| rev:text
| - PARTIAL REVIEW
From the moment my sister and I had our coats checked to when we retrieved them at the door, we felt welcomed and well taken care of at Azure. The service is professional, yet personable, so it doesn't feel like you're dining in a stuffy hotel- definitely a plus for me. We were spoiled with impeccable attention- our water glasses were consistently refilled, our cutlery replenished, and the meal moved at a comfortable and well timed pace (about 1 1/2 hours in and out).
This past December, the hotel welcomed Executive Chef, Shawn Whalen to the team to work alongside Chef de Cuisine Grace di Fede and General Manager, Stephen McGaw. The restaurant's food menu is very inviting and approachable- creative enough for a foodie, but familiar enough for a picky palate. Expect to see a handful each of seasonal salads (like Niagara Poached Pear, $12-14)), elegant appetizers (including Scallops, local Beef Carpaccio, $9-14), Pastas and Risotto (mmm... like a beautiful sounding short rib tagliatelle, $21-25), and main courses from land and sea (Gamay Noir Lamb Shank? Yes please! $25-39).
One thing I especially love about the menu is that there are suggested wine pairings for every dish- a really nice touch for those looking to imbibe on a full-out foodie experience. There are about 20 local and International wines by the glass ($10-28) and another 60 or so by the bottle ($40-1750). Their cocktail list of 11 offerings fuses trendy ingredients and classic recipes with a wide variety of house made syrups and purees going into each one. My sister opted to start with a peppery Australian Shiraz ($14), while I went the cocktail route.
Pear & Vanilla Sparkler ($12)
Vodka, Lime, Vanilla Pear Syrup
Mexican Screwdriver ($13)
Tequila, Passion Fruit Puree, Jalapeno Ginger Syrup
Snowflake Martini ($14)
Vodka, Elderflower Liqueur, Lime, White Cranberry
Three very different cocktails for potentially different palates or moods. The Sparkler was the mildest of the bunch - light, refreshing, but a little muted in flavour for this girl. In contrast, the Screwdriver was quite the kicker with the booze. It was smooth enough for those who like strong drinks, but I was expecting more fruit flavour from the puree and heat from the syrup, and I didn't really get either. The Snowflake was my far the best in my opinion. It was floral, refreshing and way too easy to drink- definitely my first go to next time.
For our Winterlicious dinner, we had a choice of 3 appetizers, 3 mains and 3 desserts, available for the reasonable cost of $45 plus tax. Everything sounded delicious. It was so hard to choose, we ended trying all three desserts!
Parsnip Bisque
Roasted Pears & Double Smoked Bacon
The creamy, smooth puree was complimented by the pieces of sweet supple pears and salty bacon at the bottom. This is such comfort food for February weather.
Dried Cranberry & Apple Salad
Brie Cheese, Honeycomb, Almonds, Baby Greens & Sherry Vinaigrette
Yum, yum, yum. A nice balance of super tangy vinaigrette with sticky sweet honey and milky brie cheese. A lovely winter salad.
Ontario Grain Fed Veal Osso Bucco
Potato Gnocchi, Root Vegetables, Kale & Gremolata
The gnocchi were light and pillowy and soaked up all the delicious meat juices that accumulated on the bottom of the plate. The meat was perfectly rendered and tender, but it could have been a little more moist.
Butternut Squash Risotto
Arborio Rice, Mascarpone, Sage, Truffle Essence
Super creamy, luxurious, and cooked a perfect al dente. I did find it a touch overseasoned, and maybe would have appreciated some textural contrast (like bacon?), but that didn't stop me from wanting to finish the entire bowl. Azure has clearly mastered the allure of comfort food.
Café Mocha Chocolate Cake
Almond Wafer
The cake itself was very moist, and the flavour was rich and pronounced with the coffee bringing out the subtleties of the chocolate. I'm not a chocolate lover myself so this was my least favourite dessert of the three, but this might be a good pick for those who love that slightly bitter edge on their sweets.
Apple Caramel Cheesecake
Calvados Sour Cream & Praline Crust
Best cheesecake ever. This was the absolute best part of the meal and I could have happily eaten two more of them and not felt a hint of guilt. The cheesecake was light and creamy, and the caramel was thick and luxurious. I also loved that in the middle there was a little piece of poached apple hidden inside. Order this dessert. Just do it.
Banana Walnut Ice Cream
House Made Biscotti & Rum Toffee Sauce
The lightest and simplest of the three, but a very tasty offering for those who like banana- based desserts (me!!). The ice cream was sweet and aromatic with a nice crunch from the nuts and an addictive sweetness from the sticky toffee sauce..
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