On one of the last days I was working with a drill crew in Whitehorse, we decided to go out for a nice meal. I said I could use a good steak dinner! We ended up at the Cork & Bull, a higher end restaurant, known for their steaks and seafood. The place had decent reviews so why not? We lucked out on a Friday night as we didn't have to wait in a line. Pretty much up until that point everything was fine... Our server was polite, but after ordering some drinks before or meal, we must have waited almost 15 minutes for them. The place wasn't packed, so I was a little surprised. Luckily the Gewürztraminer I ordered tasted delicious, and there had to be 2-3 glasses worth served to me for the price of one. Not bad at all. Three of the four of us ordered steak and one ordered the halibut. We should have ordered the fish. Maybe the chef was just having a bad day, but while the steaks weren't awful, all of our steaks were not medium-rare as two were overdone and mine started out medium-rare in the centre only.
I ordered the New York strip loin with the Béarnaise Sauce. Now, my meal was both a hit and a miss. The sauce was delicious with some tang from the vinegar, creamy and flavourful from herbs. The herb mashed potatoes were good, nothing out of the ordinary and the vegetables and caramelized onions were cooked perfectly. The steak, however, was not very thick or evenly cut, so while the centre was medium-rare, towards the edges were overdone. This caused half the steak to taste dry. As for the rib eye steak, beware!! My two coworkers that ordered this were left disappointed, and not just because the steaks were overcooked. Both rib eyes were not thick cut and were more of a 6-8oz instead of 12oz. My 10oz was bigger than theirs. **I later read in a review we weren't the only ones to notice this!** I was also surprised that one was overcooked as one coworker specifically asked that the steak not be overcooked, as he really dislikes that. That's a fairly simple request.... that apparently can go wrong. For the steaks that we had, I could have gone to Earl's down the street - when I was there earlier in the summer my steak was perfectly cooked, flavourful and an even thick cut. It's unfortunate this restaurant was a let down. The menu looks amazing, the flavours were all present, but the lack in care for cooking a steak is a break for me. I won't be coming back here even if it was just a bad chef day. The price isn't worth it and I can find better food elsewhere.
0 Comments
I had a bit of a rough day today. Nothing seemed to go right at work and by the end of the day, all I wanted was a hearty comfort meal. I managed to beat the line-up as this awesome place had just opened for the evening! This is the second time I've visited Klondike Rib & Salmon in Whitehorse. It is one of the most famous restaurants in Whitehorse. This joint started as a tent bakery in 1990 and over the years transitioned into the Klondike goodness you see today! Klondike Rib and Salmon brings you the freshest fish, smoked meats (done in their smokehouse!), wild game and in-house made bread and dessert. The interior is very rustic, and brings the historic vibe of the gold rush. The photos, the memorabilia, the signage, the Klondike atmosphere is very warm and makes you feel like you're part of the family. The staff are incredibly friendly and aren't shy to tell you what they feel are the best dishes. I wasn't sure whether to get the reindeer stew or elk stroganoff. By recommendation I went with the elk! My meal started with a starter Caesar salad. Who doesn't love this salad? I found it to be a very light start as the salad wasn't drenched in dressing. There was just the right amount of a garlicky Caesar dressing and the fresh parmesan mmm love it! Don't forget to use your lemon! It adds a little zing to the delicious and simple salad! The croutons were soft, but not the soggie soft you may sometimes find. A little unordinary for me, but you can tell by the texture, the bread for the croutons is fresh and just not made crunchy. It's something some people may complain about, but I enjoy different. I thoroughly enjoyed each soft crouton, which just melts in your mouth! And so comes the best hearty dish I've had in a while. Not to mention the fact that I couldn't finish it, I now have an epic lunch or dinner for tomorrow! The elk stroganoff was just as amazing as my waitress raved about. I had the mashed potatoes with it, but you could get rice... if you wanted... and based on the waitress's quick response to which I should get, even I'm convinced the rice wouldn't work nearly as well. The stroganoff was packed with large tender chunks of elk, juicy mushrooms and pearl onions, all soaked in a delicious creamy brandy and sour cream sauce. If you've seen it featured on "You Gotta Eat Here," you'd see the elk is blended with rosemary, bay leaves, garlic, pepper, red wine and of course their secret Yukon blend! This wonderfully seasoned dish is all topped in the middle with garlic mashed potatoes (always enjoyable!) and sided with a massively fresh piece of focaccia bread to dip into the sauce! You better come here with an appetite. The portions are far from short!
