In my last posting I wrote about finding delightful traditional French bistro food in one of the new trendy areas of Québec City . But on the same trip, I wanted to experience food with a bit more of a modern flair, and I wanted the flair to extend to the décor and atmosphere of the restaurant. That’s how my wife and I found ourselves at the Voo Doo Grill, a short cab ride from our hotel and just outside the old, walled part of the city. The restaurant is part of a nightclub, lounge and cigar bar, so you can eat your dinner on one side of the building and then migrate to the other side for live music, dancing or smoke. The décor is African, with carved statuettes at the entrance and dotted throughout the dining room, which is painted in dark red and oranges, accented by carved wood panels that help to separate some of the tables. Couples seeking intimacy to whisper sweet nothings will not find the volume level at Voo Doo amenable to such forms of communication. The music is loud, and punctuated at times by young men strolling around pounding on bongo drums. They came in at regular intervals, immediately got the entire room hooting and clapping, and yes, they do birthdays performances as well, as we witnessed at a large table not far from us. Being in the right mood is a must at Voo Doo Grill, so if you’re looking for fun you’ve come to the right place. You’ve also picked a good place for food. We opted for a table d’hôte menu you construct yourself by adding just ten dollars to the price of a ‘Voo Doo Creation’ main course. You can then pick any appetizer from the menu and choose your own dessert as well, which allows you dozens of combinations. Although the décor is African, the menu is very eclectic and can lean toward the Asian end of the spectrum. The dishes we ordered were all well executed, including a seared scallop appetizer featuring a perfectly cooked scallop atop a bed of crisp baby bok choy, seared beef tataki under an Asian-spiced slaw of carrot, cucumber and sesame, and a beautifully braised beef short rib accompanied by an al dente risotto and spicy green beans. The Voo Doo Grill is popular with all ages, and I’m sure in the summertime it must really rock, given that it has a 250-seat outdoor terrace. Just be cognizant of the noise levels before you go, get in the mood for a party, and don’t forget to make a reservation. View Larger Map Voo Doo Grill 575 Grande...

I love getting out to restaurants I wouldn't normally go to, and Toronto's Winterlicious gives me a good excuse to check out new places. For instance, I took this picture 54 floors above the city on Wellington St. in Toronto earlier this week at Canoe for lunch. The meal was delicious; I had the salmon. But it's not the kind of restaurant I'd normally frequent; that would be a little hard on the pocketbook! Winterlicious is a two-week event where you can indulge in your choice of more than 100 of Toronto's finest dining establishments on a prix fixe menu for three courses. Prices range from $15-$20 for lunch and $25-$35 for dinner. The event runs until February 7th, so you can still get in on the action if you're in the Toronto area; plus, a lot of restaurants extend their prix fixe menu for a few days because of the popularity of the event. Other winter culinary events are also taking place across the country: In Ottawa , as part of the city's Winterlude celebration, you can participate in Taste of Winterlude until February 10. Prices are $20, $30 or $45 per person for three courses. Starting today until February 17th in Québec City , as part of the Carnaval de Québec celebrations, almost 100 restaurants are also participating in a prix fixe menu. Prices range from $10-$25 for lunch and $10-$30 for supper. As part of the High Lights Festival in Montr é al from February 21-March 2nd, culinary events take place across the city, including special dinners (hosted by the likes of Susur Lee ), wine tasting, cheese events and more. Are any interesting food events happening in your city this winter? We'd love to hear about them. Has anyone out there had a chance to check out any of these events? What did you think?