Cafe de Ville : Edmonton

After a long day, and hungry for a unique dining experience, we settle on the Cafe de Ville. This restaurant on the Edmonton downtown fringe is likely pretty easy to miss, but should not be passed up. The decor is rather unique and difficult to classify...sort of a bistro with a distinct European flair.

Can be very intimate in the right area of the restaurant, and the staff is very polite, very unassuming, and between them and the music, almost give the place a bohemian sort of ambiance. Absolutely not pretentious in any way.
We departed a tad from our usual drinks...as we do when we see unique eye catching cocktails...and order the DeVille Island Iced Tea and Frontera Sangria. Both were delicious and a pretty good value for $9, as they were thankfully not filled to the brim with ice.

Instead of bread being brought out to start, we were brought the single greatest mini croissants. Completely unique and unbelievably good, these pastries were glazed on the bottom with honey, and dusted on the top with poppyseed. I cannot say enough about how great these tasted. We ordered a dozen to take home, and while not nearly as good the second day, they were still pretty tasty.

SJ decided to go for the escargot as an appie, while I went with the coquille...a jumbo scallop wrapped in duck prosciutto. Understanding that escargot is somewhat of an acquired taste, these were served in a slightly different way than has been done traditionally. Typically you will find that the escargot are hidden underneath a mushroom cap, and drenched in butter and garlic. And while they are usually pretty good that way, these came with portabello mushroom, various cheeses and a balsamic vinegar, all mixed together that made for a very delightful taste. The scallops that I had were extremely tender, and the duck promiscuity added just the right touch.

For our main course, SJ, on suggestion from the waiter, ordered the lamb, while I went with my usual chicken route. Now it is worth mentioning that neither of us are Lamb fans so this next statement means ALOT. It is impossible to have done the lamb any better. It was possibly the tenderest and juiciest piece of meat that either of us have ever tasted. The combination of pesto, dijon, junipers and chutney provided the ultimate blend of complimentary tastes that made this the perfect meal. My chicken was also prepared perfectly. It came stuffed with wild boar bacon, sun-dried tomato, feta, roasted garlic, spinach, and a touch of amaretto. Furthermore, it was so good I even ate the skin and I never, ever eat chicken skin. However, this time, the skin was crispy and juicy, and did not have the texture of skin...I was very surprised and impressed.

Although completely stuffed, we both felt compelled to order dessert. SJ had the mocha creme brulee, and I chose the chocolate mousse. They were both done quite well, but frankly after being somewhat jaded by the perfection of the lamb, they were both a slight letdown. At any other restaurant however, they would have both been excellent. We can chalk it up to being victims of the the rest of the meal setting the bar so high I suppose.

Overall, a near perfect dining experience. Excellent service and an extraordinary meal make this place an absolute must if you are in Edmonton.

Location visited: 10137 124 Street NW

Ratings:
Ambiance: High end Bistro
Cuisine: International
Presentation: Excellent
Price: $35/serving
Service: Excellent
Value: Excellent



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Rosies in the Park: Sherwood Park AB

Breakfast with a friend on a beautiful Sunday morning. We have heard a few good things about Rosies in the Park, a little neighborhood diner in Sherwood Park (close to Edmonton). The place is about 3/4 full when we get there...roughly 11am Ambiance is nice, kind of a little bistro with a cute "homey" feel.

Seated pretty much right away, we are offered coffee, but decide on juice instead (I am SUCH a coffee snob). As they serve all day breakfast, we all decide to order from that part of the menu. I order the Rosies omelet, essentially a ham and cheese omelet with hollandaise sauce on it. SC takes the Ukrainian breakfast special, which is 2 eggs served over 5 perogies, then topped with cheddar and green onions and served with a piece of farmer sausage. SC chooses to have her perogies boiled instead of deep fried - I of course would have chosen the latter.

Perogies were bland, eggs overcooked, but the sausage was really good.
Omelet was really overcooked...actually fried. Not too bad on the fillings, and the hollandaise sauce, even though it was clearly not homemade, was probably pretty good...but greatly overshadowed by the crispy fried egg taste of the omelet.

Service was average...although we had to ask for water a few times, and wait a bit before getting it, but it was somewhat busy when we got there, so it was understandable I suppose.

All in all, nothing special or outstanding compared to a chain restaurant's breakfast. Nothing to brag about and a place we wouldn't return to unless we had to.

