Dunn’s Famous opened their doors in Vancouver last November, serving up their well-known Montreal smoked meat alongside a menu full of rich, gravy-topped, comfort foods.

My brother-in-law previously introduced us to Estrella’s in Langley, which was my first taste of a sky-high stacked Montreal smoked meat sandwich. For this reason, I sent my sister and my brother-in-law, who grew up just outside of Montreal, to the launch event when Dunn’s first opened on Seymour, just off Robson. He sent me an email the same night: “It rocked! They officially have best poutine on the West Coast now.”

I soon realized that upon mentioning “Dunn’s is now in Vancouver”, anyone within earshot who is from Eastern Canada will perk up and salivate. Dunn’s has been smoked meat favourite in Montreal since it was founded in 1927 by Myer Dunn.

My first (and only experience) at Dunn’s was with Lucy Hyslop recently. It was a great lunch however I did not get smacked with the aroma of smoked meats upon entering the restaurant, something one might expect or anticipate. Nevertheless, I soon discovered that the reason for this place’s legendary status lay between the pages of its menu.

The menu was large both in size and in terms of offerings. Bright images of the meals appear on every second page to illustrate what “Two Rivers free run chicken breast on sliced white bread covered in gravy, topped with ‘mushy’ peas” might look like. I decided to go the traditional route and order one of their Super Sandwiches.

Super Montreal Smoked Meat $10.99
6 oz hand sliced smoked beef brisket on light sourdough rye, sliced to order. Lucy informed me ahead of ordering that I could get “light, medium, or fat” meat and that “fat” would be the most tasty due to an even marbling throughout the slices. I decided to go with “medium” for my first run.

All Super Sandwiches are served with French fries, Dunn’s special coleslaw and a kosher pickle. I “up-sized” to a poutine Quebecoise and other side options include onion rings, seafood chowder, or a caesar salad. After considering the knife and fork on the table in front of me, I dove into my generous stack of sliced brisket (that was smoked for 17 hours then steamed for 3 hours). It takes a full pair of bites to break through from bread slice to bread slice. I came away from the meal with fairly clean hands as the sandwich wasn’t over-run with dripping sauce or juices. The coleslaw wasn’t drenched in dressing either, which was nice, and the crunchy pickle completed the meal.

The side poutine was tasty, definitely different, but tasty. One could argue I’ve never had “real” poutine since I’ve never been to Quebec. My Quebecois was just one of their poutine offerings along with Dunn’s (cheese curds, Dunn’s special gravy & chopped Montréal smoked meat), Peppercorn (cheese curds & peppercorn sauce), Italienne (cheese curds & meat sauce), Dunn’s Italienne (cheese curds & meat sauce with chopped Montréal smoked meat), and Vegetarian (cheese curds, vegetarian gravy).

The staff was very attentive and helpful to us Dunn’s first-timers. I left with half of my sandwich in a take-away box, to be enjoyed again later. Next time I’ll try something different like one of their poutines or entrees. I know John would also want to try their all-day breakfast since it’s his favourite meal of the day.

Dunn’s Famous is open from 10:00am daily at 827 Seymour Street. Find them on Twitter and Facebook for restaurant information and updates.

The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival returns for a second year January 14 to February 14, 2012. I heard mention of this on Twitter yesterday and found details on Erin Ireland’s blog which linked to the event host, CityFood Magazine.

Photo credit: stephbond on Flickr

The month-long festival has a massive line up of daily flavours and treats that will be served up at the 15 participating cafes and restaurants. In case you’re wondering if that many flavours of hot chocolate exist, believe me they do! The Hot Chocolate Festival has a Flavour Index listing over 20 dark chocolate, over 15 milk chocolate, 5 white chocolate, and 5 non-dairy options. You can look up flavours by date and follow the festival on Facebook for daily information.

