 www.bodegarestaurant.com |
Winterlicious comes to an end for us. For one last treat, I take 11 willing participants to a quiet little French restaurant in the charming Baldwin village for a relaxing lunch. Everyone has been excited about this occasion for days, some have even picked their menu choices while in front of the computer. The excitement built as we walked quickly through snow and slush, into the village of romance. Through Victorian doors, we stepped into the relaxed dining room for one last go at the prix fixe Madness..
Every foodie and couple should be aware of the charm and culinary gem that is the Baldwin village. You can literally travel the culinary world from one stop sign to another. On this snowy day, it is especially romantic and quiet. Barely a car drives by — the sidewalks are too icy — so we take to the streets. A flurry of snowballs are tossed around; it’s girls vs the boys (for the most part anyway). Before we get too carried away, I rush us through the doors to the house that is Bodega. We’re greeted warmly and whisked away to a table at the back. The room is bright and cozy, maintaining key aspects of hominess; fireplaces, and warm coloured woods.
My group of can be a tough crowd to manage. They’re a joyous bunch and you require a bit of yelling to get their attention. The menus are already on the table, amongst chit chatter, some mention they want wine while others are eyeing the half a dozen mimosas that are sitting at the table next to us. After a few moments of contemplation, some wine (Australian syrah and Pelham reisling) is served and orders are slowly placed. My group can be a challenge, some are picky eaters while others tend to take more time with the menu. Through it all the lonely waiter was gentle and helpful.
Bodega’s menu is bistro classics, and the winterlicious offering reflects that. Nearly every dish on the menu is ordered, and then passed around in a tapas-like ceremony for everyone to taste. The summary is a reflection of 11 international taste buds, and all are positive. Now that’s a feat.
Soup Du Jour; A tomato broth with chunky salmon pieces. Tasty and filling.
Mesclun Salad; Greens cleanly arranged with a simple balsamic vinaigrette. A clean but rather large serving.
Roasted Beet Salad; Juicy roasted bits of beet nestled together under a bed of walnuts, blue cheese and dandelion greens. I skip the greens and enjoy the marriage of cheese and beet.
Grilled Salmon Filet; Salmon steak sprinkled in a sweet tarragon sauce on a base of green lentils. The combination is complimentary except the salmon is slightly overcooked. Across the table, another individual enjoys hers without any issue.
Cassoulet with Duck Confit; A generous confit of duck leg served with beans and a braised lamb sausage. The meat falls easily off the bone, juicy in every bite.
Beef Bourguignon en Croute; A tower of puff pastry stuffed with braised beef and smoked bacon. Sweet pearl onions adorned with a red wine sauce. It gets rave reviews and it is finished to the very last lick.
Grilled Vegetable Tower; A refreshing mix of goat cheese, tomato and greens. Slightly smaller in portion when compared to the other mains, but equally tasty.
Chocolate Mousse; A silky smooth mousse so rich it almost makes you feel guilty for wiping the bowl clean.
Banana Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream; Warm banana cake that tastes like it’s fresh out of the oven.
Orange Creme Brulee; I’m not entirely sold on this orange flavoured enhancement of the French dessert as I rather prefer my custard plain, but it is still so darn good. The custard is the right texture; creamy and contained.
Winterlicious Food; with the small exception of the overcooked salmon on one plate, everything else was as it should have been. Even the details; the Toulouse sausage, the smoked bacon and the tarragon cream sauce.
Winterlicious Service; Laid back but attentive. A small venue means that you do develop a relationship with your waiter throughout the seating. We rather enjoyed ours, but never felt ignored.
Winterlicious Factor; Bodega has completed my Winterlicious experience on a very positive note. It exemplified what this festival is about, a chance to woo new patrons by showing them good cooking, caring service and a comfy environment.
Lunch is filling, we can barely move. Everyone is smiles, which means a job well done. It’s hard to please a group with such diverse palates but Bodega did right, all for just $15 per. With strength in numbers, it’s safe to say that Bodega can be very pleasing. Who says you can’t expect great food and service at an affordable price.
Bodega Restaurant is;
Soup du Jour
Grilled Salmon Filet; Provencal vegetables and lentil du puy, tarragon cream sauce
Chocolate Mousse
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