Edmonton food

Summer Flavours are in at Original Joe's! [GIVEAWAY]

May 27, 2014

What do you like to eat in the summer? For me, the ideal summer meal is either a burger or something refreshing. And it has to be accompanied by a cold drink and a patio in the sun!

Original Joe’s summer menu is back and they want to send one of my readers a $50 gift card to celebrate summer! OJ’s summer menu includes grilled corn medallions, scallop and prawn ceviche in fresh-squeezed lime juice, tender P.E.I. mussels, kale and romaine salad tossed in an avocado and lime vinaigrette, and a bison burger served on a toasted brioche bun. And of course, new drinks like the Summer Fling cocktail made with Absolut vodka, berry puree, fresh basil and cucumber. The menu is available until August 31st.

I actually stopped by for lunch last week and was torn between trying the Bison Burger or the Chicken Tostada Salad. I ended up enjoying the burger on the patio under the sun and it was glorious! The burger was lean but still moist and flavourful, and my sides of homecut fries and a mixed salad completed the meal.


THE GIVEAWAY

One $50 Gift Card to Original Joes

To enter, tell me which summer menu item you're most interested in by commenting on this post. Then simply leave me your email address in the giveaway widget below. Please make sure you leave a valid email address, as this is how I will be contacting you.

**both must be completed in order to qualify**

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES

1. Follow Little Miss Andrea via Facebook
2. Follow me via Twitter (@littlmissandrea)
3. Tweet the following: "The @originaljoes summer menu is back! Enter to win a $50 GC from @littlmissandrea: http://t.co/AqzKjLcr4g #yegfood"
4. Follow me via Instagram (@littlmissandrea)

This giveaway is open to anyone 18+ years of age. You have until June 3rd 10PM MST to enter and the winner will be selected by random and be contacted via email. Good luck!

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outfit

Summer Sunshine

May 26, 2014


Soprano tank via Nordstrom | F21 Lace Skirt | AE Jean Jacket | Steve Madden Sandals
Salvatore Ferragamo Sunglasses | Clutch from HK | F21 Belt | Bangles: F21 & Ebay

Spring has finally chosen to stick around and Edmonton is hitting temperatures in the low 20s. What better to do than to shed all the layers and wear next to nothing? Just kidding, I will keep myself clothed. Over the winter months, I accumulated a ton of skirts in my wardrobe and never had the chance to wear them. I kept waiting and waiting for the weather to be half decent and spring just never came. Now, lucky for me I'll be torn between deciding what skirts to wear and what to wear them with. Hooray sunshine!

PS - like my Mexican tan?

Cafe

Late Night Snacking: Cafe de Tropika

May 22, 2014

It's 9:30PM on a weeknight in Edmonton and you're hungry. Where are you supposed to go? Most restaurants close around 9:00-10:00 and you don't want to be that person showing up half an hour before closing, prohibiting the kitchen from cleaning after dinner service. You want to be as healthy as possible, so McDonalds is out of the question. Where do you go?

Cafe de Tropika - 3040 Calgary Trail NW - Edmonton AB

I found myself looking for the answer to this question a while back and it was difficult to answer. Sure, there are restaurants and pubs that stay open a little later, but it's usually going to be something deep fried or be small plates that won't necessarily fill you without racking up a huge bill. This is where Hong Kong style cafes step in, and Cafe de Tropika came to my rescue one day.

Open until 11:00PM Monday through Thursday, 1:00AM Friday to Saturday, and until 10:00PM on Sundays, Cafe de Tropika could be an option in the south side of Edmonton when you're hungry and it's getting late. Diane, Teresa and I found ourselves there one night for a second dinner (I know, we are ridiculous) to check things out. We all ordered some of our favourite late night cravings off their comprehensive menu.

I ordered the Snow Cabbage and Shredded Duck Meat with Rice Vermicelli in Soup ($9). This is a HK style comfort food favourite of mine and Cafe de Tropika does a pretty good job with theirs. It's by no means as good as the one my mom makes but there's a good portion of duck meat amongst within the al dente vermicelli and snow cabbage. The saltiness of the preserved cabbage is balanced with some sweetness in the broth and the portion will definitely fill you up.

