Restaurants that Go Big on New Years Eve

[Andrew Morrison]

I'm writing a story about New Years Eve dining. I'm always too busy working my ass off on the floor to take notice of what other restaurants are doing on New Years, but this year (by some fortuitous scheduling) I have it off. I know about Nu's "Maiden Voyage" shindig, and I'll likely make an appearance there, but are there any other notables that you guys can toss out?

Oh, and a Happy Holidays to you all.

2005 was crazy for me, and I was glad to share it with so many eGulleters.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza!

Edited December 17, 2005 by Andrew Morrison (log)

[Matt R.]

I'm writing a story about New Years Eve dining. I'm always too busy working my ass off on the floor to take notice of what other restaurants are doing on New Years, but this year (by some fortuitous scheduling) I have it off. I know about Nu's "Maiden Voyage" shindig, and I'll likely make an appearance there, but are there any other notables that you guys can toss out?

←

I know where I'm going for New Year's Eve. Here. It should be a pretty good time, being my first year at the Marina. Seems like restaurants take care of their staff when they have to work on a party night. Supposedly we're going to get our a$$es handed to us that night. I'm looking forward to it.

The last New Year's Eve I had off was 2000, which I spent with my lovely wife near her hometown at the Crawford Bay Hall, in beautiful Crawford Bay, B.C. just across the lake from Nelson.

After work, I will be joining my family and friends for some drunken card playing. Sounds like a full evening to me!

-- Matt.

[appreciator]

I note that my new favourite place Cru, has a fantastic looking New Years Eve Menu:

"A Classic Food and Wine Evening"

Canapes and Caviar  with Champagne

Seared Foie Gras  with fine Sauternes

Chevre Salad with Sauvignon Blanc

Lobster and Scallops  with Chardonnay

Bison Tenderloin  with Bordeaux

Passion fruit Souffle  with late-harvest Muscat

Aged Stilton  with Vintage Port

Dinner will begin at 6:30pm.

(you'll be home in time to ring in 2006)

$140 per person, plus gratuity and taxes

Now if only there was going to be a poker game afterwards

[Daddy-A]

Adesso Bistro has a lovely looking NYE menu ... a choice of 2 seatings @ $65.

Menu is here.

A.

[jamiemaw]

Bacchus at The Wedgewood is a very cosy room with live music. We'll be going there next week for our annual Christmas family luncheon.

Their New Year's party was mentioned in The Globe and Mail today:

If you're looking for an elegant capper to '05, look no further than the Wedgewood, which is consistently rated one of the top hotels in the world. The four-course celebration at Baccus restaurant will focus on the sumptuous French cuisine of chef Lee Parsons. Pianist Gregory Shea will entertain diners at their tables - before or after they slip upstairs to take in the view of the city skyline from their balcony or the suite's double soaker tub. Philip Meyer, Canada's classiest hotel manager (seriously - he's like velvet0 says guests can expect a warm, refined atmosphere among the rich cherry wood and Italian chandeliers, "not a big party or balloons and noisemakers."

Bacchus

New Year’s Eve Dinner 2005

Prepared by Executive Chef Lee Parsons

Fine Tomato, Basil & Caramelized Onion Tart

St. Maure Goat Cheese, Organic Greens

or

Crab & Lobster Cakes

Sweet Red Pepper Chutney, Fine Herb Salad

Pressing of Quebec Foie Gras & Poached Quince Pear

Aged Balsamic Gelee, Toasted Brioche

or

White Bean Soup

Shaved Black Truffle

Grilled “Sterling Silver®” Beef Tenderloin

Potato Galette, Fricassee Of Woodland Mushrooms

Cabernet Vinegar Jus

or

Herb Crusted Queen Charlotte Halibut

Creamed Savoy Cabbage & Leek, Parisienne Potatoes

Shellfish & Saffron Broth

or

Slow-roasted Breast of Grain-fed Pheasant

Fondant Potato, Braised Red Beets, Roasted Salsify

Juniper & Gewürztraminer Sauce

Bitter Chocolate Decadence Cake

Marmalade Ice Cream

or

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies

or

Aged Stilton Cheese

Apple & Port Compote

Coffee or Tea

Petit Fours

$135.00 per person

(Gratuity and taxes not included)

845 Hornby Street

Telephone (604) 689-7777

Website: www.wedgewoodhotel.com

Edited December 18, 2005 by jamiemaw (log)

[James Kendal]

We are going big this year:

Réveillon

December 31st, 2005

—

Wild Salmon “Unilateral”

Quebec Foie Gras & Forest Mushroom Terrine

Red Wine Cherry Compote

N/V Blue Mountain Rosé, Okanagan, B.C.

