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Earlier this week a gaggle of friends and I went to try the Canadian comfort food at Bannock, and it is indeed comfy. What is Canadian cuisine, I hear you ask (as I had asked myself)? Not just maple syrup and beavertails, here they have fresh ingredients in fresh takes on the classics: poutine, Habitant pea soup, wild mushrooms, trout, haddock, pot pie, venison, s'mores, and butter tarts! Habitant pea soup has been traced back 400 years (http://is.gd/E7a3vr) to have been eaten by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain, a name most of us will recognize for founding Quebec City and making a great map. I digress.
(Ambiance)
The ambiance is modern casual but cottagey, with wooden plank-lined walls and marble accents, garnished with swank lighting. An open view to the kitchen and everything in sight being nicely ordered on the shelves put my slightly OCD-side at ease. From the outside it looks supah fancy but when seated it feels comfortable if a bit open. Our server was Marcel and he is a gem. Considerate and conversational without overstepping, he made good suggestions and provided timely service. Ask for him.
(Mains)
The food was tasty, but not the best I've had for the price. However, I really enjoyed seeing not only one "option", but whole sections of selections for pescatarians and vegetarians! Well done there. I had a Chai Latte which was good but a bit weak and lacking foam. Worth $4.50? No. I don't drink but you may want to check out the cocktails, the menu looked pretty tasty, and snuck in more Canadian classics (maple and screech!) I had the Northern Woods Mushroom Gnocci with mushroom bolognese, spinach, fried oyster mushrooms, and thunder oak gouda. This clever veggie dish could have fooled a meatatarian. I would have gone a little less on the spice for the mushroom bolognese, though. At one point what started as a nice heat became spices without the shroominess. The spinach wasn't overly wilted in the heat of the dish, which I appreciate. The gnocci were pillowy and soft, though admittedly the first I've ever tried. They reminded me of a fluffier version of kopytka, the Polish potato noodle. The stars of the dish were the fried spiced (sage? yes!) oyster mushrooms over top of the whole lot, which were absolutely delicious. And that is saying a lot considering I don't like straight mushroom in a bite. I also tried the bannock that came with my buddy's Ontario venison chili and it was like a deliciously herbed and buttery naan bread with sour cream for dipping. Silly me, I thought bannock was a type of grilled unleavened Scottish bread. Thank goodness the chef of Bannock thought otherwise! Also, btw, the "Nasty Sauce" on the menu is a scotch bonnet hot sauce. Be warned.
(Desserts)
Dessert was the best, apart from those delectable oyster mushies. I had the artisan butter tart (which does not include raisins, fyi). It was a sugary sweet mess served with berry coulis and whipped cream. So sweet that I recommend sharing. However, this tart had the most buttery melt-in-your-mouth non-greasy flakey crust that I have ever tasted in my life. I exchanged bites for the s'mores pie, perfectly toasted marshmallow halves atop a fluffy chocolatey brownie. The crust, oh the crust, and the heavenly s'mores brownie, are what will probably pull me back here again. Knowing the ingredients hail from my home and native land (though Michael Bonacini does not) make me that much prouder to be Canadian.
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