As a side I also ordered the Toast with Condensed Milk and Butter ($3). I have an obsession with condensed milk and when I'm in Hong Kong I order this dish all the time. At Cafe de Tropika, some of the condensed milk oozes out from between the pieces of toast, but the toast itself remains pretty dry. There's not enough condensed milk in this toast for an addict like me.

Diane ordered the Fried Tofu with Spicy Salt and Pepper ($6). The deep fried tofu pieces came out crispy, golden, and were seasoned quite well. A kick of heat was provided by the chili flakes, and some additional flavour from the sprinkling of chopped green onion. Although it is a little greasy, I love having deep fried tofu as a late night snack!

Last but not least, Teresa ordered the Beef Fried Ho Fan with Bean Sprouts ($11). This stir fried noodle dish is a favourite of mine when dining in HK style cafes. When cooked in a wok over high heat an almost burnt flavour gives this dish it's signature taste (see more in this post). Cafe de Tropika did a great job on this one as it wasn't overly greasy and the "wok air" flavour was present. Not to mention, it was a huge portion that could easily feed two people.

As a late night option, I like having Cafe de Tropika in the south side of Edmonton. I've been back a few times and will have to mention that the dishes can be hit or miss depending on who is in the kitchen. The prices are affordable given the amount of food that you are served, and most importantly, the restaurant is clean. By Edmonton standards the HK style food is pretty good, and I'd probably equate it to the same as the Golden Bee BBQ HK Cafe in the North end of the city. If you choose to stop by make sure you have debit or cash to pay, as they do not accept credit cards.

Have you been to Cafe de Tropika? Let me know about your experience!

Cafe de Tropika on Urbanspoon

Fashion

Firsts: Poppy Barley Design Event

May 20, 2014

First look, first buy, first vote.
All these are important aspects to an exclusive party.


Last week Poppy Barley held their first design event in Edmonton at Cory Christopher's Flagship Studio. With Jacek Chocolate Couture, Frickin Delights Donuts, and Steam Whistle Brewing on site to provide bits and bites, Poppy Barley sure knows how to throw an awesome party. Cory Christopher also provided fresh flowers for everyone to design a floral crown to wear and usher in the arrival of Spring. I got so excited making one and was pretty happy with my results - what do you think?

Exclusive designs and leather swatches were available for viewing and polling stations allowed attendees to voice their opinions about proposed designs. And let me tell you, there's a gorgeous sunrise confetti leather that you're not going to want to miss! Poppy Barley has been making huge strides in the footwear industry and I'm so glad to see that they're listening to customers and offering so many new combinations of made-to-measure footwear.

If you were not available to attend, keep an eye out for future events! The design event in Calgary is sold out, but there's a pop up shop happening on May 23rd. I've been told they'll be hosting another party in Vancouver - so look out for that one if you live in the area.

Shopping

Vacation-ready with Swimco

May 18, 2014

Before I jet-set off on my adventure to Mexico, Swimco invited me to drop by one of their stores so that I could get ready for my trip. Swimco is a well known swimwear retailer in Western Canada but prior to this trip I had never stepped foot in one of their stores. Crazy, right?

But it's because I've always been the type of girl that picks up a $30 bikini and is done with it. All that matters is the colour and pattern, and I'm sure I'm not alone! Specialty swimwear stores are by no means cheap, but after spending some time at Swimco I've realized the difference between low and high end swimwear.

As I walked into the store I was immediately greeted by one of the associates and asked what I was looking for. With so much product to look through, I was able to tell the associate what I was shopping for and she quickly gave me a run-down of different areas in the store before respectfully allowing me to browse. Being on a mission for the perfect swimsuit makes you want to look at everything, so if you're anything like me, set aside a good chunk of time in your day to shop!

