Princess isn’t hiding in the tower anymore. In the modern era, the fair lady prefers something a little more down to earth (literally).

Follow the dark wooded road, past the white birch stumps, down the enchanted stairs, and enter into Hotel St-Sulpice’s hidden gem: Restaurant Sinclair. This Baroque-styled quasi dungeon, accented by sleek red banquettes and Paris landscape sepia wallpaper, is instantly charming.

But the pièce de resistance—an imaginative menu of “earth meets sea” pairings—is a feast for the palate, not the eyes.

We started with the raw Albacore tuna with button mushrooms and “La Quercia” ham ($13), which was a lovely mix of spicy, sweet and (surprise!) crunchy. Not to be outdone, the oven broiled Gooseberry cod with eggplant paste, grilled scallions and crosnes ($27), also proved delish.

With all meals covered and a post-10 p.m. $22 menu, there’s always a good time to escape to Far, Far Away. – Nina Mourin

Restaurant Sinclair, 125 St-Paul St. W., Montreal, 514-284-3332, www.restaurantsinclair.com

If we were heading to the Quartier des Spectacles area during the '40s, we’d probably be seeing burlesque sensation Lili St-Cyr. Today, we’re heading to the all-new restaurant that bears (half of) her name.

Located in the grime-meets-gentrification 'hood, St-Cyr is the latest dining option for festival and showgoers alike. But with fab French-inspired fare, a great lunch table d’hôte and outstanding desserts, we may be headed there sans ticket stub.

And sweet lovers be warned: St-Cyr’s chef has worked at Michelin star restaurants, and is known for his desserts. Au revoir, resolutions!  —Christine Laroche

St-Cyr, 22 Ste-Catherine St. E., Montreal,  514-586-6222

For photos of last night’s pre-opening night, please see our Editor’s Diary.

We graduated from Concordia a long, long time ago but we kept going back to our old stomping ground anytime we had a hankering for dumplings.

No longer: Perennial Concordia ghetto favourite Qing Hua has opened a second outpost, this time setting up shop in Chinatown. True to the original, the dumplings are highly addictive and the setting is frills-free.

Trust us: The steamed chicken curry ($9.99) and chicken coriander ($11.99) dumplings are well worth trekking out for in the cold! —Christine Laroche

Qing Hua, 1019 St-Laurent Blvd., Montreal, 514-903-9887

Raise a glass! Our editor share their favourite holiday wines:

Pfaffenheim Gewurztraminer is a mouthful to say but the French wine is floral and fruity and pairs nicely with Thai takeout making for a perfect night in. $18.49 at Kensington Wine Market, 1257 Kensington Rd. N.W., Calgary, 403-283-8000, www.kensingtonwinemarket.com —Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Moving from London back to Vancouver meant that my favourite wines (usually from Spain) were suddenly a lot more expensive. The Rioja Crianza from Campo Viejo is a good staple when you don’t want to spend much money, it is oaky, fruity, and rich (all the things I hate in a white wine but love in a red.) $14.99 from BC Liquor Stores. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

For a sparkler that won’t set you back, we love Sieur d'Arques Première bulle Blanquette de Limoux mousseux (2008) ($17.55). It’s the perfect girly sipper, from the pretty pink label to the fruity bubbles. At selected SAQ locations.  —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

As a rare girl that doesn’t like Champagne, I always make sure to stock up on riesling, which can feel just as festive and taste just as sweet. This one by Tantalus is my personal favourite: very floral with strong hints of both apple and pear. Its full-bodied, yet breezy palette makes it a great companion for any celebration. $22.90 at Village VQA Wines.—Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

Cedar Creek Riesling 2010 ($17.90)  I’m a seafood-aholic and this light, bright riesling goes beautifully with almost anything from the ocean. —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

Outis Etna is a fabulous wine that we discovered at Terroni. According to Max Stefanelli who runs the L.A. outpost, this ruby red is best paired with meats and caponata. $16 per glass, $74 per bottle at Terroni, 720 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-504-1992, www.terroni.com —Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

After living in Argentina, I figure you can't ever go wrong with malbec. The full-bodied flavour and richness of the Andeluna Malbec pairs perfectly with nights spent reminiscing around the fire with old friends. $25 at Firefly Wines, 2857 Cambie St., Vancouver, 604-875-3325, www.fireflyfinewinesandales.com —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

Bear Flag's smooth red blend wins points on several counts: a female winemaker, a highly drinkable blend oozing vanilla and cherry, an accessible price point, and an illustrated label by an emerging artist (because, yes, packaging counts!) $ 12.99 at BC Liquor Stores. —Sarah Bancroft, Editor-in-chief

Montreal nightlife is so varied, but we’ve always thought the downtown core needed an elegant lounge in which to enjoy cocktails.

We got our holiday wish at The Club House, the new third floor lounge atop Rosalie Supper Club. The lofty space has everything you could want in a downtown speakeasy, from Moët by the bottle to surprise live entertainment (on the night we were there they had a saxophone player and three flapper girls dancing atop the bar!). We loved the décor featuring stunning wood floors and Gun lamps by Philippe Starck, as well as the music which mixed eras from the '20s to today. Go early to lounge and chat with friends, or later for a more club-like atmosphere.

