Dine Out Vancouver 2014: Market
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It’s been years since I attended any Dine Out Vancouver events, so when Rebecca asked me to check a few out this year, I gladly took it as an opportunity to dine one of Vancouver’s finest restaurants: Market by Jean-Georges at the Shangri-La Hotel.
In addition to offering their usual $38 prix fixe menu, this year they introduced, “Film Feast: Jiro Dreams of Sushi.” The event, which completely sold out on all the nights it was offered, included an exclusive screening of the critically-acclaimed documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi (which follows the now 88-year-old sushi master chef and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, the first sushi restaurant ever to be awarded three Michelin stars), followed by a special 4-course dinner inspired by the film.
Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the event, but I was lucky enough to taste the restaurant’s $38 prix fixe menu, which was delightful. In the past, I found some of the Dine Out dinners a little disappointing — maybe it’s because the restaurants cook a selected few items en masse and perhaps there is a loss in quality in such a process. However, my dinner at Market — prepared by Chef Montgomery Lau — was top notch.
My Dine Out Meal for $38: Seared Gulf Shrimp, Butternut Squash, Ginger and Basil; Slowly Cooked Steelhead, Brussels Sprouts, Truffle Potatoes; Buttermilk Panna Cotta, Cassis Poached Pear, Pear Sorbet
Though I found my first course, seared gulf shrimp with butternut squash, slightly overcooked, the steelhead was probably the most perfectly cooked piece of fish I’ve ever had, and the truffled mashed potatoes it sat upon added great depth of flavour.
For dessert, the buttermilk panna cotta was both light and creamy and the cassis poached pear with pear sorbet added just the right amount of sweetness to the end of my first Dine Out dinner in a long time, convincing me that I should definitely attend more events next year.
