The Manse (Prince Edward County)

Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2017 by

If you’re fortunate enough to score a room at the Manse while staying in Prince Edward County, consider paying the extra $55/person to experience a private meal, which is only available to the inn’s guests. Served in the dining area on the main floor or outside by their water feature when the weather’s nice, it’s an opportune way to enjoy a four-course meal without leaving the comfort of the inn. If you’ve picked up a great bottle of wine while travelling around the County, they also offer corkage for $15/bottle.

The website describes the experience as “going to Gramma’s house”. No offence to my grandmothers, but aside from the generous portion sizes, I would never get the intricately plated dishes that Chef Christopher Wylie creates. The salmon gravlax arrives formed into a rose with apple slices for leaves. The rim of spices along the edges of the lightly cured fish added interest above the typical sweet and salty taste.


A simple but refreshing citrus arugula salad followed dressed in house poppy seed dressing. Kathleen, inn keeper of the Manse, explained that they strive to buy local whenever possible. In this case, the sheep’s milk feta used in the salad was sourced from Black River Cheese, a local cheesemaker, and was salty and creamy.


The rack of lamb was a substantial portion with four pieces along with plenty of braised carrots, roasted sun chokes, and roasted potatoes. The lamb was cooked wonderfully, rare enough without being bloody and the “lamb condiment” (a thick date, mint and horseradish paste) was fantastic … how does something start out sweet and innocent, only to end with a sharp kick? My only suggestion is to go lighter on the salt with the roasted starches, as after having a sun choke your taste buds become numb to the subtleties of the port shallot beef jus.


After so much food, the lighter rhubarb crisp was a good choice for dessert. However, since I didn’t receive much of the buttery cinnamon crumble the overall dessert was pucker inducing given there wasn’t much sugar in the rhubarb. Luckily, after letting the vanilla ice cream melt and mix into the warm rhubarb, the dessert became tastier.


Dinner arrives at a leisurely pace and exudes County charm. It’s fancy but friendly and being able to walk back to your room after too much food and wine is a plus. If you can stop yourself from eating all the lamb or steak, save a piece for Baxter (the Manse’s friendly four-legged friend). After all, you receive enough of it, and seeing the excited wag of Baxter’s tail makes for such a great ending to a meal.

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
How To Find Them
 Location: Picton, Canada
 Address: 10 Chapel Street
 Website: http://themanse.ca/

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Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

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Other Gastro World posts similar to this:
  • Drake Devonshire
  • Norman Hardie Winery

Hurry before Niagara's Sip and Sizzle month is over (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 by

On weekends in May, Niagara-on-the-Lake is getting tastier as they host their annual Sip & Sizzle event. Twenty four wineries across the region offer a signature grilled dish with wine pairing. Purchase their wine pass ($54.24) or designated driver’s version that includes a non-alcoholic drink ($31.64) and you’re entitled to a taste of food and drink at each of the participating wineries.

With no one wanting to be a designated driver (why miss out on the fun?), my husband and I solicited the services of a local Niagara transportation company to drive us around for a day. We ended up at ten wineries and certainly got our fill of food and drinks.

Since Peller Estates was one of the first stops, we were spoiled by the full-sized wild boar sausage – you’re not leaving hungry. The gaminess of the wild boar was mellowed with grainy maple Dijon mustard and the salty crispy shallots were an excellent addition. With an equally generous pour of the 2015 Private Reserve Gamay Noir ($19.95), which pairs nicely with the meatiness of the dish, we could have stayed at the winery longer if they had tables to lounge in.


Two Sisters also featured a sizeable cod potato fritter with their 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($34). Both the crisp citrusy wine and salty warm fritter were good on their own, but together the wine’s acidity was a tad sharp and caused an almost bitter fishiness to occur. To be fair, the wine did go better with the grilled zucchini, tomato and basil salad – so I’d suggest having the wine and salad first, leaving the cod fritter by itself to end.


