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Chef’s Table “Black Box”

The concept of the “black box” was the inspiration for July’s Chef’s Table. The chef (Kyle Nichol – Executive Chef) was challenged to create a dinner (for 21 people) from a set of ingredients that Kyle was introduced to the morning of the event.

Nate (Nathan Grindstaff, sous chef) undertook the major, secretive “shopping” expedition. He visited local markets and grocery stores looking for options. The product was to be representative of the Ontario summer. Nate joked about the effort of carrying all of the bags. Interesting that some product like the lamb posed availability problems to get the quantity necessary for the occasion. Super Store coincidentally had an organic Ontario lamb offering – the main course. Smith Cheese at Covent Garden Market was the source for the crème fraiche and a variety of goat cheeses. Nate included truffle chips and waffle cones that he thought would really challenge Kyle’s creativity.

Aside: Nate expressed reservations about a rematch with Kyle doing the shopping and Nate figuring out what to deliver to the patrons.

Bread & Butter

Herbs de Provence Foccacia (made in house using lavender and herbs like rosemary and oregano – recipe on YouTube) with Torpedo Onion Butter. Whole torpedo onions were part of the “black box” and the greens were chopped into the butter.

Soup (Amous Bouche)

Sweet corn, mushrooms and double smoked bacon chowder with roasted chestnut, queso fresco (Queso fresco is a Mexican cheese whose name literally means “fresh cheese.”) and truffled potato chips perched on top.

Paired with William Wright Chardonnay, California. Not a typical California Chardonnay to my taste but acidic and cut the fat of the soup.

Salad (Appetizer)

Baby Romaine lettuce with fresh mozzarella, grilled tops of the torpedo onions, yellow tomatoes, kohlrabi, red current and balsamic vinaigrette and basil croutons.

Paired with Te Mania Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

Main (Entree)

Oven roasted rack of lamb, crispy yellow potatoes, garlic scapes, asparagus. Jus was boosted by mint jelly and peach salsa.

Paired with Cantine Minini Audax Pinot Noir Italy.

Interesting – Pinot not all that well known from Italy.

Dessert

Black cherry and strawberry shortcake with biscuit and creme fraiche chantilly. Waffle cones were broken up into praline chips.

Paired with a vanilla old fashioned.

Chef’s Table – from Portugal with love

Starches Meats & Cheese with Olives

Bread presunto cheese & marinated olives

Paired with Due la Deu Monção e Melgaço— Alvarinho — Vinho Verde

Francesinha

Ham, sausage and roast beef, toasted white loaf, quetjo Flamengo molho de francesinha

Paired with Super Bock — Portugal

Feijoda

Vegetarian stew with beans, onions, tomatoes, turnip, potato, kale & cabbage

Paired with Castello d’Alba—Douro

Bacalhau & Alentejo Porco Preto

Salted cod with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, olives, garlic & olive oil with grilled black pork marinated in flavours present throughout the Alentejo region of Portugal

Paired with Quinta do Espirito Santo—Lisboa

Pastel de Nata Duo

Traditional nata with lemon & cinnamon Port flavoured nata

Paired with Da Foz Tawny Port—Douro

Chef’s Table – October 17 and 18 – 2023

“Save the Bees”

Another creative theme! And samples of varieties of honey. As well as some insight into the state of the bee population, the impact of habitat and plants/flowers on flavour and colour. Including how bee pollen is collected!

The dishes were uniquely flavoured despite “honey” being a key ingredient in all of them.

The wine pairings worked well.

Bread and Butter

Buckwheat Honey Oat Bread with Bee Pollen Compound Butter

Amuse Bouche

Honey Caramelized Shallot Arancini with Honey Chili Aioli

Paired with Fantini Gran Cuvée Rosé (Abruzzo, Italy)

Starter

Honey Roasted Acorn Squash Soup with Hazelnut Thyme Crumble and Saffron Honey Crema

Paired with Pedroncelli Frank Johnson Vineyard Chardonnay (Sonoma County, California)

Main Course

Sticky Honey Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Sage Potato Galette, Honey Dijon Broccolini, Buckwheat Honey Apple Onion Chutney, Honey Glazed Apple Chip

Paired with Minini ‘Audax’ Pinot Noir (Venezia, Veneto, Northern Italy)

Dessert

Honey Poached Pear with Honey Vanilla Mascarpone Mousse, Honey Sponge Toffee, Milk Chocolate Ganash, Edible Pansies

Paired with Rinaldi 2020 Moscato d’Asti (Asti, Piedmont, Italy)

Finally

Looking forward to the next Chef’s Table. Planning for a Christmas event and, no, it will not include turkey!

