dining TIMOTHY | RENSHAW table hopping Try a fuss-free festive feast F SWEATING over a festive stove serves only to exhaust your patience and evaporate your Christmas spirit, then don your gay apparel, sally forth into yon snow drifts and dine out. Being waited upon on Christmas Day might just be the key to unlock the great vault of Yuletide joy that so often remains shut on that most hallowed of days. Then again it might just be a good ev- cuse to get out of the house hetore your relatives arrive, So, in what has become an an- nual Table Hopping tradition, behold a selection of North Shore restaurants that are open Christmas Day and serve special Christmas cuisine. But dawdle thee not, festive folk: because the number of restaurants open Christmas Day is limited and the number of North Shore resi- dents who like to dine out on Christmas Day ts not, | advise moking reservations immediately. The list below does not claim to be comprehensive, and additions and suggestions are welcomed for next yuar. THE AMELESIDE INN, 1495 MARINE DRIVE, WEST VAN- COUVER, 922-0101, Willy and Martha Brueckel, the gracious elder statesmen of West Vancouver's dining scene, have established a Christmas Day tradi- tion whose popularity continues to grow. Unfortunately for those who might be considering making the Inna part of their own tradition this year, it is, alas. too late: the Brueckels report that the Ambleside is already fully booked for Christmas Day. But, who knows, late cancella- tions could allow you to slip through the door and into the warm spirits of the Ambleside. The restaurant's 1990 festive season menu ($31.95 per person) includes soups, appetizers and desserts and a choice of four en- trees (Veal Roast Chantrelle; Chateau Briand in a red wine glaze and finished with cranber- ries; Baked Saimon with lime and avocado sauce; and Roast Duck Confit with sour cherry sauce). A traditional five-course turkey dinner with all the trimmings is also available for $24.75, Appetizers range from Lobster Bisque to Tiger Prawns and Scallops on Spinach Salad; desserts include Plum Pudding with rum sauce and brandy butter and Swiss Chocolate Mousse with hazelnut meringue and strawberry coulis. If you've missed Christmas Day atthe Ambleside, but still have a hankering for the above line-up, the sarne meal is orfered on New Year's Day too. The Ambleside is open (rom 5 p.m. on Christmas Day. See Book page 34 ‘at NEWS photo Neil Luconte TURKEY TIME...for all those who would rather be served than serve on Christmas Day, roast turkey with all the trimmings is on the Christmas Day menu at a number of North Shore res- taurants. The idyllic festive scene above was captured at North Vancouver's Bridge House restaurant. B.C. Residents! Book your room now at the Pan Pacific! Mubedhe $ 00% icorscsré-stonts From 109 five Sails Restaurant Vancouver's definitive ° any night. it only happens once a year: the very special B.C. Residents’ Rate at the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver ~ our way of saying “thank you" for your patronage. At this very special rate, there’s ro better time to enjoy Van- couver’s great waterfront experience. And right now is the time to book! For Reservations cali (604) 662-8111 or toll-free 1-800-663-1515. *Single or double occupancy per night. plus taxes. Parking extra. Proof of B.C. residency required at check-in. Reservations based on availability at time of booking. No limit on number of nights reserved. Not applicable to preconfirmed group rates. Children under 18 free when sharing parents’ room. Kate valid for rooms occupied between Oct. 26, 1990 and Apr. 9, 1991 only. 7% G.S.T. in effect Jan. 1, 1991. THE PAN PACIFIC HOTEL tancourer AAA Five Diamond Anal BW WWW © A Member ot The’feating Hotels of the World * Wednesday. Decernber 12, 1990 - North Shore News - 33 An exotic Safari into the heart of fine East African Indian Cuisine PSSIYL! BLT SOME SPICE IN YOUR LIFE pr ttt rrr err tte rere nm eee, Bring in this ad for 5 ! ONE FREE DINNER ENTREE When a second dinner entree of equal or greater value ts purchased (up to $1000) Not vahd with any other promotional discount Not vaiid with buffet: Maximum 2 coupons per dinner pany Vahd to Decemtar 23. 1990 # # Recommended "Where to Eat in Canada” 85.90 4 1344 LONSDALE AVE NORTH VANCOUVER RESERVATIONS 984-2775 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Wednesday, Dec. 12 1:30 p.m. — Holy Trinity Honour Band Thursday, Dec. 13 noon Pauline Johnson School Friday, Dec. 14 6-8 p.m. Dave Quarin Trio Saturday, Dec. 15 7-9 pm. Gallery Trio Sunday, Dec. 16 2-4 pm. North Shore Gospel Singers 7-9 pm. Gallery Trio Monday, Dec. 17 1:30- Burrard View Primary & 2:30 p.m. Intermediate Choirs 5 pm. Holy Trinity Primary Choir Tuesday, Dec. 18 1:30 pm. Chartwell School Wednesday, Dec. 19 I pm. Lynnmour Community School Willie & The Wassaillers 7-9 pam.