I love having Dine Around start just after Valentines Day – hold off on dining on the 14th (amateur’s night) and have the restaurant to yourself (and your sweetie) on the 15th. Even more incentive for delaying the de rigueur dining à deux? Taking advantage of fantastic dining bargains during Dine Around. One of the busiest bookings – and most coveted seats – is always at the Empress Room, where a regularly priced entrée can easily set you back more than your entire Dine Around Dinner.
So for the first night of the event – and our delayed Valentines Dinner - we decided to celebrate high style at the elegant and graceful Empress Room. Amid the chandeliers and silverware, the tapestries and tablecloths, well clad couples clink champagne flutes and sink into the plush chairs.
Unlike previous years, when the Empress Room had offered one choice only for each course, they’ve opened the menu up – 2 choices each for your starter and main. sweetie started with the soup selection – a broth of Sherry Scented Oxtail, with winter herb dumpling. I choose the Organic Greens, atop sweet golden beets and a nest of potato chip floss. Delish! Both were flavourful but light entries into the evening.
After a thoughtful and deliberate pause we tucked into our mains. With coordinated gusto, our servers unveiled our entrees from gleaming silver domes. On this blustery evening, Sweetie lusted after the Cassoulet – rich with tender confit duck, a vegetable-white bean bed and pancetta vinaigrette. The duck was a perfect compliment to the suggested Golden Mile Cellars Pinot Noir. I went with the vegetarian main - kudos to Empress Room for the veggie option – and was enamored with my technicolour Portobello Mushroom Gratin stuffed with sweet potato and edamame, alongside saffron pilaf and spring root vegetables. I too went with the suggested Mission Hill Reserve Shiraz, and the floral spice complimented the dish fantastically.
Dessert was easy – one selection on the menu – and we both dug into our Molten Chocolate Cake with cherry peppercorn ice cream. Loved the unique ice cream with this dish! The subtle pepper bite and sour cherries worked fabulously with the semi-sweet cake – and the hot/cold oozing action of the two together makes dessert magic.
A romantic room? Most definitely – and not just because there’s still Valentines aura in the air. If you haven’t been lately, or ever, make your reservations now.
Bon Appetit – The Secret Diner
721 Government Street, Victoria, 250 389 2727
