A LA CARTE
Events and what's new on the food and dining scene updated Wednesdays for the coming week.

MUSIC
Mealtime entertainment at local restaurants and eateries

BEHIND THE COUNTER: Little Beaver builds, fills appetites
Look for where city meets country and you'll find the Little Beaver Restaurant at this crossroads community west of London.

Former Sebastian's seeks seating for 1,000
Preliminary plans for the former Sebastian's restaurant at 539 Richmond St. would turn the vacant building into London's largest bar and grill with room for more than 1,000 patrons.

Out-of-towners open Old City Hall
The "great vibe" in downtown London has lured two Toronto restaurant and nightclub owners to the core.

Feast or famine
'Tis the season to feast.

London upstaged in dining guide?
Where to Eat in Canada, the annual guide by Anne Hardy, advises Londoners to "go to Stratford if they want to eat well." What do you think of this assessment of London's eateries? Tell us if you have a special restaurant you'd be proud to visit with out-of-town guests.

A traditional touch at Stratford
The Festival Inn is a hotel in Stratford with a large restaurant, the Ann Hathaway Dining Room.

A cool reaction to 'hottest place'
Hotson's Bar and Restaurant bills itself as the "hottest place in town." In Stratford, this is a grand claim.

Pazzo affordable Stratford dining
Pazzo Restaurant and Pizzeria is in a beautiful building on the corner of York and Ontario Streets in Stratford.

Shiki's food, friendly style a hit
Shiki is one of those out-of-the-way places that make you feel like you're in the know just for being able to find it.

Lunch welcome break from stressful week
For Peter Garland, lunch at Fellini Koolini's was a welcome respite from seven stressful days.

Orchestra London chief in tempo at Scallions
Orchestra London's new executive director is keeping to a brisk tempo.

Souvlaki gives McRae taste of Fair
A treat just wouldn’t be a treat if it was everyday.

Winning ways start at table
A team that eats together wins together.

Barnes enjoys simple food
It's no surprise that Sue Barnes craves simple food.

No fooling these taste buds
Be careful what you try to feed Jill Wilcox.

Willie's Cafe takes the wrap
When London Denise Pelley sings, she'll offer her audience the chance to relax and listen to good music.

At Richie's, he's just Joe
From Monday to Thursday, they call him Mr. Fontana. It's one of the few signs of civility left in the cutthroat world of federal politics in Ottawa.

Games co-chair a Marienbad regular
Phil Bowman's middle name must be "Stammgast."

Chaucer's folk roots showing
Chaucer's Pub has been associated with folk music in London almost from its beginnings in 1974.

Thai lunch offers Fowler break from Games' work
Libby Fowler doesn't often get the chance to Thai one on.

Timbers scores big with soccer manager
Harry Gauss says a good restaurant meal can be compared to a goal in soccer -- the key is the buildup.

Mackie's serves up memories
A trip to Port Stanley landmark Mackie's is a feast on memory lane for Ken Palmer.

Food, setting in harmony
Wonderland Gardens sets the stage for a living history of local music over lunch with London jazz legend John Noubarian.

Music, theatre, food integrated for Fagan
Pulling together the creative talents of more than 600 musicians, actors and dancers for the opening ceremonies of the 2001 Canada Summer Games is no small task.

Bistro respite for executive
It's a running joke among Jan Richardson's staff that she never sits down for lunch.

Meehan loves cafe's charm
Brian Meehan admits his "day job" influences how he views the world.

Marla Jane's Cajun delight
My guest was in the kitchen.

Volcano home to Sunfest chief
For Alfredo Caxaj, the London restaurant Under the Volcano provides a taste of home.

Lunch break at Chancey's a rare treat
Dining out in the middle of the day is a rare treat for London TV personality Janice Zolf.

Haylor tackles McGinnis fare
Never buy fresh lobster off the back of a pickup truck from a seller from Nebraska.

Name, doors odd but grub is great
The Little Beaver is a Komoka landmark renowned equally for its cooking and for the lineups to get a table.

Computer whiz has a byte on us
When you're just 13 years old, busy with school and your own company, doing lunch out can be tough.

Bistro's seafood hits mark
Bill Brady is an easy interview.

With the mayor at Malibu
By her own admission, London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco isn't much of a breakfast person.

Singer sings Ginger's praise
When Gary McAuley is looking for soul food and a place to eat, he thinks of Blue Ginger.