Chef’s Table July

July 27 and 28

As promised at May’s Chef’s Table Chef Kyle has created another themed and eclectic offering.

First the opportunity to enjoy was doubled – two seatings of 24, two successive evenings.

The components of the meal were sourced locally but not quite meeting the 100 mile challenge. Olives don’t grow in the area but the Greek olive oil was at least acquired at a local market, Thomas Bros, on Colonel Talbot Road just south of Lambeth. As were the Kozlik’s mustards and the corn. The greens came from Sleger’s in Strathroy, the wine from Niagara, the goat cheese from Gordon’t Goat Dairy in Wroxeter, handeck cheese from Gunn’s Hill in Woodstock and cheddar relish from St. Mary’s. Niagara peaches, Strawberry Fool from Heemans, Shaw’s Ice Cream from St. Thomas and Jakeman’s maple syrup.

To get really local there was house made focaccia (flour from Arva Mill), house made butter, house made vinaigrette.

Bread and Butter

Fresh made Arva Mill bread with the house made butter.

Amuse Bouche

Grilled Focaccia, caramelized cipollini onion, apple cider vinegar gastrique, goat cheese, basil sprouts.

Kyle created this dish for his final exam earning a commendable 97%

Wine Pairing

Trius Cabernet Sauvignon

Surprised at this pairing but the wine was quite soft with flavours of dried fruit and vanilla so it seemed to work.

Starter

Spinach and Arugula salad, mustard vinaigrette, macerated black cherries, crostini

Wine Pairing

Trius Sauvignon Blanc

Fresh and crisp – good pairing for the salad.

Main Course

Beef tenderloin, grilled. Potato chips, shaved chilli, cucumber salad, grilled corn, cheddar relish, sprouts

Wine Pairing

Peller Estates Private Reserve Pinot Noir

Described on the Peller site as light bodied and silky – worked with the complexity of the elements of this dish.

Dessert

Cobbler with ice cream, strawberry fool and salted caramel

Wine Pairing

Trius Brut Sparkling

Nice light finish to a very flavourful dessert.

At the end of the evening, Kyle showed off some of the key ingredients – many available at Thomas Bros Market, some at Remark – and also shared recent pictures of his baby.

Chef’s Table

May 19.

Another opportunity to enjoy eclectic cuisine and sip on paired wines. Chef Kyle came up with a very creative A, B, C and D menu. Take note of the starting letter of most of the words describing each course.

Chef Kyle indicated that the next Chef’s Table will be in July.

Housemade bread

With Canadian Sea Salted Butter (with a seasonal addition of ramps – wild leeks that are available only for a couple of weeks in the spring – grabbed up quickly by those in the know)

Amuse – Bouche “A

asparagus arancini, avocado aioli, arugula almond pesto

Wine Pairing

Orchidess ‘Cover des Terroirs’ – Sauvignon Blanc, France

Starter “B

Beet borscht with bannock breadcrumb, bacon, balsamic jam and basil sprouts

Wine Pairing

DeLoach California Pinot Noir, United States

Main “C

Cornish hen, crispy cheddar cheese curd corn polenta cake, caramelized cider cabbage, carrot chive chutney with chili vinaigrette and celery leaves

Wine Pairing

Ogier ‘Heritage’ Cotes du Rhone, France

Dessert “D

Date pudding donut with dark chocolate ganache and dulce de leche

Pairing

Whiskey cinnamon coffee cocktail

or

Nova 7 Sparkling Rose, Benjamin Bridge, Nova Scotia

Chef’s Table Menu and Wine Pairings

An enthusiastic group enjoying Kyle’s first Chef’s Table since joining RiverBend. Take a look for Kyle’s Facebook post on the event.