Location visited:114 Athabascan Avenue, Sherwood Park

Ratings:
Ambiance: Casual
Cuisine: Breakfast
Presentation: Average
Price: $15/serving
Value: Below Average




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Copper Chimney: Vancouver BC

8 pm on Wednesday and I am in need of a drink and something to fill my stomach, attached to my hotel is the Copper Chimney. Looking for a simple easy place to eat and grab a few drinks I decide to check it out. Now I have to admit, it never crossed my mind that this restaurant was an Indian fushion restaurant, I always pictured it as a pub that served pub fair... Even when I lived in Vancouver I always associated the outside with a pub...weird as I was oh so wrong.


Walking in your attention is immediately drawn to the plush hard wood floors, the dark wooden tables eloquently set with white napkins, the open foyer with a beauiftul chandellier which just screamed a quiet elegance. A bar located to the far right backs up onto the staircase leading to the second floor dining area providing a beautiful view of the floor beneath and the stained glass windows. The main floor is overlooked by another beautiful chandelier which provided a soft glow to the room entire room.

Dining on my own, my hostess asked where I would like to sit, The place was rather quiet but for a few tables scattered around, and I decide that a table off to the corner would do the trick. Ordering my usual drink, my waitress (who I later discover is a co-owner brought it by). Now I know I have mentioned this before... I love butter chicken...so having seen it on the menu I enquire with the waitress if it was good, as many other entrees caught my eye and I was struggling internally on whether I wanted my comfort food, or to try something different.


Her reply sold me on the butter chicken, stating it was "a feast and would surely love it". Returing with some bread and butter I decided to go with her suggestion and ordered the butter chicken. The ambiance was warm, the waitress very friendly and I couldn't help but feel comfortable here. My drinks were prefectly mixed and my food arrived within 10 mins of ordering it.

The dish was presented rather nicely with a small copper pot of butter chicken, a bed of rice and grilled vegetables on the side. A very generous size if I may say, so she had the feast part right! The butter chicken boasted large chunks of chicken breast in a tomato based sauce...not very spicy, however, be warned it was a spice that could sneak up on the person who has not experienced spicy food... The vegetables were grilled and cooked perfectly, not at all overcooked leaving a small yet tender crunch. The rice and nan were good portions flavourful and also cooked just right.

After polishing off a few drinks, having a nice chat with my waitress and finishing, yes finishing dinner...I retired to my room. Although they dont accept interact, you can bill it to your room or use credit card. This Indian fushion restaurant was a great find....my waitress very friendly and attentive. I found out during a conversation with her that she co-owns the restaurant with her husband, and it had been here for 7 years. My experience here was exceptional, I would highly recommend it to anyone and will return again during my travels. They have it right, just the perfect amount of Indian and fusion which creates an enjoyable dining experience.

Location visted: 567 Hornby St

Ratings:
Ambiance: Upscale Casual
Cuisine: Indian Fushion
Presentation: Above Average
Price: $30/serving
Value: Above Average



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Characters: Edmonton Alberta

Very funky and upscale restaurant just on the downtown Edmonton outskirts. Slightly concerned about the autographed picture in the entrance of Emeril Lagasse (please read the review on Emeril's South Beach location), but we came with an open mind. We had initially tried to get the rather unique sounding table situated in an elevator shaft, but had to settle for a fireplace table instead. Very comfy chairs, very nice decor, excellent layout and open beam design, with an open kitchen and classy warm accents, but very bad service to start off with.

Brought to and left at our table without so much as a hello, the waiter walked off without taking any drink order, and in fact without even waiting for us to sit down. When I come to a place of this style, I expect that he will pull out the chair for SC, or put our napkins on our laps, or engage us in at least a small bit of welcoming banter.

Returning after a few moments, he took our drink orders, which he brought out very quickly. But still...personality on this dude is totally missing in action. Slightly odd and uncultured demeanor, he didn't really fit the style or feel of the restaurant. Not a judgement, just an observation. In a refined atmosphere such as this restaurant, one would expect to be served by an equally refined waiter. This felt more like service at a small rural family restaurant...only without the warmth and charm.

Anyhow, we decided on Seared Scallops with a Butter Poached Lobster Claw, and a rather unique sounding Prawn Dog, served with a jalapeño relish and wasabi sticks for appies.

For mains, SC chose Beef Tenderloin, which comes with banana potatoes, and a light chili hollandaise, and I selected the Veal Chop with Gruyere spaetzle.