Participating venues are: Bel Cafe, Bella Gelateria + It’s to Die For Banana Bread, Beta5 Chocolates + The Juice Truck, Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France, CocoaNymph, French Made Baking, Gem Chocolates, Leonidas Chocolates, Mink – A Chocolate Cafe, Schokolade, Terra Breads, Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe, and Thomas Haas. Click on a day in the calendar/listings to see what they’ll be serving up.

Proceeds from featured festival drinks will benefit the food program at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. With the weather dipping mid-month, it’s the perfect time to try a new silky sweet hot chocolate flavour and support a very worthy cause in the process.

You can also pick up a Hot Chocolate Passport for the festival which you can stamp at the various locations when you pick up a participating beverage.

Reservations for Dine Out Vancouver opened up this week as the highly-anticipated restaurant festival kicks off January 20, 2012. Aside from the $18, $28, and $38 prix-fixe menu offerings (with wine or beer pairing options) there are also several special events happening around the city including one on Granville Island.

Photo credit: Photodreamz_ on Flickr – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.

Plated and Paired
Taking place on the opening night of Dine Out Vancouver, Plated and Paired participants will be dining after-hours at the world famous Granville Island Market. The fare for the evening will be prepared by local chefs from The Dockside Restaurant, Bridges Restaurant, The Keg on Granville Island, Sandbar Seafood Restaurant, Whet kitchen-Bar-Patio, and Edible Canada.

Photo credit: The Vancouver Guy on Flickr – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.

They’ll be creating the menu for the evening with ingredients right from the market vendors including Dussa’s Ham & Cheese, Granville Island Tea Company, La Baguette et L’Echalot, The Salmon Shop, The Stock Market, Stuart’s Bakery, Terra Breads, Zara’s, and more.

Guests will enjoy floral arrangements from V & J Plants and over two dozen BC wine selections – from Saturna Island to Hester Creek. This is a special event that’s only happening on one night. Tickets are currently available online for $38.

You can still enter to win a Dine & Stay prize package from Dine Out Vancouver & Miss604.

Reservations are now open for Dine Out Vancouver which returns January 20 to February 5, 2012. This festival of sipping, sampling, and devouring multi-course meals around the city celebrates all that Vancouver restaurants have to offer for $18, $28, and $38 through special prix-fixe menus.

Dine Out courses from previous years at Coast, r.tl, Glowbal Grill, and Italian Kitchen.

This is the 10th year of the festival that includes BC Wine and Kronenbourg beer pairing with the menu, new street food events (January 24-26), and a daily roster of food tours. Participants can also vote on the “Best Bite Awards” throughout Dine Out.

To find a Dine Out restaurant, search the list of over 225 local venues by location, Dine Out menu price, or cuisine type. Dine Out Vancouver is partnering up with local hotels this year as well so that patrons can enjoy dinner in the city and top off their evening with an overnight stay at one of our gorgeous local accommodations.

Tourism Vancouver has offered up a Dine & Stay prize for one lucky Miss604.com reader and their guest. This includes a 1 night stay at the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier (includes parking, value $169) with Dine Out dinner for 2 in the Lobby Restaurant. This modern hotel located near Lonsdale in North Vancouver offers spectacular views of Vancouver from across the harbour. Their Dine Out menu is in the $28 range and includes gluten-free options, BC VQA Wine or Kronenbourg beer pairing, and dessert is a house-made belgian chocolate crème brûlée.

Here’s how you can enter to win my Dine Out Vancouver Dine & Stay prize:

• Leave a comment on this post naming a participating Dine Out restaurant (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12:00pm. Must be 19 years of age or older. Winner must use the prize within the Dine Out Vancouver Dates, between January 20 and February 5, 2012. There are no blackout dates but reservations are based on availability.

Update The winner is @SharonLoh_!

As 2011 winds down, I have decided to do my annual “year in review” posts. While it’s tough to select the best moments (that I have blogged) over the last year, this week I’ll profile the following categories: Travel, Food, Music, and Entertainment.

