Earls Kitchen & Bar: (A) 2850 Shaughnessy St (N) 604-941-1733
A week ago I was lucky enough to be invited to Earls Poco for a Chef’s Table.
Not knowing what to expect as this was my first time, Earls blew me away.
SIGNATURE CAESAR
Smirnoff Vodka, Earls Signature Caesar spice, clamato juice, garnished with a pickle, beef jerky and a lime. Earls caesars are hands down, my favourite.
We started off with chef teaching my guests and I how to roll the Dynamite Prawn + Mango Roll. Since I only know how to eat sushi and little about how to make it (this is where you say me too), this process was very unique.
Ta da! I know chef made it look easy, but I can’t promise the same if I tried.
DYNAMITE PRAWN + MANGO ROLL
Panko breaded prawns, mango, avocado, cucumber, maple soy reduction and sriracha mayonnaise (house made), toasted black sesame seeds.
In House Sourdough (made fresh every single morning). The bread was heavenly, it was everything I love about sourdough bread!!
The bread was served with a Confit Garlic Oil and Fresh Herbs. Again, this was amazing. If only it was socially acceptable to consume oil by itself.. I would.
CALAMARI
brined calamari, salted cucumber, lipstick radish, oven roasted tomatoes, mint, green onions and a house made tzatziki sauce.
What I love about this dish was how DIFFERENT it is compared elsewhere. Sauce layered underneath? Brilliant. Mint & radish? YES! Simply genius.
MEDITERRANEAN LINGUINI
Spicy olive oil and san marzano tomato sauce, marinated roasted red peppers, grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, parmesan cheese and crumbled feta.
SLOW BRAISED BBQ RACK RIBS
Sweet and spicy BBQ sauce, warm potato salad and coleslaw.
Pictures do not do justice. I wish I could somehow capture an image of how easily the meat falls off the bone through my camera.. argh because it did.
Housemade pumpkin pie topped with chantilly cream and cinnamon sugar
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble topped with Vanilla Bean Gelato
CHOCOLATE STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING
Warm rich chocolate cake, chocolate and toffee sauces and vanilla bean gelato in a sugar snap basket. Honestly, I would tell you what’s my favourite.. but I just can’t. They’re all so amazing in their own way, I imagine it’s like picking a favourite child. But yah, we (secretly) do have favourites, so — chocolate cake.
I also had a chance to be a bartender for my friends, my 5 minutes of fame on what not to do if you’re ever a bartender. Rule #1 Don’t forget the alcohol.
WHISKEY SMASH
Jack Daniels, honey syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, apple juice, orange and agusta bitters shaken with fresh mint leaves (ps I made that, just saying)
Rascal Next Door White Blend & Rascal Next Door Red Blend
Wines are made by the same folks as Cedars Creek. The blend was created just for EARLS! How amazing is that. The wine was wonderful. The Whiskey Smash was amazing (yeah.. I am taking credits for that one) but no really, it was delicious. I don’t even like JD, so that’s something.
In all honesty, Earls blew me away. It’s not just the fact that the food is good, the food was outstanding. For a chain restaurant to put this much care and thought into their menu, it’s something you can truly taste through the food.
Like what “care & thought” are you speaking of, Fatpanda?
- 98% of sauces are made in house, except for ketchup & mayo
- Breads, burger buns, sourdough.. all made from scratch every morning
- It takes YEARS for a dish to develop before it hits the menu
- Earls only freezes well, their ice cream.. the size of the freezer is tiny
If you have been an avid follower of my blog, you know I dislike chain restaurants. There’s nothing in it for me. I can go anywhere and get the same food and service. So why do I love Earls? Well first, you get the same guidelines at any Earls but minus the cookie cutter corporate feel of large chain. And for me, I think that’s huge. I said it during my first time at Earls this summer. And after this experience, I can really say they do stand out.
Second and lastly: caesars. Wait, no.. and pumpkin pie.
Disclosure: Dinner was a courtesy of Earls Port Coquitlam
