Check out this cool video from the Miku Restaurant.

Miku offers Aburi sushi (lightly flame-seared fish served either as sashimi or nigiri-style atop rice with some novel sauces) in its menu. Desserts are also very tempting: green-tea tiramisu, nestled beneath a shortbread pyramid and lightly dusted with matcha tea powder. To make a reservation, call them at 604-568-3900.

Open Table has provided a list of Vancouver restaurants that are offering a Valentine’s Day Menu. You can sort them by neighborhood, cuisine type, and price range, and there is a link to reserve a table. Go check them.

What’s your favorite restaurant for Valentine’s Day in Vancouver?

Read our interview with Sahara Tamarin, the General Manager of Cibo Trattoria.

Q. How was the business in 2008?

A. We opened very quietly in the summer of 2008 which gave us an opportunity to fine tune our operations. After a couple of weeks word started getting around that we were open and we saw quite a few positive reviews from many of our local food writers. We started out very strong and continue to work hard every day to make each guests visit worth talking about.

Q. What was your most frequently ordered dish in 2008?

A. Our menu changes frequently due to seasonality, availability and the chef’s inspiration. All of our pastas are made daily, by hand. They are incredibly fresh and delicious.

Q. Are you planning to take part in the "Dine Out Vancouver 2009" event? If yes, please give us a scoop of your special menu for the event?

A. We offer our Pre-Theatre menu (3-courses for $38) daily until 6:30pm. Guests may have the choice of a starter, a main course and a dessert or a starter, a main course and a side dish (for those who do not have a sweet tooth). To highlight our Pre-Theatre menu we are offering it throughout the evening for all of January 2009. We are not participating in Dine Out Vancouver this year.

Q. Any special plan for 2009?

A. We are planning a series of dinners in which we will explore a different region of Italy each time. The menu will be inspired by the cooking of that region and will be paired with wine from the area.

Q. What is your recommendation?! From your menu, of course!

A. Our fish is always very fresh and is NEVER frozen. In fact, our only freezer is just big enough for a few frozen desserts like granita. Our chef prepares his fish dishes very simply; on tonight’s menu we offered roast local rock cod, sea asparagus with hot olive sauce.

Cassis Bistro is often called the “Hidden Gem of Vancouver”. It is well-known for offering delicious organic food, innovative cocktails, all in a relaxing ambiance. It is located in Downtown Vancouver, on Pender, between Richards and Homer. Lunch is served Tuesday to Friday, 12 pm to 3pm, and dinner is served Tuesday to Saturday, after 5pm. To make a reservation, go to this page, or call (604) 605-0420.

This is an interview with Derek Lam, the owner of the Cassis Bistro.

Q. How was your business in 2008?

A. Business was good.  We’re still here, aren’t we?  We did have some rough stints but we quickly picked back up.  We are tremendously grateful for the loyal regulars, and free press that has given us genuine word-of-mouth exposure and praises.

Q. What was your most favorite dish in 2008?

A. Daube De Boeuf is arguably the favourite.

Q. Are you going to take part in the “Dine Out Vancouver 2009”?

A. Yes, we are taking part of DOV 09.  Everybody should enjoy get a chance to enjoy real French comfort food.  These dishes have been favourites long before fancy stacks and questionable pairing was cool, and will continue to be way after.

Q. Plans for 2009?

A. We always have something special going every year (from special events to fun lessons).  We really enjoy being a part of the community.  Interested?  Join our mail list on our website or in person.

Q. What is your recommendation?! From your menu, of course!

A. Those new to Cassis I would recommend the, Daube.  However, we have a new Beef Rib. It’s Sous-vided for many hours at low temperature. — You’ve probably never had anything like it.

P.S. View their photostream at Flickr! I really like it when restaurants are ahead of the curve in using the web!

Fuel Restaurant is one of the relatively new restaurants in Vancouver, and has succeeded in many ways in a fairly short time. It offers a fine dining experience in a comfortable atmosphere. They are located on the West 4th Avenue. Reservation is recommended. Call them at 604-288-7905. Lunch is served Monday to Friday from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, and dinner is served everynight from 5:30 pm. Here is our interview with Mr. Tom Doughty, the proprietor of the Fuel Restaurant and Campagnolo Restaurant:

Q. How was the business in 2008?

A. 2008 was our best year yet. Of course we opened in 2007 so it was also our second year! Things did slow down considerably towards the end of September but our belief is that we serve quality ingredients at fair prices with great service and atmosphere and there will always be a market for that.

Q. What was your most frequently ordered dish in 2008?

A. Probably our 12oz 35-day dry aged Alberta Prime Ribeye, currently being served with a spinach and mushroom gratin, sautéed german butter potatoes, sauce béarnaise and veal jus. Pretty decadent dish all for $35.00 which would only get you the protein at most steak houses.

Q. Are you planning to take part in the "Dine Out Vancouver 2009" event?

A. We are not participating in Dine-Out Vancouver. Over the time we have been open, we have built up a large clientele of regulars who simply asked us to stay as we were during the period so we are listening to them and having regular service for those who wish to enjoy a relaxed evening.

Q. Any special plan for 2009?

A. We have just opened Campagnolo, our new Italian restaurant, so that will be taking up much of our time but Fuel will continue to focus on our whole roast options and table designed tasting menus with wine pairings.

Q. What is your recommendation?!

A. My recommendation would be to have one person join you for the Whole Confit Polderside Farms Duck. We brine it overnight, confit it for 24 hours sous-vide, let it rest in its own fat for 3 more days in the refrigerator and then warm it up sous-vide, dust if with seasoned flour and submerge it in the deep fryer so as to crisp up every millimeter of skin. Many guests have pronounced it the best prepared duck they have ever tasted.

Zagat.com, the ultimate website for ratings and reviews of the world’s best restaurants, nightlife, hotels and attractions, is offering a 40% discount of their annual subscription, if you use the promo code: AFF40OCT.

It is not very common, but there are several reasons that someone may want to spend the Christmas Day, not at their home, but in a restaurant. Especially in a city like Vancouver. They are singletons away from family, people who were sick of working hard in the kitchen (who cannot understand them?!), and many of Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim residents of the Greater Vancouver.

But it seems finding restaurants that are open on Christmas Day is an impossible mission. Just pick up your phone and call a random restaurant of your choice. Most probably, they will proudly announce that they would be closed. But of course, there are exceptions. If you are interested in knowing these restaurants, check this article.

And if you decided to dine out on Christmas Day, let us know your experience.

Bon Appetite and Merry Christmas!