I think the story of the year was the explosion of street food options around downtown Vancouver. Scout Magazine‘s Andrew Morrison has a great “Year in Review” article available from WEVancouver as well where he writes: “But was 2011 better than 2010? I’d like to think so. There were definitely more exciting openings than there were sad closures, with one nearly always following the other at the same address. Evidence that we’re still very much a small town abounded, wherein the regular six-degrees-of-separation rule is whittled down to just one or two. To wit, the end of Corner Suite Bistro (closed Jan. 4) allowed for the launch of Ensemble (opened May 10) because of the death of Lumiere (euthanized on Mar. 13).”

For John and I, we kept most of our dining secrets to ourselves but there were a few blog-worthy gems. 2011 was the year that we became regulars at Wild Garlic on Denman — due mostly to their tapas menu, basil and walnut gnocchi, and post-meal limoncello. We also explored more of Steveston and became more involved with the local brew scene, with Miss604.com sponsoring Vancouver Craft Beer Week.

“The soup was smooth yet textured with tiny bits of pancetta and small potato cubes. John’s fish was tender, crisp, and the eggplant soaked up delicious flavours yet maintained its crispy shell. Our mains were the mushroom and arugula crepes along with the flatiron steak salad. The crepes were rich and creamy, and the steak was succulent and tender. Without leaving any room for dessert, we enjoyed a glass of wine as we looked out the rustic shuttered windows to watch the fishing boats dance in the wind.” – An Afternoon in Steveston

“The soup was fresh, fruity, smooth and creamy, and the crunchy apples garnish with crusted toast added a delightful contrast in textures. Chef Bell created the soup’s stock from the chicken that was our tender and juicy second course and more apples were used in our sweet and salty dessert.” – Hester Creek Winery – Guest Chef Ned Bell

“The family-style breakfast, lunches and dinners were complete with fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, and cheeses. We also enjoyed one of the best traditional Thai meals I’ve had to date.” – Echo Valley Ranch Resort

“Aside from the hillside meadow dotted with sheep, the edible flower gardens, the sculptures, and the unobstructed harbour views, our favourite part of Hastings House was meal time. After a morning hamper was delivered to our suite each day including fresh-baked muffins and coffee, we could then head down for breakfast (included with your stay) which was served with farm-fresh eggs.” – Our Weekend at Hastings House on Salt Spring Island

“It was a gloriously sunny day, and I had heard so many good things, that the 20-30 minute wait breezed by. In the meantime, take-out only patrons lucky enough to already score their lunches were sitting out on the dock, grabbing an Island Farms soft-serve cone, or enjoying the serenade of a nearby busker.” – Red Fish Blue Fish Victoria

“Strawberries (try them in a “Mile High Custard Pie”), raspberries (available soon), blueberries (in August), green beans, and sweet corn. “We’ve got the best sweet corn in the valley, ” said owner Alf Krause who also took us around on a hayride. “Our focus is what we grow”. Pretty much everything that Krause grows can be found in a pie, in a doughnut, in fudge, in lemonade a smoothie or tea, and in their market.” – Langley Circle Farm Tour

“The zucchini flowers are something I could eat every day (crunchy and fresh yet creamy on the inside), the salmon was deliciously smoked, and I have to say the beef cheek fritter was a real surprise. Crunchy on the outside and the slow-cooked pieces of shredded meat on the inside were tender and moist. Chef Walt knows how to combine textures and flavours into the most interesting and unique packages on your plate.” – Araxi Longtable Series

“Wrapped in a quick-fired tortilla, the tacos had lightly battered pieces of ling cod topped with crunchy cabbage and chunky salsa (pico de gallo). The crunch from the cabbage gave the taco shape as the juicy salsa soaked through to the tender fish.” – Tacofino Food Truck

