ON THE PLATE: 50 Favourite Things to Eat & Drink in Vancouver

Having had the very good fortune to test drive hundreds of local restaurants over the years, I’ve made a point of making either mental or written notes of which dishes and drinks have particularly struck my fancy. In going over these notes and remembrances of meals past, the “must haves” may be many more than 50, but it’s still a small and round enough number for me to squeeze in my ultimate favourites. Here they are!

The Tequila Sunrise ‘bento box’ cocktail at Habit Lounge (2610 Main, 604-877-8582, HabitLounge.ca) is so simple, a customer could make it — and, in fact, does. Just follow the instructions provided and build the drink to your liking. ($9)

Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud’s version of Alsatian Tarte Flambée lights up with smoked bacon and onion at DB Distro (2551 West Broadway, 604-739-7115, DBBistro.ca). ($9)

I fell in love with the Alibi Room (157 Alexander, 604-623-3383, Alibi.ca) this year, especially their Frat Bat sampler, a wooden paddle holding four pours of whichever beer you choose. ($9)

Chef Warren Geraghty’s Pepperwood bay-leaf-scented risotto, studded with butternut squash and roasted local porcini, is fabulously stocky, and as autumnal as it gets (West Restaurant, 2881 Granville, 604-738-8938, WestRestaurant.com). ($19.50)

The freshly-squeezed lime margarita — prepped with premium tequila — at Lolita’s (1326 Davie St., 604-696-9996, LolitasRestaurant.com) is a liquid staycation. And who doesn’t dig an umbrella garnish? ($8.25)

The thin-crust pizza decorated with Italian sausage, chilies and sweet onion at Nook (781 Denman, 604-568-4554, NookRestaurant.ca) is so simple, it could be mistaken as elegant. ($15)

The addictively spiced — and occasionally over-oiled — longaniza sausage tacos at Doña Cata (5076 Victoria Dr., 604-436-2232, DonaCata.com) are worth a dry-cleaning headache. ($2 each)

Artisan Group master brewer Mark Simpson worked with Russell Brewing Co. to create the newly released Chambar Ale. Enjoy it at the award-winning restaurant for $6 a pint (Chambar, 562 Beatty, 604 879 7119, Chambar.com).

Linger in front of the big pots of pork stock at Kintaro (788 Denman, 604-682-7568) and chow down on ramen noodles in rich miso broth with corn and lean slices of BBQ pork. ($7.25)

The aromatic green curry halibut with grachai and holy basil at Maenam (1938 West 4th, 604-730-5579, Maenam.ca) is a knockout blow to the palate, and a steal at $16.

Chef Pino Posteraro’s fettucine with super-savoury meat ragu is a gastronomic cure for seasonal affective disorder (Cioppino’s, 1133 Hamilton, 604-688-7466, CioppinosYaletown.com). ($25)

Main courses at Cibo Trattoria (900 Seymour, 604-602-9570, CiboTrattoria.com) are known for their great value, but don’t overlook the side order of all side orders: fingerling potatoes with rosemary, garlic, and a gentle hit of chili heat. ($5)

As if instructed by genius cheese curds with an agenda, the kitchen at Stella’s on Cambie (3305 Cambie, 604-874-6900, StellasBeer.com) has developed a poutine that’s smothered in a rich gravy made with miso and Blanche de Chambly beer. ($9)

The buttermilk-fried Polderside chicken with biscuits and gravy, served exclusively during Friday lunch service at Fuel Restaurant (1944 West 4th, 604-288-7905, FuelRestaurant.ca), is rightfully legendary, and is served with a glass of R&B;Cream Ale for just $19.50.

Created with love, the suckling pig with sauerkraut and schupfnudeln at La Brasserie (1091 Davie, 604-568-6499, LaBrasserieVancouver.com) is one of the best dinner deals in town. ($18)

The black-truffle-and-fontina pizza at Market in the Shangri-La Hotel (1115 Alberni, 604-695-1115, Shangri-la.com/Vancouver) is a stunning marriage of decadence and accessibility. Stuff your best face forward for $15.

