MISE - 824 Corydon Avenue in the old R. Santa Furs building
Where the hell do I start. Let's just say it is not pretentious, the prices are justified, the food sublime, the service impeccable - I was impressed and it takes a great deal to impress me when it comes to "top flight" joints.
Originally me and the BF were gonna head out to Hermano's, the new "Brazilian" joint but my intuition kicked in and I decided to look up some recent reviews and go over their menu again, which had changed and from my POV, not for the better. There was not one offering on that menu that excited me. The reviews as well, all written by persons whom one could tell had good palates, did not bode well regarding that choice.
As I was to find out later the BF had been trying for the last two weeks to acquire reservations for tonight at Beaujena'a, Amici's, Step N Out and a few others that he knew I was very fond of but as luck would have it while i waiting for him to pick me up I called MISE to see if they had an early table open for us for six.....OH YEAH.....bingo we were in business. When he picked me up he laughed at me apologizing for changing the plans but he knows that if I say the menu at one place looks unimpressive then he is not gonna argue being that he loves to cook with me and knows my tastes and skills.....so now on to the menu at MISE.
You have a wide selection of starters and entrees, the emphasis being on "creative Canadian cuisine"......instead of following the rote of starter - entree - dessert we opted for the choose three starters for $35 as that way we could still follow a "taste trail" and conclude with a dish that combined savoury and sweet thus negating the need for dessert - that comes later right? When one is in a private space.
First we are both served a lovely amuse bouche with garlicky rosemary cheese and fig on a bit of a pastry round....lovely. He has a medium bodied Red and I choose a lighter Spanish White....we do not change our wines throughout the meal as they are perfect for what we each have.
I started with a fennel, orange, romaine salad as the acidity balances out with the wine and gets the palate jump started for the next two choices. He starts off with a roasted garlic and potato soup....loved the blackened garlic chips in that - wow.
Next I have mussels in the perfect cream sauce and he has bruschetta with greens, toasted almonds, figs and a cheese duo in a light vinagrette. I love it when I can dip the bread into the cream sauce.....the only complaint I have is that the pancetta was not pancetta but regular bacon, overcooked but I could overlook that as it was not infused in the sauce but rather sat on top of the mussels...easily discarded.
It should be mentioned that their breads are perfect.....a cranberry infused white and a perfect french baguette.....one is given a bit at a time and this is served with a garlicky butter...all very subtle and it all works in proper fashion.
Ohhhh......perfect portions.....one would think not enuff but the best and last is to come and that is the quail stuffed with bison and blueberries served with a classic Cumberland sauce.....sublime.....we both knew we both had to finish with this dish and because it is balanced between sweet and savoury and we were getting full, we knew we did not need dessert. Our palates were satisfied. Besides they still gave us each a truffle after dinner anyway......
The restaurant has the right ambience and comfort. Before one enters the restaurant there is a deli section where I was able to get some goodies to take home tonight for later in the week......nice cheeses, chocolates and spice melanges from Dean and Deluca......
Ohhhhh.....this foodie was impressed and satisfied. Soon she shall crawl into bed. Thank you Sherpa Boy for the perfect pre-Bday dinner.....for the rest of you, go to this place you will not regret it.
Where the hell do I start. Let's just say it is not pretentious, the prices are justified, the food sublime, the service impeccable - I was impressed and it takes a great deal to impress me when it comes to "top flight" joints.
Originally me and the BF were gonna head out to Hermano's, the new "Brazilian" joint but my intuition kicked in and I decided to look up some recent reviews and go over their menu again, which had changed and from my POV, not for the better. There was not one offering on that menu that excited me. The reviews as well, all written by persons whom one could tell had good palates, did not bode well regarding that choice.
As I was to find out later the BF had been trying for the last two weeks to acquire reservations for tonight at Beaujena'a, Amici's, Step N Out and a few others that he knew I was very fond of but as luck would have it while i waiting for him to pick me up I called MISE to see if they had an early table open for us for six.....OH YEAH.....bingo we were in business. When he picked me up he laughed at me apologizing for changing the plans but he knows that if I say the menu at one place looks unimpressive then he is not gonna argue being that he loves to cook with me and knows my tastes and skills.....so now on to the menu at MISE.
You have a wide selection of starters and entrees, the emphasis being on "creative Canadian cuisine"......instead of following the rote of starter - entree - dessert we opted for the choose three starters for $35 as that way we could still follow a "taste trail" and conclude with a dish that combined savoury and sweet thus negating the need for dessert - that comes later right? When one is in a private space.
First we are both served a lovely amuse bouche with garlicky rosemary cheese and fig on a bit of a pastry round....lovely. He has a medium bodied Red and I choose a lighter Spanish White....we do not change our wines throughout the meal as they are perfect for what we each have.
I started with a fennel, orange, romaine salad as the acidity balances out with the wine and gets the palate jump started for the next two choices. He starts off with a roasted garlic and potato soup....loved the blackened garlic chips in that - wow.
Next I have mussels in the perfect cream sauce and he has bruschetta with greens, toasted almonds, figs and a cheese duo in a light vinagrette. I love it when I can dip the bread into the cream sauce.....the only complaint I have is that the pancetta was not pancetta but regular bacon, overcooked but I could overlook that as it was not infused in the sauce but rather sat on top of the mussels...easily discarded.
It should be mentioned that their breads are perfect.....a cranberry infused white and a perfect french baguette.....one is given a bit at a time and this is served with a garlicky butter...all very subtle and it all works in proper fashion.
Ohhhh......perfect portions.....one would think not enuff but the best and last is to come and that is the quail stuffed with bison and blueberries served with a classic Cumberland sauce.....sublime.....we both knew we both had to finish with this dish and because it is balanced between sweet and savoury and we were getting full, we knew we did not need dessert. Our palates were satisfied. Besides they still gave us each a truffle after dinner anyway......
The restaurant has the right ambience and comfort. Before one enters the restaurant there is a deli section where I was able to get some goodies to take home tonight for later in the week......nice cheeses, chocolates and spice melanges from Dean and Deluca......
Ohhhhh.....this foodie was impressed and satisfied. Soon she shall crawl into bed. Thank you Sherpa Boy for the perfect pre-Bday dinner.....for the rest of you, go to this place you will not regret it.
