Five Sails - 1 Yr Anniversary
After my husband proposed, he surprised me with a fancy dinner at Five Sails, so it was fitting that we would return for dinner on our 1-year wedding anniversary (which, by the way, I cannot believe has come and gone)! I've had dinner at Five Sails three separate times (including this one), and every time I find myself surprised at how delicious the food is and how impeccable the service is. I'm not sure why I'm always surprised, especially now that all three experiences have been nothing short of perfect. Maybe because it's expensive and touted as such a fancy restaurant, there's no way it could actually live up to expectations, right?? Wrong.
Crispy Veal Sweetbreads
I would consider my husband a foodie by association; earlier in our relationship though, he definitely liked eating food but didn't know much about it. I remember him getting visibly upset when he learned that sweetbreads weren't actually sweet breads (for those of you who aren't familiar, sweetbreads are typically comprised of the thymus gland and/or pancreas). Fast forward through several culinary experiences and I am asked to share with him my sweetbreads appetizer. Honestly though, these are so good. They were crispy on the outside and creamy with an incredible depth of flavour on the inside. The whipped potato on the bottom with the crispy fingerling potato chips provided a boost to both textures of the sweetbreads themselves. If you're on the fence about trying sweetbreads, I highly recommend doing so at Five Sails. It'll win you over.
"Schlutzkrapfen" Austrian-Style Ravioli
It's hard to go wrong with pasta and brown butter; such is the case with this ravioli (you can get it as a main or in appetizer form as per above). The ricotta cheese inside was smooth and fluffy, while the hazelnuts provided a nice contrast in texture. As someone who hates cilantro, I could have sworn I tasted a hint of it in there which is why this wasn't my favourite thing in the world, but my husband would have licked the plate clean if no one was watching.
Honey Glazed Smoked Brome Lake Duck Breast
If there's duck on the menu, there's a 95% chance I'm going to order it. Here, the duck breast was so tender and you could taste a true smokey flavour, like it had been in a camp fire. After cooking up a duck breast at home and having it come out decent, but not the greatest after a huge input of effort, I truly appreciate the skill that has gone into this dish. Along side of the duck is pan seared foie gras on top of a potato galette. I'd consider duck one of the more "rich" meats I have somewhat frequently, but the foie gras just brought it to the next level. On the top right corner was caramelized mango with pink peppercorn on top. I didn't know what the hell that was all about except that it was such an intense flavour that was balanced so well with the peppercorns. So unexpected!
Seared Filet of "AAA" Alberta Beef
After a disappointing steak experience at FIVE in White Rock, my husband was seeking beefy redemption - and he got it. The beef was tender and flavourful, cooked perfectly to a medium rare as requested. Since he hates mushrooms, I had the pleasure of eating them all instead and found that they were almost as meaty as the beef itself! I could definitely see a vegetarian being very happy with this if all of the beef was replaced by the mushrooms. Along side the filet was a potato pave that let just enough of the Cashel blue cheese flavour come through; it was not overpowering though, as we are not blue cheese fans but thoroughly enjoyed this.
We opted out of dessert because the defrosted top tier of our wedding cake was waiting for us at home, but I can assure you from my past experience that the quality of dishes described above carries right through to the dessert course. My husband had let them know when he made the reservation that it was our anniversary, so our waitress commented that they couldn't let us go without at least a little something! Behind the chocolate anniversary sign (the best kind) is what I believe is a piece of their Chocolate Opera Slice. The cake is nice and soft and the chocolate is smooth and creamy - a nice ending to our meal!
Yes, Five Sails is a fancy restaurant and yes, the pricing is up there... but you get what you pay for. Delicious, high quality food and extremely professional service. I know for sure we will be returning here for more celebrations to come! Reservations are recommended, and when you call in, see if you can get a table by the window - the restaurant has a beautiful view, regardless of whether it's day or night.