Two restaurants in Victoria are in the running for Air Canada’s list of best new restaurants in the country.
The annual list, which is part of Air Canada’s enRoute magazine, is now in its 20th year, and 30 restaurants from across the country have been nominated for one of the list’s final 10 spots.
In Victoria, the Marilena Café & Raw Bar and Ugly Duckling have made their way onto the list.
Marilena opened in downtown Victoria in June and offers a luxury take on sushi rolls, sashimi and nigiri.
According to the restaurant’s website, it uses both local and international seafood for its dishes, with a focus on sustainable ingredients.
“Toptable Group spent millions launching this bacchanal of a restaurant, and it shows,” reads the enRoute list.
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Meanwhile, Ugly Duckling, located in Victoria’s Chinatown, blends fine dining with local ingredients.
“The seven-course tasting menu opens with peeled Saanich cherry tomatoes and silken tofu in a bright fermented tomato vinaigrette,” says enRoute.
“Lightly smoked Fraser Valley duck with blackberry hoisin is intoxicating paired with a smoky Blasted Church red.”
Five other B.C. restaurants are among the 30 nominated for this year’s best new restaurants in Canada list, which will be released in the fall.
Those restaurants include Acre Through the Seasons in Richmond, Brassica in Gibsons, Folke in Vancouver, Suyo in Vancouver and Wild Blue in Whistler.
Last year, another Vancouver Island restaurant made it onto the list of top 10 new restaurants in Canada.
Fox & Monocle in North Saanich was named the ninth best new restaurant in the country.
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