“The culinary creations were reminiscent of the science that went into our meal at The Apron at the Westin in Richmond. You weren’t just served a meal, you were offered custom, hand-crafted courses presented in very unique ways. The dishes tasted as good as they looked, if not better, due to the hidden flavours that leapt out at first bite.” – EBO Restaurant

“The meal arrived very quickly and didn’t disappoint. My vegetables were crisp and fresh, and John said his baked beans were pretty stellar. The brisket and pulled pork were both tender and full of flavour. I dipped my potato wedges in some of the sauce that was on the table (not sure if I was supposed to) but that was pretty darn tasty as well.” – Hog Shack Cook House‘

“The generous tomato topping on my gnocchi was light and fresh, giving a nice contrasts to the soft, tender, and cheesy pasta. John said that he enjoyed his spaghetti (he got it because it’s the signature dish) and that the hint of blue cheese was not overpowering, which can sometimes happen.” – Cento Notti Yaletown

“The temptation of something “bacon-wrapped” got the best of us and we’re glad we went through with it. Along with the black cod, the striploin was my favourite of the night.” – Hidden at the Westin Grand

If I had to select one dining experience that “wowed” us the most in 2011, it would have to be the Araxi Longtable event. It gave us a first-hand lesson in farm-to-table cooking in one of the most beautiful West Coast settings imaginable. All of the gorgeous photos from the event were taken by John as well.

As I see it, 2012 will be the “Year of the Food Tour” as we play tourist and explore some of the culinary treasures in our own backyard.

Tucked away in the Shangri-La hotel in downtown Vancouver, Market by Jean-Georges has been on my “to do” list for a while. Although I admit, I did stop in for lunch a while back with Michelle Ng from Foodie Tour but I have always meant to return. I had that chance recently when I met up with Keira-Anne for a holiday lunch.

Keira told me that she wanted to go some place “nice” for lunch and Market was the first place to come to mind. A lone white Christmas tree welcomed us in the reception before we were shown to our cozy booth. A curtain of gold pearls behind our heads matched the ascending bubbles in the two glasses of sparkling wine placed before us.

The menu was split into share-plates or starters, pizzas, and entrees with a section reserved for a $35 prix-fixe lunch. We ordered a la carte after some recommendations from our host.

Tuna tartare, avocado, spicy radish, ginger dressing ($16)
A nice light start to the meal with creamy avocado and a bit of a crunchy kick from the radishes.

Black truffle with fontina cheese pizza ($19)
The pizza was delicious and the truffles were not over-powering (as truffle oil on a pizza or pasta might tend to be).

Nut and seed crusted snapper, sweet and sour broth ($28)
Very soft and light, even with the crust on top of the fillet. The broth was smooth and buttery.

Soy glazed short ribs, apple-jalapeno puree, rosemary crumbs ($29)
They had us a “rosemary crumbs”. Keira enjoyed this main and the rosemary crumbs were just as tasty as they looked. She also noted that the portion was very filling.

The prices were above what one might spend in terms of an everyday lunch, better suited for special occasion or holiday affair — a chance to splurge. After all, this is Market by Jean-Georges Vongrichten, one of New York’s most celebrated chefs, cook-book authors, and restauranteurs. Next time we’ll stop by for a drink as well, hopefully crafted by Vancouver’s Jay Jones himself, lead bartender at Shangri-La and the founding director of the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association.

There are few things I enjoy more than being a tourist in my own hometown and when I’m offered the chance to experience the city like a visitor it’s rare that I’ll pass it up. Last week, I was invited to participate in the Taste Vancouver Food Tour’s Gastown Tour. Meeting up with ten others, who hailed from cities around the globe, I received my ear-piece, my lanyard, and set out on foot behind our guide, John “Gassy Jack” Deighton himself for the next tour hours.

Right off the bat the tour became more than a culinary adventure. The first few stops mentioned the history of the waterfront, from its very first years as a part of Vancouver up until the last twenty years.

