Méli-Mélo November 2024
For Elise
Located on the ground floor of a new six-storey boutique rental building in Westboro, Elise is poised to become a familiar neighbourhood hotspot for residents and locals alike. John Thomas, managing director at Azure Urban Developments, drew inspiration from the vibrant architectural styles in Hong Kong, New York City and Singapore for the company’s latest venture. In a nod to the site’s history as the former residence of Westboro’s postmaster and his wife, Eliza, the building is named the PostHouse.
It’s part of the development company’s strategy to integrate food and beverage offerings into its buildings. “The restaurant as an amenity is an extra bonus for the residents of the building, but also for the wider neighbourhood,” says hospitality consultant Kent Van Dyk.
With Kathryn Ferries at the helm as Elise’s chef de cuisine, diners can expect a menu that marries modern French techniques with Ferries’ spin. Ferries, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa who previously worked in the kitchen at Stofa, is keen to feature some “vintage takes” on the menu.
“A lot of peasant dishes can be beautifully updated with local Canadian ingredients,” Ferries explains. The menu will change with the seasons, but Ferries anticipates that classics such as steak frites and crème brûlée will be mainstays. The beverage list will feature classic cocktails and French wines.
Elise will be open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. and will offer continuous service throughout the day, so diners can drop in for everything from a croissant and coffee to after-work drinks or a late dinner. Thomas hopes the restaurant will earn its place as a neighbourhood staple. “I want to see my neighbours here; it’s not just a special occasion restaurant,” he says.
Slated to open in November, Thomas’s focus at Elise has been on creating a space with a design that wouldn’t feel out of place in any large cosmopolitan city. “The space is beautiful,” Ferries affirms, “and the food is going to match that.”
Elise
381 Winona Ave., Ottawa | @eliseottawa
Still Thirsty
Véronique Rivest celebrated her first wine bar’s 10th anniversary in September by opening a second wine bar. “When I first opened Soif, I thought it would be nice to have lots of Soifs,” Rivest says of her first restaurant in Vieux Hull, “but it morphed into such a unique thing.” She knew a new endeavour couldn’t be a carbon copy, but rather a slight reinvention.
La Petite Soif, in Gatineau’s Plateau neighbourhood, is what Rivest calls a hybrid resto-épicerie-caviste — an all-in-one restaurant, specialty grocer and wine shop. It’s a concept she had been workshopping with Roxanne Mant, her partner at La Petite Soif, before the pandemic. Mant, who has worked with Rivest at Soif since its first six months of business, says this new space allows them to reflect on hospitality, inspired by challenges the entire restaurant industry faced over the last several years. “It allowed us to rethink the place restaurants hold in the community,” Mant explains.
Like Soif, the focus is on wine. No surprise, given that Rivest is one of the most respected sommeliers in the country and beyond. “It’s all about wines that come from sustainable farming, that speak to the place they’re from, that bring emotions,” Rivest says, “and that cover all price ranges.” The food menu will cater to guests who want to take dishes to go, are stopping in for a full meal or just want a snack while they peruse the bottle shop. Rivest says to count on a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches, as well as different charcuterie boards. “Nothing super complex, just really good” is the approach the kitchen follows, Rivest says.
It’s an all-women team in the kitchen at La Petite Soif, a coin- cidence that makes Rivest proud. “That’s hard to achieve in a regular restaurant,” she laughs. It helps that La Petite Soif will be sticking to retail hours (11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays), meaning that staff aren’t beholden to late-night schedules.
La Petite Soif will also be able to accommodate events and workshops in its space in the mall at Espace Canevas. Mant discovered the potential of the space when she held the 2023 edition of Soif’s wine show, the Salon des Assoiffés, in the old shopping centre. Espace Canevas later approached them about setting up their next business in the mall. It was important to Rivest that the space be close to Soif’s clientele in Hull and Ontario. “We’re between a WalMart and an IGA,” Rivest laughs, adding that she hopes the location will add to the air of accessibility the team aims to create around good wine.
The term “caviste” translates to “bottle shop,” but it also im- plies conviviality, Rivest says. With La Petite Soif, Mant and Rivest are inviting the community to share in that conviviality over a glass of wine and quality fare and are perhaps redefining what a wine bar can be.
La Petite Soif
425 Boul. St-Joseph, Espace Canevas, Gatineau | @lapetitesoif_
County Cocktails
Russ Coughlin was covering a shift for a friend at a brewery in Prince Edward County one summer Saturday night. When he wrapped up around 10 p.m., he realized there was nowhere for him to go to enjoy a drink after work.
In 2022, it was the impetus to open The Russ & Co, a bar he co-owns and runs with Rob Laine, on Picton’s Main Street. The late-night spot quickly became popular with locals, industry staff and tourists. Christine Flynn designed the moody space that is nestled next to Picton’s historic Regent Theatre. “Lately, things in the county are really driven towards bachelorettes and that kind of thing,” Coughlin explains, pointing to the popularity of breezy, pastel designs. He likes the look and gets the appeal but, “we wanted the opposite — to go dark, with an old-school feel,” he says of the decor, which includes a touch of taxidermy and plenty of vintage framed art pieces.
The result is a spot that feels like the county’s speakeasy, with a cocktail list to match. Signature cocktails change season- ally, with autumn offerings including drinks such as the Faux Fur (Chai Aperol, sweet vermouth, tonic and orange zest) and the Orchard Park (bourbon, Cynar, Amontillado Sherry, Yellow Chartreuse, mole and smoked apple).
After a busy two years in Picton, The Russ & Co. team decided to bring the same cocktail bar concept to Wellington’s main drag. Bar Duchess opened in April 2024, with another chic space designed by Flynn. The name is a nod to the town’s history (itself named for the Duke of Wellington) and the Wellington Dukes, the junior hockey team (both Coughlin and Laine are avid hockey players, and the bar sponsors a local team). The cocktail list is based on the same idea of contemporary spins on classics. It features mainstays such as the Movin’ to the County, a Canadian whisky sour with Niagara plum and a splash of amaretto.
Coughlin, who moved to the county in 2016 and now calls the area his “forever home,” also owns My County Wine Tours. With Prince Edward County summers becoming increasingly busy, Coughlin knows the importance of attentive customer service and businesses that can cater to tourists and locals throughout the whole year — and late into the night.
The Russ & Co.
222 Main St., W., Picton
@therussandco | therussandco.com
Bar Duchess
287 Main St., Wellington
@barduchess | barduchess.com
As the busy city sidewalks get dressed in holiday style, don’t forget to check your local farmers’ markets for your seasonal shopping. With mulled cider, hot chocolate, carollers and local vendors ranging from craft artisans to farmers, the markets are a sure spot to find gifts and some wintry cheer.
ByWard Market Winter Market
Nov. 22 to Jan. 5, noon to 8 p.m.
byward-market.com | @bywardmarket
Carp Farmers’ Market Christmas Market
Friday, Nov. 29 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 30 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
carpfarmersmarket.ca | @carpfarmersmarket
Metcalfe Farmers' Market Christmas Market
Saturday, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
metcalfefm.com | @metcalfefarmersmarket
Ottawa Farmers’ Market Christmas Market
Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 30 to Dec. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ottawafarmersmarket.ca | @ottawafarmersmarket
Parkdale Public Market Holiday Market Saturday, Nov. 23, noon to 5 p.m.
parkdalepublicmarket.ca | @parkdalepublicmarket
