WildTale is one of the restaurants participating in Dine Out Vancouver Festival

Late last week I had the opportunity to attend a media preview for #dovf Dine Out Vancouver Festival at WildTale Coastal Grill. I’ve been to WildTale before so I was pretty excited to go. I was not disappointed, dinner was up to the WildTale discriminating standards. The suggested wine pairings provided by Quail’s Gate Winery were perfect and enhanced the experience of a fine dinner.

We started with the wonderful Seafood Chowder which was just the right texture of creamy with lots of seafood. Also because this was an invitation, long table event and the purpose was to try the dishes and let our readers know our recommendations we also sampled the other two appetizer courses, family style. Sublime! You can’t go wrong with either of the other appetizers. The Organic Beets & Watercress was refreshing and the horseradish crème fraîche added just the right tang to the palette. Likewise the Albacore Tuna Carpaccio was exquisitely fresh and plentiful on the plate. I suggest sharing so you can experience more of these wonderful dishes.

Although we had to choose just one main there was a bit of sharing going on at the table. The mains were as delicious to taste as they were to look at. They had us looking over each others shoulders just to take in the ambience of the plating of each dish.

I chose the Four-Cheese Baked Wild Mushroom Gnocchi. Confession here: I am a cream and rich dish junkie so note that for many the combination of the soup and the Gnocchi, although both scrumptious, may be a bit over the top. For me it was love. Sampling the light appetizers in between did definitely add a slight palate cleansing aspect so I highly recommend sharing.

My table mate was generous and we freely traded some of my Gnocchi with her 7-hour Braised Alberta Beef Short Rib. It would be hard to choose between them, both were top notch.

The Herb-Crusted Wild Coho Salmon was pronounced excellent by all who chose that dish as their main course.

Dessert was a light and fluffy Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse with a decadent Raspberry Coulee bottom that had us all digging in to reach the prize. Burrowing Owl Coruja, fortified port style wine was a nice touch. House Made Biscotti was the end of a really lovely evening of good company and great dishes.

WildTale Coastal Grill

Dine Out Vancouver Festival

January 20 – February 5

APPETIZER