Our first bite was of lobster macaroni and cheese at Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar. I’ve been to Rogue before and I’ve ordered the lobster mac n’ cheese, and I would do so again. The portion was about the third of the size of the actual menu item and was a nice way to warm up our taste buds for the rest of the tour.

The second tasting stop was Steamworks where we met brewmaster Conrad Gmoser who told us a bit about the IPA we sampled next.

On our way again, we stopped next door at Rogers Chocolates for a sample, complimented with a quick story about the founders. The sweet treat was followed up with some rolled maple syrup from Canadian Maple Delights.

Heading West down Water Street we crossed over and hopped into the arcade where we learned more about the building and the unique tin ceiling in the hall.

Ending up on Cordova, we looped back into Brioche where owner Eduardo Bilardelo spoke to us about his style of cooking, his ingredient choices, and a little bit about his hometown in Sicily. We were each given a healthy portion of freshly-made tortellini.

Lobster, pasta, beer, maple syrup, and now cheesecake. Trees Organic was the next stop where we tried two of their top-sellers. The key lime and the mocha cheesecake.

What tour of Gastown would be complete without the compulsory stop at the steam clock? I was happy to hear our guide note that it was indeed a creation of the 1970′s and not as old as some might think it to be.

I then stepped foot into the Water Street Cafe for the first time. We heard about the history of the hotel building in which it sits, its significance during The Great Fire, and the story of the cafe. The sample crab cakes were moist and packed with meat, not over-powered by any sauce at all.

Our food tour took a few more detours, winding in and out of the John Fluevog store, the Smart Mouth Cafe (where Greenpeace once met, since it was formed in Vancouver you know), and ended up on the corner of Water and Carrall. There, we found Peckinpah

This North Carolina barbecue joint opened up on the corner of Maple Tree Square, just behind the statue of Gastown’s namesake. The smokey aroma gives you a great big hug when you walk in the door and our sample of briket and pulled pork was enough to make me run home (not immediately of course) and tell John we’re returning for a full meal very soon.

Looping around to Gaoler’s Mews (pronounced Jailer’s Mews) our last tasting stop was in Apres Midi, a quaint teahouse whose selection was reminiscent of Silk Road in Victoria.

We sampled their market spice tea which had floral, cinnamon, and honey notes. Our tour then finished up, fittingly, at the foot of the Gassy Jack statue.

I look at Vancouver with the eyes of someone born and raised in the area — and someone who regularly does historical research — so it’s not everyday that I learn something new. I have to give the organizers credit for throwing in at least two tibdits about Gastown that I had not previously heard. To me, that makes for a winning tour for locals and visitors alike.

The tour was $39 a piece which is reasonable based on the information, the ground covered, and the ample tasting opportunities. This Gastown Tour runs daily from 2:00pm to 4:00pm until January 8, 2012. You can also book private tours for your group of 8 to 16 people throughout the year.

If you would like to head out on the food tour yourself, they have offered up two Gastown tours to one lucky reader of mine. You can explore Gastown with a friend or treat an out-of-towner. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite hometown attraction (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. Must be 19 years of age or older to do the tour as there is the stop in the pub.

Update The winner is Linda (@lindabook)!

The Westin Grand on Robson has been keeping a secret, Hidden Tasting Bar & Social Lounge. After coming in off the sidewalk near Robson and Homer, head up the large winding staircase toward the hotel’s lobby and there you’ll find Hidden. Windows stretching to the height of the massive ceilings surround the purple-coloured dining area lined with rounded booths. Here’s a sampling of the tapas-style dinner John and I recently shared at Hidden:

Our Hidden Experience

Bites
We started off by ordering a bowl of roasted hazelnuts, brazilian nuts and almonds ($5) while we looked over the beer list and the rest of the seasonal menu.

Earth
We’ve become big fans of beets lately and we really enjoyed medley that was offered. It actually went very will with a handful of roasted hazelnuts and almonds that we still had on the table.

