Taste of Burlington
Steve and I are going to try the Taste of Burlington this year. The premise is that several restaurants participate in a fixed menu option ($20 for lunch; $30, $35 or $40 for dinner). It’s a particularly good deal if you like eating out but sadly only runs for two weeks (Feb 22 to March 14) but they did advertise it in our paper, which was nice. One of the grossest things I saw was at Spencers – looks a lot like a twist on Banoffee pie but gone horribly wrong: “Date and Banana sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and goat curd.” I try not to be prejudiced against new flavours, as I do love to experiment with cooking, but goat curd and date in toffee pudding with banana and butterscotch. It just seems too much in one dish, and with no chocolate!!!
We’ve never been to the Downtown Bistro & Grill (on Elizabeth Street) and their menu had the most options, especially for dessert (menu options listed below). I’m not sure we’d go back again for dinner but definitely for coffee and dessert after a nice walk by the lake. To start, they recorded our reservation for the wrong night so it’s a good thing I called to confirm! They were also sold out of Stella and only had NickleBrook on tap, which he doesn’t like, so Steve ordered a Chilean Merlot – tasted like antifreeze. My Shiraz was good though and Steve loved his dessert – crepes stuffed with fresh fruit and nutella. Might be something to try making at home?
Your Choice of Appetizer
Soup: Chef’s Daily Creation
-OR-
Salad – Pear & Fig: chilled mixed greens garnished with fresh pear, sundried cranberries, candied walnuts, stilton cheese, drizzled with mission fig port dressing
-OR-
The 441 Caesar: crisp romaine hearts tossed with freshly prepared roasted garlic dressing, crispy double smoked bacon, topped with parmigiano reggiano
-OR-
Peppercorn Shrimp: sauteed Black Tiger shrimp in a Madagascar green peppercorn Dijon cream sauce over grilled baguette (I ordered this one. It was good)
-OR-
Charcuterie: thinly sliced prosciutto, capicolla, bresaola, soppresatta, drizzled with olive oil served with grainy mustard and fresh baguette (Steve ordered this and didn’t like the meat so I switched with him – I thought it was great. A whole plate of sliced sausage, mustard and baguette. Add a slice of cheese and that’s a good lunch for me)
Your Choice of Entree
Sesame Crusted Seared Atlantic Salmon: fresh fillet rolled in black and white sesame seeds, pan flashed, topped with leek & lemon cream sauce, served with Saskatchewan wild rice and grilled asparagus (Steve had this one but only gave it a 6/10 because the fish was over done. Looked a lot like my dinner at Mom & Dad’s the night before but with better presentation, so I took a picture lol)
-OR-
10 oz. Veal Chop: lightly seasoned and grilled, topped with a wild mushroom hunter sauce, served with garlic mash and fresh vegetables
-OR-
Prosciutto Cordon Bleu: boneless chicken breast filled with Gruyere cheese and prosciutto, dusted with thyme scented panko crumbs, topped with a creamy garlic and spinach sauce, served with savoury roasted potatoes and sauteed mixed vegetables (I ordered this. Huge portion – had to bring half home!)
-OR-
Shrimp Risotto: tiger shrimp pan flashed with leeks, confit tomato, arugula, porcini mushrooms and lobster essence drizzled with white truffle oil
-OR –
Gorgonzola Penne: mild gorgonzola, fresh cream, sauteed leeks and double smoked bacon tossed with roasted walnuts and fresh penne
Your Choice of Dessert, Coffee or Tea included
Chocolate Cherry Brioche Bread Pudding
-OR-
Bourbon Pecan Pie (my first choice but it was a small portion)
-OR-
Crepe: filled with warm hazelnut, fresh fruit, topped with whipped cream (Steve gave this a 10/10)
-OR-
Berry Mousse