Petit fours by pastry wizard Thierry Busset are after-dinner must-haves at CinCin Ristorante (1154 Robson, 604-688-7338, CinCin.net). Think almond and pistachio financier, lime mousse in miniature, and more. ($11 per person)

The Penicillin cocktail of ginger, lemon, and honey weighed down with Scotch whisky lingers long and fierce at The Diamond (6 Powell, no phone, Di6mond.com). ($10)

Each savoury pork carnitas taco at La Taqueria (322 West Hastings, 604-568-4406) — topped with pineapple, cilantro chiffonade, onion dice, and fresh salsa — costs the same as bus fare ($2.50), so buy one and walk it off.

A cup of Organic Sparrow Tongue golden-hued tea is steeped peace. The subtly floral, gently sweet relaxer from Fujian suffers no astringency, and comes with all the health benefits of green tea. Available at 49th Parallel (2152 West 4th, 604-420-4901, 49thParallelCoffeeRoasters.com) for $7.60 per 15 grams.

The bare, creamy walls at the stunningly spartan Prado Cafe (1938 Commercial, 604-255-5537, PradoCafe.com) relish in the golden browns provided by perfectly pulled shots of espresso ($2).

With tender pieces of Maple Hill Farm-raised chicken and Sichuan-sauce-soaked broccoli lashed by the heat of “twice cooked” peanuts, the Kung Po rice noodle bowl at Wild Rice (117 W. Pender, 604-642-2882, WildRiceVancouver.com) arrives steaming, consistent, and huge. ($18)

The best Sunday morning “I behaved myself all week” reward in the city? A Belgian waffle drizzled with lavender chocolate at Cafe Medina (556 Beatty, 604-879-3114, MedinaCafe.com). ($3.15)

The two-day-marinated Korean Kalbi beef short ribs at The Flying Tiger (2958 West 4th, 604-737-7529, TheFlyingTiger.ca) are grilled to order, and make an instant impact on both tongue and tooth. ($15.50)

The many superb pastas at L’Altro Buca (1906 Haro, 604-683-6912, AltroBuca.ca) may be the West End restaurant’s main draw, but the tender, milk-fed veal picatta with buttery lemon sauce is a work of affordable art at $24.50.

The super-refreshing Brazilian cocktail, the Caipirinha, is made with Cachaça (a sugarcane liquor) and fresh lime juice over crushed ice at Baru Latino (2535 Alma, 604-222-9171, Baru.ca). ($9)

As long and uncut as a burrito, the spicy scallop-and-asparagus roll at Michi Sushi (1513 West Broadway, 604-736-4244, Michi-Sushi.com) is a portable treat. ($3)

Do the dealer’s choice of meats and cheeses at Salt Tasting Room (Blood Alley in Gastown, 604-633-1912, SaltTastingRoom.com), but ask for the Piccalilly relish, an intensely flavoured, neon-yellow blend of sweet peppers, minced veggies, and turmeric. ($15)

Nothing says Mom like the too-generous portions of chocolate mousse doled out at your table from a mixing bowl at Bistrot Bistro (1961 W. 4th, 604-732-0004, BistrotBistro.com). ($6)

Need a quick hit of B.C.? Slurp half a dozen sweet and salty Fanny Bay oysters (from Baynes Sound), freshly shucked and presented in the half shell by the pros at Joe Fortes (777 Thurlow, 604-669-1940, JoeFortes.ca). ($14.95)

The pulse-raising Fountain of Youth chocolate bar at Mink (863 West Hastings, 604-633-2451, MinkChocolates.com) is made with organic high-percentage cocoa, blueberry, and Tibetan Goji berry. ($5.95)

The Caliente sandwich at Cardero Bottega (1016 Cardero, 604-689-0450, CarderoBottega.com) is a tidily stratified mass of hot capicollo, spicy eggplant, hot peppers, and Havarti on a Portuguese bun. ($7)

Never mind the new Chocolaterie De La Nouvelle France’s old-world charms. Make haste for all the handmade chili-chocolate squares they have on hand before someone else does. (198 E. 21st, 604-566-1065, ChocolaterieNouvelleFrance.ca) ($1 each)

The best fish dish I’ve had on Main this year: Latitude’s ancho-seared albacore tuna on spicy eschabeche of jalapeño and fennel. A real palate-jabber (3250 Main, 604-875-6246, LatitudeOnMain.com). ($8)