Tasting Michael's food, charm
Jim Chapman, host of CJBK-AM's Talk of the Town, likes getting personal with callers to his weekday show.

At home in Home's kitchen
Home Restaurant's door is a dozen steps away from the stove, a blessing for chef Alessandro Malnati.

Al Fredo's atmosphere, food please Young
Kate Young arrives on time for a late lunch at Al Fredo's Italian Kitchen.

La Casa second 'home' to Dagnone
True to his Italian roots, Tony Dagnone could happily eat pasta every day of the week.

La Costa decor offers refuge from winter
It's a dreary winter day on Restaurant Row and there's nothing to see out the window but mounds of dirty snow.

Fire chief prefers home-style cuisine
Dave Hodgins remembers everything he ate on his first night in London.

Tanakaya a refuge for Grand's chief
For Kelly Handerek, Tanakaya offers the perfect lunch break.

Miestro offers a marvellous menu
Don Donner of the Boys' and Girls' Club says he and his wife have their own way of ranking restaurants.

Greek cuisine hits high note with maestro
Orchestra London Pops conductor Brian Jackson first fell in love with Greek cuisine near the Aegean.

Davenport one of Garlic's converted
When it comes to food, Paul Davenport has tasted the gamut -- the good, the bad and the ugly.

Worth the wait
As a business partner, Mother Nature is never silent.

The chemistry of chocolate
The term chocoholic, like alcoholic, implies that eating chocolate is bad for you.

The Valley of dreams
You eventually get used to the constant boom from "bangers" echoing throughout this little unique piece of heaven in the southern Okanagan Valley.

CANOE: Lifewise: Food and Drink: Recipes and Wine

CANOE: Wine Access
Canada's essential guide to good wine and spirits

CopperField's Eatery and Pub
Wortley eatery filled with delightful treats

J.J.'s Bistro
Bistro understated, but its food isn't

The Green Tomato
Menu features huge servings, trendy food

Willie's Cafe
Willie's a luxurious treat for the senses

John Labatt Centre concessions
Hockey eats more than just dogs and pop

Bangkok Pad Thai
Thai restaurant does its specialty with expertise

Caffe Antico / Three Men And A Pizza
Italian evening 'belissimo'

Jambalaya
Cajun, Caribbean cuisine with a hint of Thai

Budapest Restaurant
Budapest offers red-curtain dining

Braywick Bistro
Bistro lunch a tasty delight

El Amanecer
Mexican special tempts palate

Curry's
Curry's Restaurant challenges your taste buds

Cafe One
Creative cafe tempts tastebuds

Vietnam Restaurant
You can look before you eat at the Vietnam

Chip wagon chow down
The intrepid Worthington family decids to find out which fry truck serves our city's best poutine.

Riverview Restaurant Patio and Gazebo
Riverview's food matches its beauty

Yu's Sushi Garden
Food court sushi restaurant provides tasty lunchtime treat

Nove Nove
The finest restaurant experience we've had in a long, long time

Under the Volcano
Burritos and fried ice cream an eruption of culinary delight

Hilton Hotel London Grill
Service, ambience highlight outing

Bernie's
Weekends are busy at Bernie's

Naked Oyster
Naked Oyster a charming place to bare a craving for seafood

Fellini Koolini's
Food, service 'middle of road' at Koolini's

McGinnis Landing
McGinnis Landing as fresh and modern as ever

Black Trumpet
Black Trumpet a world of culinary experimentation

Knickerbocker's Mediterranean Cuisine
Mediterranean food a spicy change for special nights out