After sifting through the racks I had chosen 3 different pieces to try out. Swimco's fit experts really know their stuff about swimwear, and I was so thankful to have their help that day. With each different swimsuit I was able to describe what I liked and disliked about the fit and style of each, and the fit experts would go out around the store to find me more options tailored to my preferences. They know the product inside and out, and what each different brand has to offer. They're not afraid to tell you if something looks bad, 'cause nothing is worse than not feeling confident in what you're wearing out on the beach or in the sun.

What started out as 3 swimsuits ended up being close to 15 that I tried on, and it was definitely a difficult decision to narrow it down to one. I never thought that I would ever be so picky about swimwear, but I've realized how important it is to get the right style and fit for your body. There are so many different styles available, and I was surprised to find that there is a wide range for price points. You can find separates for as little as $30 per piece, or they can run upwards of $200 depending on the brand and style.

In the end I did narrow it down to one piece and I couldn't have been happier with what I chose. Swimco carries product for women, men, and children of all ages and sizes. And it's not just swimwear either - cover ups, surf gear, hats, flip flops, you name it and they probably carry it. The fit experts at Swimco were so helpful and I don't think I would have been able to walk out of the store happy without them. All the employees in the store are knowledgeable, patient, and willing to help you find exactly what you're looking for. After all, Swimco's mission is to help you feel good half naked.

Want to know what bikini I ended up with? Stay tuned for another post with pictures and we'll talk swimwear trends for 2014!

Disclosure: Swimco provided me with a $100 gift card to shop for swimwear. Views expressed in this post are solely mine. I was not expected to feature my shopping experience, nor obligated to do so. This post is 100% my opinion, and as always, my priority is to you, the reader, to present an unbiased, thorough review.

Edmonton food

Host Edmonton 2014: May 22-24 [GIVEAWAY]

May 15, 2014

The inaugural Host Edmonton conference is coming to Edmonton next week - has anyone already purchased tickets? Having the chance to learn about the conference and meet Kevin Brauch back in March had me excited! The conference is primarily geared towards the hospitality industry, but Host Edmonton also wants to bring out home cooks to share the conference experience.

Host Edmonton is a combined trade, food, and educational show that puts you in the mix with top hospitality professionals, exposing you to trends, techniques and ingredients that are guaranteed to elevate your next home or restaurant hosting experience. The conference is open to all people with a passion for food and delivering great hospitality. It takes place May 22-24, 2014.

The conference kicks off on May 22 at 7PM at the Shaw Conference Centre where you can mix and mingle with celebrity chefs and treat yourself to some fine food and drinks! The Sheepdogs are playing that night, so it's going to be a ton of fun. Ryan Jespersen will host and guide you through a sampling of what the conference has in store to celebrate Host Edmonton’s premiere.

But I haven't forgotten about the conference itself. Over Friday and Saturday there are numerous sessions, demos, and keynotes that are led by some of Edmotnon's finest culinary talent and celebrity chefs alike. You can sit down and listen to one of your favourite Food Network hosts - it beats sitting in front of the TV and watching them, right? The full conference schedule can be viewed here.

So what does this have to do with you? I want you to join in on the fun with me at the conference! Follow the instructions below.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE GIVEAWAY

FIVE pairs of admission passes to the Host Edmonton kick off party
(7PM - 1AM, valued at $70 per pair)
*Note: sampling tickets are available for purchase at the event

ONE pair of two-day conference passes to Host Edmonton
(Friday/Saturday - your choice of sessions, valued at $400)
*Note: this does not include access to the Fine Wine Gala and the Prud’homme Certification

DETAILS

To enter, you must specify whether you'd like to attend the kick off party, conference, or both. Leave me your email address in the giveaway widget below. Please make sure you leave a valid email address, as this is how I will be contacting you.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES

1. Follow Little Miss Andrea via Facebook
2. Follow me via Twitter (@littlmissandrea)
3. Tweet about the giveaway and tag @HostEdmonton, @littlmissandrea & #yegfood
4. Follow me via Instagram (@littlmissandrea)
5. Leave a comment below telling me which session you would want to attend (Lineup here!)

