This past week, Aphrodite’s Organic Café hosted their very first Pop-up Dinner. The theme was “The Flavour of Spring” with Guest Chef Meilye Mitchel (Chef de partie at AnnaLena) featuring the tender first-harvest offerings from local organic Farms including Glen Valley Organic Farm Co-operative, Sole Food Street Farms and UBC Farm – Centre for Sustainable Food Systems. The four course prix-fix menu was priced at $80 per person and included wine pairings. I attended as a guest of David of Vancouver Gourmet Club. Here’s a look at the deliciousness of the evening. Note: Everything tastes as good as it looks!
Disclosure: All food and drinks were complimentary. Opinions are my own.
Amuse Bouche
Sourdough – Whipped Ricotta – Variations of Rhubarb
First Course
Lettuce – Yuzu Vinaigrette – Dashi Mayo – Puffed Grains. The salad had wonderful crisp vegetables and a tasty yuzu vinaigrette. The puffed grains added a nice textural contrast.
Second Course
Grilled Asparagus- Hazelnut Crumble – Gougère – Asparagus Jus – Béarnaise. The hazelnut crumble was a standout for me as I loved how it added nutty flavours and crunchy textures to the dish.
Third Course
Pan Seared Trout – Seasonal Vegetables – Red Cabbage Puree – Herb Beurre Blanc. The red cabbage was particularly interesting in this dish; it certainly brought a vibrant spring color to the presentation.
Fourth Course
Short Rib – Market Vegetables – Ricotta Tortellini – Red Wine Jus – Potato Crumb. The short rib was apparently cooked sous vide; the meat was then seared on the outside to give a wonderful crispy texture.
Dessert
Honey Nut Panna Cotta – Buckwheat Honey Chiffon – Toasted Milk Jam – Milk Crumb – Buckwheat Honey Gel. I was really impressed the complexity of this dessert. You’ve got some smooth parts like the jam and gel, and then a light and fluffy chiffon cake as well as a silky yet firm panna cotta. Bravo!
Overall Impression
I was really impressed with Chef Meilye Mitchel’s creations of the evening in terms of taste and presentation. The pace of the multi-course dinner was also on point. Chef Meilye Mitchel is currently available for private dinners and events. You can follow him on social media.
To find out about upcoming popup events at Aphrodite Cafe, follow them on Facebook.