—

Ginger, Beet & Black Tea Consommé

Sea Urchin Sushi, Dried Seaweed Stack

2003 Hugel Gewurztraminer, Alsace, France

—

Cobble Hill Partridge Civet

East Coast Lobster Ravioli, Braising Jus

2003 Walter Hansell Chardonnay, Sonoma, California

—

Walchester Farm Venison Loin & Potato “En Croûte”

Bolete Provencale Croquette , Poivrade Sauce

1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia, Napa Valley, California

—

David Woods Goat Cheeses & Figs

Hot, Cold & Frozen

2003 Venturi-Schulze #3, Vancouver Island

—

Poire Belle Hélène

1999 Hester Creek Pinot Blanc Ice Wine, Okanagan, B.C

Executive Chef

Christophe Letard

Edited December 18, 2005 by James Kendal (log)

[jamiemaw]

I'm writing a story about New Years Eve dining. I'm always too busy working my ass off on the floor to take notice of what other restaurants are doing on New Years, but this year (by some fortuitous scheduling) I have it off. I know about Nu's "Maiden Voyage" shindig, and I'll likely make an appearance there, but are there any other notables that you guys can toss out?

←

I know where I'm going for New Year's Eve. Here. It should be a pretty good time, being my first year at the Marina. Seems like restaurants take care of their staff when they have to work on a party night. Supposedly we're going to get our a$$es handed to us that night. I'm looking forward to it.

The last New Year's Eve I had off was 2000, which I spent with my lovely wife near her hometown at the Crawford Bay Hall, in beautiful Crawford Bay, B.C. just across the lake from Nelson.

After work, I will be joining my family and friends for some drunken card playing. Sounds like a full evening to me!

-- Matt.

←

At $15 a bowl, that must be some soup!

[SBonner]

We spent our last New Year's Eve at "C" great service with the regular Chef's degustation menu and wine pairings. Five stars all round and they even ran two blocks to hail us a cab at 1:30AM.

Stephen and Helen Bonner

[Matt R.]

At $15 a bowl, that must be some soup! 

←

Hmm, I'd go for the smoked black cod veloute, then.

-- Matt.

[Ling]

Was browsing the menus at Villa del Lupo last night because I'm having dinner there soon, and came across their New Year's Eve menu

Edited December 18, 2005 by Ling (log)

[Andrew Morrison]

I had completely forgotten that I was sitting on the menu for Nu's "Maiden Voyage" new years dinner, and I've just posted it up on waiterblog.

It reads like a dream.

[Andre Saint-Jacques]

thought you folks would like to know what happening in whistler there are still some great deals for accomomdation during that time really not kidding.

2005 NEW YEARS EVE EVENT EARLY SEATING

RESTAURANT WHAT IS HAPPENING

APRES 3 course menu $80.00++, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00

AMAMI regular menu

ARAXI 3 course menu $98.00++,5pm to 6:30 2hr dining time

AUBERGINE 5 course mune $75.00++, 5-7:30pm.

BAVARIA regular menu

BEAR FOOT BISTRO 3 course menu $150.00++ 2.5 hours time

BLACKS 4 course menu 6-8pm $35.00++

BREWHOUSE 3 course $75.++ 6-8pm

CARAMBA Limited regular Menu few entrée specials

CRABSHACK 3 course menu 5-7pm 80.00++ entertainment??

THE DEN

EARLS

EDGEWATER 3 course menu 69.95++ 5:30pm

HYS 4 course menu $100.00++ no music 5,5:30,6

2.5 hr time limit $20.00 deposit

IL CAM 5 course menu $150.00++ DJ and champ

KYPRIAKI NORTE

LA BOCCA 3 course menu $65.00++

LA RUA

MACDONALD BALLROOM

MILESTONES 4 course menu 6pm one seating

MONKS Buffet 8-10pm Dancing 10-2am 150++ DJ

PORTOBELLO

QUATTRO 4 course menu $90.00++ 5:00pm. To 7:00pm.