On the other hand, Château des Charmes had the most optimal pairing, in my opinion. Their 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95) was not quite as tart and mellow in a refreshing way. The creaminess of the citrus aioli on the cold sweet grilled shrimp and the strong herbs in the shoot and sprout salad went nicely with the light wine.


The participating wineries are a diverse mix: from the massive well known Jackson-Triggs to the new Small Talk there’s vineyards to discover whether you’re a beginner to the region or visited in the past.

For larger groups, Jackson-Triggs is definitely a good choice as the brightly lit tasting room holds long communal tables where guests can sit and talk. Also, having three people at the station helped ensure you received a glass of their 2016 Grand Reserve Riesling ($18.95) and takeout container of the beef tataki with soba noodles in no time. It’s hard to describe, but I found their wine sweet without feeling sugary and matched the teriyaki soy used on the cold lightly seared beef. The soba was also a good choice and would have been even better if the noodle weren’t overcooked – luckily there were plenty of vegetables to keep it crunchy.  


Despite having been on a handful of professionally and self-led tours, there were still wineries I visited for the first time including Two Sisters, Rancourt, and Small Talk.

Although I don’t agree that the 2013 Small Talk “Goodnight” Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot ($14.95) would be a good Netflix and pizza drink – the tomato sauce would likely be too acidic for the oaky wine – the winery did nail their pairing. The charcuterie cup was small but mighty in terms of flavours – the crunchy cracker filled with sweet grape jelly, a gherkin, salami and cheese. Yum, I could have polished through at least four of these.


For children, Small Talk’s winery must look like storybook wonderland with the Dr. Seuss like tasting room, pink archway, and bright tram parked by the vineyard. For adults, the wine and cider makes all visits magical.


Rancourt’s friendliness is what won me over – that and their warm braised BBQ chicken wing really hit the spot. Normally, I wouldn’t have thought to pair saucy chicken wings with wine, but their 2013 Signature Cabernet Merlot Blend Noble Rouge ($14.80) really holds up against the stronger sauce – oh and make sure to take a whiff of it before sipping as it has such a lovely essence.


Pondview’s 2016 Carnet Franc Rosé ($16.95) also had an awesome aroma … the wine exudes a strawberry essence. Their Asian slaw dog, although nowhere near the size of Peller’s sausage, was still a sizeable bite, with half a chicken dog topped with a crunchy hoisin lime slaw. Don’t pick off the large pieces of cilantro, it goes really well with everything – who would have thought to use cilantro on hot dogs?


I even discovered something new while making return visits given the Sip and Sizzle tastings were often held in areas separated from the traditional tasting rooms. The best location goes to Ravine Vineyards: guests head downstairs to cellar’s private dining area where curing meats hang in a climate controlled room and barrels filled with aging wine line the walls.


Ravine’s 2015 Cabernet Rosé ($22) leans more towards the red front, but is light enough to still go well with the nutty grain salad. The nugget of harissa grilled chicken thigh could be spicier, but the hot chicken and cold salad was a nice combination. I overhead it’s a special menu item you can’t even get at their restaurant.


Similarly, a return visit led me to the upstairs tasting room of Pillitteri Estates, which overlooks their vineywards. Their 2015 Debbie Travis Pinot Grigio ($15.95) was a tad sweet for my taste, but was appropriately paired with a caramelized grilled peach and burrata crostini. The piece of candied prosciutto was an excellent addition adding a slight saltiness to the bite.


Of all the wineries, Stratus is the one I wish my home could resemble. Their sleek architectural design makes me want to turn into a minimalist and they even had a cool special addition bottle on display – sadly this wasn’t the wine being featured at the event.


Nonetheless, the 2013 Kabang Red ($24.75) was really good, enough for us to get two bottles, and has a surprising twist. Despite being sweet and fruity to the nose, it tastes rich and oaky without being overpowering. Just watch out, the nut and spice mixture on top of their grilled caponata and salsa verde crostini is messy. I made the mistake of trying to bite through the bread … Kabang, the nuts flew everywhere.