This giveaway is open to everyone able to attend the conference from May 22-24. All entrants must be 18+ years of age or have guardian permission to enter. You have until May 20th to enter, and the winners selected by random and be contacted via email. All winners must confirm their attendance by May 21st 12PM MST or a new winner will be drawn. Good luck!

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Edmonton food

Eat Your Hart Out: Hart's Table & Bar

May 10, 2014

Whenever the Century Hospitality Group opens up a new restaurant, there's lots of buzz. With Hart's Table being the 8th restaurant to open under their direction, there are high expectations associated with the food and service. The use of social media prior to the restaurant's opening created a lot of excitement. Tweets including pictures of dishes and a daily countdown to the opening had me really curious, especially since they were only a five minute drive away from my house.

Hart's Table & Bar - 14229 23 Avenue - Edmonton AB

Opening in the residential area of South Terwillegar, Hart's Table and Bar joined nearby XIX Nineteen as a full service sit down restaurant. I popped by on a Monday evening to celebrate a friend's birthday and was surprised to find that they do not take reservations. The first come first serve basis wasn't too big of an issue for us at 7pm, but the restaurant was busier than I had expected it to be.

We decided to order a couple dishes to share so that we could sample and get a bit of a grasp of the offerings on the menu. There's a ton of variety, but there isn't a cohesive theme. The menu spans from Asian to Italian to Mediterranean and more, so it's hard to decide what you want to eat. We chose to start with the Beet Salad ($13): red & candy stripe beets, fresh baby greens, slivered almonds, goat cheese, honey balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was quite atypical of what I have come to expect and love about beet salads. For me, I prefer my salad to be predominantly sweet beets with savoury goat cheese to balance. Hart's version is comprised mainly of baby greens with a beet here and there, and the dressing is quite sour. While the beets were cooked well and had a natural sweetness, the sour flavours of the vinaigrette dominated the dish.

I have an obsession with shishito peppers and was very excited when I found out that Hart's Table was going to be offering them on their menu. These peppers are slightly spicier than your regular green bell pepper, but it's said that one in ten peppers is very spicy. And I can attest to that! I've had my fair share of spicy shishitos, so the Hart's Table Shishito Pepper Roulette ($9) is aptly named. However, the peppers that were served up with a sweet soy glaze was more than disappointing for me. The peppers were incredibly oily and overly sweet. The glaze sunk to the very bottom of the dish and hardened into a sticky mess which made them nearly inedible. Thankfully, from what I can gather, the dish has since been removed from the menu.

Next up was the Tuna Tataki ($16): fresh Albacore tuna, candy stripe beets, orange segments, sweet sambal. I had hoped to have this as a main since the price indicated to me that it should be a bit of a bigger portion, but I was shocked by how small the dish was when it arrived at the table. Price point aside, the tuna was very fresh and unnecessarily seasoned heavily with pepper. I enjoyed the fresh orange segments as they were very sweet and juicy, but the use of the sambal made the dish a little too sweet for my liking.

The birthday girl ordered the Fish Tacos ($16) for her main which came with fresh Albacore tuna. Definitely a different take on the traditional fish taco as the tuna served with this dish was lightly seared as a tataki would be. The taco was quite spicy, but the use of lettuce and cucumber for garnish in the taco really helped tone down the flavours. I'm not the biggest fan of hard shell tacos as I find them difficult to eat, and the menu didn't state that the dish would be presented with one so it was a little bit of an unwelcome surprise. The fries served on the side were crisp, but nothing to write home about. Again, from what I gather, this dish has since been removed from the menu.

Another dish ordered to the table was the Chancey's Famous Beef Dip ($18): grilled New York steak, sliced thin, caramelized onions, roasted mushrooms, swiss cheese, toasted garlic loaf, rich beef jus. All the sandwiches at Hart's Table are served with a side of 'scratch' soup, hand cut fries, house salad or the Parlour Caesar, and we chose to go with the soup. The beef dip was flavourful mixed with the sweet onions and jus for dipping, but we found the meat to be a tad tough. But the bread was soft with a crisp exterior, making it a pretty well rounded sandwich. The soup on the side, however, left something to be desired as we found it to be quite bland.

