Mediterranean? Mmmmmm, my favourite cuisine. You can’t go wrong when you cook with olive oil, lemon, garlic, parsley, fresh seasonal vegetables and seafood all prepared simply with a focus on flavour. Miradoro takes its inspiration from the traditional simple dishes of Italy, Portugal and Spain. These dishes are paired with the best wines the Okanagan has to offer. It’s a great spot for romantic dinners or a relaxing lunch of pizza and a glass of wine as you gaze out over the scenic valley below.
We were there for a birthday dinner, so we started with some celebratory local bubbly from Stoneboat. We couldn’t decide between the Brut, made from Moscato or the Faux Pas Rosé, a Gamay, so we ordered a glass of each. Side by side comparisons showed them both to be very well made and delicious, though we both had a slight preference for the cherry notes of the Gamay.
It was a quiet Thursday evening and we had more than our fair share of attention from owner Manuel (Manny) Ferreira, formerly of Vancouver’s classy Le Gavroche. He is a true professional, always attentive but never smothering.
We opted to try their special tasting menu, which was a three-course meal – a choice of starter, entrée and dessert, with each paired up with wine selected by Manny. My partner chose roasted cauliflower soup garnished with almonds. It was divine. This was paired with Tinhorn’s 2013 Cabernet Franc Rosé. Because everything looked so good, I asked Manny to choose a starter for me. He suggested the beef and pork meatballs on arugula, served with tomato sauce. Accompanying this was the 2011 Oldfield Series Merlot, an outstanding wine.
Her main was a medium rare rib eye steak paired with the Tinhorn Creek 2011 Two Bench Red, which is a Bordeaux style blend led with Cabernet Franc and followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec. My pork tenderloin, served with spatezel and cabbage came with Tinhorn’s Oldfield Series 2012 Cabernet Franc. Delicious!
After a suitable wait to help digest our dinner we were on to the finale. She had Tiramisu paired with Stag’s Leap Port while I had a lemon custard with Tinhorn’s Kerner Ice-wine.
If you are lucky enough to be there on a Tuesday evening, you can join in on one of Miradoro’s Communal Dinners. Themes include Zampone-Sausage Stuffed Pig Trotters, Salt-Roasted Cod, Lebanon, Spring Lamb Nose to Tail, Tapas, Italian American, Forage, Sicilian Bolito Misto and (yum) Paella. Communal dinners are only $30 with fun and new friends at no extra cost. I’ll definitely be back at Miradoro, next time I’m in the area.
Tinhorn Creek Winery is situated just south of Oliver, BC on the eastside Golden Mile Bench. Miradoro Restaurant has south facing floor-to-ceiling windows and a lovely balcony with an incredible view of the southern valley.
