It's just not worth it....you know...not making an effort to go to a restaurant you really want to, and instead eating where it is convenient. I am staying at the Marriott hotel in Victoria on business and it is pissing rain out...cold and dark. Granted, I can no longer drive at night, because my vision is crap in the dark...and I was too cold to walk anywhere.
Fire and Water is the name of the restaurant in the Marriott and the atmosphere is charming...it has a nice cozy feeling, with the large fireplace...and right now it is all decorated for Christmas, making the room feel even more lovely.
I have eaten here a few times (due mainly to laziness at the end of my work day...and the fact that I simply can't see at night) and have consistently been underwhelmed. Everything is just okay. However, the price point says it should be excellent. One glass of wine and an average dinner and the tab is over $40. Tonight I ordered their Fisherman's Hot Pot....which sounded much better than it was. Meant to be like a Cioppino, this version was quite bland and all of the fish seemed to be on the dry side. The broth could have used some real inventiveness...some fresh herbs perhaps....a zing, a zap....just something damn it.
I really wanted to try Brasserie L'ecole or any one of the myriad other wonderful dining establishments in Victoria...but alas...I had a full day...I am tired, and now full...with a crappy aftertaste of cardboard and bandaids (for some reason..not sure).
I am sitting by a window watching the leaves swirl around on the ground, and the branches of the trees shiver and shake...perhaps I made a good choice to stay put after all. I suppose sometimes comfort can triumph good food??? I hate myself for even writing that...but alas...tonight, its true.
Now I just have to make my way back upstairs to my cozy room...watch a little tube, dream a little dream and enjoy.
Showing posts with label Dining in Victoria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dining in Victoria. Show all posts
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Days 5 and 6
I didn't have a chance to write yesterday, because I am currently in beautiful Victoria for a business trip. I had the big boss men in from Toronto...so was fully booked yesterday with meetings/dinner and sleep before our big presentation today...which went very well I might add!
I got up to speak in front up about 50 of my clients...and although I LOVE public speaking, I was nervous as shit today and consequently couldn't catch my breath while talking....but I made my way through...and am looking forward to the next opportunity to speak..so I can learn how to calm my nerves....but I think that's a part of why I love doing it so much...the adrenalin rush...not many things give me that excited rush (maybe Disneyland or Sex....or Disneyland AND Sex...yes I know I am a grown woman...but Disneyland, in my opinion really IS the happiest place on earth..and I LOVE it!)
Anyway, watchin dietary restrictions while on a business trip is always a bit of a challenge...but I did pretty good. We are staying at the Sheraton Four Points in Victoria/Langford, which is fabulous! Normally I like to stay downtown..but needed to work out of Langford for the presentation and this was a great choice...its a new hotel and the staff has been very accommodating AND their restaurant is actually very good. It's what I would call "gourmet pub" style food. Excellent patio upstairs, fantastic selection of food and the menu actually denotes all of the CELIAC friendly dishes...they even have wheat free/gluten free breads...so this is a GREAT place to go if you have dietary restrictions. I've been here for two days now and eaten 3 meals and each was great. The jambalaya was awesome...spicy, and full of flavour loaded with chunks of meat and seafood...fruit and oatmeal for breakfast, and lunch was cedar planked salmon with roasted veg....I must recommend this spot for both the food and hotel...a great all in one package...good for business travel for sure.
Tonight was a bit more difficult as we went to a clients birthday party, and it was beautifully catered...however, it was sliders (aka mini beef burgers) which looked amazing (but I can't eat red meat at the moment either).....so I just snacked on raw veggies (so boring when you cant drown them in ranch dip) and dug into the fruit platter..and now I am eating a bag of almonds...not the most satisfying dinner...but what the heck...I stuck to it and had a lovely evening...so now I am going to take the rest of my night and Enjoy!!
I got up to speak in front up about 50 of my clients...and although I LOVE public speaking, I was nervous as shit today and consequently couldn't catch my breath while talking....but I made my way through...and am looking forward to the next opportunity to speak..so I can learn how to calm my nerves....but I think that's a part of why I love doing it so much...the adrenalin rush...not many things give me that excited rush (maybe Disneyland or Sex....or Disneyland AND Sex...yes I know I am a grown woman...but Disneyland, in my opinion really IS the happiest place on earth..and I LOVE it!)
