Anytime we get a mid-afternoon invitation to head out of the office to a waterfront lounge and restaurant, we’re understandably more than thrilled – especially on a sunny Tuesday. Who really needs to wait until hump-day to have fun anyhow, right? That said, we zipped over to The Dockside Restaurant (host to our Vancouver View The Vibe launch party last summer) to taste our way through their new summer-themed menu.
Hosted by PR pro Paul Done and Executive Chef Simon James McNeil, we were treated to a tantalizing feast that left our appetites more than satiated as dish after dish was presented and served.
Chef Simon was on hand to talk about the dishes, and to share his philosophy on food, menu development and direction – noting that he’s spent a great deal of time planning a menu that can wow the summer crowds while remaining as locally-sourced as possible.
Given the fact that Dockside is adjacent to the popular Granville Island Hotel, Chef Simon emphasized the fact that hotel kitchens face a unique challenge of offering three meal services a day, 365 days a year, alongside managing catering for meetings, weddings and other events.
Despite that hectic schedule, McNeil and the Dockside team have worked tirelessly to create a tantalizing menu with the majority of dishes made completely from scratch, including all pastries, breads and most of the desserts offered (including the Lemon Meringue Pie).
Our afternoon of tasting an array of Dockside’s new house-made canapés and entrée bites included their Salmon Gravlax and Beef Carpaccio, Almond Brie Fritters and Pork Belly Poutine, Goat Cheese and Roasted Tomato, Prime Rib, and plenty more (so glad we wore our stretchy pants to this one!).
To help wash all the divine goods down, several BC VQA wines were poured and enjoyed by all, though we managed to leave room for the Watermelon Floats – a great addition to the dessert options that gets even better if you add a shot of raspberry vodka to the mix!
If you’re planning on checking out Dockside Seafood Restaurant, let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.