetable-focused cuisine from boyfriend and chef Marc-Olivier Frappier." 

4. RGE RD | Edmonton | "The heart of Blair Lebsack's kitchen is a wood-burning oven that consumes birch and maple at 700F, curing honey ham and smoking Salt Spring Island mussels or even dehydrated local milk during the off-hours."

5. Mallard Cottage | St. John's | "Todd Perrin spent two years restoring a heritage property in Quidi Vidi Harbour for this brilliant mash-up of fine dining and comfort cuisine on the outskirts of St. John's."

Canadian journalist and author Andrew Braithwaite at work.

6. Bar Buca | Toronto | "Rob Gentile's restaurant likes to pretend it's a simple bar for sipping Barolo. You're here to drink, sure, but you're also here to eat things like tiny fried smelt dusted with fennel salt."

7. The Chase | Toronto | "Chef Michael Steh doesn't lean on molecular trickery or audacious ingredients to wow. His food is more direct and more delightful than that, in an atmosphere that makes you want to say yes to things."

8. Ayden Kitchen & Bar | Saskatoon | "Top Chef Canada winner Dale MacKay gambled that Saskatoon was ready for lime- and lemongrass- and ginger-dusted chicken wings. Ayden isn't about showing off Prairie cooking to the world -- it's about bringing the world home."

9. Restaurant Legende | Quebec City | "Northern Quebec is the culinary hunting ground that Frederic Laplante mythologizes at his capital-city bistro. Cornish hen gets a boreal accent from balsam fir fleur de sel."

10. Edna Restaurant | Halifax | "Jenna Mooers' North End bistro digs up treasure from the fertile soils of Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley and hauls it out of the brisk Atlantic waters."

Ayden Kitchen & Bar was awarded the 2014 People's Choice Award, and all the winners are profiled in the November issue of Air Canada's enRoute and online. There you can also find out where the top chefs travel, drool over a "dream menu" and take a quiz to find out where you should eat (I got Chase in Toronto). The top 10 restaurants will receive their official awards during the annual Canada's Best New Restaurants Gala celebration in Toronto on November 20, 2014.

Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Carnival in Edmonton, Alberta

You gotta' love the name ... Deep Freeze!

Edmonton's Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Carnival is happening this weekend. It's all about celebrating the best of winter's outdoor activities: skating, curling, toboganing, snow carving, street hockey, horse and wagon rides and even an outdoor mummer's play. There's also plenty of music and food.

Set for January 8-9, the venue is Alberta Street, one of Edmonton's most historical neighborhoods. This year's theme is Midwinter Merriment in a Land Where Time Stood Still.

On Saturday, Deep Freeze brings back the Julian calendar and celebrates the Olde New Year with Byzantine food and entertainment. That evening, it's hot music and a Mediterranean Greek menu to melt things a bit. Tickets are on sale for the world beat musical group Le Fuzz, performing at the Deep Freeze Dance.

Sunday is a salute to French Canadian heritage with its music, cuisine and dance. Enjoy tourtières (meat pies) and tartes au sucre (sugar pies), tap your spoons to Allez Ouest and visit the delicieux Cabane à Sucre for la tire (iced maple syrup on a stick). Members of the Edmonton Oil Kings will be at the street hockey rinks.

Edmonton’s twin city of Harbin, China is bringing four of its ice sculptors to participate in the midwinter merriment. The ice artists will be working on their masterpieces on Sunday from noon-5 PM.

Weather Forecast from Environment Canada: Saturday will be a mix of sun and clouds. Low minus 13. High minus 11. Sunday brings a mix of sun and clouds with 30 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 20. High minus 18. All temperatures in Canadian Celsius, of course.

Best of 2010: Fun food finds in British Columbia and Alberta

I was somewhat surprised that my 2010 adventures in Canada were limited to British Columbia and Alberta. Maybe that's 'cuz I got to enjoy so much more of it the year before during Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure.

Fortunately, there was nothing dull about the dining scene in the two provinces where I spent time in the past 12 months. Here is my Best of 2010: A dozen fun food finds in BC and Alberta.

Bon Appetit!

Cinnamon Rolls: Nancy's Bakery in Lund, Vancouver Island, BC

Afternoon Tea: The Urban Tea Merchant, West Vancouver, BC

Molecular Gastronomy: Apron, The Westin Wall Centre at Vancouver Airport, Richmond, BC

Cool Name, Cuisine & Atmosphere: Skinny Legs & Cowgirls, Edmonton, AB

Date Night: Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar, Vancouver, BC

Handmade Potato Chips: Blink Restaurant & Bar, Calgary, AB

To-Go Bags with Piggy Paper Clips: CHARCUT Roast House, Calgary, AB

Non-hip and Trendy Yaletown Resto: Hamilton Street Grill, Vancouver, BC

Fabulous Burger: crazyweed restaurant, Canmore, AB

Asian Eatery: Wild Tangerine, Edmonton, AB

Eloise at The Plaza's Canadian Outpost: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, AB

Morning Wake-Up Call: Elm Coffee, Edmonton, AB

A sampling of desserts at Yaletown's Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar in Vancouver.
Photo by Sue Frause.