Rather than bread, we were served homemade potato chips and fries, with a black bean aioli that was slightly spicy, and absolutely out of this world!!! Again, where most servers would explain what they were serving, this was just dropped off without a word.

Appetizers here were incredible. The scallops are done to absolute perfection along with the Lobster claw, drizzled with an unnamed sauce (further defined as "mostly butter" by our mono syllabic waiter), and the Prawn dog, done in the style of a hot dog...while difficult to eat without using your hands and looking a tad like a pig...was the perfect blend of flavors.

The Veal Chop...bone in...was a good size, and was cooked a little more on the well done side than I would have preferred, however I wasn't asked so I assume it is only done one way. SC's tenderloin was done way more on the rare side than the medium rare side, but was still quite good...although it could have used a bit more of the chili hollandaise. On that note, not sure why it is referred to in the menu as "hollandaise", as it doesn't resemble a hollandaise sauce in any way. I'm all for creative license, but I think a "light chili glaze" or something to that effect would have sufficed. Both of us could have benefitted from some knives designed more for cutting through the meat, but our waiter...who has now been nicknamed "ninja" hasn't brought anything to that effect.

For dessert, we have our menus dropped off...again, without a word from the ninja...and select the grapefruit and vanilla brûlée, and the banana, kahlua, and pecan bread pudding. Dessert is served, strangely with soup spoons. SC and I switch halfway through as SC is less than impressed with hers. I like both...remarkable as I have a distinct dislike for banana, but the bread pudding is very good in spite of this. The creme brûlée is very good as well, especially considering the infusion of an acid based flavor into an egg and cream based dish.

Overall, I would say this place is well above average, but slightly below our usual experience with restaurants in this style. Right at the end, the waiter warmed up quite a bit (just in time for the tip?) and actually engaged us in conversation, but it was a little strange given the lack of engagement throughout the meal.

Location visited:

Ratings:
Ambiance: Elegant
Cuisine: Contemporary
Presentation: Above Average
Price: $40/serving
Value: Above Average



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Balans Brickell: Miami Florida

Wednesday after having being woken up early it the morning due to unauthorized construction in the apartment above us and not having a good frying pan or cooking utensils, we venture out for food. Just down the road from our rental is Mary Brickell square which boasts several cute restaurants and cafes. Since our morning trek includes starbucks we have passed this quaint establishment a few times and today decide to give it a shot. Arriving a bit later than usual for breakfast we are instinctively provided lunch menus. With nothing specifically jumping out at us, we enquire if they are still offering breakfast, the hostess acknowledges that breakfast is still available and brings us two menus to review. The chorizo con papas immediately catches my eye, and at 7.95 it boasts two eggs, chorizo sausage, salsa and potatoes...so I decide to give it a try. SJ opts for the breakfast burrito listed at 9.25 and adds chorizo for an additional 2$. Adding two mimosas to our meal for $8 each we enjoy the outdoor atmosphere and the fan that is (thankfully) strategically pointed in our direction.


The service, efficient and fast, lead to our food arriving rather swiftly after our order.


SJ's burrito looked rather appetizing. A large flour burrito delicately drizzled with sour cream and accompanied with salsa. The first bite was great, eggs and cheese well mixed, not too little cheese not too much egg. My plate, with the scrambled eggs, looked rather large, more than the typical two eggs. The salsa provided was fresh and suited the dishes well. The only thing I can say about my meal was the potatoes and chorizo sausage were VERY greasy...so much that I could see the oil collecting at the bottom of my plate, and although I usually enjoy crispy potatoes, I don't enjoy them soaked in oil. There is a distinct difference between crispy and over fried. To top it off, the chorizo was so hard my fork could not penetrate it....honestly. Having had chirozo several times, SJ and I know that it can be prepared differently. So harder than others is somewhat understandable, but these were way over cooked. SJ's chorizo was also hard and barely edible. It may have been the late breakfast order, because it really seemed like these had sat under a heat lamp or on the side of the grill for several hours. The mimosas we ordered were good however and the eggs done well....I mean how can you screw up eggs right?? Well, unless you happen to go to a certain resort in Cuba...but that's a story for another time.


Our waitress was attentive and friendly. However based on this experience, the potatoes and chorizo being sooooooooo oily and hard, I would definitely not return for breakfast. I would however give it another try but stick to the lunch menu and stay away from brunch....