Anyway, watchin dietary restrictions while on a business trip is always a bit of a challenge...but I did pretty good. We are staying at the Sheraton Four Points in Victoria/Langford, which is fabulous! Normally I like to stay downtown..but needed to work out of Langford for the presentation and this was a great choice...its a new hotel and the staff has been very accommodating AND their restaurant is actually very good. It's what I would call "gourmet pub" style food. Excellent patio upstairs, fantastic selection of food and the menu actually denotes all of the CELIAC friendly dishes...they even have wheat free/gluten free breads...so this is a GREAT place to go if you have dietary restrictions. I've been here for two days now and eaten 3 meals and each was great. The jambalaya was awesome...spicy, and full of flavour loaded with chunks of meat and seafood...fruit and oatmeal for breakfast, and lunch was cedar planked salmon with roasted veg....I must recommend this spot for both the food and hotel...a great all in one package...good for business travel for sure.
Tonight was a bit more difficult as we went to a clients birthday party, and it was beautifully catered...however, it was sliders (aka mini beef burgers) which looked amazing (but I can't eat red meat at the moment either).....so I just snacked on raw veggies (so boring when you cant drown them in ranch dip) and dug into the fruit platter..and now I am eating a bag of almonds...not the most satisfying dinner...but what the heck...I stuck to it and had a lovely evening...so now I am going to take the rest of my night and Enjoy!!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Heron Rock Bistro
I am currently on the Island for a work trip. I am over here every 6 weeks or so, visiting clients and enjoying the beautiful sites and sounds of what this gorgeous piece of land has to offer. I especially love coming over here when the weather is warm. I am in Victoria this trip, and a morning walk along the waters edge is a beautiful way to start the day.
I arrived on Wednesday morning to participate in a golf tournament at Arbutus Ridge in Cobble Hill....a very reasonably priced course...quite forgiving....aka I only lost 10 balls vs the 30 I normally do (can you tell I'm a pro! HA)
Last night I dined at a local bistro called Heron Rock...its been in the James Bay neighbourhood for 5 years and I met the owner last December at a party, his name is Ben Peterson...so as soon as I heard he was a chef...of course we talked food...and I liked his style...and the way he spoke about food...so naturally I HAD to try his place out.
Not much to look at from the outside....and you would never stumble upon it unless someone told you where it was...but the locals seem to keep it jam packed .....the inside still isn't much to look at....as my friend Aryn said, she wouldn't find it all that appealing during the day....but they dim the lights as the evening went on and it almost had a New Orleans type feel....fitting as apparently they have live jazz on the weekends.
The menu looked amazing...we started off with a litre of their house white....good for 1 glass...but too sweet after that, so we moved onto bubbles (always a winner in my heart). The menu and concept of the restaurant is French...but a very unpretentious French....the first part of the menu had your salads and appies...so we started off with the calamari that was cooked perfectly, tender and not too much breading at all....I hate those places (like Earls or any other chain food place for that matter...where all you are eating is the batter and wondering what the heck is on the inside)...this calamari is a must! Fresh house made bread to follow...and OMG, you have to go to this restaurant just to try the bread....my dining companions agreed instantly....this was amazing...brought fresh from the oven....the outside was delicate and flaky almost like a croissant...but the inside was soft and melt in your mouth....just go....and ask for an extra side of their whipped garlic/herb butter....we asked for seconds, but then retracted our request once the food came because the portions were huge!!!
