Insider’s Tips - March.27
Italian Dinner Dish: Duck Prosciutto, Pickled Cipollini & Artichoke
Executive Chef Loseto reported yesterday that there seemed to be a much greater array of produce from Mexico, with correspondingly less from the US at the Ontario Food Terminal. He was unsure whether that imbalance simply followed a usual trend at this time of year or whether the distributors were realigning their imports in anticipation of the tariff threat.
That being said, both countries offered produce that looked excellent.
Ontario hothouse produce continued to be plentiful, although the really good Leamington cherry tomatoes we wrote about last week were absent this week.
Prices were reasonable, except for overly-priced Mexican avocados, white Euro asparagus and, oddly, California pears, which were ridiculously expensive. California strawberries were super cheap. Chef continues to wait for the beginning of the Washington asparagus season. He hears that California asparagus has started, but the importers have ignored it this year.
Chef was offered fresh Lake Erie pickerel but declined for the moment because he continues to like the Nunavut turbot and Nova Scotia halibut, which is arriving today. He purchased the last of the Vancouver Island gindara cod (sablefish), which is no longer available because the fish have become too small.
Chef continues to recommend his Fogo Island Crab dish with homemade buttermilk and citrus salad.
One of our favourite dishes on the GEORGE menu, and one of the Chef’s signature dishes, is his roasted Quebec squab with Thai curry lentils. Don’t miss it!
Another interesting dish is his roasted Ontario duck with saffron pasta salad and artichokes.
The last of the bison and venison of the year are still on offer at GEORGE.
This Friday, Chef is putting on an Italian Dinner focusing on the region of Puglia, where he was born. Puglian wines will accompany the meal. See this Instagram highlight where Chef explains — then makes — Duck Prosciutto, the first course on the menu. Diners will go home with taralli, a sort of an Italian pretzel.
Next Wednesday, April 2, our 12th annual Opera Night will take place at GEORGE Restaurant. This evening is always GEORGE’s best musical evening of the year – great food and wine accompanied by glorious music! Reserve your table today.
GEORGE is again staging its traditional Seafood Dinner on April 18. Save the date!