A brisk autumn day calls for comfort food; I was famished after my first volunteer stint at this past Sunday’s Farmers Market in Kits! After being surrounded by earthy vegetables and wholesome baked goods for close to 3 hours, I craved for something hearty…and Andy suggested we try Burgoo on West 4th Avenue (between Vine and Yew Street). This was our first visit at this location; the vibe is completely different from the Mount Pleasant (3096 Main Street @ East 14th Avenue), there were quite a few groups of finely dressed gal pals (in twos or fours, younger hipper versions of “ladies who lunch” ) having Sunday brunch and perhaps some shopping at the trendy boutiques (Gravity Pope, JNBY) in the area afterwards.
Although it was well after 1:30pm, the restaurant was packed and there were a few diners waiting ahead of us. We were greeted by a friendly hostess who promptly took our name/mobile number and advised us the wait would be approximately 20 minutes. Fortunately the restaurant is located in a great neighbourhood filled with interesting shops; so “the wait” was easy, we were contacted and seated within the stated time.
Brunch was available (Saturday and Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm) but we decided to go with the regular menu, consists of Starters, Soups/Sandwiches/Salads, Bistro Classics and Seasonal Menu: Andy had the Bistro side salad (picture not shown) and the Kentucky Burgoo – a meaty (lamb, beef and smoked ham) stew with lima beans, corn, molasses, tomato and okra. According to him (he didn’t let me try so it must have been very good…), it was packed with flavour and a nice balance of savoury and sweet; he was “soaking” up the sauce with the French baguette which our server smartly suggested earlier as add-on to compliment our dishes.
I started with a cup of Roasted Cauliflower with garlic, apple, parsley and white cheddar (soup of the day; picture shown in header): It was a truly harmonious blend of all the fall flavours, the taste was “spot on”! It was perfect for a cold day; I am now inspired to recreate this soup at home.
My main was the Ratatouille Provencale, a medley of oven roasted vegetables in savoury tomato and garlic, baked with parsley, breadcrumbs and Chevre (goat cheese), finished with extra virgin olive oil: Tender vegetables with crispy baked bread crumbs and the garlic taste was bold! As a personal preference, a little less Chevre and garlic (both were a bit overpowering) would have been perfect. The serving was very generous and I had leftovers for dinner the next day.
Our waitress (I forgot her name!!) was very attentive and knowledgeable, from the prompt water refills to menu descriptions, she made us feel very welcome and well looked after.
Next time if you crave a homey bite but not up for cooking at home, it’s worthwhile to pay a visit.
Information:
Burgoo – various locations (http://burgoo.ca/)
Check their website for standard menus, pricing and reservations policy. Cosy atmosphere, friendly service and good selection of “comfy” foods from around the world. Moderate pricing (reasonable and comparable to other casual dining bistros) with generous portions. Long line ups.
Parking at West 4th Avenue location: metered; interesting neighbourhood with unique food shops and boutiques.
My Golden Apron 