Last but not least, we ordered the Hart's Burger ($18): house ground 8oz Heritage Angus Beef, honey glazed brioche bun, Hart’s secret sauce, caramelized onions, classic cheddar, bacon jam, vine ripened tomatoes, fresh arugula, colossal dill pickle, duck fat fries. The burger patty had great flavour and most importantly, it wasn't dry. The bun was warm and soft, and the use of arugula gave this burger unexpected flavour that worked well. We were really looking forward to the side of duck fat fries but couldn't find that distinctive flavour. It was disappointing for us as we compared them with the regular fries that came with the fish tacos. Aside from a different seasoning, there wasn't a difference, but our server assured us that we were given the correct fries.

To end the evening we ordered the Salted Caramel Bread Pudding ($9) which came topped with a scoop of Pinocchio's vanilla bean ice cream. The dessert was very strong in cloves and nutmeg and full of raisins. It wasn't overly sweet which was nice, but I wouldn't have been able to eat the dessert without the scoop of ice cream on top. I found the bread pudding to be a bit on the dry side, so the ice cream gave it that much needed moisture and a little extra sugar.

The evening at Hart's Table had a lot of hits and misses. As I said previously, being part of a well known management group brings a lot of high expectations to the table. The evening was pleasant, but of the dishes we enjoyed, nothing particularly stood out for me. I think price point is definitely something that needs to be pointed out, as dining at Hart's Table is going to run on the expensive side. Appetizers and sandwiches average at about $15, while heavier main courses will set you back about $25. With dessert at $9 each, I'll let you add up the price for a three course meal for one person. You could argue that the restaurant is located in the wealthy suburbs of Edmonton, but I firmly believe that prices should always reflect the quality of dishes that are placed in front of you. It will take some convincing for me to return despite being located conveniently in my neighbourhood, but that isn't to say I won't. Hopefully the restaurant can continue to improve (as seen with the removal of some items on the menu) and grow in this part of the city.

Hart's Table & Bar on Urbanspoon

Coffee

Recap: Iconoclast Koffiehuis Grand Opening

May 07, 2014

On Saturday I found some time in my schedule to stop by for the grand opening of Edmonton's newest coffee digs, Iconoclast Koffiehuis. D'Elle Event & Design and Culina Catering partnered up with Iconoclast to host the party and I was excited to see what they had in store.

Iconoclast Koffiehuis - 11807 105 Avenue - Edmonton AB

As we walked into Iconoclast we were greeted with the sight of the grand coffee bar and a flute of champagne. After taking a quick walk around I was quite surprised that they were promoting the space as an event and wedding venue - something I never would have imagined! D'Elle Event & Design put together an elaborate table which proved that the right decor can transform any space into a celebratory environment. Everything about the table was gorgeous and I would absolutely love to host a quaint get together here. Culina Catering did a wonderful job serving up hors d'oeuvres (as always), and I loved the charcuterie table they put together with local cheeses and spreads.

Although coffee wasn't the star of the show that evening, I'll definitely be back to see what a typical day at Iconoclast is like and grab a cup of joe. Perhaps I can convince them to let me play around and roast some coffee beans? We'll see.

Iconoclast Koffiehuis on Urbanspoon

Manicure Monday

Manicure Monday: Live.Love.Carnaval

May 05, 2014

Mmmmmmonday! Hope everyone has been well since I left! I'm back from Mexico fully recharged and ready to take my final semester of my degree head-on. I will admit that I've got some post-vacation blues and wish I was still lying under the sun on the beach... But today is Cinco de Mayo and I'll be having a little fiesta of my own today with some fresh salsa, guacamole and tacos! Keeping the Mexican spirit alive!

