Three Boars Eatery - October 26, 2012
8424-109 Street (780-757-2600)
Angela's Selection

If you didn't know it was there, you'd walk right past. Maybe that's why so many people slowed to peer in the window at us while we ate - they didn't know they'd arrived. As we entered, there was a cozy bar the length of one wall on the main floor. Next we ascended the narrow wooden staircase to the dining area. We were surprised that Bree's pregnant belly made it all the way up. There were a grand total of six tables and we were seated at the one closest to the drafty window. Ang had to wedge a napkin into the gap to keep the wind out. In terms of the decor, there was reclaimed wooden floor and walls. Some of the seating was likewise on wooden benches which contributed to the rustic feel. At Three Boars they're not called appetizers. They're called Bar Snacks. Our Bar Snack of choice was the salted candied cashews. The next category on the menu was titled Rabbit Food. It was aptly named for its selection of salads and vegetable dishes. We enjoyed the Panzanella salad. Stacked with market vegetables and croutons, it was the largest item on the menu. Our server then explained that the rest of the meal was tapas style (listed as small plates on the menu). You know when Dave, Angela and Bree all agree, it must have been an excellent dish. That special dish for us was the oxtail bourguinon poutine. It tasted more like homemade stew but it was great. After that, we couldn't agree on the other two dishes. Bree and Ang preferred the duck rillet with toast and beer mustard on the side. Dave, on the other hand, thought the slow roasted pork shoulder was the love of his life. The girls found it way too salty. For dessert there was only one choice. It was carrot cake or nothing at all. Can you guess what we chose? Carrot cake! Its icing was fluffier than the cream cheese we were used to and the cake itself was almost too dense. It's okay though because they change their menu often. And thus ends another Dinner Club. Thank God Angela's pick isn't for another two turns. Ha!

Phoenicia - June 24, 2012

10406 Mayfield Road 780-455-8855 Dave's choice. You know it's going to be authentic Lebanese cuisine when you are the only caucasians in the place. The decor was typically modern and spacious but it didn't scream Middle Eastern like we had hoped. According to our waitress,, RaeAnne (sp), we had arranged Dinner Club a day late. Apparently Phoenicia comes alive on a Saturday night with dancing (even onto the street) and live music. Wednesday nights are happening too because it's tango night. Now let's dive into the food. There were a couple of different options for ordering: You could order individual items off the menu or, like we did, the full meal deal: a little bit of everything. Ordinarily the full meal deal serves a minimum of four people but seeing as it was our first time there, RaeAnne hooked us up. Because there were so many items, we are going to simplify this by naming each dish and then following it with a √ or x (for loved it or not). This overly obvious explanation was insisted upon by Bree. Tabbouleh (salad) x Fattoush (more salad) √ Hummus (chick pea dip) √ Baba Ganoush (egg plant dip) x but it's an awesome word. Wara'a Areeish Bil Zeyt (grape leaves) x Loubeh Bil Zeyt (Romano beans) √ Batata Harra (potatoes)√ Bil Jibneh (cheese pastry) √ Jwainih (chicken wings) √√ so good! Kibbeh (dumplings) √ but sauce needed. Jat Mashawee (mixed grill skewer) √ Bakalava (dessert which our waitress kindly brought us double of) √. While Dave damn near sprained his face trying to pronounce the various foods, all in all Phoenicia was a great send off before Dave's trip to the Middle East this summer.

