Araxi is home to the best cuisine in Whistler. Renowned executive chef James Walt has been celebrating seasonal, locally sourced ingredients for years, drawing upon the rich offerings of the nearby Pacific Ocean, Canadian ranches and the organic farms in the Pemberton area just north of Whistler.

The décor is sleek and upscale, and the menu boasts an astounding selection of oysters, featuring at least a dozen different types from the chilly waters of Washington State and British Columbia. The raw bar and sushi/sashimi offerings, like BC wild sockeye salmon sashimi with ponzu sauce, are equally impressive.

The presentation of such appetizers as butternut squash soup with curry oil is dazzling. Main dishes could include a lightly gingered duck breast or an organic white prawn risotto. Order a side of the truffle fries, and leave room for the sublime desserts. The award-winning wine list tops 50 pages, and features some unforgettable Old and New World classics. Although any Whistler restaurant will have families dining together, Araxi is really better for an adults-only dinner.

For Martin Picard, who is widely credited with putting Québécois cuisine on the map, almost anything edible is an acceptable vehicle for foie gras. At Au Pied de Cochon, he serves it alongside buckwheat pancakes and bacon (drenched in maple syrup), on hotdog buns and even atop Montreal's favorite comfort food: poutine (fries layered with cheese curds and gravy). Dinner at PDC is equal parts communion and conquest; the restaurant opened in 2001, and devout carnivores have been queuing up gamely ever since, eager to challenge each other to "Duck in a Can" and "Pig's Head for Two." If at times the menu verges on carnivalesque, it has also done much to ennoble a culinary tradition that—though it's hard to believe—10 years ago needed a hero like Picard.

If your visit to Montreal happens to coincide with Canadian sugar season (late February through early May), save room for a field trip to Picard's elevated cabane à sucre or "sugar shack"—where he serves an entire menu of maple-sweetened heavy-hitters to cozy revelers and worldly lumberjacks.

Low, arched ceilings, mismatched vintage pendant lamps and glass-tiled wall mosaics conspire to make Bar Isabel feel like an antique, but the gutsy tapas menu riffs playfully on classic Spanish fare. Smoked sweetbreads are served with raw tuna and spicy pickled green tomatoes. Anchovies and jalapeños turn up on the patatas bravas "Supremo". It's hard to imagine ordering vegan salad at an old-school tapas joint in Madrid, but here, a ceramic cazuela of shredded broccoli and brussels sprouts—flecked with dill sprigs, golden raisins, pomegranate and flaxseeds—is full of lemony, peppery zing. The kitchen is open until 2:00 am, so take a seat at the beautiful cherry-wood paneled bar and have a nightcap or one of the staff-favorite late-night specials like Brando's fried chicken.

If you didn’t get enough excitement out on the mountain, head to the Bearfoot Bistro for a little pomp and circumstance. Begin your evening at the Belvedere Ice Room, adjacent to the restaurant, which boasts the “world’s coldest vodka tasting room” at -25F. Don Nordic explorer-style parkas and get ready to sample from more than 50 vodkas from around the world, distilled from all manner of grains, including rye, potatoes, and hemp. When you are ready to warm up again, head to the dining room where the real action begins.

For a glass of bubbly, head to the wine cellar, resembling a movie set and stocked with over 20,000 bottles, where you can attempt to saber off the champagne cork all on your own. (Success? Take home the sliced-off bottle top and cork in a special box). Afterwards head back to the dining room, where you can order a la carte or opt for the three or five course tasting menu. Imagine a Quebec foie terrine with black truffles and brown butter, followed by tender kobe beef. The show continues as servers clad in black suits, black shirts and colorful ties surround your table to bring the next course. All at once they’ll uncover your plates with a flourish.

The performance extends into dessert, if you order the nitro ice cream prepared at the table. Frankly, the whole show can be a bit much, but the luscious plates created by award winning executive chef Melissa Craig are the real deal.

Opened by the ex-chef of Panache, Bistro B has a decidedly different atmosphere than the fine dining institution, but is still one of the hottest destinations for foodies. Located in the charming Montcalm neighborhood (a ten-minute drive from town), the innovative eatery offers something for those craving a more inventive meal—and trendier environment—than most downtown spots provide. Most dishes are refined, while still being comforting; the menu, scribbled on chalkboard, has previously featured a cream of mushroom risotto and bison tartare with parmesan and truffle, as well as the occasional fish and chips and grilled cheese. The weekend brunch is one of the city’s liveliest.

