The first time I saw Cavino was when I attended the grand opening of Residence Inn. This is a great concept, coffee bar by day, and wine bar by night. The common theme...bar! One of things that has been raved about is their Truffle Popcorn. Well, I had to see what the fuss was all about. The plate of popcorn arrived warm and the scent of truffle was unmistakeable. Thankfully, the oil didn't make the popcorn soggy, but the taste was much milder than the smell. All the kernels were popped but some seemed on the wrong side of stale. True to the carnivores we are, we went straight for the Butchers Plate. This is a selection of three meats for $18. All the meats are from The Oyama Sausage Company, one of my favourites purveyors of meat in the city. We chose Jambon Blanc with the stoneground mustard, the Smoked Bison with the chutney and the Wild Boar Salami which came with pickles and olives. The bread and crostini that accompanied it rounded out the platter. The best was the smoked bison, lean and smokey, I couldn't get enough of it. The chutney was a bit too sweet for me, but the pickles and olives accompanying the Boar Salami made up for it. The crostini was a bit stale but when we mentioned it to our waitress, she promptly took it away and gave us more of the fresh baguette, which I appreciated. To finish off, we also got the Gamberoni Flatbread. The prawns on these were pretty large and had a nice bouncy chew to them. I also really liked the pesto they used, no heavy handed tomato sauce here. Making the dish perfect was the freshly melted mozzarella, and you can see the little pillows of them quite clearly in the picture.
Take note:
Certain tables have their own TVs
Service is pretty good since the restaurant was quiet when we went
Roast Beef Tenderloin available after 5pm for just $20 as well as Daily Features
I've been to Hawksworth for lunch several times and have been up to Reflections for drinks quick a few times too, but haven't really eaten at Reflections until recently. Located on the Fourth Floor of the Hotel Georgia, the space has an outdoor bar and lounge area, with accents such as a water feature, a fire pit and lots of cabanas too. As the weather cools, heaters and blankets are available upon request.
I noticed someone drinking something out of a copper mug. I asked the waitress what it was, and she introduced me to the Moscow Mule. Made with Vodka, Ginger Beer, Angostura Bitters, Lime Juice and a touch of Mint. The name refers to the notion that vodka is a Russian product. This is a strong drink...definitely made for sipping. The copper mug is a charming rustic touch. Another drink that caught my eye was the Boulevardier. Actually, it wasn't so much the drink as it was the ice cube. That is a gigantic cube of ice, easily taking up half the volume of the blass. The cocktail is made with bourbon, Campari and some sweet vermouth. Mix together and pour over the giant ice cube and top with a lemon twist. Another potent drink. The Campari helps to mellow out the bourbon just a touch.
To accompany the cocktails, we decided to get some appies to share. We picked one from the Cold side and one from teh Hot side. First we have the Spanish Manchego Cheese. This was served with a healthy pile of Country Style Ham, Toasted Hazelnuts and a Mango Fruit Paste. Next, we got the Hot item, we decided to get the Grilled Chorizo Sausage. This came with some mussels tucked underneath. The salad is topped with a light Saffron Vinaigrette. The sausage had a nice char on the outside, and was just spicy enough to balance out the cocktails. There are lots of other items on the bar menu, such as Scallop Ceviche, Chicken Breast and Bean Salad, Sablefish & Salmon Croquettes, Marinated Flat Iron Steak, and even a Scallop Potato Salad. Take Note:
Lots of wines by the glass available
Lunch is served Monday - Saturday, sandwiches start at $11
One of things that has been raved about is their Truffle Popcorn. Well, I had to see what the fuss was all about. The plate of popcorn arrived warm and the scent of truffle was unmistakeable. Thankfully, the oil didn't make the popcorn soggy, but the taste was much milder than the smell. All the kernels were popped but some seemed on the wrong side of stale.
True to the carnivores we are, we went straight for the Butchers Plate. This is a selection of three meats for $18. All the meats are from The Oyama Sausage Company, one of my favourites purveyors of meat in the city. We chose Jambon Blanc with the stoneground mustard, the Smoked Bison with the chutney and the Wild Boar Salami which came with pickles and olives. The bread and crostini that accompanied it rounded out the platter. The best was the smoked bison, lean and smokey, I couldn't get enough of it. The chutney was a bit too sweet for me, but the pickles and olives accompanying the Boar Salami made up for it.
To finish off, we also got the Gamberoni Flatbread. The prawns on these were pretty large and had a nice bouncy chew to them. I also really liked the pesto they used, no heavy handed tomato sauce here. Making the dish perfect was the freshly melted mozzarella, and you can see the little pillows of them quite clearly in the picture. 
