Mosaic Bar and Grille – A Feast For The Eyes

As I was browsing the menu, it is apparent that Chef Thomas created each course with the purpose of utilizing the freshest in-season ingredients while incorporating the radiant flavours of summer. The courses were light, refreshing, and conceptually beautiful.

I asked for a Strawberry Mojito but it turns out they only had all the other berries (blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries) so I got a Mixed Berry Mojito instead. The fresh berries were muddled and there was an intense amount of mint.

Meta Knight went with the Alexander Keith’s Pale Ale.

These Smoked Salt Biscuits never fail to impress us with its rich buttery texture and flaky layers. Absolutely irresistible.

The first course consisted of a Roasted Sweet Corn Bouillon with feta foam, chanterelle, corn kernals and tomatoes. The bouillon was served table side which allowed us to fully envelope in its aroma and senses. The corn was as fresh as can be and popped with each bite. It was a beautiful way to open the five course meal.

Chef Thomas surprised us with a dish he was experimenting with for his next tasting menu (when does he find the time to sleep?!) and it consisted of sockeye salmon, mint gelee, sour cream gelee strip, caviar, and a type of pickled vegetable.

The G.B.E Heirloom Tomato Salad consisted of heirloom tomatoes, basil gel, pickled okra, shaved Parmesan, and crispy potato skin. The bright vibrant colours reminded me of a vegetable laden garden and though it looks like a simple summer salad, the thought and preparation that went into making the potato skin chip, basil gel, and pickled okra, is undeniably complex.

This was my favourite dish of the night and it is called Skuna Bay Sockeye Salmon with sorrel puree, popcorn sprouts, and sweet garlic gnocchi. It was my first time trying sorrel, a member of the spinach family, and boy was it divine. I loved the acidity of it and when paired with the crispy gnocchi, my palate was in heaven. The salmon was caramelized beautifully on each side while maintaining a medium rare flesh.

I had no clue whether this was a dessert course because it was the perfect example of a sweet and savoury dish. On the left is melted Taleggio D.O.P which is a cheese from Italy and it was topped with granola or a pistachio museli mixture, if you will. The little pot in the middle contained fig jam, and on the right, some grilled white bread. I wish I wasn’t so full by the time I was given this or else I would have polished the whole thing off- jam and all.

To end off the lovely meal, we were served a gravity defying concoction of Watermelon Panna Cotta, lemon sorbet, marinated watermelon, black pepper, and chocolate shavings. To say this was refreshing is an understatement. The lemon sorbet was sweet yet tangy at the same time and paired nicely with the dark chocolate shavings. The ingredient that stood out to me the most, however, was the black pepper. I didn’t taste it at first, but bite by bite, it creeps up on you and near the end, it releases its pepperyness with all its glory and you will leave thinking your palate is on a roller coaster ride.

This Chef Tasting Menu is available for $45 ($65 with wine) and ends June 28th, 2013. If you have an upcoming anniversary or birthday, this would be the way to go.

View my previous post on Mosaic Bar and Grille here.

Service Rating: 4/5
Food  Rating: 4/5
Price: $$$


Overall Rating: 4/5

Happy Eating!

courtesy of http://www.mememaker.net/meme/brace-yourself-summer-is-coming/