RIC'S 3 seatings reg menu 4:30, 6:30pm and 8:30pm

RIM ROCK 4 course Menu $95.00++ 5:30 to 8:00

SUSHI VILLAGE regular menu

SUSHI YA TBA

TANDOORI GRILL FOUR COURSE $49 SEATING AT 5:00PM

TEPPAN VILLAGE

TEX CORLEON"S SEE LATE SEATING

THAI ONE ON regular menu

TRATTORIA 5 course menu $150.00++ DJ and champ

VAL D'ISERE 3 course, $95++ 5:30-8:00 pm

WILDFLOWER 6 course adult only from 6:00pm $225

2005 NEW YEARS EVE EVENT LATE SEATING

APRES 7 course menu 195.00++, starting at 9:00pm

AMAMI 6 course menu 199.00++, 8:15 to 9:45pm

ARAXI dancing and DJ

AUBERGINE 6 course menu 225.00++ 8pm to 1:00am Band (Jet Set)

BAVARIA Regular menu

BEAR FOOT BISTRO Pkg #3 5 course live jazz band dance & DJ

395.00++ 9pm

Pkg #4, 5 course live jazz band dance & DJ unlimited dom

800.00++ 9pm

Package #2 champagne & Bar 3 course 250.00++

BLACKS 6 course menu $69.95++ 8:30 to late band 3rd Eye Tribe

BREWHOUSE

CARAMBA Limited regular Menu few entrée specials

CRABSHACK 4 course menu 7-9pm 90.00++ entertainment?

THE DEN

EARLS

EDGEWATER 4 course Menu 89.95++ 8:00pm

FIFTY TWO EIGHTY SOLD OUT

HYS 5 course menu 150.00++ 8:30,9,9:30

DJ and Dancing set menu

IL CAM 8 course menu $225.00++ 9pm-2am DJ and Champ

KYPRIAKI NORTE

LA BOCCA 6 course menu $135.00 till late

LA RUA

MACDONALD BALLROOM Gala Dinner and Dance$350 Adults

MILESTONES

MONKS

PORTOBELLO Buffet 8-10pm Dancing 10-2am 150++ DJ

QUATTRO 5 course menu 190++ 8:00pm to late

RIC'S 3 seatings reg menu 4-6:40,6:30-8:30, 8:45-late

RIM ROCK 6 course menu 195.00++ 8:30 -till late band+favors

SUSHI VILLAGE Regular menu

SUSHI YA TBA

TANDOORI GRILL Four course: $59 seating at 8:00pm,

TEPPAN VILLAGE

TEX CORLEON"S BUFFET 7-9 buffet $80.00++

THAI ONE ON Regular menu

TRATTORIA 8 course menu $225.00++ 9pm-2am DJ and Champ

VAL D'ISERE 5 course fixed menu $185+++ DJ, dancing, 8:30 - til late

WILDFLOWER Six Course Adult only $225 from 6:00pm onwards

[kissmekate]

Here is what La Terrazza is doing....(one of my clients)

From Russia with Love

A Black Tie New Years Eve at La Terrazza

This year La Terrazza take's a 007 theme of civilized decadence, great music and wonderful food and wine.

Without giving all the secrets away...guests arrive on the red carpet, handing their car over to the valet or having their taxi door opened by a doorman. The courtyard has a special white tent full of surprises for later and a finely polished Astin Martin pulled up to the restaurants entrance. Already a feeling of mystique envelops you.

Through the double French doors of the La Terrazza entrance, coats are swept away and a perfect martini (shaken, not stirred) or glass of champagne is handed to you.

Twinkling lights, stunning decorations and live music great you as the great Geoff Peters classical jazz trio strikes up a romantic tune. Your table awaits you with personalized menus, elegant New Years Eve Party flavours, a roaring fireplace and a wine list that holds one of the finest collections of wine in the city.

Perhaps to start, a bottle of champagne and our very special "glass" iced caviar bowls created just for this evening.

After dinner step outside to our warm cigar tent with ports, liquors and wine service or move your feet as one of the cities best DJ's comes on to start you dancing and helps countdown to the stroke of midnight as we welcome in 2006.

$125.00 per person includes

A four course dinner, live dinner music, professional DJ and dancing, cocktail on arrival, admittance into the cigar tent and New Years Eve party favors

Add-ons

Russian Beluga Caviar

Served in a hand sculpted "glass" ice bowl

$110.00

After party

Having a nice dinner party at home?