So they have the coolest thing on their menu....a build your own plate concept...very tapas style....and very cool....they have a huge variety of mix n match....from individual fresh oysters to olives and everything in between. But the poutine also grabbed our eye...ahhhh so French....I have only tasted poutine once, in Montreal...and it is truly a sin, only to be had once a year....and when you see pulled pork poutine...well come on.....you have to try it....so we did....please do NOT order this for yourself - bring a friend or two...the portion is huge...and it is such a rich dish....don't wear your skinny jeans when ordering...but do order it, because it was delish. We also did a nice mix and match off the build your own plate....olives, 3 cheeses, duck confit, chilled salmon with house made crackers that were unbelievably tasty....Leslie Stowe Rain Water Crisps move aside!....I think the most expensive item on the tapa menu was the salmon at 7 bucks....but the portions you get of everything was very generous...we left quite a bit on our plates to say the least....but it was very fresh..and such a fun and relaxing way to eat and linger over a meal. The duck confit was a little on the salty side..but I love duck confit so it was still pretty good..
They have a feature pasta night every Thursday...3 different pastas to choose from, each sounding better than the last....a big bowl of pasta, their gorgeous bread and a glass of house wine for $19 bucks....I need to go back, just to try that out....along with all of the other items on the menu..... http://www.heronrockbistro.ca/ I am giving this place full grades....go, you must.
Enjoy!
I arrived on Wednesday morning to participate in a golf tournament at Arbutus Ridge in Cobble Hill....a very reasonably priced course...quite forgiving....aka I only lost 10 balls vs the 30 I normally do (can you tell I'm a pro! HA)
Last night I dined at a local bistro called Heron Rock...its been in the James Bay neighbourhood for 5 years and I met the owner last December at a party, his name is Ben Peterson...so as soon as I heard he was a chef...of course we talked food...and I liked his style...and the way he spoke about food...so naturally I HAD to try his place out.
Not much to look at from the outside....and you would never stumble upon it unless someone told you where it was...but the locals seem to keep it jam packed .....the inside still isn't much to look at....as my friend Aryn said, she wouldn't find it all that appealing during the day....but they dim the lights as the evening went on and it almost had a New Orleans type feel....fitting as apparently they have live jazz on the weekends.
The menu looked amazing...we started off with a litre of their house white....good for 1 glass...but too sweet after that, so we moved onto bubbles (always a winner in my heart). The menu and concept of the restaurant is French...but a very unpretentious French....the first part of the menu had your salads and appies...so we started off with the calamari that was cooked perfectly, tender and not too much breading at all....I hate those places (like Earls or any other chain food place for that matter...where all you are eating is the batter and wondering what the heck is on the inside)...this calamari is a must! Fresh house made bread to follow...and OMG, you have to go to this restaurant just to try the bread....my dining companions agreed instantly....this was amazing...brought fresh from the oven....the outside was delicate and flaky almost like a croissant...but the inside was soft and melt in your mouth....just go....and ask for an extra side of their whipped garlic/herb butter....we asked for seconds, but then retracted our request once the food came because the portions were huge!!!
So they have the coolest thing on their menu....a build your own plate concept...very tapas style....and very cool....they have a huge variety of mix n match....from individual fresh oysters to olives and everything in between. But the poutine also grabbed our eye...ahhhh so French....I have only tasted poutine once, in Montreal...and it is truly a sin, only to be had once a year....and when you see pulled pork poutine...well come on.....you have to try it....so we did....please do NOT order this for yourself - bring a friend or two...the portion is huge...and it is such a rich dish....don't wear your skinny jeans when ordering...but do order it, because it was delish. We also did a nice mix and match off the build your own plate....olives, 3 cheeses, duck confit, chilled salmon with house made crackers that were unbelievably tasty....Leslie Stowe Rain Water Crisps move aside!....I think the most expensive item on the tapa menu was the salmon at 7 bucks....but the portions you get of everything was very generous...we left quite a bit on our plates to say the least....but it was very fresh..and such a fun and relaxing way to eat and linger over a meal. The duck confit was a little on the salty side..but I love duck confit so it was still pretty good..
They have a feature pasta night every Thursday...3 different pastas to choose from, each sounding better than the last....a big bowl of pasta, their gorgeous bread and a glass of house wine for $19 bucks....I need to go back, just to try that out....along with all of the other items on the menu..... http://www.heronrockbistro.ca/ I am giving this place full grades....go, you must.
Enjoy!
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