Posts Tagged ‘Pacific Northwest’

MCLEAN’S

July 27th, 2010 admin
200 – 332 Water Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-669-1112


Twitter: @Mcleansgastown

Advice: Reserve for the upstairs dining room.

Fior de Latte

Grilled Humbolt Squid

Had dinner recently with some media friends and shared several of the different dishes. We sat in the downstairs lounge, though next time I would prefer to dine in the beautiful dining room upstairs. To begin the meal, I tasted a couple of Appetizers that included the tasty Fior de Latte ($10) over roasted cherry tomatoes drizzled with a balsamic reduction & Spansih extra virgin olive oil with fresh basil; unfortunatley the Grilled Humbolt Squid ($12) with chorizo lime and sansho pepper aiolli was not too my liking.

Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

Free Range Chicken Breast

Queen Charlotte Halibut

AAA 10oz Ribe Eye

For the main dishes I enjoyed my Queen Charlotte Halibut ($28) pan seared filet with pommes puree, green asparagus, & sauteed wild mushrooms finished with a lemon beurre blanc. I also tasted and liked the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli ($21) in a white wine cream sauce, with sundried tomatoes & Italian parsley, finished pecorino pepato; the Free Range Chicken Breast ($21) was in a tasty pommes puree with seasonal vegetables. My favourite of all the main entrees was the AAA 10oz Ribe Eye ($29) the meat was delicious and perfectly prepared with pomme frites, balsamic glazed green asparagus, finished with a truffle demiglace.

Bread Pudding

Creme Brulee

Beet Sorbet

Chocolate Mouse

As full as I was I had to try some of the desserts, all of the ones that I sampled were quite good including the Bread Pudding ($8), Creme Brulee ($8), Beet Sorbet ($8) and the Chocolate Mouse ($8).

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , No Comments »

GLOBE@YVR

January 12th, 2010 admin

Inside the Fairmont Hotel at Vancouver International Airport

3111 Grant McConachie Way

Richmond, BC

Tel:  604-248-3281

Web: http://www.fairmont.com/vancouverairport

Twitter: @fairmont_at_yvr

Advice: Make a reservation or try your luck without one and try to snag one of the window tables.

Mushroom Veloute Soup

Squash and Brie Ravioli

Seared Quebec Foie Gras

Overlooking the airport gates and runway, my friend and I dined in this beautifully appointed, sound proofed restaurant which offered a great view of airplanes coming and going. The menu was impressive and was created with many tempting dishes, Executive Chef Kamal Silva and his team are locally inspired, they recently started their own vegetable garden nearby in Terra Nova where they grow many of the herbs and vegetables for the restaurant. To begin our meal Sous Chef Marcus Routbard served us a sampler of their Mushroom Veloute Soup with artichoke and truffle foam ($12 for the regular sized portion). For our starters, I had the delicious Squash and Brie Ravioli ($22 for regular portion, I had an appetizer portion) with cinnamon pumpkin puree, parmesan seed crisp, with winter friscee and lemon buer blanc. My friend had the Seared Quebec Foie Gras ($19) with truffled shallot confit, mini brioche and crabapple anise. Sabrina our very informative server, suggested wines to pair with our meal and we went with her suggestions, to go with these starters we had a glass of the Black Hills Alibi (BC).

Fruits De Mer Grilles

Wild Pacific Salmon

We then moved on to our main entrees, I was eagerly awaiting to taste the Fruits De Mer Grilles ($36) grilled crisp skin wild pacific salmon, scallops and prawns, pomme alliumettes, asparagus and lemon buerre blanc which looked so impressive. My friend had the Wild Pacific Salmon ($32) with asparagus risotto, asiago tomato, flat leaf parsley and caper relish.  Although we intended to have a second white wine to go with the mains, again we took our servers advice and enjoyed a glass of the Joie Rosé (BC) which complemented our fish entrees so well. Half way thru our meals we also enjoyed the light Tantalus Reisling (BC) which was paired well with these selections.

Dessert Flight

To end our meal I had the Kea Lani Orange Pineapple Caffeine-free Tea and since I couldn’t decide on what to have for dessert I ended up going with the Dessert Flight ($18) that included samples of their Creamy key lime custard, Mini-organic chocolate molten grand marnier cake, Salt sprint island chevre & pumpkin swirl cheesecake and Cranberry white chocolate mousse. My friend knew exactly what he wanted and he enjoyed a cappuccino along with a bowl of Chocolate Gelato.

The restaurant has an impressive wine list of local BC wines as well as other regions to pair with their wonderful food. The cocktail list boasts a lineup of inventive cocktails too. Whether you are staying the night or looking for that night out on the town, leave your car at home and take skytrain out to this wonderful escape.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Restaurant Reviews, Richmond Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

JOE FORTES

September 24th, 2009 admin
Hungaria Grande Cuvee (left) & Chapel Hill Pinot Grigio (right)

Hungaria Grande Cuvee (left) & Chapel Hill Pinot Grigio (right)

777 Thurlow Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-669-1940

Web: www.joefortes.ca

Advice: Ask for a table upstairs or in the corner if you wish privacy. Valet your car as their isn’t much parking on Robson or nearby.

Salmon & Halibut Duo

Salmon & Halibut Duo

Outstanding fish selections and service made for an amazing lunch recently when I dined with local wine distributors and their Hungarian visitors from Torley wines. Not only were the visitors impressed by the great service and knowledge of our server, I was impressed on the quality of the food and presentation. To start we all had an appetizer of 2 prawns with heirloom tomatoes & mascarpone cheese, for my entrée I had the Salmon & Halibut Duo ($25) served with roasted potatoes and asparagus and for dessert I had the Chocolate Lava Cake ($8.50) the cake had a molten chocolate center, a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, a pave of chocolate and cherries, this dessert was delicious. I finished off the meal with a Doppio Espresso. Although the restaurant welcomes many tourists from the nearby hotels, the locals who are in the know visit regularly for the top notch seafood. My dining companions ordered a dozen oysters and were impressed with the presentation and quality, since I am not an oyster lover I did not partake. Joe Fortes is known for one of the best oyster bars in the city and there is a wide selection to choose. Our server had a great understanding of their wine selection and we spent a while discussing the wines from Torley as well as the other wines on their impressive wine list.

Chocolate Lava Cake

Chocolate Lava Cake

The main dining room was impressive with 2 story ceilings and tables well situated, we dined off to the corner where it was nice and quiet and un-disturbing. Their Prix Fixe menus offer a great value and are available Mon-Fri during lunch for $13.95 and an early bird dinner special for $28.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Downtown, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

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