Two weekends ago, friends came over to my place after dinner to chat and enjoy dessert. Jenn disappeared into the kitchen to make a Japanese sponge cake, called a kastella. I entertained.

While several of my guests argued the finer points of application development on mac vs. Linux platforms, another guest, a fellow foodie and dear friend from my university days, picked up my November 2007 issue of the Ottawa Magazine. Like me, she immediately turned to this year's list of top 10 "Best Restaurants" according to guest columnist, respected critic, and cooking television producer, Chris Knight. That's right folks, Knight's top 10 for 2007 is out!

For people new to the Ottawa Magazine, each year, around November-ish, Knight releases a top 10 list for restaurants in the national capital region. It is his determination of the best and brightest in the local restaurant scene. The criteria for Knight's top 10 list follows:

1. The restaurant needs to be a fine dining establishment.
2. The restaurant needs to be on the tip of your tongue when your current boss, former mentor, hero, and father in law says he's coming to Ottawa and wants you to recommend a place to go with the "missus" for their 40th wedding anniversary.

If you don't believe me, I'll happily show you the page in the November 2006 issue of the Ottawa magazine, where Knight actually states this.

Along with his annual top 10 list, Knight also includes a short list of restaurants that just nearly missed edging someone out and joining the list themselves. These restaurants will most likely be contenders for next year's list.

And without further ado, here are Ottawa's Best Restaurants for 2007:

1. Beckta Dining and Wine: 226 Nepean Street - (613)238-7063
2. Le Baccara: 1, boulevard du Casino - (819)772-6210
3. Domus Café: 87 Murray Street - (613)241-6007
4. Restaurant E18teen (new head chef since 2006: Matthew Carmichael, protegé of Susur Lee): 18 York Street - (613)244-1188
5. The Wellington Gastropub (chef/owner: Chris Deraiche, former head chef of E18teen): 1325 Wellington Street - (613)729-1315
6. Ambiente: 101-18 Beechwood avenue - (613)744-6509
7. Juniper Kitchen and Wine Bar (changed location since 2006): 245 Richmond Road - (613)728-0220
8. Social Restaurant + Lounge: 537 Sussex Drive - (613)789-7355
9. Perspectives: Brookstreet, 525 Legget Drive - (613)271-18000
10. Les Fougerès: 782, route 105, Chelsea - (819)827-8942

Here are Knight's 6 Restaurants "to watch":

1. Absinthe Café Resto Bar (new location since 2006): 1208 Wellington Street - (613)761-1138
2. Canvas Resto Bar (at the former location of Absinthe): 65 Holland Avenue - (613)729-1991
3. Allium (my personal favourite restaurant): 87 Holland Avenue - (613)792-1313
4. Benitz Bistro: 327 Somerset Street West - (613)567-8100
5. Luxe Bistro (formerly 47 York Restaurant, new name, new ownership, new head chef: René Rodriguez): 47 York Street - (613)241-8805
6. The Whalesbone Oyster House (new head chef: Steve Wall): 430 Bank Street - (613)231-8569

As I told my friend, the November issue of the Ottawa magazine is to foodies what the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit issue is to sport fans. Both are issued once annually. Both are eagerly awaited.

For me, my meager restaurant budget only permits me to visit a precious few fine dining establishments during a given year. Chris Knight's top 10 list and his write-ups on each incumbent restaurant provide much needed reconnaissance, information that will let me spend my money more wisely.

Regarding this year's choices, Knight has confirmed the existence of Ottawa's Epicurean Row. Two of his top 10 and three of his 6 "to watch" are located in the Wellington Village, almost within walking distance of each other.

To Arup Jana, chef/owner of Allium, congratulations. I'll be by your restaurant soon to get my copy of the magazine signed!

Oh, if you're interested in Knight's top 10 pics for last year, they follow:

More after the jump...

James Barber, better known as the Urban Peasant, passed away last Thursday (November 29, 2007). According to the National Post website, Barber was reading a cookbook in his home, a pot of soup simmering on the stove, when he died of natural causes.

Author of 12 cookbooks and one children's book, noted columnist for the National Post, and regular contributor to such publications as Western Living magazine, Barber gained national recognition for his role as host of a popular CBC television cooking show, the "Urban Peasant." As the urban peasant, Barber's featured recipes espoused his philosophy for simple high-quality food.

My personal memories of the Urban Peasant involve his gentle and unassuming manner towards preparing food. From de-boning chicken for stir fries to cutting potatoes for a less-than-traditional gratin, his easy-going techniques could be mixed and matched to produce simple dishes that any home cook could put together for a quick dinner. Though I am old enough to remember cooking shows from the late 80s, his was the first cooking show I regularly followed. Like many other Canadians, I loyally tuned in to the CBC during the mid-afternoons in 90s.

James Barber will be missed.

The picture comes from the James Barber website, the Urban Hub.