anuel Ferreira has certainly let the sunshine into his new downtown eatery, Senova. Ferreira has built a solid reputation as the front man of another reputable resto, La Gavroche, an upscale romantic setting with a predominantly French menu. Here at Senova, the menu lays its foundation with the cuisine of Portugal and Spain whilst still paying its dues to France, where Ferreira trained as a chef for some time.

Their menu reads like a quilted assortment of interesting tastes and textures. A true fan of mixing my foods together (as in turkey, gravy, corn and potatoes all in one delicious bite), I always appreciate a menu that doesn’t hold back when it comes to throwing a few things together, in fact, it brings a tear to my eye.

The Beef Tenderloin is here served with seared foie gras and while it is rare to see the two meats together, they are bound together by a cinnamon red wine sauce. The quail is first marinated and grilled and topped with sherry and espresso sauce. A sure bet are the steamed mussels which come half submerged in a heavenly broth of garlic, tomato and chorizo.

Senova is a quiet little retreat in a not-too-busy area of Vancouver. The diverse menu has enough selection to please even the pickiest of eaters and, another bonus, there’s plenty of parking. –L.D.