Housemade walnut & whole grain bread with cultured sea salted butter

AMUSE-BOUCHE

Potato crusted hot smoked trout croquette with green pea purée, caper aioli and grilled lemon supreme

Paired with Bougrier Vouvray Chenin Blanc – France

SALAD

Beet poached apple with pickled shaved fennel, candied walnuts, Gunn’s Hill handeck cheese crisp, shaved celery, red grape merlot gastrique and organic extra virgin olive oil topped with basil sprouts

Paired with Map Maker Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand

MAIN

Black sesame veined beef tenderloin with Dijon mustard, buttered crumb, carrot purée, topped with smoked onion demi-glace, gaufrettes and microgreens

Paired with Leaping Horse Merlot – California

DESSERT

Chocolate brownie with torched vanilla bean marshmallow crème, molasses honey streusel and red veined sorrel

Paired with a Coffee Martini – Kahlua and vodka

Final….

Kyle finished the evening introducing the new arrival in his household!!

Chef’s Dinner – June 21, 2022 – Retirement Celebration

Intro

24 RiverBend residents were thrilled to share another of Kirk Weiss’ culinary offerings. Unfortunately it is also his last here at RiverBend. Of course we regret the loss of future events but we wish Kirk the best in his future exploits and in his retirement.

Chef started the event off with a little retrospective. He has been at RiverBend for 13 years so expressed 13 years of thank you to Sifton, to the community. He said that this 13-year stint has been the favourite of his experiences so far in the culinary industry. And it gave him the wherewithal to support his family, kids (and now grandkids – 2 of them).

He said that he was given freedom from day one to experiment, to explore. He didn’t take credit for all the successes. He shared that ideas come from all sorts of places. The front of the house servers, the whole kitchen team participate. The have been a well-oiled machine for regular events but Chef reiterated that it is a treat to be invited and be able to create special dishes for special events.

To see how fortunate the regulars of Chef’s events have been, browse the previous postings.

First Course – Fish

Moroccan seabass. Chef described the texture as dense, part way between snapper and pickerel. The bass was pressed into ground pistachio and pine nuts with a little batter. Curried coconut milk was underneath the skewered fish.

The dish had a little heat and lots of crunch.

It was paired with Sandhill Pinot Gris.

Second Course – Asian Flavour

Chef pointed out that this dish looks like a cabbage roll. It is cabbage but rolled around a ginger chicken stuffing and finished with a citrus glaze.

He noted that it was “Tangy to spark up taste buds…”

This dish was paired with warm Sake.

Third Course – Phyllo Pastry/Veal

Now this dish Chef said was kind of special – smiling the whole time he was making it. Veal tenderloin, forest funghi (chanterelles, oyster, shiitake, batwing (denser, black colour), wrapped in phyllo pastry and finished with fresh peppercorn.

It was presented on a truffle demi reduction.

We were encouraged to smell the truffle!

Asked, Chef described the process of creating the phyllo pastry wrap – butter on the layers, prep the filling, chill and straight into a hot oven.

This dish was paired with a red wine, Luigi Righetti Valpolicella

Fourth Course – Shredded Duck, Cranberry, Smoked Cheddar

Chef admitted he had never done this dish before. The kitchen braised duckling for 2 ½ days. then shredded it. The drippings were reduced to a sauce, fused with sautéed cranberry and leek and then smoked cheddar cheese on top. The cheese takes away from the tartness of the cranberry.

Melts in the mouth!

Paired with Wolf Blass Chardonnay

Fifth Course – Dessert

Chef created a mocha chocolate mousse sitting on Kahlua praline sauce.

The pairing with this was really unique – a chocolate coffee martini.

Kitchen Team

Chef emphasized again that the environment created in the kitchen encourages creativity, support, and partnership.

Edgar – long time with RiverBend, preceded Chef.

Eric – a returnee to the team

Andrew – new, from the west coast

Nathan – recently assumed the sous chef position that Chanel had

The front of the house group are an essential part of the team. Chef emphasized that everyone helps wherever needed to keep things operating smoothly.

And it should be noted that the front of the house team did a great job making this event run smoothly – serving and resetting through all the courses and managing the wine pairings.

Finally, it was touching when Edgar gave Kirk a warm hug and expressed his appreciation for the friendship and support Kirk had given him. It was clear that the emotion was shared.

A lovely way to end the event and to send Chef on his way.