Of the string of see-and-be-seen restaurants on Alberni Street, Black + Blue is a standout. The creation of the ever-inventive and cuisine-conscious Glowbal group, Black + Blue is a contemporary take on that old American classic, the Chicago steak house. The three-story restaurant evokes a glamorous version of the dark, mirrored, romantic style of the 1940s and 1950s, with subdued lighting, banquettes and crisp linens on the tables. This is a place where they know how to make a great martini and where waiters deftly assemble Caesar salads or flaming desserts right at your table. The steaks are sublime, aged in-house and featuring only the finest and most precious cuts. If you’re in the mood for meat, Black + Blue can’t be beat.

A gleaming wooden structure with windows extending from the floor to the massive vaulted ceilings, the Glacier Creek Lodge is the favored lunch destination on Blackcomb Mountain. Yes, it is a cafeteria, but a selection of hearty soups, Asian specialties and the usual assortment of grilled burgers, fries and pizzas offer something for everyone in your group. The coffee kiosk inside the spacious modern lodge serves up an excellent espresso.

Located inside the Rendezvous Lodge, Christine’s on Blackcomb is the only place on Blackcomb Mountain where you can get sit-down table service. The service can be slow, so only go when you’re finished skiing for the day. In the summer, Christine's is best for lunch during the daytime, thanks to its incredible views.

The Crystal Hut is a good place to have a late breakfast of homemade waffles topped with fresh fruit and hot maple syrup. Come before 11:00 am, as the tiny space fills up quickly.

Despite opening in 2011, Buillon Bilk seems to have gotten its second wind after a 2014 rehaul that elevated the restaurant from good to excellent. Dishes range from the inventive (pork dumpling with plum, celery, mushrooms and popped rice) to the classic (succulent duck magret with cherries). The cocktails are well-crafted and the wine list is excellent.

Situated down a charming alleyway, this beloved Italian trattoria utilizes seasonal ingredients (often foraged by the chef himself), incorporating them into such dishes as stuffed pasta with wild hare and foie gras and braised wild dandelion with parmigiano and hen’s egg yolk. While a handful of items on the menu are daring, the pizzas and accessible appetizers make it easy for kids to eat here as well. Lauded chef Jamie Oliver once dubbed a visit here his “favorite meal of the year.”

A neighborhood haunt that resembles your typical West Village wine bar, Buvette Chez Simone attracts a mix of local Francophiles and trendy visitors. The simple fare of charcuterie, cheese and a excellent roast chicken platter pairs well with the curated wine selection. The Mile End staple starts filling up in the early evening, but the charming patio—complete with yellow stools and milk crate flower boxes—is a lovely, and quieter, alternative to the industrial dining room.

Over the years I have enjoyed many fine meals at long-established CinCin, and I never tire of the superb quality of the food, the service, and the overall ambience. On the second floor of a building on hectic, happening Robson Street, CinCin somehow manages to be both romantically subdued and wonderfully lively, probably because all the diners are enjoying the food, the wine and the wonderfully genial atmosphere. The dining room, with its quietly rosy walls, Italian tile floor, and rustic beamed ceiling is the closest you’ll come in Vancouver to an elegant ristorante in Rome or Florence. If you want a romantic dinner for two, book a table on the terrace overlooking Robson Street. Chef Andrew Richardson shops daily for the finest local produce, seafood and meats that are used in the sophisticated, multi-regional Italian menu that makes use of a wood oven and truly understands pasta in all its incarnations. Your best bet here is the tasting menu, expertly paired with CinCin’s wonderful selection of Italian and Northwest vintages.

Hidden behind a mirrored wooden door, adjacent to a high-end menswear shop, this petite speakeasy is a fabulously serene place for an inventive, pre-dinner cocktail. There’s no menu; rather, the bartenders discuss your likes and dislikes and whip up the perfect personalized concoction. And even though the black-and-white framed photographs leading guests down the dimly-lit hallway are of iconic men (Marcello Mastroianni, Serge Gainsbourg, etc.), the bartending team here includes several women: a rarity among speakeasy settings.

Reema Singh is the owner, baker and cashier at this one-woman cupcake show in Mile End where she whips up the city’s best confections. The atmosphere—which feels like a grandmother’s fragrant home—is as sweet as the goods themselves. The chai chocolate cupcake and spicy brownie satisfy with a sugary kick.

