Category Archives: Restaurant blog

Chateau Victoria, Victoria, B.C.

Last week Don had an appointment in Victoria and wanted to spend the night before and chose this one. For the best bed in any hotel we have been in, the size of the room and comfort is a real treat.  The view from the Vista 18 Dining Room is breathtaking, but the kitchen must have been having an off night. Don ordered the sou vide Duck and said it was overdone and tough.

I ordered the chicken and prawns and even with a steak knife had trouble cutting into the chicken. It looked more like a chicken leg with a big bone standing up and the vegetables could not be cut with any knife. The asparagus was inedible,  actually it seemed harder than a rock.

I asked for a glass of Pinot Grigio and when a bottle came to the table, I sampled it and told the waiter it was very sharp. He said it was a local winery and if I was having more than 1 glass. the cost of the bottle was the same as two glasses of wine. The cost was $46.00 for the wine.

Dessert was delicious and this was one thing we should have ordered two of. The portion size was perfect.

Our server, Drew, was a lot of fun and he had everyone at all his tables, laughing.

Now, let’s talk about breakfast.  We didn’t want a big meal but asked about the “Buffet” at the front door. No price was shown. This is the truth here…I took one really small pastry thing and 5 pieces of chopped cantaloupe that had 3 really mushy honeydew melon pieces attached and 1 black coffee.

Don had a slice of toast, 1 really hard fried egg and a scoop of yogurt, 1 orange juice and 1 black coffee. I gave Don 1 piece of my cantaloupe. The bill for this was $55.00.

You decide.

PS….yesterday we were in Save On Foods and found the EXACT pastry in a box 4 to a box. Thanks for really cheating. Heck of  a lot less expensive for sure.

 

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A Very Special 33rd Cactus Club Anniversary Dinner

For our 33rd Wedding Anniversary, Don made reservations at , of course, the Cactus Club. When we arrived, I was met by the lovely Caitlin, who remembers, I don’t know how, the names of her customers. She is truly a delight.

We were seated in the dining room section (far too hot and windy for the patio). Ladies, you know when you are all dolled up for that special ‘date’ you want to look like you didn’t walk through  hurricane.

A young man came over, and told us our server would be with us shortly, could we order a drink? We did that and our server, Tkia brought it to the table. This young lady is someone truly amazing. Let me explain.

Tkia asked us if we knew what we wanted to order for dinner, and I told her I had a bone to pick. She looked shocked and when I told her the crab cakes were no longer on the menu , she chuckled. I ordered my usual and then Don ordered his steak/frites and Tkia was gone to take our requests in.

A table with a young couple were seated and when Tkia saw them, she rushed over to give her a hug. I then stood up, tapped her on the shoulder and said I didn’t get my hug. Silly, I know. We all laughed and but she gave me a hug.

When our food came out, Tkia explained that she and her brother (both servers) worked with this young lady and Tkia was away for a while and this was their first visit since she returned.

Tkia asked Don how his dinner was and he told her he had a big bone to pick. He told her it was THE MOST VERY PERFCTLY DONE STEAK they had ever served him.

Don was asked (by me) to make a choice for dessert. He did and when it arrived, he asked Tkia if she could please take a picture of us. She backed up into the table next to us and took the picture. I immediately got up and apologized to them for upsetting their space. They thought that was no problem as it turned out, Tkia explained their relationship.

Dinner done and then a huge….read my lips here- they brought me to tears, with a wonderful gift. They made our Anniversary dinner really special.

Of course we will return and of course I had to continue our silly night, and I told the young man at the table to treat his date really good. He laughed and said he would, just because I told him.

It was a fun, light and most enjoyable time.

 

 

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