On Tuesday, my cousin Tasha was busy, and sadly, my beloved Auntie Heather isn’t with us anymore. But Heather’s son, James, who I had originally planned to see Friday, texted me with canceled plans and joined me for dinner. Tuesday night was my fancy dinner. I usually allow myself one per trip, and I wanted foie gras because it’s Illegal in California. So I had reservations at Chef Rob Feenie’s Le Crocodile. It’s kind of hard to find. If you are ever looking for it, it is behind the grocery store.
Chef Feenie is a four-time Iron Chef Canada winner, cookbook author, Top Chef America guest judge, and a regular on Canada’s Food Network. He has also cooked at the James Beard House and defeated Chef Masaharu Morimoto on Iron Chef America. So he is not playing around. A veteran of acclaimed restaurants in the US and Canada, he is recognizable by his trademark square sunglasses. Le Crocodile combines the cuisine of the Alsace region with the flavors of Asia, and Canada with a focus on the perfection of simplicity with its ever-changing menu.
I was enticed by the Classic Tomato & Gin Soup. It was quite sweet and gentle, with no noticeable taste of gin, but the quenelle of creme fraiche brought a sour element, so I didn’t eat mine with the soup. James ordered the Caesar Salad, which appeared to have a lot of bitter greens like radicchio in it, so I probably would not have enjoyed it.
The star of the night was Seared Foie Gras with cherries in a citrus and cherry jus served on a toasted brioche with dark cherries. And just for the hell of it, it was topped with a jaunty little hat – a perfectly cooked scallop. Oh my God! It was so rich and delicious. And they gave me two lobes! You are usually served only one lobe. I always thought I could eat endless amounts of foie gras, but it appears the richness overwhelms me at just one and a half lobes. So James got to finish mine. He asked what it was like before trying it, and I replied, “It’s like if meat were butter.” I definitely converted him to the dark side. Oh, and they brought us a lovely coconut and lime palate cleanser. Even though they knew we weren’t ordering a main dish. Still, it was delicious.
I could have ordered ten more dishes, but I was saving for the things I really wanted. But of course when the bill came, James fought me for it. I had chosen an expensive restaurant, and I had invited him, so I felt I should have paid, but…he was a man. It got so heated he knocked over a few of the glasses on the table. I pretended to get upset and said, “Well, if you’re going to start throwing stuff…” as I mimed breaking a glass on the table and lunging at him. The poor young server was so upset, and I had to reassure her several times that I was joking.
James asked about ordering dessert, but I was hoping to go to La Casa Gelato, the bright pink ice cream parlour with OVER TWO HUNDRED FLAVORS!!!! The first time I went there, I was told they have 500 flavors, but rotate them out. This time I was told 400. They have a lot of Asian fruit, cocktail flavors, two cases of sherbets and sorbets, and an entire case of chocolates. 238 flavors. A few flavors are Seaweed, Garlic, Apple and Cheddar, and Black Licorice (for Josef!).
I was saddened to learn that they no longer offer samples as it became too expensive. I really wanted to taste the Durian again, but didn’t want to commit to an entire cone. I was also bummed they didn’t have Wasabi or Lavender this time, my favorites. They did have my go-to, Hedgehog. A Hedgehog is a chocolate confection made by a Vancouver company named Purdy. It is hazelnut and chocolate, but with milk chocolate instead of Nutella’s darker cocoa version. For my second scoop I ordered Pandan, a sweet Thai flavoring made from a tropical plant. It is kind of like vanilla with floral notes.
James called over from the cocktail section, “Is the Tequila made with real tequila?”
I replied, “Is the Hedgehog made with real hedgehogs?”
The owner corrected me, “Hedgehogs are chocolates made by Purdy.”
I said, “I was being funny.” I must not be very funny if I keep having to explain that to people. And yes, it’s real tequila.