Location visited: 213 SE 1st St. (Mary Brickell Village)

Ratings:
Ambiance: Cafe
Cuisine: International
Presentation: Average
Price: $15/serving
Service: Average
Value: Below Average




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The Velvet Glove: Winnipeg Manitoba

11:30am at the Fairmont Winnipeg and I wander into the Velvet room while looking for a place to work before I catch my flight out.
Greeted by a friendly and professional waitress who is forewarned of my intention to stay for awhile, she takes my drink order. Being 11:30am, I decided that my usual double may be too much for the time of day, and opted for a single. The waitress explained the lunch special and hurried off to grab my drink. The ambiance here is that of modern elegance and the music playing in the background is trendy, mellow and just loud enough to add to the ambiance. After looking at the menu which is filled with light food fair, I decide upon the Baker’s Dozen Adobo Chicken Wings. You probably wonder why chicken wings? Well SJ and I have been in this lounge a few times this week and every time we have opted for something different, and seeing as SJ makes the best wings I have ever tasted I didn’t want to get the wings here. This being said, as we have been soooo busy and between places SJ has not had the opportunity to make chicken wings in quiet sometime, so I am CRAVING wings...thus I succumb to ordering them when he is not around... =P As the place was empty with only one other patron seated, my drink arrived swiftly and my order taken.

Arriving quickly the first bite of my wings was surprising. The chicken was tender and juicy, not spicy, like one would imagine...quiet enjoyable. Garnished with carrot sticks and celery this dish was an adequate size and perfect to nibble on while I remain at the lounge for my extended stay. Could it have been my craving for wings that made this taste so good? I doubt it..... Let me be clear, these are not your typical wings, not doused in sauce, but rubbed with spice and accompanied with a rich blue cheese dressing. They were far from spicy, and had an almost sweet aromatic flavour to them.

Although the lounge got very busy for the lunch crowd, with almost every table filled, my waitress still working alone, managed to effectively tend to everyone and bring me another drink.

Almost 2 hours into my seating in the lounge the place slowed down a bit and I debated internally on ordering desert...not because I was hungry, but just because I was tiring of drinking and had been eyeing two of the deserts listed on the menu from the first day we walked in for drinks... when prompted if I wanted another drink, I opted for a latte and a vanilla cheese cake... had to get a desert and sober up a bit before my next round of drinks with SJ. The vanilla cheesecake was presented very well with pieces of strawberries and drizzled strawberry confection over a pile of whipped cream. Having only a few bites I decided it was good, typical not exceptional...pretty much what you could get at any store.

Oh, one other thing...the bar nuts that they serve. Out of this world!!! Regular peanuts but with a cracked pepper and lime coating that made for an addictive taste. Very good.


11:30am at the Fairmont Winnipeg and I wander into the Velvet room while looking for a place to work before I catch my flight out.
Greeted by a friendly and professional waitress who is forewarned of my intention to stay for awhile, she takes my drink order. Being 11:30am, I decided that my usual double may be too much for the time of day, and opted for a single. The waitress explained the lunch special and hurried off to grab my drink. The ambiance here is that of modern elegance and the music playing in the background is trendy, mellow and just loud enough to add to the ambiance. After looking at the menu which is filled with light food fair, I decide upon the Baker’s Dozen Adobo Chicken Wings. You probably wonder why chicken wings? Well SJ and I have been in this lounge a few times this week and every time we have opted for something different, and seeing as SJ makes the best wings I have ever tasted I didn’t want to get the wings here. This being said, as we have been soooo busy and between places SJ has not had the opportunity to make chicken wings in quiet sometime, so I am CRAVING wings...thus I succumb to ordering them when he is not around... =P As the place was empty with only one other patron seated, my drink arrived swiftly and my order taken.

Arriving quickly the first bite of my wings was surprising. The chicken was tender and juicy, not spicy, like one would imagine...quiet enjoyable. Garnished with carrot sticks and celery this dish was an adequate size and perfect to nibble on while I remain at the lounge for my extended stay. Could it have been my craving for wings that made this taste so good? I doubt it..... Let me be clear, these are not your typical wings, not doused in sauce, but rubbed with spice and accompanied with a rich blue cheese dressing. They were far from spicy, and had an almost sweet aromatic flavour to them.

Although the lounge got very busy for the lunch crowd, with almost every table filled, my waitress still working alone, managed to effectively tend to everyone and bring me another drink.

