An Excellent Dinner

On Thursday night I went to a very popular Westmount bistro (it’s the fly-in-the-soup conundrum: If I mention the name everyone will want one) and chef Jeremy delivered a masterful meal as promised. My dining partner had shouted down my suggestion that I meet with Jeremy beforehand and discuss menu choices. “Let it be a surprise — let him make what he wants to make.”

And I’m glad I did. The evening is a bit of a blur because Chandra at the bar was mixing killer Jasontinis (the usual bartender is Jason and he makes the best martini I’ve ever had; Chandra did a damn good imitation of them) but I was definitely surprised and delighted with what came out of the kitchen.

The first course was incredible. Since there was no menu and no one came out to explain exactly what was what I can only describe what I thought it was: an egg poached or broiled inside a slice of perfectly toasted bread, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled lavishly with black truffles. My shaky photo doesn’t even come close to giving it justice.



Next came a single, huge prawn wrapped in excellent bacon, grilled or broiled (hey, I can do that. And I will.)



And then an amazing, tiny vealburger skewered with a Kalamata olive. Delectable. Why couldn't I have thought of that?







And then the main course . . . Chilean Sea Bass done . . . well, I have no idea how it was done. I don’t as a rule like cooked fish but this was creamy, flaky and not fishy at all.

The dessert was some kind of chocolate, but throughout dinner Marc the waiter was plying us with wines by the glass (“Is this the kind you like? Do you want a bottle of it? No? Wait, I’ll get you another kind to try.”) and it’s all a bit fuzzy.

All in all it came to about $200 but it was the best $200 I’ve ever spent.

Westmount. Bistro. You know where it is. Thanks, Jeremy, Marc, Chandra, Jason (in spirit) and Tom the happy kitchen fixer-upper.

See you again thirty days from now for another round . . .