There are recurring set pieces in Ottawa’s calendar: the opening of the Rideau Canal Skateway, the Sens run for the playoffs, and Absinthe in Westboro’s fondue season. At least the latter is reliable.   

To promote its tenth year of Tuesday Night Fondue, Absinthe invited THE OTTAWAN to a three-course experience last night. The restaurant, which is celebrating 21 years as Ottawa’s favourite un-fussy French bistro, is once again offering the experience weekly over the winter months, until April 2025. 

Those months are cold and dark, perfect for something a little romantic and a little bit retro. Something that demands eye contact and and a little concentration. That’s not to say that the Absinthe Fondue is for lovers only; just that it requires a minimum of two people. Larger tables will also enjoy the experience of spearing their prey (whether it be cheese, beef, or chocolate) until it’s done to each person’s taste.

We started with a simmering blend of Emmantal and Gruyere cheeses, into which we swirled housemade focaccia croutons with our spears. We stopped halfway, concerned that we needed room for the two courses still to come. 

The second fondue of the night was a bowl for each of us piled with cubes of beef tenderloin accompanied by four house-made sauces: Green Goddess, Ramp Relish, Lime Habanero, and Béarnaise. Darren, who prefers his meat rare, sizzled his cubes in the oil for 90 seconds. Martha kept hers in an additional two minutes. As a main course, this fondue was a full meal.

As the final fondue of warm chocolate accompanied by strawberries, kiwi, clementines, banana slices, banana bread, brownies, cream puffs, and chocolate chip cookies was laid down in front of us, and as the rich cheese and hearty croutons and crisp beef with sauce settled snugly in our tummies, our eyes locked across the steaming pot, and we lamented our lot in life. 

As we said, the fondues are offered in a weekly three-course special on Tuesdays, although we can also imagine a visit après-théâtre, with a bottle of wine and chocolate fondue; or starting your evening with cocktails and cheese fondue. 

Absinthe’s menu includes a Douglas Coupland quote at the bottom: ‘Fondue sets, martini shakers, and juicing machines: three things the world could live completely without’. Coupland is absolutely right. It may also be more the reason to go for it.

Tuesday Night Fondue, Tuesdays, Absinthe, 1208 Wellington St. W, K1Y 2Z7

▪️Happy one year anniversary to Kiersten Vuorimaki’s Best Bites column in Apt 613. In the past 52 weeks, Vuorimaki has eaten at 78 restaurants.

▪️Leading Indigenous chef Billy Alexander has been announced as the new executive chef and director of culinary experiences at Mādahòkì Farm. Alexander will present some of his new ideas November 17 at the Corazón Indigenous Dinner, part of Corazón: A Trio of Festive Collaboration Dinners, which features Indigenous chefs from the Arctic, Central Canada, and Mexico. 

▪️Ameya Charnalia at Eat the Strip loves the eponymous pastry at Kanata’s La Maison du Kouign-Amann, with ‘enough butter in one to fill you right up’.

▪️One Ottawa resto made it to Open Table’s Top 100 Restaurants in Canada list: Dreamland Café on Preston. You’ll notice that Open Table spelt our city as Ottowa. 

▪️Chef Ric’s on Rideau Street is temporarily closed after an electrical fire last night. The cafe serves affordable meals and runs the Ottawa Mission’s Food Services Training Programme. It should be open again tomorrow.

▪️ Here’s a late addition to the Advent Calendar lineup: Rochef Chocolatier’s Advent Calendar is available in Milk, Dark, or White Chocolate. $19.99 

▪️ Tickets are on sale for Saunders Farm’s Country Christmas(November 29 through December 30). We thought it worth a mention in the Drinking and Dining update because of the food on offer: there’s lots. From poutine to burgers and pizza, giant pretzels to apple pie, there are many opportunities on site to fill up once you’ve worked your way through the family activities. 

▪️ Beckta’s Dinner Party In a Box is ready for pickup on November 30. Dinner Party in a Box features a modern Italian-inspired menu, a La Dolce Vita theme, signature cocktails, premium wine and beer, and luxury gift items. $350 for two, with truffled macaroni and cheese for the kids available. Each box will buy two brand-new, high-quality snowsuits for disadvantaged Ottawa children for the Snowsuit Fund. 

▪️ The Aventure Outaouais team have added a Ramen stop to the Gatineau Craft Beer Tour this winter. 

🎄 Christmas

The Piggy Market has everything from starters like Charcuterie boards to desserts like Apple Pie. All available for pick up December 22, 23 and 24th. 

– The number of trees for which the City had budgeted funds to plant next year. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe pledged to plant 1,000,000 during his four year term. Last year, 104,000 were planted. There are two more years left in his term.

- After 10 years of leading the Ottawa Sports Council, Morris is stepping down as executive director. Morris became active in the Council after Ottawa lost a bid to play host to the Canada Summer Games because of a lack of facilities.

– University of Ottawa Professor of Democracy and Education Joel Westheimer explaining that the strike mandate against the university is not just about money but should involve ‘a radical rethinking of how universities are funded, governed and operated’.

▪️The theatrical outrage of doubling the price of seniors bus passes has moved to its next phase: increasing the fare to something less draconian and declaring that the public has been heard. Transit committee chair and Stittsville ward councillor Glen Gower, says that feedback from the public has been received and a new fare will be proposed.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe sent a memo to the committee Monday requesting the change. 

Sutcliffe, Gower, Beacon Hill-Cyrville ward councillor Tim Tierney, and Kitchissippi ward councillor Jeff Leiper make up the Long Range Transit Working Group which recommended the new fares in the first place.