Chef’s Showcase November 30 2021

Unlike most of the events captured in this blog the primary focus of this occasion was showcasing the food. Wine pairings recommendations were provided.

The Host

Shawn Greco welcoming the diners. Copies of the menu and the recommended wine pairings were on the tables. It was a u-shaped arrangement allowing for better profiling of the presenters (as can be seen reflected in the window). All of the menu offerings could be/were offered gluten free.

Wine pairings were optional and all wines offered are available.

Introducing Mandy Peters

We were hosted in the dining room as noted. Residents came out to sip some wines and experience a 4 course dinner created by First Cook, Mandy Peters. 

Mandy has been working at Riverbend on and off for the past two years and, after studying culinary at Georgian College, is completing her apprenticeship with guidance from her mentor, Chef Kirk.

The menu was created based on a book called, “100 Foods to Stay Young”. Each course featured 2 ingredients from the book, and the health benefits were described after each course.  Wasabi,  fennel, lamb, spinach, and blueberries, were just a few of the featured healthy items showcased at the dinner.

Mandy is looking forward to sharing more of her culinary skills and nutrition knowledge with us in the future.

And thanks to the F&B team for their attentive service.

Chef’s Showcase

First Course – Sea Scallops

Pan seared on a bed of spring pea and wasabi puree with toasted almonds.

Wine Pairing – Cedar Rock Chardonnay 2016

Second Course – Squash Spirals

Noodle nests with a fennel infused cream sauce garnished with a julienne of crisp must apples.

Wine Pairing – Bougrier Vouvray Chenin Blanc, 2018

Third Course – Lamb Loin

Oven roasted crusted lamb loin on wilted spinach and pine nuts, tri-coloured mini hasselback potatoes and finished with a glaze de viand.

Wine pairing

Terranoble Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016

or

Colognole Chianti Ruffino 2016

Fourth Course – Deconstructed Blueberry Pie

Blueberry mousse with ini white chocolate truffles and honey streusel, garnished with honey poached candied blueberries.

Wine Pairing – Campbell Rugherglen Muscat

Wine & Dine with Lifford’s Mike Buck and Chef Kirk Weiss and his RB Team – October 21, 2021

It has been a very long time between our last wine and dine gathering (September 27, 2019 when Nick hosted his last event at RB) and last Thursday’s event. We did have a Zoom Wine and Dine session in April, 2021 hosted by Mike Buck. That was a great stop gap but it was a delight to join fellow RiverBenders and wine and food lovers in person after such a prolonged separation.

Introducing the hosts

Mike Buck, Lifford Wines and Spirits

Mike Buck started the consignment wine business in London in the early 1990’s. He was a former partner in Lifford Wine & Spirits. Degrees in History and Geography fuelled his interest in and passion for wine. He is a supporter of domestic and international wines.

Chef Kirk Weiss

Kirk develop his interest in the culinary arts as a hungry traveller. Those travels have given him a great respect for all types of cuisine and cultures. RiverBenders have certainly benefited from his expertise.

Shawn Greco

Shawn came to RiverBend in February 2016. He has considerable experience in the F&B business particularly in golf clubs. He also had a 10-year career as a competitive flair bartender, resulting in 2 top 5 finishes at the World Bartending Championships.

Locale and Team

Shawn organized the seating in the dining room with a u-shaped set of tables – not as intimate as the library but one step at a time!

Now for the food and wine pairings

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First Course

Prosciutto wrapped scallops with watercress and parsnip frites.

Accompanied by the Laurent Miquel Albarino 2020 from Languedoc, France. Mike gave an extensive intro to Laurent Miquel and his winery. Albarino as a grape varietal is mostly associated with Spain. This choice was delicious with the scallops and the saltiness of the prosciutto.

Described as follows:

Aromas of grapefruit with a delicate floral overtone, the palate its lively and refreshing with generous white peach flavours and a hint of lime on the finish. A soft yet crisp and aromatic white, it illustrates Laurent’s signature style of clear pure fruit.

Second Course

Hazelnut crusted camembert with wild blueberry and fennel slaw.

The wine for this course was CKW Speri Rosso Veronese 2017 from Valpolicella, Veneto Italy.

Described as follows:

This wine is from young vines and shows the vitality of the youthfulness. Fresh and fruity, it is a lighter style of red wine perfect for a summer day. It’s light, easy drinking and versatile with some nuanced dried spices and fresh acidity.

