The holidays are about giving—and what is sometimes forgotten during the holidays, is giving back to one’s community.  During a time of often gluttonous eating, we forget there is a poor allocation of food in the world.   

This is why Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria’s famous hand-milled Campania Tomato Sauce is back for the holiday season.  For the sixth year in a row, Famoso is selling its authentic Campania Tomato Sauce at all 30 restaurants located in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, in partnership with Mealshare.  

Until December 31, 2018, one meal will be provided to a Canadian youth in need for every jar of Campania sauce purchased, right in the community in which the sauce was sold.

Made from only the finest vine-ripened plum tomatoes, picked from the rich soils of Mount Vesuvius in Naples, Famoso’s Campania Tomato Sauce is hand-milled and jarred to capture authentic Neapolitan flavour.  Available only once a year during the holiday season, Campania Tomato Sauce retails for $8 per 500mL jar.

Mealshare’s mission is to enable and inspire people to join the fight to end youth hunger. Funds raised from last year’s Campania Tomato Sauce sales provided 29,607 meals to in-need youth across Western Canada and Ontario.

Since Campania Tomato Sauce sales began in 2013, 28,176 jars of sauce have been purchased to support the 18 local communities in which Famoso operates.  Famoso expects another 5,800 jars to be sold this year.

This year, I used Campania Tomato Sauce to make a hearty chickpea and tomato soup.

For more information about Campania Tomato Sauce, please visit www.famoso.ca/campania .

Christmas is quickly approaching and I’m getting into the festive mood with these Grounds for Coffee Chocolate Candy Cane Cinnamon Buns!  I had the opportunity to try these buns ahead of the public release from December 14 – 17.   These limited edition buns feature their famous cinnamon buns with a chocolate cream-cheese icing and crushed candy cane toppings.  They are currently taking pre-orders in store or over the phone.

Established in 1993, Grounds for Coffee was at the forefront of Vancouver’s emerging coffee culture at that time.  They are famously known for their handmade cinnamon buns which are sold at their cafe and various establishments in BC and Alberta.

Grounds for Coffee’s famous cinnamon buns are made fresh daily by hand using locally-sourced ingredients.  Apparently, each one is a little diva that cannot be rushed!  The dough they use is made from choice Canadian flours, fermented to precise standards, then assembled, rolled, measured, cut and separated by hand.

You’ll be happy to know that they are made without trans fats, hydrogenated oils, eggs, bleached flour, nuts, raisins or preservatives.  The buns are baked with a high level of control for moisture, iced with cream-cheese icing and served at peak freshness.

Grounds for Coffee
Address: 2565 Alma Street, Vancouver, BC
Website: ‎groundsforcoffee.ca

OpenTable has announced its list of Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants in 2018 from coast to coast based on rating and reviews from OpenTable diners.  The list is a comprehensive look at the year’s most beloved dining spots culled from more than 500,000 verified diner reviews of over 2,500 restaurants across Canada.

Ontario Leads, followed by Alberta

This year, Ontario and Alberta lead OpenTable’s annual list highlighting the best of Canada’s hospitality scene.  Ontario has the greatest number of restaurants included on the list with 57, followed by Alberta with 21, British Columbia with 13, and Québec with 7 restaurants. Newfoundland and Saskatchewan are also represented on the list.

From the locavore specialties of the restaurant at Pearl Morissette in Niagara, the notable contemporary French cuisine of La Banane in Toronto, and the eclectic seafood stop Oddfish in Vancouver, this year’s list showcases OpenTable’s comprehensive network of dining options for every occasion across the country. Featured restaurants have been recognized for consistently putting out delicious dishes, providing impeccable service, and paying attention to every detail to orchestrate one-of-a-kind dining experiences time and again.

Methodology

The list is generated solely from diner reviews collected between November 1, 2017, and October 31, 2018.  All restaurants with a minimum “overall” score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then sorted according to a score calculated from each restaurant’s average rating in the “overall” category.