Olive oil glazed baby vegetables with herb marinated grilled tofu ($8)
Candy cane, golden & white beet salad, cranberry hazelnut vinaigrette, goat cheese puree ($12)

Sea
Our friendly server, Bob, recommended these two dishes (below). I heard another server recommend them as well but he told us that he’s in love with the lobster poutine. My favourite of the two though was the black cod as it simply melted in my mouth – a nice follow-up to our crunchy appetizers.

Lobster poutine with Montreal cheese curds & béarnaise ($10)
Brown butter cauliflower puree, seared black cod, asparagus, fennel salad, lemon caper vinaigrette ($13)

Land
We went back and forth on this one as we were unsure if we had enough room left in our bellies. The temptation of something “bacon-wrapped” got the best of us and we’re glad we went through with it. Along with the black cod, the striploin was my favourite of the night.

Tiroler bacon wrapped striploin, truffle scented whipped potatoes & green bean bundle ($12)
Flight of crème brûlée ($9)

Indulge
Ready to skip dessert, Bob assured us that the flight of crème brûlée would be the best way to round out the night. We once again heeded his advice and were not disappointed. The three dishes each had their own flavour: nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. “All together, you get eggnog!” said Bob with a smile.

John and I decided to take advantage of the beer list, over the wine list, that evening. I went with the Whistler Bear Paw Honey Lager, Phoenix Gold from Phillips Brewing, and the Whistler Brewing Whiskey Jack Ale. John’s selections were the Double Decker IPA (he was a little disappointed there was only one IPA on the list), St-Ambrose Apricot Wheat (a bit of a miss as he’s not big into flavoured beer), and the 650ml Phillips Longboat Chocolate Porter, which was his favourite of the night. The Chocolate Porter even complimented dessert with its cocoa, coffee, and cola notes.

Due to the inexpensive “bites” menu and the list of over 40 BC craft brews, we decided that Hidden would be our new go-to place before a Whitecaps game or show (at the QE Theatre or The Centre). Although now that I’ve told all of you, it’s not so hidden anymore.

Hidden Temptations New Year’s Eve

On December 31st, Hidden will host Hidden Temptations one of Vancouver’s glitziest New Year’s Eve parties.

This food and wine gala will have gourmet chef stations, a chocolate indulgence buffet, live music and DJ’s, and more.

Tickets are $100 right now but they go up to $120 after December 25th. You can also book a hotel package that includes two tickets and an overnight stay for $369 (or $389 after December 25th).

The Westin Grand and Hidden have offered up the Hidden Temptations New Year’s Eve experience to one lucky reader of mine. The winner will receive 2 tickets to the party and a 1-night stay in a one-bedroom suite that night.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Answer on this post: What do you usually do on New Year’s Eve? (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at 11:00am next Monday, December 19, 2011. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win. Please enjoy your New Year’s Eve events responsibly and plan a safe ride home.

Update The winner is Brenda!

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont is a tradition in many cities along the coast. You can sit in a regal tea room at the Empress in Victoria, enjoy scones before your flight at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, and I’ve recent experienced a special holiday treat at the Fairmont Olympic in Seattle.

Holiday Tea is hosted under the under sparkling chandeliers the Georgian dining room, just through the hotel’s festively decorated lobby. Tea selections include their signature Olympic Holiday Tea, 1907 Blend, English Breakfast, Empress Blend 1908, Darjeeling, Japan Sancha, Jasmine Green, Kae Lani Orange Pineapple, Cherry Rose, Chamomile, Peppermint, Ceylon, and a decaffeinated black tea option.

I picked up a box of the Empress Blend in Victoria and often substitute my morning cup of coffee for this rich brew. For this sitting however, I went with the peppermint, which is sourced locally from the Cascade Mountain region. Should you have any questions, Tea Sommalier Jessica Mullhollen is on-hand to provide insights.

