Hello Dear Ones!

January 2011 held a myriad of dinner meetings for me with no time left over for both Mike and I to go out for a meal together … just the two of us. However, we’re already remedying that by planning a dinner out alone next weekend …

Here are a list of the restaurants I was fortunate to experience in the past few weeks:

Milestones: Dinner in the downstairs conference/banquet room was set pleasantly for a crowd of 30 people. Rather than a pre-selected buffet, we were each blessed with being able to choose off the menu. Having been out to a breakfast/training that same morning (see White Spot below) I was less than hungry and wanted something light to eat. The atmosphere was relaxed, service exceptional, menu delightfully varied and the presentation impeccable! I wisely chose the goat cheese with roasted beet salad: generous portions of goat cheese with sumptuous amounts of golden beets julienned and roasted to perfection. The maple glazed pecans added a sparkle to the taste buds and the eye in their appeal, layered on a bed of spring greens. The salad was then drizzled with a light ‘house’ dressing and presented on a large platter with a splatter of balsamic roue for visual effect. Yum!

White Spot: Breakfast out with colleagues … arriving at the restaurant at 7am … many of us still bleary eyed and looking for coffee to wake us up fully! The gathering was to be a meeting and training  session;  for each of us it was practical use of our time. With busy schedules all, this arrangement seemed appropriate. We had one server for the group and she handled our individual and unique food requests with graceful aplomb and each order was met precisely to our specifications. Breakfast is always my favourite meal out, having eaten at many restaurants – both mom and pop places as well as many food chains – over my lifetime. This particular food chain had a wide variation of menu – both traditional as well as some tasty surprises. I chose one such surprise:

NEW Giardino Satisfying and flavourful, this omelette is filled with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, sweet bell peppers, spinach, scallions and cheese and topped with our house-made Arrabbiata sauce.

Delicious!

The Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa: Look below. If this doesn’t tempt the taste buds, not much will! Our particular buffet selection was a wee bit less affluent than this one, but not by much. The selection was varied, well presented, still nicely hot, and decorated to appeal to the eye and the taste buds – especially the curry and coconut milk-baked halibut – a melt-in-the-mouth-with-eyes-closed-to-savour-the-flavour experience!

Dinner Buffets
Victorian Dinner Buffet

Salads
Medley of Gourmet Salad Greens
Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette & Creamy House Dressing
Yukon Gold Potato, Sundried Tomato, Gerkins, Olives,
Mustard Seed Dressing
Chick Peas, Sweet Peas & Bell Pepper Salad
Coleslaw, Apple & Pecan Salad, Buttermilk Cilantro Lime dressing
Tomato, Red Onion, Artichoke, Goat Cheese, Pesto Salad
Asian Style Salad, Chicken, Snow Peas, Water Chestnuts,
Sesame Soya & Ginger

Cold Platters
Smoked Turkey, Black Forest Ham, Pastrami, Salami & Prosciutto Ham
Grainy Mustard, Pickles & Olives
Smoked Trout, Smoked Mackerel, BBQ Salmon Fillets
Horseradish Cream, Capers & Lemon

Hot Items
(Choice of 2)
Sautéed Chicken, Penne Pasta, Chorizo, Shiitake, Spinach, Lemon Caper Cream
Roasted Chicken, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, White Wine Tarragon Sauce
Baked Wild BC Salmon Fillet, Beet & Orange Salsa, Orange Ginger Cream
Roasted Pork Loin, Spiced Cocoa Rub, Sautéed Apple & Cranberry, Calvados Jus
Coconut Crusted Baked Halibut, Curried Lemon Cream, Toasted Almonds
Roasted Alberta Beef Striploin, Mushroom Medley, Green Peppercorn Red Wine Jus
Panko & Herb Crusted Baked Snapper Fillet, Chili & Red Bell Pepper Sauce
Maple & Juniper Glazed Baked Ham, Golden Raisins, Rum Scented Grilled Pineapple
Chef’s Selection of Vegetables & Appropriate Starch

Dessert
Assorted Tortes, Cakes, French Pastries, Tarts & Mousses
Domestic & Imported Cheese Platter
Sliced Fresh Fruit Platter
Bread Rolls & Butter
Freshly Brewed Coffee & Specialty Teas

The Delta Ocean Pointe location was another dinner/training meeting and the ballroom was huge, tables round to seat 10 at each one. There were challenges for some to be able to see around posts to catch the slide presentation at the one end of the room. Other than that, the staff were silently effective and the evening was a productive success.

That’s it for this month’s post. Do get out to support and enjoy the local fare in your own community!

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

P.S. You can read more of our Food posts and restaurant reviews here.