Must-Try: The homey foie gras brûlée from Woodlot in Little Italy

There are few things more quintessentially French than crème brûlée—except perhaps foie gras. At Woodlot, the cottagey Canadian restaurant in Little Italy, David Haman transforms both into a cozy, hearth-side snack. Cured duck livers are poached, blended into a silky mousse and sprinkled with sugar, which is lightly torched for a crunchy caramelized finish. The result arrives on a butcher-block platter with fig preserves, flaky Maldon salt and slices of chewy, nut-brown bread laced with warm baking spices. The combination is sweet, rich and deliciously festive—like Christmas in Alsace. $16.

Woodlot, 293 Palmerston, at College, 647-342-6307