Scones
Orange-cranberry with orange marmalade and Devonshire cream.

Sandwiches
Roasted tom turkey with cranberry spread, sticky rooftop honey bacon
Smoked wild king salmon crepe with young salmon pearls
Butternut squash tart with aged swiss, toasted pumpkin seeds
Lemon infused English cucumber with candied red onion

The sweet bacon (with honey from the bees on the roof of the hotel) added some texture that I think turkey sandwiches usually lack. The desserts that followed on the bottom tier of the tower were just as diverse as the sandwiches above. There was the freshness of the peppermint pavlova, the tender gingerbread, and the crunch of the stollen, which provided varying textures with these sweets.

Sweets
Raspberry almond cake, a chocolate gingerbread man, peppermint pavlova, stollen

Holiday Tea at the Olympic is served Monday through Saturday from 12:00pm until 2:30pm, and until 5:00pm on Sundays. While at $55 it may be outside an everyday budget for tea, the Fairmont’s afternoon tea experiences are special occasions. You can celebrate the holidays with friends and family in this dazzling setting and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy downtown shops. The Fairmont Olympic is just an 8 minute walk from the shops at Westlake, Nordstrom, and Macy’s [Google Map].

While you’re at the Fairmont Olympic during the holidays, check out the Teddy Bear Suite on the third floor. It’s open to the public for visits and story-telling daily from 10:00am until 7:00pm. Admission is by donation to the Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Formerly Elixir, the restaurant space at the Opus Hotel has undergone month of changes with the 100 Days, followed by the 100 Nights pop-up bistros. The most recent incarnation is Cento Notti, another pop-up but with new decor and a menu focused on hand-made Italian specialties.

Mirrors, pearls, painted busts, and candlelight give the space a warm, golden glow. The single-page menu is presented on a clipboard as you select from appetizers, mains, and sides. Our server highlighted a few features, including the burrata (made in-house) with roasted onion jam & rosemary oil, and recommended that we get some sides to share since the pasta portions aren’t overly generous.

We began with the wild boar & asiago meatballs in tomato fondue ($9). There were 3 of us and 4 meatballs arrived. Our forks fought over who got to devour the remainder. The tomato fondue was a fresh tomato sauce with cheese melted throughout – perfect for dipping. Executive Chef Paul Marshall also prepared an amuse bouche and a crisp salad with kale, grapefruit slices, and blue cheese.

Our three main courses were spaghetti bolognese with shaved blue cheese ($16) for John, the hand-rolled gnocchi with tomato pomodoro and fresh basil ($17) for me, and our dear friend Laura was presented with the prawn-of-all-jumbo-prawns atop her fettucini with lemon herb vegetables ($26).

The generous tomato topping on my gnocchi was light and fresh, giving a nice contrasts to the soft, tender, and cheesy pasta. John said that he enjoyed his spaghetti (he got it because it’s the signature dish) and that the hint of blue cheese was not overpowering, which can sometimes happen.

We ordered two sides to share (steamed asparagus and brocollini with chili) although I think we would have been good with just the brocollini as the pasta portions were just right.

Full from our mains, and just able to get the last few vegetables from fork to mouth, our eyes widened as dessert was delivered on a majestic platter. There’s always room for dessert.

There was a lemon tart with (what I’m going to call) drunken cherries, a chocolate panna cotta with roasted strawberries, and a frozen tiramisu that was slice of mocha heaven.

If you haven’t been by Cento Notti in its current form, it’s worth making a reservation — although it wasn’t very busy around 7:00pm on a Monday night (probably a different story on a Canucks game night in the bar area though). For an appetizer, two dinners, and a dessert, you can look to spend about $60 on a date night, which isn’t outrageous at all. The warm tones, attentive staff, and remixed house music make it a welcoming space for couples and friends out on the town.

Cento Notti is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter to hear about their daily offerings.