Almost 2 hours into my seating in the lounge the place slowed down a bit and I debated internally on ordering desert...not because I was hungry, but just because I was tiring of drinking and had been eyeing two of the deserts listed on the menu from the first day we walked in for drinks... when prompted if I wanted another drink, I opted for a latte and a vanilla cheese cake... had to get a desert and sober up a bit before my next round of drinks with SJ. The vanilla cheesecake was presented very well with pieces of strawberries and drizzled strawberry confection over a pile of whipped cream. Having only a few bites I decided it was good, typical not exceptional...pretty much what you could get at any store.

Oh, one other thing...the bar nuts that they serve. Out of this world!!! Regular peanuts but with a cracked pepper and lime coating that made for an addictive taste. Very good.

Overall experience was great. I did not feel rushed, the waitress was friendly and accomodating and the atmosphere good.

Location visited: 2 Lombard Place

Ratings:
Ambiance: Contemporary
Cuisine: American
Presentation: Above Average
Price: $20/serving
Value: Average




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Hamilton Beach Grill: Vancouver BC

Out for dinner with a couple of friends and they suggest the Hamilton Street Grille. Coinciding with the annual “Dine out Vancouver” event, we decide to give it a shot. Now if any of you have participated in Dine out Vancouver, it’s a local opportunity to taste the best cuisine that Vancouver has to offer at affordable prices. There are many restaurants that participate, and the Hamilton Beach Grille was one of them this year.

Most participating restaurants will also offer their regular menu as well, in the event that you don’t find anything off the special menu to your liking. Having been told by our friends who were accompanying us that it was one of their favourite restaurants we decided to give it a shot. The restaurant’s design was funky and eclectic with open beamed ceilings, and soft lighting which added to the overall charm of the establishment.

SJ and I, having reviewed the dine out menu, decided to order from the regular menu...I mean isn’t the premise of this blog so we can give the “man on the street” review? That wouldn’t be possible ordering from the Dine Out Vancouver menu knowing it should be the best of the best, specially prepared to entice return visits...plus nothing quite jumped out at either of us (lol). For appies we chose phyllo prawns and black and blue ahi tuna. These were presented well and tasted perfect. The prawns accompanied with mascarpone, crab, sun-dried tomato stuffing and a roasted garlic tomato sauce, was succulent and very enjoyable. The Ahi Tuna seared rare accompanied with wasabi and ponzu sauces, was equally enjoyable and these two appies set a very high expectation for our entrees. I decided on Cavatappi (a spiral pasta) with house-made chorizo sausage covered with a tomato cream sauce, while SJ choose the Mushroom Risotto, which (as described in the menu) came accompanied with braised leeks, parmesan cheese and truffle butter. SJ was rather unimpressed to discover zucchini pieces and onions scattered throughout the dish when it arrived...which were not mentioned in the menu nor mentioned by our waitress (who, to her credit was on her first day of work...so we won’t mention how disjointed the service was and just assume she has improved or moved onto another establishment).

The Mushroom Risotto although cooked perfectly was bland and not nearly as creamy as SJ would have expected. This dish came topped with deep fried onion frazzles which SJ claims made the dish bearable. My pasta, which was overcooked, lacked sauce. The dish was largely unimpressive, sausage dry, and also overcooked. Now I may be picky, but I sort of expect pasta to come with some sauce. This was quite reminiscent of pasta that had been cooking too long, along with a sauce reduction. If that’s what they were going for, they succeeded.... SJ and I were rather disappointed as the appies were so great...obviously we both chose mains that left something to be desired.

For desert we were convinced to try their Ginger Bread pudding....and we were glad. I am not a fan of ginger bread, but this dish, served warm and sprinkled with ginger then topped with ice cream was absolute heaven. SJ and I devoured it without hesitation.

The overall experience had highs and lows. The appies amazing, the mains disappointing and the desert heavenly. We may visit this establishment again to test out other mains, but with Vancouver being a city with so many chefs, amazing and surprising restaurants, we may not get around to it. There’s a lesson to be learned here in that exact vein. With the decline of service levels as a whole, and in a competitive landscape such as most urban centers are, you really only get one shot to impress, or conversely, disappoint. Something to keep in mind.

Location visited: 1009 Hamilton Street

Ratings:
Ambiance: Contemporary
Cuisine: American
Presentation: Average
Price: $20/serving
Service: Average
Value: Average




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