An unassuming eatery tucked away in North Saanich is among the Top 10 new restaurants in Canada according to enRoute magazine.

Named for its street address, Restaurant 20 Victoria in Toronto, Ont. claimed the top spot. Fox and Monocle Cafe, the only B.C. eatery to make the list, finished ninth on the magazineB次元官网网址檚 CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Best New Restaurants list.

For two decades the Air Canada magazine has embarked on a mission to put newcomers on the map. This year, the organization flew one undercover writer all over the country in search of those B次元官网网址渞eshaping CanadaB次元官网网址檚 diverse culinary landscape.B次元官网网址�

The anonymous aspect of the judging is a source of pride for chef and co-owner Ross Bowles. B次元官网网址淭hat makes it feel special because it means weB次元官网网址檙e doing our day-to-day to a high standard,B次元官网网址� he told the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review.

The new restaurant is a result of reflection during the early days of the pandemic for husband-and-wife team Bowles and Tracie Zahvich.

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Finding themselves without work for a short time, they started contemplating the future, which already included restaurant ownership, but perhaps sooner than later. TheyB次元官网网址檇 been hopping back and forth between Calgary and the U.K. each working on a variety of award-wining projects and Michelin Star restaurants. But when they started thinking about where they wanted to live, Vancouver Island topped the list.

It featured great farms, produce, people and rural nature, Bowles said. They scouted and landed on the North Saanich restaurant.

A bakery by day and restaurant by night, Fox & Monocle offers European comfort food classics and familiar flavours with a strong focus on local farms, producers and sustainable cooking. The business model is a reflection of its owners.

Pastry chef Tracy Zahavich shares her passion during the day with a modest cafe flair and Bowles takes up that same passion for the evening with refined dining.

B次元官网网址淲e wanted to be able to showcase what weB次元官网网址檙e passionate about each of us,B次元官网网址� Bowles said. B次元官网网址淲e reach two very different audiences, through our food we can tap into different groups that are looking for different things.B次元官网网址�

Find Fox & Monocle Cafe at 2300 Canoe Cove Rd. or online at .

They will take a much-needed break each year, closing up shop for about six weeks starting in January.

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

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