The Old Fashioned cocktail at George (1137 Hamilton, 604-628-5555, GeorgeLounge.com) — made with citrus oils, old-fashioned bitters, brown sugar, and Maker’s Mark bourbon — is a Kentucky kick in the pants. ($12)

In the hands of any capable chef, B.C. spot prawns are a must. Try them at Vij’s (1480 West 11th, 604-736-6664, Vijs.ca) with local halibut and black chickpeas in lemon-flavoured coconut curry. ($28)

Few things are more integral to the edible Vancouver experience than the wild salmon tacones with cilantro-heavy salsa and coleslaw at Go Fish (1505 1st, 604-730-5040). ($9 for two)

The Black & Blue burger at Jericho Sailing Club’s Galley restaurant (1300 Discovery, 604-222-1331, TheGalley.ca) — made with Pemberton Meadows beef and layered with special sauce, onions, lettuce, tomato, and crumbled blue cheese — is even more extraordinary than the view. ($10.99)

Its ingredients vary year round, but the salad of mixed Glorious Organics local greens at Bishop’s (2183 West 4th, 604-738-2025, BishopsOnline.com) is the very epitome of a “starter”. It’s currently dressed with a pickled green-strawberry vinaigrette. ($14)

For a different type of farmed salmon, give Swift Aquaculture’s coho salmon a try. The fish are raised in barn tanks outside Agassiz and are wholly sustainable, not to mention delicious. Try it at locavore central, Raincity Grill (1193 Denman, 604-685-7337, RaincityGrill.com), with hazelnut purée, watercress, and garlic. ($12)

The deep-fried Mars bar with a side scoop of vanilla ice cream is worth the drive to Dundarave’s Red Lion (2427 Marine, 604-926-8838, RedLionBarAndGrill.com). ($7)

The chocolate-malted milkshake at Moderne Burger (2507 West Broadway, 604-739-0005, ModerneBurger.com) comes garnished with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry — plus several extra ounces in a steel mixing container on the side. ($5.95)

One of Vancouver’s best locally made gluggers is R&B Brewing Co.’s delicious R&B’s Sun God Wheat Ale. Score a well-poured pint at Bin 941 (941 Davie, 604-683-1246, Bin941.com). ($5)

It’s currently off the menu, but whenever they bring it back as a special, pounce on La Quercia’s Vitello Tonnato: thin slices of veal smeared with tuna mayonnaise. It’s one of the culinary world’s miracle combinations (3689 West 4th, 604-676-1007, LaQuercia.ca).

Order the unsubtly-flavoured marinated mackerel at Hapa Izakaya (1479 Robson, 604-689-4272; 1516 Yew, 604-738-4272; HapaIzakaya.com) and watch your server blowtorch it tableside. Irashimase! ($6.80)

At Hy’s Encore (637 Hornby, 604-683-7671, HysSteakhouse.com), have your eight-ounce filet mignon topped with gorgonzola, and saddled with a baked potato that’s seen its insides fattened up with copious amounts of butter and sour cream before being piped back into its jacket with more butter, sour cream, chives, and a shower of bacon bits on top. Worthwhile decadence at $32.95.

The Cellar Door Caesar salad at Cru (1459 West Broadway, 604-677-4111, Cru.ca) is the best in the city. Think sharply-dressed grilled romaine capped with garlicky butter croutons and shavings of punchy Asiago. ($11)

Any glass of wine chosen by sommelier/man-in-charge Sebastien Le Goff (currently nicknamed “Salvadore Le Goff” thanks to a Dali-esque moustache) at the superbly stocked Uva Wine Bar is the right choice (900 Seymour, 604-632-9560, UvaWineBar.ca).

The Piglet at Dix (871 Beatty, 604-682-2739, DrinkFreshBeer.com) is a crowded plate of pulled chicken and pork, topped with a smoky BBQ sauce, fatty BBQ beef brisket, and a sweetly lacquered lone pork rib. ’Nuff said. ($12.99)

Paired with a glass of Madeira, Moonstruck’s veiny Beddis Blue organic blue cheese from Saltspring Island is gently sharp and salty — one of the best stinks produced in B.C. Available at Les Amis du Fromage (843 East Hastings, 604-253-4218, BuyCheese.com). ($5.95 per 100g)