The city's best this spring

Caravela calamari

Caravela gives Ottawans a proper experience of traditional Portuguese cuisine. I’ve written about it before but I had not had the grilled calamari.

Since having this appetizer, I’ve been struggling to think how it could have been any better.

The squid was so tender and fresh it might have been swimming the ocean just moments before.

It came with a pool of quality olive oil and a melange of slightly acidified, brunoise vegetables that allowed every mouthful to sing in harmony. Succulent and delicious.

Cocotte green bean caesar salad

Increasingly Ottawa is a city with an expanding base of culinary talent. Not only are people training here, but both chefs and sommeliers are choosing to stay.

Because of this we get to enjoy fabulous creations such as chef Stephen Lasalle’s green bean caesar salad. At $19 I’ve found it to be perhaps the city’s best salad for the money and because it’s large enough to share as a healthy appetizer.

As with everything else I enjoyed at Cocotte Bistro, the ingredients represented top tier in freshness and the chef has an above average talent in creating recipes that incorporate inspiration into classic French dishes.

If you’ve not yet been, have everything. The kitchen is particularly good with seafood.

Axia Greek wine

Axia from the Greek producer Alpha Estates landed on my table and it’s rare when I come across a red wine that is both ready to drink and will keep in your cellar for four to five years.

It’s a blend of Syrah and the native Xinomavro and is seductively plush with an abundance of fruit despite the low sugar of two g/l. Black cherry , mulberry and black pepper dance on your palate making this a lovely choice for Korean BBQ of all sorts.

For wine lovers, pay attention to what’s coming out of Greece.

As of this writing there are approximately 350 bottles in the Ottawa market.

Jinsei Ramen

Jinsei Ramen arrived a few months ago and after trying the shio clam broth ramen, it catapulted Jinsei, along with Ramen Isshin in the Glebe, into the top tier of ramen eateries.

This was a masterful broth. Fortifying and alive. The soy-cured egg was perfectly executed with the yolk lusciously runny. The scallions had been thoughtfully julienned and the greens were sweet and blanched to preserve both colour and texture.

It’s so good that I will be going back and I will provide you with an update.

Cibus gluten free pizza

Cibus chef and owner Cristian Lepore has done something wonderful for those needing to follow a gluten free diet: he’s created the ultimate pizza crust. Something indistinguishable from regular pizza crusts.

He brings decades of professional experience to his commercial kitchen enterprise and his food is worth seeking out. He also happens to be the chef of record for the Italian embassy.

You’ll also want to participate in his excellent pasta making classes where you’ll learn how truly easy it is to make the Italian staple.

Astoria Bistro Botanique

I’ve never been one to shy away from a restaurant because of how it labels itself. What matters is that the food is good and a proper ambassador of the style.

At Astoria the cooking is at a very high level for this exclusively vegan restaurant. It also happens to be a very stylish restaurant bound to impress on date night.

I do love the food here and weekdays from 3 pm to 5 pm Astoria offers an attractive happy hour menu for both food and drink. A three-ounce Negroni for $7? Come on.

Bistro Ristoro leek and mushroom pizza

For me Bistro Ristoro is among the better eateries in the ByWard Market. It also offers (so far in my experience) the best pizzas in the area.

The new leek and mushroom pie also happens to be the best tasting vegetarian pizza I’ve enjoyed in a year and was a stand out dish in the last three months.

Pizzeria da Romolo

Luckily for Ottawans, there is now no shortage of proper Neapolitan style pizza. What you’ll find at Pizzeria Da Romolo is exactly that: classic and delicious pies from a wood burning oven.

They have a small selection of other items on the menu but you’ll want to go for the pizza. Especially if you arrive between 12 noon and 4 pm when you’ll enjoy their pies for just $12 each.

This may be one of the city’s great lunchtime bargains and with more than a dozen pies on the menu, you’ll have much to explore.

Suggested stories:

• Jinsei Ramen hits top tier for ramen restaurants in Ottawa

• Pizzeria Da Romolo: delicious pizza at small prices

• Astoria offers food so fine you’ll think about going vegan.

• Caravela not only gives us a fabulous taste of Portugal but fine seafood as well.