Third Course

Braised Beef Short Ribs on sweet potato mash with a truffle jus.

The wine served with this course was Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 72 from California, USA

Described as follows:

Bright and juicy, with strawberry and black raspberry supported by savoury notes of briar and slate. Fruity and fresh Zinfandel is given added complexity and length by barrel aged Syrah and Petite Sirah. A touch of Grenache and Barbera add a more complex red fruit character and hint of red licorice and white pepper.

Fourth Course

Lemon and rhubarb flan with white chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

Served with this course a local wine – Tawse Chardonnay Ice Wine 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Described as follows:

This is the second vintage of Chardonnay ice wine produced by Tawse, the first being in 2008. Ageing this dessert wine for 12 months in 100% new large oak barrels has resulted in aromas of vanilla, apricot, honey and a touch of oak. On the palate is caramel and a touch of smoke, followed by a surprising tart finish.

To top off the 4th course chef delivered a gluten-free offering for the dessert (the rest of the courses were already gluten free).

Looking forward to the next…

Foreign Affair Winery at Crossings – November 23, 2019

This event was a four course dinner with wine pairings – wines introduced by Ed Haddon, sommelier from Foreign Affair Winery, and food courses described by Chef Ben – apologies, no last name!

The evening was thoroughly enjoyable.

Over the course of the tasting Ed shared information on Italian style wines – appassimento, ripasso and recioto (sweet wine).

Appassimento technique – talked about Amarone and the drying of the grapes prior to making the wine. How to keep the grapes from rotting while drying – the first attempt at Foreign Affair was harvested too slowly, handled too much and piled up when stored. It all rotted. Today plastic trays go to the vineyard, grapes are hand harvested to these trays in a single layer and the trays are taken to drying sheds. No-one touches the grapes after picking, fans keep the air circulating in the drying sheds. White grapes dry a month to 6 weeks. Big red grape varietals may dry for a year.

Ripasso wine is “a poor man’s Amarone”. The skins from the appassimento wine are added to a fermentation of less robust grapes.

1st Course – Amuse-bouche

Crostini topped with bacon jam, cranberry, brie and a sorrel leaf – delicious combination of flavours – kind of lemony, super vibrant.

Accompanied by 2018 Conspiracy Bianco – $17.95 – a riesling, nice and fresh.

80% reisling and 20% sauvignon blanc. The skins came from the sauvignon blanc appasimento.

2nd Course – Appetizer

Seasonal soup – carrot, ginger, parship, spice (perfect for the early snow and cold)

Two wines – the first a 2017 Unoaked Chardonnay – 10% appasimento – remaining wine fermented in stainless steel tanks – $23.95 – acidic, lean – nicely cut through the richness of the soup – the second a 2018 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay – $26.95 – (10% appassimento with 1 month of drying time, remaining wine aged 9 months in French oak barrels) stood up to the intensity of the soup.

A complement wine – equal weight as the food – would be the oaked chardonnay with the rich soup. A foil wine is a contrast and can also work well. The unoaked chardonnay is more acidic and instead of matching it cuts the richness of the soup.

3rd Course – Entree

Pork tenderloin, prosciutto, squash risotto, maple bourbon demi glace.

Two wines – both Bordeaux varietals – the first the 2017 Conspiracy -$23.95 – (made ripasso style – skins and lees of the appassimento red grapes) – still making this wine in April – the second the 2016 Dream – $29.95 – (partial appassimento – a Bordeaux style blend – merlot cabernet franc, petit verdot, cabernet sauvignon). No two years are the same varietals or proportions. Base the blend on the strengths and weaknesses of the varietals in the year the wine is being blended.

Both wines paired well with the pork but the Dream was a more complex, interesting wine.

Interesting to see the difference in the glasses between the white wine and red wine offerings. Ed suggested we try a little red in the white wine glass and compare with the same wine in the red wine glass.

4th Course – Dessert

Butter tart – fig, pecan, maple, bourbon, dulce de leche, spice

2016 Marisa (Recioto style) – $49.95 – riesling grapes set aside to dry for 70 days. Fermentation is stopped when the desired sweetness and acidity is reached. Not as sweet as ice wine. Great pairing with this tart.