Lots of restaurants around town, many of which are great friends of ours, are offering specials and/or set menus available for you this New Years Eve, so I thought I’d make this post a one-stop-shop if you’re wanting to eat out this NYE and haven’t made any reservations yet. But you’d better hurry, things are booking up fast!

• Bistrot Bistro ~ 1961 West 4th Ave. Comfortable and delicious french fare from Chef Laurent Devin, fabulous wines, and great atmosphere. 4 course set menu $75, only 1 table left!  Call (604) 732-0004.
  

  Bistrot Bistro

• Lux at Caprice ~ 965 Granville Street. One of Granville streets newest openings, you’ll find carefully selected menu items, tasty cocktails and chic decor. Dinner and Social Tickets: $65, includes a 4 course dinner starting at 7pm with flights of wine, finishing off with chocolate strawberries and champagne at midnight. Social Tickets only: $25, includes chocolate strawberries and champagne at midnight. For tickets or info call James at (604) 685-3189 or email info@luxatcaprice.com.
  

  Lux at Caprice

• Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar ~ 1079 Mainland, Yaletown. First seating at 5.00PM  limited a la carte menu; New Year’s Eve event seating starting at 8.30pm @ $75 ($55 for fully heated winter terrace) including 4 course menu from Chef John Crook and individual Pommery Pop Champagne bottle per person at midnight. Party until 2am. Call (604) 602-0835 for reservations.
• Trattoria Italian Kitchen ~ 1850 West 4th Ave Kitsilano. In addition to offering the full Trattoria menu, Chef Brandon Thordarson has prepared a special New Year’s Eve Platter featuring a delicious blend of ‘Carne and Pesce’ (Sliced 8oz AAA Beef Strip Loin, grilled head-on Jumbo Tiger Prawns, Gnocchi Fungi with truffle cream and sliced winter truffles, roasted brussels sprouts and freshly toasted chestnuts, Spaghetti Squash Ali Olio, chianti and veal jus reduction.  Midnight will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of champagne and canapés till 1 am. For reservations and more information call 604-732-1441.
  

  Glowbal Grill

• The Cannery Seafood Restaurant ~ 2205 Commissioner Street.  Offering two options to suit your special occasion: First Seating - A La Carte - reservations from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, enjoy dinner out before heading off to a party or event. Seating concludes at 8 pm ~ or ~ Second Seating - Gala Dinner - reservations from 8:30pm to 10:00pm, includes dinner & dancing until 2 am courtesy of a live band, party favors & a glass of champagne.  Chef Wayne Sych’s menu that night will include Ahi Tuna Carpaccio, pan seared diver caught Baja Scallop, and steamed East Coast Lobster. Call (604) 254-9606 to book your table.
  

  The Cannery Seafood Restaurant

• Tequila Kitchen ~ 1043 Mainland, Yaletown. As their last hurrah (they are temporarily closing as they hunt for a new location) their NYE menu consists of two options: Botana Sharing Platter, small sharing dishes (7 items) and a House Drink $32 pp (Min 2 ppl) ~ or ~ Full Set Menu 4 course and a House Drink $39. They will only be having two seatings, so call (604) 681-2120 or email emi@tequilakitchen.ca for reservations.
  

  Tequila Kitchen

• Somewhere else you know about? Leave the details in the comment section!

A few evenings ago, we got together with some friends we hadn’t seen in while and ate for hours. About 5 hours to be exact. Funny how sitting down around a table, whether it be your table or someone else’s table, slathered in delicious food, eating and drinking for hours just makes such a perfect get together. Oh, and don’t forget about the wine. Wine helps too. Especially when it is served several bottles at a time.

Our dear friends at Bistrot Bistro prepared yet another perfect meal amidst a chatter-filled atmosphere which we were certainly contributing to, if not driving. Warm, hearty food just seemed to keep arriving at our table, and more often than not by Chef Laurent himself. Certainly makes one feel welcome when the chef delivers your main course, doesn’t it? The melt-in-your mouth beef bourguignon is always my favourite there, and it didn’t disappoint. I tried something new to the menu this visit, a warm goat cheese gruyere tomato black olive tart, which, if you could eat goat cheese by the dainty, lady-like bucketfull like I can, would make you come back solely for this dish. And I can’t forget to tell you about the brussel sprouts: I have harsh childhood memories about being forced to eat brussel sprouts, as did a few others at the table that eve; of course they were cold and wilted after I had pushed them around on my plate for half an hour hoping that would make them appear less in quantity than I had originally been served, the taste by then resembling something close to paper towel. However, Laurent’s brussel sprouts made with molasses and tiny chunks of, what tastes like, bacon don’t remind me for even a split second of my childhood horrors; they’re amazing.

And isn’t gorging on desserts really the icing on the cake? If the cake was our dinner? Er…not that we ate cake for dinner…or that I ever eat cake for dinner. Oh, well I’m sure you get where I was going there. Specifically, we had the French sundae, Crepes Suzette for two, and the monkey waffle (too much wine actually made us have to ask what the monkey waffle was exactly…”waffles with chocolate and bananas” the patient server replies…ahhh, of course. And bring more wine with those monkey waffles! Right.

Seriously though, gorging on food with friends is one of my favourite past times. And to our friends that not only served us but also dined with us that night, it was so good to see you all; let’s not let so long pass before we get together again

~ j