après Restaurant & Wine Bar

WHISTLER VILLAGE. Contemporary décor can seem cold or sterile, but this is not the case at après, where golden wood floors, vibrant red accents and wonderful geometric-abstract art give the space a comfortable warmth. The chef, Eric Vernice, showcases regional foods in modern European preparations as fine as you'd encounter in a big city restaurant. Standouts include pan-roasted caribou loin with roasted chestnuts and sauce poivrade, and a "Trilogy of Veal" (pan-roasted tenderloin, grilled liver with onion jam, and pan-seared sweetbread with almond emulsion) that earns raves. Desserts are splurge-worthy: hazelnut daquoise with light pear mousse, caramelized Bosc pears and apple chutney is sublime! About 40 wines by the glass or flight (mostly from the Pacific Northwest).