Then join the La Terrazza party at 11:00 pm for dancing to a DJ,

the Cigar tent and party favors

Tables reserved in the lounge or dining room as available

$45.00 per person

Cigars and cocktails

Various prices

Surprises

Priceless (and no charge!)

Happy New Year!

Gennaro Iorio - Executive Chef/ Managing Partner

Giulio Miceli - Sommelier/Managing Partner

Iqbal Grewal - General Manager/Managing Partner

La Terrazza Restaurant

1088 Cambie St.

Vancouver, BC V6B 6J5

Ph: 604-899-4449 Fax: 604-899-9179

info@laterrazza.ca www.laterrazza.ca

[chrisstearns]

There were a bunch of New Year's options listed in Alexandra Gill's Globe and Mail column today. Much of it was the usual year-end price-gouging, but this one caught my eye:

"Hate the idea of set seating times? Aurora Bistro is putting on a hassle-free New Year's Eve with reservations available for whatever time that suits you, be it 6 p.m. or 8:23. In addition to its regular à la carte items, the restaurant is offering a six-course locally sourced and all-organic tasting menu for $75 per person that features seared scallops with house-cured duck bacon and plum pudding with Merridale cider sauce. 2420 Main St., 604-873-9944."

6 courses for $75? Kudos to Aurora.

If I wasn't working, I know where I'd be on New Year's.

[MightyMrQ]

There were a bunch of New Year's options listed in Alexandra Gill's Globe and Mail column today. Much of it was the usual year-end price-gouging, but this one caught my eye:

"Hate the idea of set seating times? Aurora Bistro is putting on a hassle-free New Year's Eve with reservations available for whatever time that suits you, be it 6 p.m. or 8:23. In addition to its regular à la carte items, the restaurant is offering a six-course locally sourced and all-organic tasting menu for $75 per person that features seared scallops with house-cured duck bacon and plum pudding with Merridale cider sauce. 2420 Main St., 604-873-9944."

6 courses for $75? Kudos to Aurora.

If I wasn't working, I know where I'd be on New Year's.

←

Hear, hear.

Great to see Aurora not get swept up in the NYE overindulgence wave.

Interesting to see that most of the rooms are celebrating epochs just on the brink of total destruction...

See you at New Year's Day Brunch at Aurora. I hope Kurtis waives the 'no coffee refills' clause in his contract.

[kurtisk]

See you at New Year's Day Brunch at Aurora. I hope Kurtis waives the 'no coffee refills' clause in his contract.

Heh! Probably best to mention that all of us at Aurora will be snoozin' on January 1st. In fact we're shuttin' down January 1st to 4th. The little Bistro's taken a bit of a beating this year and we need to do a little polish & shine...

k.

[fud]

^ You guys deserve a break! Too bad because I kinda wanted to have brunch at Aurora on the 1st

If we get up from the previous evening's debauchery.

[Luciano Loi]

Adesso Bistro has a lovely looking NYE menu ... a choice of 2 seatings @ $65.

Menu is here.

A.

←

Also open New Years Brunch and dinner. Best of the season everyone!

[Vancitygirl]

For those on the West Side, the Gramercy Grill at 11th and Arbutus:

Open New Years Eve, December 31st

Brunch from 11:00 am Dinner from 5:30 pm - offering a special menu please see below.

Open New Years Day

Brunch from 11:00 am

Dinner from 5:30 pm

Special New Years Eve Menu

Starters

Lobster Bisque with Lobster Meat $12

Classic Caesar Salad $8

Organic Beets & Feta Salad With Crispy Fried Onions $10

Spinach & Poached Pear Salad, Topped with Organic Sheep’s Milk Cheese, Bacon Lardons & Port Dressing $14

Beef Carpaccio Truffle Oil, Basil & Parmesan $10

Seared Prawns & Scallops with Smoked Tomato Sauce Dressed Organic Greens $16

Phyllo Wrapped BC Mushrooms & Brie with Port Wine Reduction $10

Fresh Dungeness Crab Napoleon served with Wonton Chips $14

Mussels & Pommes Frites with Tomatoes, White Wine, Herbs & Garlic $13

Chicken Livers Marinated in Port & Shallots served with Crostini $12

Mains

Wild Mushroom Linguine Garlic, Olive Oil & Shaved Parmesan $18

Fresh Snapper Poached in Saffron Tea with New Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes & Julienne Vegetables $19

