My entire family will be in BC in late July and we woould like to treat our parents to a very nice meal in either Victoria or Whistler. What would anybody suggest?

For one special meal out in either of those two places, I'd choose the Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler. I've been there twice and had absolutely wonderful meals both times.

There was an article printed in the Vancouver Magazine about restaurants in Whistler. It's found at http://www.vanmag.com/diningout/default.html but I'll copy and paste it here: <BR> <BR>The Man Who Ate Whistler - by Jamie Maw <BR> <BR>With more than 100 restaurants in the mountain resort, finding the right one can be as treacherous as the ride up. have no fear: our intrepid food critic tables 24 of the best. <BR> <BR>On an island in the middle of Alpha Lake, I lie back in my sister's hot tub, water bubbling just under my chin, and watch the Friday-night traffic-snake arrive at Whistler. I think about nothing in particular at all. Well, at least I try to think about nothing in particular at all, because-and I have this on good authority-that's what properly scheduled leisure time is for. Yet the harder I try to contemplate nothing, the more the thoughts surf in. This is annoying at any time, but especially so at the start of the weekend, when the slate needs wiping clean, and the thoughts are neither particularly original nor, I suppose, attractive. Oh, for a fluffier Tao. <BR> <BR>The headlights of lumpen Navigators and Suburbans send tracers along the Whistler valley walls. The jets turn off in the tub, and I can now hear the serpentine hiss as those huge machines hurl wet snow from the highway. Across the Lower Mainland, the weekend schlep to officially designated playtime has begun. Soccer moms from across the western suburbs have packed up the kids, along with designer groceries and the other rudiments necessary to support life on the mountain for two days, and stopped briefly in town to pick up Dad, who has been vigorously baying into a telephone all week. He needs to relax. <BR> <BR>Yes, it's time for leisure, which, as it turns out, I am well practised in and therefore quite good at-as opposed to recreation, which I am quite opposed to. After all, if I wanted to be recreated, I would find myself in church more often than in restaurants. And speaking of restaurants, they are where you'll find what approaches the true, libertine soul of Whistler, once you've sated your shopping urges on all things fleece, maple syrup, Cowichan sweaters and Cuban incendiaries. <BR> <BR>End of class: leisure and recreation are all well and good. But actual transformation is, as the saying goes, about 20 percent more. And that would be about the size of the tip I am planning to leave behind tonight, at one of the temples of good eating listed on the following pages-provided that I am well-fed, well-served, and at least momentarily distracted from the planned detritus of modern life. <BR> <BR>NOTE Whistler restaurants are generally more expensive than comparable rooms in Vancouver. This is largely due to a 10-month selling season (October sales might total only one-quarter those of December, one-fifth those of March), staffing and housing challenges, and longer, pricier supply lines. For this reason, we have flagged specific dishes that we feel offer exceptional value with this symbol *. <BR>

(continued) <BR> <BR>Fine Dining <BR> <BR>Araxi <BR>4222 Village Square, 604-932-4540 <BR>The Scene Clean pan-Med flavours in an attractively decorated pan-Med room. The large heated patio provides Whistler's best platform for people-watching. <BR>What's Good Zipperback prawns sautéed in garlic ($14.50) or Tofino Dungeness crab cake ($14.50) with rogan josh mayonnaise and Lillooet honey over greens to start; then Arctic char fillet with a warm salad of fennel and Pemberton Valley nugget potatoes ($27). <BR>Heads Up The bar is a great place to eat, or simply sample from sommelier Chris Van Nus' enormously literate wine list. Lunches have been some of the best meals we've eaten in Whistler. Araxi was winner of the Gold for best Whistler dining room in our most recent Restaurant Awards. <BR> <BR>Aubergine Grille <BR>4090 Whistler Way, 604-935-4344 <BR>The Scene A soaring, Robert Ledingham-designed room in the new Westin Resort and Spa. The well-directed menu aims toward regional context and consistently connects. Emerging wine list, finely trained servers. <BR>What's Good Pemberton corn chowder ($6.95); roast rack of Canadian lamb on a tian of spinach ratatouille with a black-olive tapenade ($37.95); double venison rack on a spaetzle timbale with glazed chestnuts and winter vegetables ($48.95). <BR>Heads Up The adjacent Firerock Lounge lives up to its name: fire, rocks. The Westin is a non-smoking hotel, although chuffers can use room balconies. No ashtrays are provided, but finally there is a better use for baseball caps. <BR> <BR>Bearfoot Bistro <BR>4121 Village Green, 604-932-3433 <BR>The Scene The Bearfoot offers an extraordinary wine list (plus a separate wine bar to retire to after dinner) and a three-course table d'hôte ($75) or the lengthier menu gastronomique ($135). <BR>What's Good Best hits from the table d'hôte: duck consommé with duck confit and poached foie gras, tamari-glazed black cod with Pemberton plum vinaigrette. Mains: whole roasted Atlantic lobster in a buttered-fennel and saffron glaze with spiced vanilla oil; breast of Quebec Muscovy duck with savoury pear gingerbread and sautéed kale. <BR>Heads Up The wine bar menu has a long list of â la carte options, reasonably priced (braised lamb shank $18, for example), quick and cosy. <BR> <BR>il caminetto di umberto <BR>4242 Village Stroll, 604-932-4442 <BR>The Scene Tuscany brought to the slopes: Il Caminetto (the fireplace) is a pretty rectangle, decorated from restaurauteur Umberto Menghi's frequent travels home. Lots of alpine glam here, including the long of leg in leather upholstery. <BR>What's Good Dungeness crab and avocado salad ($12.95) to begin; spaghetti carbonara ($15.95) or seafood and spinach cannelloni ($17.95) are just two of the delicious pastas from a long list. Mains: osso buco Milanese with saffron risotto ($26.50), or roast loin of reindeer with a port peppercorn sauce ($32.95). <BR>Heads Up Although the fireplace disappeared long ago in a renovation, this fine room still has plenty of warmth. <BR>