Nola Creole Kitchen & Music House – March 31, 2012

11802-124 St. (Two blocks from Dave’s house- so why did he have to drive all the way to the west end to pick the girls up? Damn you rule #8) 780-451-1390
Bree’s selection

Nola’s chill vibe began with a darker atmosphere and a lit stage on the far end. Throughout there was a red and black décor with some accents of note: records on the wall and a display of musical instruments. The only feature that didn’t belong was the VLT machines. Thank goodness they were curtained off from the rest of the space. When we first arrived the place was busy and so it was a distracted waitress who brought us our appetizers. As “tapas” we chose barbequed shrimp, grilled andoulille sausage and smoked tomato and red pepper bisque. Much to Dave’s dismay he had to share his soup with his spoon becoming communal. No food forts at this Dinner Club. The soup was delish (great consistency) but the girls really loved their sausage! The first band felt more like background music so we decided it was time to play guess the waitress’s name! We also decided to make it into another official rule (#10): if a person guesses correctly, the other two will pay for their meal. Minus the alcohol. There are limits to everything. Bree guessed Veronica. Ang guessed Andrea. Dave guessed Cynthia. None of us were right,  but “Crystal” opened up to us from then on. In fact, she challenged us to guess her middle name. She even gave us the hint that it kind of sounds like a stripper name. Bree guessed Sunshine. Ang guessed Panther. And miracle of miracles Dave guessed Rose which was absolutely right! Nevertheless, for the rest of the night she was known as panther. Rawr. Now back to the food: Bree’s main course was alligator jambalaya. It was too dry so she asked for extra sauce and then it was sausome. Dave chose the pork and peaches on a bed of rice which wasn’t very warm. Angela ordered the blackened snap snap snapper. Yes, she did like it. Might have liked a bit more of it actually. To wash down their dinners the girls shared a bottle of White Truck. Pure class. Nothing but the best for the sistas. By this time the second band took the stage. They were okay but the people dancing stole the show. With a leather dress, arms in the air and a lot of “bubbling” going on, the party had really started. When Crystal came by to ask if we wanted dessert, we said, “Yes, one of everything! Except for bread pudding.” She was impressed. Between chocolate mousse, pecan tarts and beignets (fried balls of doughnutty goodness dipped in chocolate sauce), balls won hands down. This entire dinner club is best summed up in three words: panther, sausage and balls.

Vivo Ristorante - January 8, 2012

18348 Lessard Road 780-756-7710
Angela's Selection

Have you ever been to a restaurant where the meals you ate were not your choice? Neither had we until we met Corey, our waiter. Immediately after learning of our Dinner Club mission, he snatched the menus from our hands and asked us to trust him. Despite Angela's initial hesitation (What if he chose only the expensive items on the menu?), we agreed. Sweet surrender. After a brief but heated battle over which plate was designated for the olive oil/balsamic vinegar for our bread (Bree was right. Dave was wrong. Corey brought us new plates), our first appetizer arrived. It was a caesar salad like no other. The big head of lettuce came out on its plate chopped into three sections. They charred it, dressing and all, to bring out the flavour. We loved! And then BAM! Corey uppercuts us with the best part of the meal: the fettucinni! Even without cream in the sauce, the garlic, the buffalo mozzarella, the butter... it melted in our mouths. We had to request a second helping. It was a guilty pleasure indeed. With his next surprise, could Corey equal the amazing fettucinni? Not exactly. It depends on whom you ask. When the brussel sprouts arrived, Angela recoiled in true childhood horror. (If only there was ketchup). Meanwhile Bree laughed at Angela until her childhood nemesis arrived: beats. It was Angela's turn to gloat. Dave... was Switzerland. With the vegetables, we received bistecca, a sizeable medium rare steak. It was tasty but nothing to write home about. Where Vivo somewhat dropped the ball was the limited dessert selection. Because we passed on the cheese platter, we were left with tiramisu and gelato. Not being coffee fans, the tiramisu ranked second to the sour apple, blood orange and lemon flavoured gelato. Throughout the meal we wet our whistles with pellegrinos for Dave and Angela/Bree switched things up by ordering two bottles of a white wine called Blasted Church. Hell never tasted so good. The decor was modern with an open style kitchen where an eager eater could sit watch them cook. So Corey, if you're reading this, it's time for your report card: Bree holds up a 9.5 on her old school score card (Beats, really?). Angela offers 1 and 3/4 thumbs up (Brussel sprouts... no ketchup). Teacher Dave gives an A- (Corey is not a hot female). Vivo is definitely worth a second go.