Corn Fed Free Range Chicken Breast Stuffed with Spinach & Organic Sheep’s Milk Cheese and served with a Scallion & Bacon Potato Cake & Pan Jus $22

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Caramelized Apple Farce Stuffing served with Potato Gratin and finished with a Cinnamon Demi Glaze $22

New Years Specialties

Danish Baby Back Ribs Whiskey BBQ Sauce & Blue Cheese Macaroni $25

Grilled Bison Rib Eye With Pomme Allumette & Peppercorn Demi $34

Nicola Valley Grass Fed Beef Tenderloin Served with Smashed Potatoes & Truffle Demi $29

Seared Seabass Root Vegetable Hash & Grilled Winter Greens Finished with Truffled Orange Sauce $34

All Natural Rack of Lamb with Apple Pomme & Vegetables with Grainy Mustard Calvados Sauce $42

Carribean Rock Lobster Tail Poached in Tahitian Vanilla, Served with Pomme Anna - Market Price

[eatbc]

CRU still has seats available for the the new years eve dinner.

Starts at 6:30pm. $140 includes all wines.

MENU

Canapés and caviar

( Champagne, Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Lenoble )

Seared Quebec Foie Gras

winter chutney, muscat reduction

( Sauternes, Chateau Roumieu, 2003 )

Terrine of chevre, haricot vert and oven-dried tomatoes

with lentil salad

( Sauvignon Blanc, “cellar selection”, 2002, Sumac Ridge, Okanagan )

Lobster and Scallop Ravioli

lobster nage

( Chardonnay, 2003, “Sonoma coast”, La Crema, Sonoma )

Bison Tenderloin

cassis demi, celeriac and squash pave

( Bordeaux, Chateau Laulan Ducos, 2000, Medoc )

Warm Passion fruit Soufflé

with biscuit sablé

( Moscato Frizzante, Mionetto, Veneto )

Aged Stilton

with cranberry agrodolce

( Porto, Grahams Vintage 1991 )

We'll be closed Jan 1. Happy New Year!

[vanderb]

NYE dinner at Truffle Pigs, Field, BC... you'll have to excuse my lack of forethought in not bringing a pen and paper to write down all the details... I've got most of it but a few of the wine pairings have eluded me. Not that they weren't great I was just so focused on trying to remember the food I didn't have brain power left for the wine. BTW all the wines served NYE were BC wines, which made me very happy especially the 2002 Black Hills Nota Bene.

- Fondue and homemade pate with a Bellini

- Shrimp Bisque w/ vietnamese style spring roll w/ Okanagan Pinot Gris

- Thin sliced muscovy duck salad with Quebecois Chevre Noir and Arugula w/ Kettle Valley Pinot Noir

- Large fresh water prawn and scallop on a bed of fresh mixed veggie slaw w/ Okanagan Gewürztraminer (dry)

- Lychee and rosemary glace w/ Molson Canadian *explanation below

- Rare lamb tournedos w/ yam fritter and black BC wild rice w/ Black Hills Nota Bene

- "strawberry short cake" in a champagne flute w/ Mt Boucherie Riesling Ice wine

Dinner was exceptional and I've only listed my selections from the nights menu, no way I could have committed the SO's selections as they were totally different. The real highlights for me were the duck salad, the duck was cut super thin and then fried like strips of bacon, and the lamb entree but that had more to do with the Nota Bene. The lamb was excellent and the black wild rice a great accompaniment based on the texture. The Nota Bene really went well with this and satisfied all of my taste buds' requirements. I would really like to get my hands on a few bottles of the Nota Bene but every time we're out in Oliver they are sold out

* Explanation for the Molson Canadian - as a mid evening rest from all the food our hosts had us sing Bob and Doug Mackenzie's 12 days of Christmas, the Molson was the perfect pairing... too bad they didn't have stubbies.

Overall the evening was outstanding, there were 30 of us in attendance mostly local Fieldites but a few from out of town, including a couple from the UK who were staying at Emerald Lake lodge but ate every meal (I mean every) at Truffle Pigs during their stay. There was a local musician with his acoustic guitar to keep us entertained and the food just kept coming. We rolled out about 15 minutes after midnight (started at 6:30pm) and joined many locals in a walk around town to try and work off the early courses.

Once again a marvelous meal at Truffle Pigs, we'll be back... if possible for NYE next year too.