While I had absolutely no room for dessert, I wish I did as some of the presentations that I walked by had me salivating... on the inside. If you have room, those homemade pie slices I hear are amazing! For your searching pleasure, visit http://www.klondikerib.com/. I love bakeries! Okay, that is a total understatement for I am a huge sucker for homemade baked goods. I love baking at home, but I rarely do as for one - I have no self control, and two - I bake when I know I can dish it out to others! So when I travel, I always enjoy checking out what bakeries, delis and cafés have to offer. When I went on my road and hiking trip in Alaska, The Village Bakery and Deli was my first stop after leaving Whitehorse. I should note that from Whitehorse, YT to Fairbanks, AK (a 12 hour day), I only ate a bag of popcorn, some peanuts and these two jumbo goodies! Yes... an apple strudel and a strawberry scone got me to Fairbanks! This bakery has been around for 25 years in Haines Junction, and it's no surprise why it's lasted this long! Scones have to be one of my favourite baked goods! I've only attempted to make them once and boy do I have a lot of work to do. To put the size of these in perspective, they took up the length of my legs together (as you see in the photo). The strawberry scone was nothing short of amazing. Nice and crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and yummy chunk of strawberries had me gobbling this up in no time! Strawberry and buttery goodness mmm mmm good!
Then there's its sidekick, the apple strudel. This delicious puff pastry with coarse sugar on top is jam-packed with apples and cinnamon! Just the write amount of a crispy exterior and warm ooey-gooey interior had this strudel eaten like a vacuum cleaner. These goodies, alongside many others, are baked fresh daily. I expect no less for delicious taste! So if you're travelling through Haines Junction, keep your eyes pealed for the Village Bakery sign! Make a pit stop before continuing on your journey! While I was in Denali National Park, I checked out the local town each evening and strolled though the stores and, as per usual, scoped out a joint I could go for breakfast for the day I left. The Black Bear Coffee House is a small restaurant which serves meals for all times of the day. Everything is fresh, including all of their baked goods, which are made nightly when the place is closed. The staff are mainly seasonal. But for those who are planning on being a cook/chef somewhere else, this is a great place to get the experience! And everyone working in Denali just loves being there for the summer. I would too if I lived out that way! I decided to get the buttermilk biscuits for breakfast. The two freshly baked biscuits were delicious, as well as their flavourful sausage gravy that engulfed them. Imagine the best homemade gravy you had, with a mild onion and sausage flavour, along with small pieces of sausage within it. The meal may not look like a lot but I assure you, it hit the spot perfectly! I also decided to grab a baked good for later during my travels. I went with the oatmeal raisin cookie. Funny, I hated these as a kid, yet they're basically my go-to for freshly made cookies! I don't think I need to say more when it comes to baked goods, which are loaded with awesome flavour! I really enjoyed being a the Black Bear. I had been there for a coffee the night before, in which it's a nice hangout and relaxing spot. I also lucked out with a free latte as the server was testing the new machine and I just so happened to be the only one there at the time she made it. They also were refreshed by my pleasant attitude, something a lot of tourists don't have. There aren't many places to go in Denali, but this is definitely a cool little joint you'd want to check out! It was nice to arrive in sunny Dawson City after driving through fog along The Top of the World highway. Dangerous and awesome! If you don't know anything about Dawson, it's a frontier town, with everything frozen in time from the Gold Rush era.. After a very long day of driving from Anchorage, I strolled through history and decided to check out Sourdough Joe's. They're famous for their fish and chips, and fish and chips are amazing! Be warned, though I showed up after the dinner rush, this place packs quickly and so you can expect a wait. That being said, everyone knows it's well worth the wait! I decided to go with the halibut fish and chips (you can also get cod or sockeye salmon). Other than the fact you get homemade tartar sauce, coleslaw and fries, I got these two massive pieces of fish! p.s ordered the one piece and it essentially is two. Not too shabby! I love halibut and it was so juicy and flakey. Everything