Oilers Octane debut as first Canadian NHL cheer team

The Edmonton Oilers launched the first-ever Canadian NHL cheer team. Known as Oilers Octane, they made their debut at the Dec. 14 match-up with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The squad is made up of 19 women, ages 18-29. More than 100 dancers auditioned for the coveted spots.

Octane will perform at Edmonton's Rexall Place, helping with promotions and interacting with fans during the team's home games. They will also participate in charity fund raising and other special events throughout Oil Country. Described by the Edmonton Oilers as ambassadors for both the hockey club and the city of Edmonton, an Octane calendar is in the works. The 2011 edition will be for sale at home games and in Oiler Stores at the end of December.

Read more about the cheer team's debut here.

I've only been to two hockey games in Canada. One was on a New Year's Eve more than a decade ago, when the Vancouver Canucks hosted the Anaheim Ducks. The other was a junior ice hockey game in Kelowna, when the Rockets played the Everett Silvertips. There were no cheerleaders, just the loyal fans in the stands.

Blame the USA. They started the tradition of having hockey cheer squads, and the cheer squads today include the LA Kings Ice Crew, Dallas Stars Ice Girls, New York Islanders Ice Girls, Nashville Predators Ice Girls, Florida Panthers Ice Dancers and the Carolina Hurricanes Storm Squad.

Canada has six NHL hockey teams (the US 24): Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens.

So how did the cheering go on Tuesday night? The Oilers lost to the Maple Leafs, 4-1. Read more about the game in the Edmonton Journal.

Photo by Andy Devlin / Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club

Meet Aerosmith band members on Canadian 2010 tour in September

Aerosmith, which calls itself America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band, returns to Western Canada for five shows in September. It's all part of their Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock 2010 Tour.

Here are the Western Canada dates:

* September 8 – Winnipeg
* September 10 – Calgary
* September 12 – Saskatoon
* September 14 – Edmonton
* September 16 – Vancouver

And for die-hard Aerosmith fans, the band's official fan club Aero Force One (AF1) launched sales of its VIP package called Wheels Up. Fans who purchase the Up Close and Personal Package with Joey and Brad will meet with other fans to share Aerosmith stories.

Joey Kramer, whose candid stories of battling addiction and depression are documented in his book, Hit Hard, will continue the conversation with VIP guests. Brad Whitford will demonstrate his guitar magic and share details about what makes the music happen as a band member with Aerosmith.

The Wheels Up package includes meeting Steven Tyler and Joe Perry; a concert seat in the first few rows; photo opps with Steven and Joe and more. VIP experiences also include photo books from the show; limited edition collector’s pins; merchandise package; and other VIP treatment. They vary from package to package.

Photo by Ross Halfin

Searching for coffee in Edmonton, Alberta (it's not Starbucks)

One of my goals when traveling is to seek out the good, local spots that are independently owned. So when it comes to coffee, I shun Starbucks in favor of something a bit less corporate.

I met Nate Box a few days ago while on a nine-day culinary adventure in Alberta with Canadian chef Ned Bell. He joined us for dinner one evening at Skinny Legs and Cowgirls, and that's when I found out he's the owner of Elm Cafe.

Located in the Oliver neighborhood, which Nate says is a blend of people from students to seniors, his small coffee shop features 49th Parallel Coffee. It's the only spot in Edmonton that does. If you're not familiar with 49th Parallel, it's a Vancouver-based coffee roaster started by Michael and Vince Piccolo (those coffee geniuses who gave Vancouverites Caffe Artigiano, which they have since sold).

Nate, who has run a couple of kitchens before, set up his coffee business in a former coffee/pastry shop. The 27-year-old gutted everything except the floor, and the 225 sq.ft. space features a small window bar. Most of the folks that came in while I was there got their orders to go.

In addition to the coffee, Nate has muffins from the new Duchess Bake Shop. There are two choices a day, with such temptations as Cherry Almond or Banana Chocolate Pecan. I'm more of a savory person in the morning, so enjoyed a breakfast sammie made on site.

Community-wise, Nate is involved with Edmonton's Next Generation. When he's not making the perfect espresso, latte or cappuccino.



Photos by Sue Frause

10 Most Popular Canadian Cities selected by Canoe.ca

Art Gallery of Ontario. Photo by Sue Frause.

I'm not surprised that the biggest city in Canada is the most visited. It just makes sense.

But I was surprised at the #2 city, even though I visited it last year on my cross-Canada train adventure. And happy to see that one of my favorite cities, Halifax, made the cut.

