A killer hot spot on a nice summer day due to their grand patio, Chill Winston is located in one of the busiest restaurant scenes that Vancouver has to offer. It exudes the perfect hip and trendy vibe for the socializers meeting for drinks, but they also provide an “exotic” menu for those venturing to try something out of the ordinary. For me, one aspect I found refreshing of this location was their philosophy – use of local and/or sustainable ingredients from their farm in Tsawwassen. This is important as consumers are demanding more of it in the past few years and especially for their target audience, this is essential. Yet, I find myself confused with the plating of the dishes as it seems too pretentious for the casual lounge that it is. Nonetheless, the menu and the options have lured me in to make a revisit to try their other offerings.
Pretty Squash & Lentils ($19) – Description: Roast squash with pomegranate curry, lentils, seaweed beignets and tomato-squash gratin.
I love squash, all sorts of it and this option was calling my name. I found myself however, being disappointed with the final product. I wish each part had more of a relationship with one another instead of being individual vegetarian dishes thrown on one plate. The lentils tasted like they were marinated in a curry sauce from the indian spices and the gratin was ordinary and under-seasoned, lacking in creaminess and texture. The beignet didn’t have any outstanding flavours with the addition of seaweed. Definitely a dish that sounded better on menu.
Paella ($20) – Description: Made to order with big chunks of halibut, house made chorizo, prawns & curry roasted fingerling potatoes.
Not your average paella and seemed more like a Indian-inspired Bouillabaisse.
Posh Rocky Road ($7) – Description: Toasted rosewater marshmallows, candied almonds & walnuts, caramelized white chocolate cream, dark chocolate ganache, with pomegranate gel & cocoa crumbs.
A deconstructed version of a s’mores dessert, visually, it replicated something found at a high-end restaurant. I found the pomegranate component too tart and distracting from the other flavours, but other than that, each ingredient married well together. The use of candied nuts as a replacement of the traditional graham crackers was interesting and I actually preferred it more with its unique texture and taste in conjunction with the cream.
Long Live Feasts 