was delicious, not to mention filling! No matter how full you are, you're left wanting more! ....Okay so there's one amazing reason why these fish were so tasty. Let's dissect the batter shall we? It's a secret recipe made in house and it's so thin yet crunchy. You can see parts of the fish, which how often do you get more fish then batter? This is why this place has the best fish and chips (or it's the best place I've ever been to anyways). You have tasty fresh fish, a batter no one can compete with, and a historic fun atmosphere that ties it all together! If you're going northbound, just go to Dawson City. It's a town like no other and has food that also is like no other! I couldn't save the best for last. This is The Bridge, which is located off a pier in Anchorage, Alaska. I wanted to have the best seafood the State has to offer, and from what I read about the food and chefs here, I knew it was the place to go to. The Bridge bases its meals off fresh ingredients only - the seafood is caught and brought in daily, just in time to cook up and make it to your plate. They have their various items on display, and a board which indicates which crab or fish is readily available at various times of the year. The waitress was vey friendly (and gave me the know-how for cracking crab legs!) and suggested I get the King Salmon for dinner. When you order an entre, the yummy looking salad bar is free. The cold snow crab legs were amazing, and the knuckle meat also had a saltiness that was so good! Then add the fresh beet salad, salmon pasta salad, tater salad and coleslaw and that is how I got to start my meal. Don't forget the salmon butter on your buns to start - I wanted to steal what I didn't finish! So then comes the entre! A large piece of Chinook Salmon, perfectly pan seared, lightly seasoned and with a drizzle of lemon had me saying it was the best salmon I've ever had. Thank you chefs for making something simple so delicious! And the fresh locally grown potatoes and vegetables to go with it were excellent. Add a lovely glass of wine with dinner and this was a winner. I should note that they only serve wine and beer here, no hard liquor. But for fine dining seafood, I think wine is your best option anyways! The last little piece of uniqueness to this place, other than the lovely interior, is that where I was seated, there were windows that provided a few of the pier (both sides), in which you can enjoy watching the locals make their several catch of the days! If someday I were to ever make my way back to Anchorage, I'd certainly come here again. I wish I could have also had their king crab. Everything on the menu sounded amazing! Get to Alaska and stop at The Bridge! About a month ago I decided to try a new café that opened near my house. PappaRoti is a humble shop, which is known for one thing and one thing only, their roti buns. This Malaysian bun is popular in southeast Asia, where the pastry has a crunchy exterior and moist buttery fluffy interior. Not knowing what the roti bun was all about at the time of my visit, I decided to go to PappaRoti and see what all the buzz was about. The café itself is a nice place to sit down and work at, similar to Starbucks. However, luckily I was able to sit on a couch near the back of the store as when I sat a table with a chair originally, well.... it's just not designed for tall people! It was a bit uncomfortable. When placing my order, I had the option of getting the original roti bun or one with extra additions (whipped topping, syrups, etc). I stuck to the tried and true and ordered tea with it. I should note when ordering tea, it's served in a pot so if you go alone, plan to stay a while, or share with someone else. The tea was served to my table first, in which there was a 3-timer set for if I wanted my vanilla-infused tea to be mild or strong flavoured. With the way the tea is served, you have the feeling of being at home. The home-made roti bun soon accompanied my tea and I was not disappointed. I took my time eating it as I wanted to savour the flavour. The crispy exterior had a caramel coffee cream coating and the interior was buttery, fluffy and moist - as expected. There's not much else to say other than that it was flavourful, moist, and delicious! I love bread, so this was a nice treat. The only thing I was not so happy with was the price for the bun and tea - was around $7!! Seriously? I'm sure next time I go back will be to socialize over tea with a friend and share the bun. I wouldn't go back on my own because it's too expensive and in my eyes, not worth it. I'd say it's somewhere you go once to try and enjoy the roti bun - as it's absolutely tasty. Try something new and move along! |