Don’t worry, with so many to choose from, you have the entire month to visit. So, break it up into a weekend or even a handful each week … although wouldn’t it be fun to try to fit in 24 tastings all in one day?

Disclaimer: The Sip and Sizzle passes were provided on a complimentary basis.Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
 
How To Find Them
 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada

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Drake Devonshire (Prince Edward County)

Posted on Monday, May 22, 2017 by

In Prince Edward County, the opinions about the Drake Devonshire are mixed – it’s a nice place to hangout (in an area where there’s not a lot of bars or places close early) but it feels too “Toronto”. In fact, locals are baffled by why Torontonians want to escape to the county just to hang out in the city again. To be fair, the venue is nothing like the multi-floor Drake Hotel downtown or the retro Drake 150 in the financial core. To start, the sprawling building overlooks the lake and the décor is lighter and whimsical. For another, the food is much better than the Drake Hotel.

The asparagus almondine ($14) is a simple starter, the spears of asparagus lightly roasted and topped with slivers of toasted almond in brown butter. A squeeze of lemon adds a hit of acidity, but otherwise the nut and vegetable are the prominent flavours. It’s a little plain as a starter, and works better as a side.


Their warm dandelion Caesar ($14) is on the other side of the spectrum - packed with flavours: the slight bitterness of the dandelion, garlicky dressing, a faint umami essence from the bonito flakes, sweetness from the dry crispy pork floss pieces (in lieu of bacon) and salty pecorino sprinkles. It’s tasty, but best shared as an entire dish of the Caesar would be fairly overpowering.


Perhaps, the sole starter, I tried, that could stand on its own is the salt cod pierogies ($12). The chewy soft dough was a tad thick, but there was plenty of salt cod mashed potatoes inside. I’ll admit, the slightly fishy filling requires getting used to, but once you add some of the tangy crème fraiche or thick apple sauce, it gets tastier.
  

Overall, the Devonshire prepares fish pretty well. The trout’s ($28) skin could be crispier, but the meat was moist and flakey. Being an oilier fish, it was properly paired with a refreshing vegetable medley consisting of roasted red peppers, zucchini, and green onions. Once in a while, you’ll also get a sour crunch from the fermented green beans.


For me, the lamb rigatoni ($24) incorporated too many frou-frou items - hen of the woods mushrooms, pine nuts, and spruce? Sure, I guess the spruce and the mint will help alleviate any of the lamb’s gaminess, but all together the elements detracts from having the rigatoni become that rich homey dish that’s notorious with pasta.


Although I found the Prinzen chicken ($27) dry (it could have been the piece of breast I cut from the side), my friend found it was cooked well. For me, it was the saffron spaetzle that stole the show: soft and chewy with a well toasted crust – exactly what I crave with this German pasta side dish.


You won’t leave hungry with an order of the pork schnitzel ($26) – I lost count of how many pieces were actually included with the dish. To be fair, I wouldn’t classify it as schnitzel as the slices were way too thick. If they’re named breaded pork cutlets with honey mustard, it would be more accurately described.


The truffle and cheese fries ($11) were okay – it’s hard for fries to be terrible, but the Devonshire could ensure they arrive hotter and there’s more truffle oil if you’d classify these as “fancy fries”. Meanwhile, the hakuri turnips ($9) were surprisingly good – the mini root vegetables remained crunchy having been lightly poached and then sweetened with burnt honey.


Drake did not save the best for last … the tiramisu ($10) and lemon meringue tart ($10) were merely passable. Although they were plated nicely, the desserts taste like something found in a buffet – and we’re not talking the one at the Bellagio here. The lemon meringue had a nice toasted top, but the lemon custard was thick and almost plastic-like, while the tiramisu so heavily orange flavoured in lieu of espresso.