 Vancouver Top Restaurants

This year, Vancouver has 12 restaurants featured on the list, which is the third most of any Canadian city.  Recognized restaurants include:

• Ancora Waterfront Dining + Patio
• Bishop’s – Vancouver, BC
• Blue Water Café – Vancouver, BC
• Cinara – Vancouver, BC
• Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill – Vancouver, BC
• Five Sails Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
• Hawksworth Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
• Oddfish Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
• Osteria Savio Volpe – Vancouver, BC
• Tavola – Vancouver, BC
• West Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
• Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant) – Vancouver, BC

100 Best Restaurants in Canada for 2018

• Akira Back – Toronto, ON
• Ancora Waterfront Dining + Patio – Vancouver, BC
• ANJU – Calgary, AB
• Ascari Enoteca – Toronto, ON
• Atelier – Ottawa, ON
• Bar Isabel – Toronto, ON
• Bar Sybanne – Toronto, ON
• Baro – Toronto, ON
• Berkeley North – Hamilton, ON
• Bishop’s – Vancouver, BC
• Blue Water Café – Vancouver, BC
• BOSK at Shangri-La Hotel – Toronto, ON
• Bridgette Bar – Calgary, AB
• Buca Yorkville – Toronto, ON
• Byblos – Toronto, ON
• Canis Restaurant – Toronto, ON
• Carisma – Toronto, ON
• Chabrol Café – Toronto, ON
• Chez Sophie – Montréal, QC
• Chiado – Toronto, ON
• Cibo Bistro – Edmonton, AB
• Cinara – Vancouver, BC
• Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill – Vancouver, BC
• Cucina Market Bistro – Calgary, AB
• DaiLo – Toronto, ON
• Damas – Montréal, QC
• Don Alfonso – Toronto, ON
• Eden – Rimrock Resort Hotel – Banff, AB
• Escoba Bistro and Wine Bar – Calgary, AB
• Estia – Toronto, ON
• EVOO – Toronto, ON
• Fishbone Bistro – Stouffville, ON
• Five Sails Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
• George Restaurant – Toronto, ON
• Giulietta – Toronto, ON
• Grey Gardens – Toronto, ON
• Hawksworth Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
• Hearth Restaurant – Saskatoon, SK
• Hy’s Steakhouse – Calgary, AB
• Ile Flottante (former Les Deux Singes) – Montréal, QC
• Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse – Toronto, ON
• John & Sons Oyster House – Downtown – Toronto, ON
• Joso’s – Toronto, ON
• Jules Bistro – Queen West – Toronto, ON
• Ki Modern Japanese + Bar – Toronto, ON
• King Street Trio – Waterloo, ON
• Klein / Harris – Calgary, AB
• KOKO! Share Bar – Toronto, ON
• La Banane – Toronto, ON
• La Chaumiere – Calgary, AB
• Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa – Cambridge, ON
• L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon – Montréal, QC
• LaurieRaphael – Quebec – Québec QC
• Le Baccara – Casino du Lac Leamy – Gatineau, QC
• Le Notre Bistro – Toronto, ON
• L’Unità Enoteca – Toronto, ON
• Mamakas Taverna –Toronto, ON
• Masaki – Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
• Michael’s on Simcoe – Toronto, ON
• Miku Restaurant – Multiple locations*
• Mira – Toronto, ON
• Morton’s The Steakhouse – Toronto, ON
• The Nash – Calgary, AB
• Oddfish Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
• ONE Restaurant – Toronto, ON
• Opus Restaurant – Toronto, ON
• Osgoode Hall Restaurant – Toronto, ON
• Osteria Savio Volpe – Vancouver, BC
• Pigeonhole – Calgary, AB
• Posto Pizzeria and Bar – Calgary, AB
• Q Haute Cuisine (formerly La Caille) – Calgary, AB
• Raymonds Restaurant – St. John’s, NF
• The Restaurant at Pearl Morissette – Jordan Station, ON
• Rickshaw Bar – Toronto, ON
• Ristorante Beatrice – Montréal, QC
• Royale – Calgary, AB
• Sabor Restaurant – Edmonton, AB
• Salt Wine Bar – Toronto, ON
• Scaramouche Restaurant & Pasta Bar – Toronto, ON
• Shoushin – Toronto, ON
• Sofia – Toronto, ON
• Sorrel Rosedale – Toronto, ON
• Sukiyaki House – Calgary, AB
• Tanto – Toronto, ON
• Tavola – Vancouver, BC
• Ten Foot Henry – Calgary, AB
• Tennessee Tavern – Toronto, ON
• Terra Restaurant – Thornhill, ON
• Trattoria Giancarlo – Toronto, ON
• Trius Winery Restaurant – Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
• Tzin Wine & Tapas – Edmonton, AB
• Vero Bistro Moderne – Calgary, AB
• VIVO Ristorante – Westend – Edmonton, AB
• The Walrus Pub & Beer Hall –Toronto, ON
• West Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
• WORKSHOP kitchen + culture – Calgary, AB
• Yasu – Sushi Bar – Toronto, ON
• Yuwa Japanese Cuisine (fka Zest Restaurant) – Vancouver, BC
• The Yellow Pear Kitchen – St. Catharines, ON
• Zucca Trattoria –Toronto, ON