While I was on vacation I brought a bright coral polish to wear. Live.Love.Carnaval is one of the shades from OPI's Brazil collection for Spring/Summer 2014, and I would argue that it's my favourite from the collection. It's a magenta leaning coral that is fun, flirty and just screams summer to me. The pictures don't show just how pretty it is, so you'll have to take my word for it! The formula is a bit streaky with the first coat, but a second one levels it out to give a smooth, shiny finish. I was able to run around, play in the sand and swim in the ocean for up to five days with a chip free manicure. And that to me is pretty impressive. So if you're in the market for a new coral polish, snatch this one up before it's gone!

Downtown

Round & Round: Tieless Tuesdays at La Ronde

May 04, 2014

Have you ever dined in a rotating restaurant? I for one have not, mainly because I can get terrible motion sickness even from the slightest movements. Edmonton has its own revolving restaurant inside the Chateau Lacombe called La Ronde, and it takes you on a 360 degree tour of the city in 88 minutes.

La Ronde - 10111 Bellamy Hill - Edmonton AB

Last month Linda organized a food blogger tweetup at La Ronde for a handful of us to experience their new Tieless Tuesdays feature menu. As we stepped out of the elevator, the live jazz band greeted us before we met the host who showed us to our table. Tieless Tuesdays started on April 8th of this year and runs every Tuesday featuring signature drinks, half price wine, and live jazz.

At each seat was a set menu with a variety of appetizers and entrees to choose from, many of which sounded delicious. Prices weren't reflected on the menu, but our server informed us that most appetizers run from $16-19 while the mains range $37-45. After making our dining decisions we were introduced to Sherry Parker, Director of Sales & Marketing for the hotel and the restaurant, Executive Chef Stephen Chung, and Pastry Chef Scott Parker. Chef Parker has been with La Ronde for over 10 years, while Chef Chung is new to the team. It'll be interesting to see how the menu evolves, as the current one was not put together by Chung.

My boyfriend and I were dining with our usual partners in crime, Diane and Teresa, which worked to our advantage as we sampled almost the entire menu. One of three appetizers on the menu was the Crab Cakes: succulent crab cakes, finished with sweet chili sauce and pea shoots. Crab cakes aren't the most appetizing food to look at, but I appreciated the colour added by the sauce and pea tendrils. The cakes were crisp, meaty, and allowed the fresh flavour of crab to shine through. The two cakes were light and a great portion size for one person.

For myself, I ordered the Seafood Trio: sashimi style tuna and chilled spiced scallops with marinated shrimp served on miso ice, wakame and tempura "crunchies." The dish was plated so beautifully, to the point that I didn't want to eat it! The fresh seafood selection came as a larger portion than I anticipated and I really enjoyed the scallops and shrimp. I found the tuna to be on the fishy side and would have liked to have some soy sauce to dip into in order to combat the taste. Unbeknownst to me, there was a large dollop of wasabi cream amidst the seafood. I personally don't enjoy wasabi so having that surprise flavour was a bit of a shock. Luckily it wasn't touching too much of my seafood and I was able to eat around it.

The last appetizer available on the menu was the Escargot Vol au Vent: saute of wild mushrooms, escargot and shallots in a cognac cream topped with arugula and hard cheese shavings. This was the richest appetizer of the three and I would suggest splitting this one between two people to save your appetite for mains and dessert. The escargot was cooked well in the cream sauce and the mushrooms (which also resembled escargot) switched up the texture of the dish. Beneath the surface sat a square of puff pastry which turned out to be much denser than expected. Rather than being light and flaky, it was difficult to cut through as it quickly soaked up the moisture from the cream sauce.

When the main dishes came out from the kitchen we were all surprised by the portion sizes. I ordered the Alberta Rack of Lamb: mustard and herb crusted rack of lamb, triturate of potato and Tuscan jus. A giant portion of lamb (7 pieces!) sat in front of me, and I instantly knew this was enough to feed me for two meals. The lamb was cooked to a beautiful medium rare as requested, resulting in moist and tender meat. I found that the crust was very thick, making the dish overly salty for my palate, but scraping it off made it an easy fix and allowed the natural flavour of the lamb to shine through. The potato was light and fluffy and a good portion of seasonal vegetables were on the plate, making this a fantastic entree.