Creekbread was born as a progressive idea in the hills of Vermont before making its way to Whistler’s hippie enclave of Creekside. From the spacious wooden structure with a two-story tall ceiling resembling a converted farmhouse, decorated with New Age-y tapestries, to the proudly announced commitment to sustainable farming and equitable working conditions, Creekside’s bohemian leanings and admirable social conscience come through loud and clear.

Also visible from almost everywhere in the restaurant is the massive stone pizza oven and open kitchen manned by several young men in colorful knit tuques (as opposed to chef hats) stretching and tossing the magnificent Creekbread pizza dough. The combination of only the highest quality local ingredients and the cooperative work environment is a winning one. The pizza is superb and, as a result, the large dining room is always packed.

Local, organic ingredients like house-made maple-fennel sausage and farm fresh eggs, pair with imported items like Danish fontina and Italian asiago to create truly memorable pizzas.

At first glance, Crepe Montagne is just a small storefront in a nondescript two-story mall. Inside, the wee wood-paneled space holds a handful of small booths, shelves packed with Asterix & Obelix and Tintin comic books, a cramped kitchen and, in winter, dozens of silver tree ornaments hanging from the ceiling. The heat of the kitchen, the glow of the wood and the small quarters make it especially inviting when it’s snowing outside.

The menu of this self-anointed “authentic French crêperie” is indeed very French. The crepes are delicious, but most, like the chorizo with béchamel sauce, are plenty rich. The cheese fondue and the raclette are hearty and toothsome. In a nod to its customers, Crepe Montagne does offer a vegetarian raclette with brocolli and cauliflower in place of the usual meats. Come early; they don’t take reservations.

Ride on a snowmobile or in a snowcat several thousand feet up Blackcomb Mountain to the rustic Crystal Hut Lodge. There enjoy a fondue dinner and wine – but only a half glass, if you are planning on driving the snowmobile back down – and enjoy the serenity of the mountains at night.

Even if you don’t normally frequent Irish pubs, you’ll get a kick out of the Dubh Linn Gate. At the base of Whistler Mountain, tucked into the northern end of the plaza where skiers and boarders arrive at day’s end, the Gate is an après ski hot spot. The last rays of sun shine upon a handful of outside tables, crammed with skiers and warmed by heat lamps. If you can’t get a seat there, head into the restaurant, decorated in traditional pub style, but more spacious than you might find back in Dublin. You can opt for a seat at the bar, closest to the live band, or in the calmer room at the back.

You’ll always find duos or trios playing live Irish music here, and the quality of their soulful singing and fiddle strumming never fails to impress. Choose from over a dozen locally brewed ales, lagers and IPAs on tap, or a selection of Irish brews, from Guinness to Kilkenny Cream Ale. There’s a big selection of après appetizers, as well as a full lunch and dinner menu with pub classics like fish and chips and more creative selections like the free range buffalo burger or veggie lentil burger.

Fine dining is often synonymous with white-gloved service and art-inspired, but that could not be farther from the truth at Edulis. The romantic, candlelit restaurant offers diners a choice between two tasting menus (and an additional truffle menu when they are in season.) The menu is as welcoming as the environs; with a focus on seafood, vegetables and wild mushrooms, the kitchen churns out inventive plates served in cast iron pots and mini dutch ovens in vibrant colors.

For a more refined drinking experience, head north of the village to the Four Seasons. Rough cut stone and wood walls frame the stylish collection of plush orange settees and large chocolate leather chairs. A warm fire glows and attentive staff serve up a tantalizing array of cocktails and excellent wines. In summer the heavy French doors open out onto the terrace for drinks under the stars. Despite the swank surroundings, Fifty Two 80 keeps up a relaxed mountain vibe and occasionally features such talented local musicians as the Hair Farmers, who are as comfortable playing in the Four Seasons as at Dusty’s Backside Barbeque.

This small, charming coffee shop is tucked away on Rue Saint-Pierre in Old Montreal and a great spot for a caffeine boost or freshly squeezed orange juice. Flyjin has a modern, minimalist wood interior and a well-curated selection of design magazines, making it a great spot to hide out for a few hours.

As is the case with most Montreal restaurants, patrons at Garde Manger would be wise to check all notions of a nutritious meal at the door. This shouldn’t, however, dissuade you from a meal at the Old Montreal hot spot; merely let it serve as a warning that your impending meal is likely to include artery-clogging house specialties: lobster poutine and a deep fried Mars bar à la mode.