Consider us members. —Jennifer Nachshen

Only open Wednesdays from 8pm, The Club House, 1232 Rue de la Montagne,  Montreal, 514-392-1970, www.rosalierestaurant.com

We’ve always loved Le Pois Penché for a quick stop on our downtown shopping jaunts, but the recently revamped menu and wine list has made the elegant eatery into a destination for a leisurely dinner or after-work drinks and bites.

We recently re-visited the restaurant to sample some new dishes highlighting locally-sourced organic ingredients. Far from the heavy brasserie fare of old, the expanded list of appetizers includes an incredible raw bar, a scrumptious salmon tartare with avocado and wasabi ($16) and a velvety smooth Cream of St. Jacques scallop soup with toasty almond crunch ($9). Don’t worry, if you’re true to traditional brasserie meals, you can still find a divinely rich foie gras with Quebec cider and caramelized apples ($24) and a satisfyingly savoury osso bucco milanaise atop a decadent risotto with parmesan and citrus zest ($29).

Now we’re stopping in whether or not we’re in the neighbourhood. —Jennifer Nacshen

Le Pois Penché, 1230 de Maisonneuve Blvd W., Montreal, 514-667-5050, www.lepoispenche.com

There’s nothing like bacon to cure what ails you, but we like to see it served up with a bit of style.

Ham is definitely on the menu at Le Gros Jambon Diner in Old Montreal, where even the plates and pepper shakers have a pig theme. You’ll eat like an oinker, too, with delicious brunch specials like herbed eggs benedict served on a parmesan biscuit ($14.50) and to-die-for pumpkin cinnamon pancakes drizzled with brown butter and bacon caramel ($11.50). The dinner menu features upscale takes on casse-croute faves, like a lobster grilled cheese ($10), duck confit mac n’ cheese, as well as creative variations on dogs and burgers.

This little piggy went home very satisfied. —Jennifer Nachshen

Le Gros Jambon Diner, 286 Notre Dame W., Montreal, 514-508-3872

After we plundered our niece’s Halloween loot, we thought we’d reached the limit of chocolate decadence. But then we discovered a new level of indulgence. And we don’t feel even a little bit guilty about it.

There’s a skip in our step since we discovered that UK’s Green & Black’s organic chocolate bars ($3.89 each) are finally being sold in Montreal. We happily taste-tested ten treats, including the rich dark, creamy milk, and buttery white bars, and fell head-over-heels for the Dark Chocolate Mint (think, an elevated After Eight) and the delicious milk chocolate and butterscotch combination that would make a Skor bar green with envy. We loved that the Maya Gold, a dark chocolate bar flavoured with orange and spices, is the first ever product to be awarded the Fair Trade Mark. In fact, Green & Black Organic is working to achieve Fair Trade Certification for all its chocolatey treats.

We hadn’t realized that our chocolate addiction could save the world….—Jennifer Nachshen

At Rachelle Béry, Marchés Tau, Avril, Healthtree and La Moisson, www.greenandblacks.com/ca

We used to watch Grease and long for a real '50s-style diner, complete with belly-busting burgers, cozy booths (for making out with Danny Zuko) and a danceable Jukebox soundtrack.

We found an upscale version at Deville Dinerbar, where an easily downloadable app puts you in charge of the virtual Jukebox. We loved the gleaming black and hot pink décor and the modernized menu of comfort food fare. We shared starters of Philly Cheesesteak Spring Rolls, filled with short ribs, onions and aged Quebec Cheddar, Ahi Tuna Tacos, and crunchy deep fried pickles with a maple Dijon dipping sauce. The double stacked Deville burger on toasted brioche, topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles and signature sauce, was the polar opposite of fast food, meant to be savoured slowly (and messily). And with dessert options including a tangy lemon meringue pie and hot beignets with chocolate bourbon sauce, we realized that we found the one that we want, as far as diners are concerned. —Jennifer Nachshen

Deville Dinerbar, 1425 Stanley St., Montreal, 514-291-6556, www.devilledinerbar.com

We’re all about mid-day multi-sensorial experiences, especially when our eyes and taste buds are involved.

We recently stopped in to Café Armatta in the Galerie Armatta, and perused paintings by artist James Playford while polishing off a healthy, tasty lunch. We chose the tangy Tofu Parmigiana sandwich, filled with lightly breaded tofu, flavourful marinara sauce and oozing with warm cheddar and gruyere cheese ($6.93) from the mostly vegetarian menu (don’t worry, carnivores, there will be a few more meaty options in the months to come), and washed it down with an icy, blended "Mango Classi", made with mango purée and coconut milk ($3.95). With no room for the spiced chocolate tartelette ($3.51) in our overstuffed bellies, we promised to come back for more.

We’ve always been patrons of the arts (and the sandwiches). —Jennifer Nachshen

Armatta, 3255 Rue St-Jacques, Montreal, 514- 660-2420, www.armatta.ca