Here are Canoe.ca's 10 Most Popular Canadian Cities among U.S. and international visitors in 2008:

1. Toronto
2. St. Catharines, Niagara Falls
3. Vancouver
4. Montreal
5. Quebec City
6. Victoria
7. Ottawa-Hull
8. Calgary
9. Edmonton
10. Halifax

COLD! Edmonton breaks weather record

Although lots of folks are talking about global warming, the big buzz in Alberta has been how cold it was in Edmonton on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009.

According to the Edmonton Journal, the city broke its previous cold record by 10 degrees with a LOW temperature of -46.1 C (-50.98 F). That made it the coldest place in North America.

And if you're wondering what the chances are for a white Christmas in Canada, here's a previous post I wrote.

VIA Rail Canada to Edmonton
Photo by Sue Frause

Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure DAY 12: Edmonton, Jasper and West to BC

We arrived in Edmonton early Sunday morning, and had an hour layover at the VIA Rail Station. As Alberta's capital, Edmonton is called the gateway to the north, due to its strategic location for fur, gold and oil exploration. The city is located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River.

Daylight and VIA Rail's Canadian makes its way to Jasper, passing through Edson at mile 129. It's midway between Edmonton and Jasper National Park, and from there will be the first view of the Rockies.

The sun breaks through the clouds and blue sky greets us as we enter Jasper National Park.

Things were pretty quiet in Jasper on a Sunday afternoon. The biggest activity was the football game that featured the BC Lions vs. Hamilton Tigers-Cats that was on the TV at the train station.

Everybody back on board! After about an hour in Jasper, passengers reboarded for their final night on the Canadian. Tomorrow morning, Vancouver.

I loved going through the pre-winter wonderland of the Rockies, with snow falling all around us. And even played some Christmas iTunes in my MacBook. Tony Bennett's I'll Be Home For Christmas made me just a wee bit homesick.

One of the more fun loving members of the crew was Fabian from Montreal, now living in Winnipeg. Not only did he tend to the passengers on board in the dining car, he sang and entertained after our final dinner aboard the Canadian.

Photos by Sue Frause

Final Day 13: Homeward Bound to Vancouver BC

F

Continental Airlines commences flights from Edmonton to Houston on Nov. 1, 2009

Continental Airlines will begin offering daily-non-stop service from Edmonton to Houston on Nov. 1, 2009. Air service between the booming oil and gas powerhouses of Edmonton and Houston seems like a natural fit. The Canadian province is also hoping to create new tourism opportunities for Texans in Alberta. Conversely, Houston is a major jumping off spot for many vacation destinations to the southern U.S. and Latin America.

"Houston is consistently one of the top 10 destinations for Edmonton and Northern Alberta travelers," said Ron Gilbertons of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. "Texas is also the number three US travel market to Alberta. This new service now offers an efficient non-stop link to the many travelers visiting our region," said the EEDC President and CEO.

In addition, Continental's new non-stop air service between Edmonton and Houston will be a business advantage to the 3,000 companies in Alberta’s International Region. "Much of our business is contingent upon direct connections to the US, and international destinations," said Pat Klak, Executive Director of the Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Authority. "This new link to the oil and gas industry ties strongly to Leduc and the Nisku Business Park, one of the largest oil and gas parks in North America."

The Houston-Edmonton route will be serviced by a Boeing 737-500, 114-seat aircraft (106 coach seats, 8 first class seats). Continental will become a Star Alliance partner on Oct. 27, 2009. Travelers may redeem frequent flyer mileage on affiliated airlines such as Air Canada’s Aeroplan. Also coming in November is non-stop service between Houston and two other cities: Washington, DC and Frankfurt, Germany.

Houston's George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport
Photo by Sue Frause

Starwood offers 3/2 at select hotels

Although I'm happy to be back home after my trip to Mexico, I'm already looking forward to my next adventure -- an overnighter in Vancouver.

I'll take Amtrak from Everett, Washington which means no lines at the border. And no driving!

Now through May 31, Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Canada is making a long Canadian weekend a reality for travelers.

Reserve two nights and receive the third free at Starwood properties in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Tremblant.

Starwood's list of hotels includes Sheraton, Four Points, W Hotel, Le Meridien and Westin.

Of course there are rules and restrictions. Here they are:

*Arrival day of Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Valid for a three night minimum/maximum length of stay only.
*Consecutive reservations for this offer will not be honored.
*These offers are based on Starwood's best available unrestricted retail rates. Valid for new reservations only.
*Advance purchase required. Credit card will be charged at time of booking.
*Cancellations are non-refundable; if cancellation takes place, guests forfeit total room charge plus tax.
*Rates are per room, per night, based on single/double occupancy and availability at time of reservation and do not include additional per room, per night charges that may be imposed, resort fees, or state/local taxes.
*A limited number of rooms may be available at these rates and additional restrictions and blackout dates may apply.
*Offer not applicable to groups.
*Not to be combined with other offers or promotions and subject to change.
*Not responsible for omissions or typographical errors.
*Void where prohibited by law.
*Starwood reserves the right to discontinue this offer at any time.

View of Coal Harbour from the Vancouver's Westin Bayshore
Photograph by Sue Frause