Friday, May 18, 2012

Tide & Boar Gastropub, Moncton, New Brunswick

Love!! this place. Great open and yet intimate atmosphere, fabulous food and wonderful drinks, (the best martini olives). So this pub is on Main Street, in the beautiful city of Moncton. Tide & Boar really helps to brighten up the sort of quiet that lingers through this town. Always busy, and welcoming, its perfect for everyone. They also have a nice big patio.
So what have we eaten, well number one i would say is the Chowder, Atlantic Tide Chowder, with smoked Haddock, salmon, mussels, shrimp, fennel and dill. So creamy and hot every time i get it, its so fresh.
Polenta Fries, so they mix polenta and Asiago bake it then cut the polenta into fry shapes then fry them and serve it with a basil, salsa verde aioli. Very unique, and simple tasting. 
They have OMG oysters, yup that's what they are called, Parmesan, bacon, salsa Verde and crispy capers, all melted on top of each oyster. Very yummy, but perhaps a bit better with larger oysters.
Hmm what else, stuffed chicken wings, Chorizo sausage, smoked Gouda, and apple cider buffalo sauce served with a Belgium blue cheese dip. These are very tasty, just need a bit more stuffing, but the wings are so crispy and fresh, and the cider buffalo sauce is yummy.
Roasted cauliflower with kimchi puree and walnut salt. Great combination, roasted cauliflower gets a nutty flavor, and then the sweet kimchi and salt just create a wonderful flavor combination, I would prefer a larger portion af cauliflower though, i mean come on its cauliflower tehee.
Great free-range beef burgers, not too big, just the right size. Grilled fresh, topped with white cheddar, balsamic onion, dill pickle and their homemade Tide ketchup. There salad is great to have with the burger, artisan lettuce, shallot dressing, roasted root vegetables and toasted granola.
The Boar Poutine! haha what a fun thing to have for your meal, well it was for Joe, he really enjoyed it. Chicken and boar gravy, hand cut fries, caramelized onions and of course cheese curds. So good, creamy toppings and fresh homemade fries, so delish!
Rolling Rock Battered Haddock, fresh and crispy, not greasy at all, served with lemon tartar sauce and fennel slaw.
We had a couple other things but im tired of writing...haha, just go, its good everytime. Service was always done with smiles.....we will be back......

Natasha:)



Thursday, May 10, 2012

Blackfin Pub, Comox, BC

Cozy, welcoming and home style meals. Nice place to come when you want a night off from cooking, which even Chefs need once in a while:)
So while living in Comox for a month, this became our regular spot. Yummy french onion soup made with caramelized onions, roasted garlic, Guiness, Parmesan, Swiss and garlic Focaccia.
 Unique appetizers like fresh kettle fried Fanny Bay Oysters, and crispy Phyllo wrapped Asian Shrimp bundles with Wasabi mayo and sweet chili dip.
We also had their AAA Sirloin Burgers on whole wheat buns with roast red pepper Aioli, and big crispy fries. Also the Seafood Pubhouse, toasted triple decker, snow crab, shrimp, bacon, lettuce, tomato and dill mayo. The menu is a bit overwhelming from too many yummy choices, i do not like huge menus because its too hard to make a choice. I had the bacon wrapped scallops and they were not very nice, highly unlikely that they were made in-house, they were dried up and not very fresh.
We unforgivably did not order any desserts, but they looked wonderful.
Did i mention the view? Mountains and ocean, too bad it wasn't a bit warmer we would have sat on their balcony right over the marina.
Great beverage selection, and very nice service. Blackfin helped us feel at home......

Natasha:)

http://www.blackfinpub.com/

RView Lounge, Seattle, Washington

Fabulous! Located downtown Seattle on the 28th floor of the Renaissance hotel.
Go on up and grab a seat by the window and enjoy the views of downtown Seattle and Elliot Bay.
 Have a cocktail, we enjoyed a couple martinis which were delish! I had a Cucumber Gin Martini - Hendricks Gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice and cucumber, so fresh and yummy:)
 Joe had a Classic 1950s Martini - Belvedere Vodka, dry vermouth and olives, very good.
We simply shared their Bruschetta, grilled sourdough, fennel, tomato, white beans & capers. It was the most unique bruschetta i have tried, the main ingredient was white beans instead of classic tomatoes and the capers really finish it off.
Such an enjoyable and romantic spot, a must if you are in Seattle, we went back the next night for another round of martinis!! If only they were open a bit later, 11pm doesn't do it for me....We will be back.....

Natashaaaaa:)