Home Restaurant
Home team sizzles

Waltzing Weasel
A good imitation of English pub grub

Thuan Kieu Vietnamese and Thai Restaurant
Vietnamese meal a healthy, tasty treat

Chancey Smith's
Lick your chops for a meat-lover's Valhalla

The Ceeps
Ceeps regulars enjoy basics, service

Taste of India
Getting a Taste of India downtown a worthwhile endeavour

Primavera
Primavera good spot to eat, watch parade

Garlic's
Garlic's a hit on culinary stage

Lal Qila
Lal Qila a winner in new location

Liam Brannigan's
Upscale Brannigan's hits mark

Bing's China House Dining Lounge
Bing's offers welcome surprises

Tillie's Roadhouse Bar and Grill
Tillie's keeps guests fed, amused

Village Cafe
Village Cafe elevates your mood

Mascot Restaurant
Mascot restores faith in diners

Hoo Hoo Restaurant
Hoo Hoo offers good food at bargain prices

Walker's Fish and Chips
Walker’s recipe survives test of time

Williams Coffee Pub
Menu sounds better than it tastes

The Wooly Pig Pie and Pastry House
Wooly Pig great for pastry lovers

Wortley Roadhouse
Wortley Roadhouse a tradition

Al Fredo's Italian Kitchen
Al Fredo’s urged to try casual fare

Angelo’s Bakery and Deli
Angelo’s heaven to food lovers

Wok ’n Roll Plus
Wok ’n Roll Plus magnificent

Cafe Milagro
Café Milagro friendly, trendy

Lenny’s
Lenny’s serves two clienteles

Golden Tandoori
Buffet a bargain at Tandoori

China Doll Restaurant
China Doll stands the test of time

Golden Angkor Restaurant
Variety in menu surprising

Take Sushi
Eastern ambience times two

Tony’s Pizza
Tony’s Pizza a London landmark

Sebastian's
Sebastian's offers lots of options

Bubba's Diner
Diner gears hours to clientele

New Irene's Seafood Restaurant
Irene's withstands test of time

Cakewalkers
Cakewalkers like sugar heaven

Stir-Fry Kitchen
Stir-Fry Kitchen has broad menu

La Vita
La Vita lives up to ambitious plan

J. Dee's Market Grill
J. Dee's burger variations a hit

Little Beaver
Little Beaver worth the drive, wait

Poacher's Arms
Taste of old London in our London

Pad Thai Rice Bowl
Pad Thai a welcome newcomer

Country Hearth
Atmosphere homey at Country Hearth

T. J. Baxter's
T. J. Baxter's making big yards

Pasto's Italian Eatery
Home-style pizza worth the trip

Manchuria Garden
Chinese food with Canadian flavour

Andreas Charcoal Broiled
Open kitchen at Andreas sets dining mood

The Market Cafe and the London Grill at the Hilton Hotel
Hilton matches great food with decor

The Laundry Cafe
Lunch, laundry go together at cafe

La Casa
La Casa's kitchen called 'a wonder'

Fondly recalling 10 great restaurants
It seems fitting to look back over the best of the restaurants I have had the pleasure to review.

Cityview
Cityview decor 'early Canadian diner'

Shanghai Restaurant
Shanghai withstands test of time

Richie's Family Restaurant
Richie's a great diner experience

Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji shines with great sushi

Royal Canadian Air Force Association
Air Force eatery good food at down-to-earth prices

The Velvet Family Restaurant
Slipping over to the Velvet a smooth move for lunch

Scotian Isle Baked Goods
Scotian Isle offers down-home value, charm

Melody Restaurant and Tavern
Soup and longevity specialties at the Melody

Mandarin Court
Mandarin Court finds that some like it hot

Churches, charities raise funds
Good works and good food can be combined at the Western Fair.

West Side Family Restaurant
West Side a family affair built on trademark dishes

Select Sandwich
Selection at Select Sandwich stumps writer

Casey's Grillhouse and Beverage Co.
A reformed carnivore's dream burger

Jame's Place
Lunch fit for a world champ at Jame's Place

Harry's Open Kitchen
Never too hot in kitchen for diners at Harry's

Africa Restaurant
Lunch at Africa Restaurant a finger-licking good treat

Nooners
Nooners still thrives as a 'lunchtime thing'

Malibu Restaurant
Malibu lets others chase fashion

London Pride Fish and Chips and Kalamata Dining Room
Restaurant gem in old south

High Lunch
Food, friendliness keep High Lunch soaring

West End Restaurant
Blues served up with omelette strikes right note

Duffy's Cove
Duffy's Cove a dream come true to its owner

Curry Pot
Curry Pot serves East Indian dishes to Canadian tastes

Doghouse
Doghouse offers doggone good value for your money

Hoo Hoo Restaurant
The longer the Hoo Hoo stays the same, the better

Rei Dos Leitoes
Chicken steals show from pig at Rei Dos Leitoes

Rockwater's
Rockwater's serves roadhouse standards with above average flare

The Bagel
The Bagel dresses up the bagel in fine style

Little Red Roaster
Little Red Roaster's carrot cake takes the cake

Walker's Restaurants
Expatriate Brit at home in local 'chippy'

Tak Sun
Tak Sun has its dim sum down to a fine art

Kambie
Kambie a hit for huge portions, fast service

Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji a gem for Japanese food lovers

Angelo's
Quality tops, prices rock-bottom at Angelo's