Tidbits

Sleepover at Ikea - Maybe this is the only way to get to the $1 early enough…
A ramen bath - Japanese spa with special baths resembling instant noodles. I wanna play!
Old age homes for dogs - 1) Old dogs don’t like to be abandoned at strange places. 2) Playing with young puppies will probably cause the older dogs to die faster due to exhaustion.
A remote-controlled pigeon - Oh the poor thing…
An article on a brilliant method of teaching grade schoolers about bats and rabies. I smell a lawsuit.
Will trade beer for Crumpler bags. Tempted by the beanbag and messenger bags…

Winterlicious 2006: Bymark

January 29, 2006, 3:02 am

Where: Bymark Restaurant
When: Fri, Jan 27, 9 pm

The menu was slightly different from what’s posted online, mostly that the veal was replaced by the tenderloin, and there are two “upgrades”. I think the tenderloin was the best out of the main courses. It was almost raw in the middle, the way I like it. The rib ravioli was also really good.

Appetizer:
Seared Tuna with Sesame Crust, Pickled Onions, Asian Slaw, Lime, Soy & Fresh Herbs
or
Soft Cheese Ravioli with Chantrelles, Swiss Chard, Corn Foam & Brown Butter
or
Arugula Salad with Roasted Onions, Aged Sheep�s Milk Cheese with Hazelnuts and Citrus
or add $8
Crisp Frites With Butter Braised Lobster & Classic Bearnaise “Poutine Style”

Main:
Roasted Quebec Artisan Chicken with Truffle Risotto, Braised Leek Hearts & Sugar Beets
or
Roasted Sea Bass with Crisp Prosciutto, Sweet Clam Broth, Wilted Romaine & Fingerling Potatoes
or
Roasted Beef Tenderloin, Braised Short Rib Ravioli, Leek Hearts, Wilted Greens & Natural Reduction
or add $10
Roasted Lamb Rack with Sweet Corn Gnocchi, Chantrelles, Wilted Greens & Merlot Reduction

Dessert:
Chocolate Paradise Cake with Banana Fritters & Tahitian Vanilla Sauce
or
Pavlova with Stewed Blue Berries & Lemon

I got the cheese ravioli, sea bass, and pavlova. The sea bass wasn’t anything special. Disappointed that their “crisp prosciutto” is pretty much just bacon (that’s what happens when you fry raw pork!) The pavlova was different, but didn’t appeal to me too much. The chocolate cake was rich, but again, nothing special.

At $80, I think this was one of the most expensive meals I’ve had. It was an interesting experience, but I didn’t feel the meal was *that* incredible. Granted, the winterlicious meal only contributed to less than $50 of the cost, with the rest being extra stuff I added on like wine (Tokay Pinot Gris??) and a $6 latte. The food was good, the atmosphere, and the company was good. I thought the waiter seemed a bit cold at the beginning, but then got a lot more friendly and helpful later (hehe, maybe cause we kept adding extra stuff, unlike the *other* table..) He was more than willing to accommodate Lairon’s “half-and-half” request, half decaf and half regular coffee. Didn’t know such a thing existed, like, what’s the point??

Overall, I enjoyed my evening, but I don’t think I was wowed by the experience enough to think paying regular price there is worth it.