▪️The Federal government has made land at 529 Richmond Road available for housing development. The land is owned by the National Capital Commission, which had plans previously to build houses on it. Neighbours complained about the idea and preferred it to be parkland.

Most of the property is currently being used for construction of the O Train’s stage 2, but one bit is used by the Keg restaurant and another is home to the 19th century walled garden and National Historic Site Maplelawn Garden. Neither will be disturbed by the housing plan.

▪️National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman says a new entertainment district around the proposed new Sens arena in LeBreton flats will breed a new economy around it. Bettman also warned that it was too early to start talking about how much taxpayers should pay for this private enterprise endeavour.

▪️CBC News Ottawa has launched a 24 hour streaming channel. We’re not entirely certain what it will be showing – right now it is rebroadcasting CBC Newsworld – but the Mother Corp promises ‘information, entertainment, and community-focused programming’ as well. The CBC has an app already for LG televisions and promises to add Roku and Samsung televisions soon.

▪️ Altea, that massive new fitness and wellness centre at 1660 Carling is open as of today. 

▪️ Doors Open for Music at Southminster (DOMS) returns with Present at the Opera! The concert starts at noon. 

▪️ Tonight’s European Union Film Festival screenings: Family Therapy (Slovenia), Rowing Across the Atlantic (Lithuania).

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Blitz, The Marriage of Maria Braun, Anora 

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: Lee, Black Box Diaries, The Substance 

Gigs

▪️ Mike Even with Amanda Mabro. LIVE on Elgin

▪️ Bytown Ukulele Group BUG Jam. Red Bird

▪️ Ruby Waters What’s the Point tour. Bronson Centre Music Theatre 

🆓 Shop with nearly 100 local vendors at the Museum of History’s annual four day Christmas Market. Until Sunday in the Grand Hall. 

▪️ It’s Beats & Boards night once again at Art House Café. Bring your own game(s) or let the host hook you up with a table that needs extra players. 

▪️ Tonight’s European Union Film Festival screenings: Verdigris(Ireland), Mermaids Don’t Cry (Austria).

▪️ Ontario Native Women’s Association presents a book signing and reading with Jody Wilson-Raybould, whose new release Reconciling History: A Story of Canada builds on her previous work True Reconciliation. 

▪️ Calabogie Brewing in Kanata’s Music Bingo Night is free, but you must make a reservation in advance. 

▪️ Anyone can perform at the British pub in Aylmer’s Open Mic Au Café. 

▪️ Don’t let the November dark get you down. The S.A.D. Comedy Show at Laugh Lounge promises “unlicensed therapy provided by comedians.” 

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Blitz, Ciné-Club d’Ottawa: Testament, Anora 

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: Black Box Diaries, Terrifier 3 

Gigs

▪️ Comedy night. Pour Boy

▪️ Insider Trading Stockmarket Takeover. Beyond the Pale Brewing Co.

▪️ Go Long, The Super Awesome Club, Jude Zappala. House of TARG

▪️ Manon Meurt. Avant-Garde Bar

▪️ Leslie Rohenczy. Irene’s Pub

▪️ Ian Tamblyn headlines the Riversong 2: Concert for the Kichi Sibishow at First United Church. 

▪️ Santini Gallery’s Stocking Stuffer & Holiday Gift Market means shopping for items that start at $5. Plus, the gallery offers complimentary gift wrapping. Until Sunday (November 24) at 422 Preston St. 

▪️ The weekly Holiday Gloucester Night Market launches tonight, so expect hot chocolate, coffee, local vendors and artisans, and gift shopping opportunities. 

▪️ Station 11 – the new event space in a refurbished fire station – welcomes all to the Christmas Market Social from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm tonight. Sip and shop and get in the mood for Christmas. Tickets are $10, of which $5 is going to the Parkdale Food Centre. 

▪️ There’s a “no phones on the dance floor” policy at Poa Tiki Bar’s Groove Society Fridays, to encourage actual socializing. Plus, $5 Happy Hour from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm. 

🆓 Wander the stalls of more than 50 makers at the 613Artisan Market. This evening from 5:00 to 10:00 pm in the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park, then 10:00 am to 4:00 pm all weekend. 

▪️ Today’s European Union Film Festival screenings: One Million Minutes (Germany), Fathers and Sons (Netherlands) 

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Anora, All We imagine As Light, Bird, Drunken Cinema: Showgirls 

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: Never Look Away, Blitz, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

Gigs

▪️ Jeremy Fisher. Red Bird

▪️ Zoobombs with TBWNIAS, Shook Boys. House of TARG

▪️ Claud Munson. Irene’s Pub

▪️ Mecca of Stank, Nitro Turtle, and the Lionyls. Overflow Brewing Co. 

▪️ Unchained. Avant-Garde Bar

▪️ The Nick Cooper Trio. Queen St. Fare

▪️ Marianas Trench (The Force of Nature Tour). National Arts Centre

▪️ The Dead Pennies Celebrate Kim Brown’s Retirement. Rainbow Bistro

▪️ The Strum Chums Duo. Southside Tap & Grill

▪️ It’s time once again for the Flowers Talk Tivoli Holiday Open House(Wednesday November 27 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm). Check out all the decor ideas, the special offers, and demos while you enjoy seasonal refreshments. 

▪️ If you were unable to get tickets for the Elliott Brood gig at Red Birdon Saturday March 8 before it sold out, you have a second chance. An additional show has been booked for Sunday March 9, 2025.