(continued) <BR> <BR>Edgewater Lodge <BR>8841 Highway 99, 604-932-0688 <BR>The Scene Small, intimate room with great views over the lake. A tremendously loyal local following (winter and summer) rates the casual ambience and husky but elegant cooking highly. <BR>What's Good To begin, try escargot sautéed in Bordeaux and baked in garlic butter ($9.25), or a composed salad of seasonal greens ($7.45); from the mains, Heidelberg schnitzel of pounded centre-cut pork loin with hunter sauce ($21.75*), or a spectacular twist on châteaubriand ($75 for two): local venison in a peppercorn-and-cognac sauce with béarnaise and pommes châteaux. <BR>Heads Up Executive chef Thomas Piekarski's local rep is well earned-his game dishes are the best up here. <BR> <BR>Hy,s Steakhouse Whistler <BR>4308 Main Street, 604-905-5555 <BR>The Scene The best steaks in the village. Chestnut-coloured wooden walls and wine cabinets lightened by white tablecloths and warm lighting. Good wall-art. Professional, friendly service choreographed by GM Richard Baker and his wife Andrea. <BR>What's Good Signature cheese toast ($3.95) or blackened ahi tuna ($12.95), classic prawn cocktail ($12.95), Caesar salad ($8.95) to start; the seven-ounce gorgonzola filet mignon ($29.95) and 14-ounce Only with Hy's steak sauce ($34.95) are delicious twists, although purists order them naked. Don't overlook the seafood mains-the Big Pete's grilled salmon is marinated in whisky, cane sugar and soy. <BR>Heads Up The Blue Bar is one of the town's most popular venues for après-anything; well-heeled locals mix with visiting celebrities and recently retired swimsuit models. Reason: outstanding cocktails, the best pour of draft Heineken west of Holland, and a nifty wine list long on throaty reds. <BR> <BR>La Rua Ristorante <BR>4557 Blackcomb Way, 604-932-5011 <BR>The Scene Proprietor Mario Enero and GM Daniel Havens run these two large rooms with gentle precision. The cooking is top-drawer: La Rœa has won this magazine's Whistler restaurant Gold award for four of the past five years. <BR>What's Good Begin with the crispy soft-shell crab over a lemon frisée salad with avocado cream ($14). Split one of the excellent pastas, such as the seafood linguine ($18 and rife with salmon, halibut, mussels and prawns) as a mid-course; then veer to the reasonably priced half-chicken roasted in lemon and rosemary ($23*), or one of La Rœa's signature dishes, the sautéed loin of B.C. fallow deer ($32), served with oven-dried blueberries, orange zest and garlic mashed potatoes. <BR>Heads Up The reserve wine list is a spectacle, especially in Spanish rosas and sherries. The outdoor patio is a must during warmer months.

(continued) <BR> <BR>Quattro at Whistler <BR>4319 Main Street, 604-905-4844 <BR>The Scene Mountain outpost of the Quattro chainlet is actually their largest, a lovely Italian dining room with a lively bar and fireplaces-expertly managed by the father-and-son team of Antonio and Patrick Corsi. <BR>What's Good Fabulous calamari ai ferri ($10.95), grilled squid in a spicy tomato ragout; or signature radicchio bocconcini ($9.95), grilled marinated mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto and radicchio leaves with cherry vinaigrette. Pastas: don't miss the spaghetti Quattro ($16.95), billed as "for Italians only," a hot lick of marinara over noodles. The superb marinated Cornish game hen ($26.95) is de-boned and brick-flattened on the grill, with garlic and fresh herbs. <BR>Heads Up Party planner alert: Quattro has first-rate set menus for groups of 10 or more, varying from $44 up to $70 for L'Abbufatta, a Roman orgy of eating. <BR> <BR>Rim Rock Cafe and Oyster Bar <BR>2117 Whistler Vale, 604-932-5565 <BR>The Scene Local hero: lots of wood, a fireplace and thou. <BR>What's Good Any of the hot or cold oyster preps; when the snow blows, we like the Rockefeller version ($15 per half dozen) best. The halibut main ($29) is pan-roasted with a potato-garlic crust and served with a chive beurre-blanc. <BR>Heads Up Fixed-price, three-course menus are frequently available; call ahead for details. The front balcony is a cheery warm-weather perch. <BR> <BR>Trattoria di Umberto <BR>4417 Sundial Place, 604-932-5858 <BR>The Scene Warmly decorated, professionally run tratt-styled room serving a menu composed mainly of greatest Tuscan hits. <BR>What's Good The minestrone ($6.95) is a sure chill chaser, and the salad of organic greens ($6.95) is heightened by a piquant vinaigrette. Spaghetti Bolognese ($12.95*) and signature lasagna al forno ($14.95*) are also sturdy cold-weather bargains; a half roasted chicken, coated in herbs ($21.95), is delicious. <BR>Heads Up Some of the prettiest faces in Whistler eating some of the best pasta dishes available at the mountain. <BR> <BR>

It goes on and on, but those are some of the restaurants recommended in Whistler. Hope it helps! (I'd suggest a restaurant, but the last time I ate anything fancy in Whistler was in 1992)

tt

Get in your car in Victoria and drive out to Sooke Harbour House. It's a lovely place to stay but their dining room (and especially the wine list) is about as good as you will find anywhere on the west coast.