For being in a location where guests may be visiting to celebrate occasions, the Drake Devonshire certainly doesn’t treat these events with much care. In town for a bachelorette, my friend informed the host about the celebration and asked for a bottle of wine to be brought to the table as a surprise (a present from a friend who couldn’t attend) and to do something festive for the dessert. Neither worked out as planned: our waiter came by to tell us the wine requested wasn’t available (in front of the bride, so any surprise element was ruined) and her dessert came without fanfare. Note 1 to Drake’s management: please set-up some sort of communication system between staff members (hosts, waiters, and the kitchen are a team).

They tried to make up for this by comping her dessert and giving us tickets to use at the photo booth. Only when we went to take the pictures, another staff member came by to hush us as there is a guest room located right beside the booth. Really, why would a manager appease disappointed diners by giving them something that they can’t use freely and could potentially make another guest’s stay worse? Note 2 to Drake’s management: make sure your “make it right” solutions actually serve their purpose.


Maybe the County natives have it right – sure the Drake Devonshire has a ping pong table and funky artwork – but can’t you get that back in the city? If you’re looking for a place to hang out and have a drink after dinner, the restaurant is an ideal place. But, if you really want the County charm of laid-back hospitality, you may need to head elsewhere.

Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10
How To Find Them
 Location: Wellington, Canada
 Address: 24 Wharf Street

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Drake Devonshire Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Maezo Restaurant & Bar (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2017 by

Maёzo opened two months ago and already the venue has hosted a number of birthday and corporate events. Their spacious open-concept dining room with fold away windows is certainly conducive for large groups, but the well-spaced tables and booths also allow for intimate dinners – I, for one, am glad to not hear neighbouring conversations. Owner, Amit Sukhwani, wants patrons to be comfortable (thanks to his history of hospitality from Aruba) and is bringing to Canada the flavours of India with a twist.


For example, for mac ‘n’ cheese lovers, their masala macaroni ($8) will hit the spot. It’s not as sinful as the typical mac ‘n’ cheese, but the masala sauce still incorporates enough cream to make it satisfying, without being too heavy. The sauce has a manageable level of spiciness and is balanced out by the tomato’s acidity. Sharing is encouraged as the appetizer is substantial – it could even work as a main. Amit laughs when I comment on the size of the bowl, he agrees it’s a generous portion and does so to ensure no customer leaves hungry.


The monsoon basket ($12) arrives filled with crispy pakoras encapsulating a variety of vegetables within the batter - spinach, onion, potato and carrots from what I could make out. They’re dropped in oddly shaped balls allowing for a bunch of jutting edges creating more crispy surface space. The appetizer arrives with the traditional sweet and sour tamarind chutney, but if you order the lamb, they are go equally well with the chimichurri sauce.


Although I enjoyed all the accompaniments with the lamb chops ($28) – the spicy rice is like “dirty rice” to another level and the chimichurri a cross between the tangy Argentinian variety and the spicy Indian mint chutney – the actual lamb is merely decent. The meat is rubbed in a nice medley of spices, but needs to be saltier. Moreover, the thick slices combined with the bone located in the middle of the chop means the centre arrives rare and makes it difficult to cut with a regular dinner knife.


I generally don’t like butter chicken – often it’s too creamy or just tastes like tomato sauce. So, when I took a bite of my husband’s butter chicken ($18) I was pleasantly surprised with the well-balanced sauce. The family recipe the dish is based on doesn't go too crazy with the cream, instead also incorporating various spices to give it interest. Moreover, the cubes of chicken breast are juicy and tender. The gravy goes especially well with the spicy South-Indian tomato rice accompanying the lamb, Maёzo should consider having an “upgrade” option for those who want an extra flavor bomb. 


Amit explains that Maёzo, in Sindhi, means fun – a feeling he hopes guests visiting the restaurant will experience. The cheerful Top 40 pop songs that play throughout the dining room certainly creates a jovial atmosphere. Their weekday specials may also help - on Monday to Friday (from 4-7pm), the restaurant has $5.99 drink specials (bottled beer or a glass a house wine) and appetizers are 10% off. It’s a great opportunity to gather a group of friends and head to their central downtown location for a night of maёzo.

