C Restaurant - Dine Out 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 10:42PM I was very fortunate to be invited out tonight to sample the 2012 Dine Out tasting menu at C Restaurant downtown. Situated at 2-1600 Howe Street, this popular establishment is owned by the Kamboli Group, along with other notable Vancouver restaurants like the Rain City Grill and Nu. Having just arrived home from the meal, I thought I would jot down a few thoughts while everything is still fresh in mind. 
Upon stepping through the front doors, I was immediately greeted by a pleasant hostess that checked my coat and showed me to my table. Looking around briefly, I found the interior aesthetic to be well designed, attractive yet comfortable. The tables were generously spaced apart to lend some privacy to couples or small parties alike. Situated a stone's throw from the water, the view from the dining area of False Creek and Granville Island is simply spectacular. 
As stated above, I came to C Restaurant to sample their 2012 tasting menu for Dine Out Vancouver. I will attach the menu below for any readers that have not yet seen what is being offered. Simply click the image for the larger, readable version.
To start the meal off, we were served Amuse Bouche or a varied selection of small, bite sized appetizers on sticks. Honestly speaking, all of the selections were unique and tasty but my favorite had to be the neat quail egg which was perfectly prepared. Please note on the regular Dine Out menu, the selection listed is Smoked Salmon Cannelloni with preserved lemon and creme fraiche. 
After we playfully made our way through the above stick appetizer, we were served not one but two first courses! C Restaurant wanted my group and I to sample as much of the tasting menu as possible so one or two extra dishes were served throughout the evening. 
The first course I sampled was the North Arm Farms Beet Panzanella Salad with harissa dressing and shaved ricotta salata. Normally, I dislike the strong taste of beets but this salad was definitely very enjoyable as each separate component complimented the overall freshness of the dish very well. The salad proved to be light and refreshing and was well-paired with a glass of Jackson Triggs White Meritage 2009.
As a bit of a treat, we were allowed to sample a second First Course that is available to Dine Out patrons as a $9 supplement to the Beet Panzanella Salad. Helping myself to a few of the Sautéed Spot Prawns with kale, chilli, lime and romesco sauce, I definitely enjoyed this dish over the salad. Please note this is purely my personal preference, as I absolutely love prawns. Although the salad was well made, I enjoyed the slightly more complex prawn dish a bit more. 
As we had many more dishes to sample, we bypassed the optional Mid Courses and went straight to the Second course which was a gorgeous Seared Albacore Tuna with winter minestrone, parmesan pistou and crisp basil. The tuna was perfectly seared, leaving the majority of the surface moist and tender which contrasted well with the subtle smoked edges. Served with a glass of SYL Ranch Nelly 2009, this second course was savory and flavorful. 
Moving on to the heavier third course, we were surprised yet again as we were given both options to sample. First up was the Seared Lake Babine Salmon with a spiced squash puree, glazed brussel sprouts and almond tapenade. This dish happened to be my favorite course of the evening which is quite surprising as I do not normally enjoy fish. The salmon was perfectly prepared and flaked off gorgeously with very slight attention from my utensils. The spiced squash puree was the perfect setting for the fresh salmon and the glass of Nk'Mip Pinot Blanc 2010 washed everything down smoothly.
Just before we were served this dish, Chef Robert Clark personally came out of the kitchen to introduce the dish which was very cool. It was a pleasant but well appreciated surprise to finally meet a chef I have respected for quite some time. Thank you Chef Clark for taking the time to say hello!
The "second" third course and biggest surprise of the evening was the Roasted Beef Tenderloin with walnut polenta, tarragon butter and confit portabello mushrooms. This dish is offered as a $12 supplement to the Seared Lake Babine Salmon but we were allowed to sample one plate each as a most generous courtesy. The roast beef tenderloin was extremely tender and served slightly rare. To any meat lovers reading this article, I have no doubt you will choose this course over the seared salmon. It truly is that good. The confit portabello mushrooms were large and firm, marinated in the gorgeous meat juices and tarragon butter for a very rich side appeal. This dish is served with a glass of Petales d'Osoyoos 2008.
Realistically, at this point of the dinner, everyone at my table was pretty full. Having courageously braved 5 phenomenal courses AND a tasty appetizer, we barely had enough space for dessert. Thankfully, space was found which was a very good thing for the Spiced Chocolate Pudding with crisp caramel puffed rice and orange blossom chantilly was simply divine. Light and soft as a cloud, the chocolate pudding was creamy but not overly sweet. The puffed rice were a great texture contrast and fun to crunch between spoonfuls of pudding and chantilly. 
In summary, although my group and I were very blessed to sample much more than the normal tasting menu, I have no doubts that the 2012 offering by C Restaurant is one of the best value packages of the year. Reading through glowing reviews by my colleagues like Richard Wolak over at vancouverfoodster.com, I can clearly see my opinion does not stand alone.
At this point, I want to thank the amazing Shannon Heth from the Heth PR Firm for inviting me out tonight. I should say that although my meal was "free" I would have had absolutely no qualms about paying the $38 + wine pairing premium for this meal. While other Dine Out options are offering 3 course dinners for $38, C Restaurant is offering four at an incredible price point. Thank you again to Chef Robert Clark and Harry Kambolis for coming by to say hello to us during the meal. Lastly, a sincere thank you to my amazing dinner companions! As good as the food was, I believe the company made it even better. Cheers! ~alvin
C Restaurant is currently accepting Dine Out reservations via phone at 604 681 1164. For more information visit www.crestaurant.com or follow them on twitter at @crestaurant
Reader Comments (4)
Have you tried any other Dine Out restaurants yet? I am curious how this restaurant stacks up to any others you have tried so far. Thoughts?
The portions seem pretty generous, is that true or is it just the photo? I did Dine Out tonight at another place with my parents and was really disappointed by the food we received. :(
Wow great photos, my cellphone photos never come out that good, I am jealous!
Wow Alvin, you always get to eat the most amazing food, take me along next time buddy!