Our members of the Vancouver branch enjoyed a fine evening at the lovely new location of Café Medina on Richards Street. We were treated to an excellent meal by celebrity Chef Jonathan Chovancek and his team, starting the evening reception with Jansz Premium Cuvée Brut from Tasmania, an interesting change from champagne, and a canapé of Lem Marrakech cured Organic Oceans Sockeye salmon with preserved lemon and pistachio.
Our first course was a Roasted Speckled Hound pumpkin and squash soup with charmoula chicken confit, crispy leeks and pickled green onion and chanterelle crème fraîche—an excellent presentation with wonderful flavours—paired well with a 2009 Balthasar Ress Schloss Reichartshausen Kabinett Riesling from the Rheingau. Following our next course of Shucked Sawmill Bay clams and spicy pork boulettes with caramelized apple, Canadian chickpea purée & bright herbs accompanied by a 2011 Môreson Premium Chardonnay from Franschhoek, South Africa, our main course was a delicious Tellicherry black pepper and fig glazed beef short rib with celery roots, spice roasted carrots, and a molten onion purée paired with a 2007 Canoe Cove Shiraz, from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. Finally, our dessert of Dark chocolate stuffed Persian dates, with smoky meringue crumble and sesame yoghurt, provided a sweet ending to a delicious meal.
Our thanks go to the Café Medina team, to David Spurrell for speaking to the wines and to Larry Stefan for his closing accolade.
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