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 67 Richmond Street West

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:


Maezo Restaurant & Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

La Carnita Eglinton (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2017 by

As an establishment you have to decide: are we going to be a full-service restaurant or casual walk-in? Once you start taking reservations and proceed to warn patrons about the 15-minute grace period and two hour seating limit, you’ve slated yourself into the full-service category. It also means you need to spring the extra minimum wage hours to hire a host or hostess.

Upon arriving at La Carnita, we awkwardly waited at the empty hostess stand. After two food runners passed us with no acknowledgement and a line of other diners started forming, my husband approached the bartender to inquire about a host, only to be told that they have one and to just go back and wait.

A waitress passes dangerously close to us, takes one look and decides to walk back the other way. Finally, after a few minutes, someone who must work downstairs at Good Fortune (he’s in a tropical shirt while La Carnita staff swathed in black) stops and greets us. He’s cheerful and advises that they all “share” in the job – oh poor delusional soul, you most certainly do not.  That same waitress that avoided the line in the first place, suddenly approaches and offers to show us to our table if the other guy tells her where to seat us. Take a deep breath, stay calm…

From there the service improved, the waitress that seated us quickly took our drink orders and provided good suggestions. The Peach Don’t Kill My Vibe ($13) she liked was rather refreshing filled with fruity flavours that hid all hints of alcohol. Whereas, the Spring It On ($13) we chose ourselves had none of the promised St. Germain or cucumber - it’s really best classified as gin with simple syrup.

Yet, when I wanted another cocktail and stopped one of the runners, I was informed he couldn’t take the order and would go find someone else. After five minutes and no follow-up, I decided to skip the second drink, our food would be finished soon anyways.

Having ordered practically all the tacos, their fish ones reign supreme. The best was the grilled fish tostada ($9.95) which starred a thick slice of perfectly cooked Arctic char; it was still jewel-tone in the centre. The light smokiness from the grill went well with the sweet corn salsa and hint of Diablo's Fuego hot sauce in the background. But, it’s messy. The crispy tostada has no chance of holding up against the heavy fish – consider replacing it with a regular tortilla wrap instead.


The In Cod We Trust ($5.79) combines the typical deep fried battered fish with crunchy red cabbage and green apple slaw. There’s plenty of flavours thanks to the lime crema and “Voltron” sauce (a spicy soy drizzle). Sure, fried fish tacos are practically a staple item at every family restaurant in Toronto, but La Carnita does them well.


Although it was included in the menu description, I wasn’t expecting the coconut milk used in the tostada de ceviche ($7.95). Hence, at first bite was thrown off by the sour cream taste and consistency of the ceviche. In hindsight, it wasn’t terrible, incorporating plenty of cubed tuna and bits of tomato and cucumber. It just didn’t look appetizing and if it weren’t for the crispy shell, the mixture would be way too soft.


I’d go back for the pollo frito ($5.79), a thick crispy chicken tender smothered in a nutty sweet mole, hot sauce, crispy green cabbage, and refreshing pico de gallo. It was way better than the carne asada ($6.79) which despite having great flavours, I still couldn’t get over the odd soft texture of the meat (too much powdered tenderizer perhaps?)


The daily special ($5.25) wasn’t any better. That evening featuring pulled pork with mango salsa. The spicy salsa was delicious, but even with all the flavours couldn’t save the terribly dry pork.


If you craving meat, I’d go for the ancho BBQ wings ($15.95), the crispy edges smothered in a poblano lime barbeque sauce that’s thick and flavourful, almost like mole. With seven to an order, there’s also plenty to go around.  


By the end, I wasn’t sure whether to stay for a slice of the Sweet Jesus ice cream cake or just grab something on the way home. Our waitress was awfully friendly and the food came at a respectable pace. Yet again, we did have less than half an hour left to the strict two-hour seating limit. In the end, we decided to leave while things were still good. 

On the way out, sure enough, another line had formed by the hostess stand. Poor patrons, where’s the delusional guy in the tropical shirt when you need him?

Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 130 Eglinton Avenue East

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

La Carnita Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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