Teresa ordered the Deconstructed Beef Wellington which featured Sterling Silver beef tenderloin, mushroom duxelle and sauce perigueux topped with a puff pastry trellis. The beef was cooked to be juicy and tender the way steak should be. It was quite a big portion, and when accompanied by the sides and rich puff pastry this was another two-meal plate.

My boyfriend chose the Free Run Supreme Breast of Chicken for dinner, which was a herb frenched chicken breast with a wild rice herb and yam cake and Baumanier lemon sauce. Although it was chicken breast, the meat was tender and very moist. The thickened sauce had a certain bitterness to it but it added great flavour to the dish.

Last but not least, Diane chose to go with the Cyclopene of Alaskan Scallop and Prawn: Texture of sweet potato, asparagus spears and orange amaretto cream sauce. The prawns were large and meaty, albeit a little salty. On the other hand the scallops were also well cooked but we found the pairing with the sweet potato puree to be a little strange. This was the lightest of all the entrees, and if paired with a different starch, I would definitely order it!

For dessert we were given 8 different choices, which made decision making incredibly difficult. Despite being incredibly full, I had to have a bite of everything at the table. After all, every one was made in house and had a suggested wine pairing. The Banana and Mango Ice Cream Bomb rested on a base of sour cherry jelly and crushed toasted cashew biscotti. Each half of the bomb featured a light ice cream and the sweetness was cut by the tart sour cherry jelly. The biscotti offered a different texture, as did the bruleed marshmallow fluff. Overall the dessert wasn't too sweet and was a nice way to finish a meal.

Diane chose the Cinnamon Creme Brulee served with mulled wine, Saskatoon berry sauce and a pear granita. The custard was smooth with a hint of cinnamon, and mixed well with the berry sauce underneath. It was a nice dessert, but nothing about it really stood out to me. Presentation was beautiful but I would recommend looking into the other desserts which were a little more interesting.

Teresa ordered the Warm Apple and Blueberry Cobbler served atop a vanilla custard base and topped with almond ice cream and a side of Bailey's caramel sauce. It wasn't a dessert I had considered, so I was quite surprised that I enjoyed it. There were so many contrasting elements to the dish which really made it stand out. The soft custard against the crisp phyllo pastry was lovely and I also enjoyed the difference between the hot cobbler and the cold, creamy ice cream. I would definitely order this dish on a return visit.

The Milk Chocolate Torte was my dessert of choice. The torte featured alternating layers of creamy milk chocolate filling, rich fudge cake and a crunchy praline, and was served with a blackberry sorbet. This was hands down my favourite dessert of the night as it resembled my favourite chocolate bar, Crunch. The torte wasn't overly sweet, especially when paired with the sorbet, and I didn't feel guilty indulging in it as it felt very light. I would order this again without hesitation.

Throughout the meal I noticed we were rotating around the restaurant, but I hardly felt it as my attention was captured by the great food and live entertainment. Service was extremely attentive and the servers carried extensive knowledge about the menu. If you're looking for something fun and different to do on a weeknight, check out Tieless Tuesdays! Great views of the city, delicious food, and good company are all that you need to add together for an unforgettable night on the town. Given the nature of the price points, Tieless Tuesdays is not something you'll check out weekly. You pay a lot for the view and experience of dining in a revolving restaurant, but if you're celebrating a big occasion or willing to spend a little more money for a date, Tuesday night is a great option as it is less busy and you will get outstanding service.

La Ronde Revolving Restaurant‎ on Urbanspoon


Disclaimer: La Ronde hosted this tweetup and provided food free of charge on this evening. Views expressed in this post are solely mine. I was not expected to feature this restaurant on my blog, nor obligated to do so. This post is 100% my opinion, and as always, my priority is to you, the reader, to present an unbiased, thorough review.

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