Winterlicious 2016 Preview at the Windsor Arms Hotel

Website: http://www.windsorarmshotel.com/
Address: 18 Thomas Street, Toronto
When I visited: January 25th, 2016

Winterlicious is a love/hate foodie event that happens every year in Toronto – foodies often feel that restaurants have smaller portion sizes, service might be rushed, or the overall bang-for-your-buck experience is more ‘nay’ than ‘yay’. I would have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with my Winterlicious dinner at The Living Room, the dining area of the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto.

The boutique hotel was built in 1927 and brings old-world, neo-gothic charm right in the heart of Yorkville. The dining area is quite formal, with romantic lighting and British-inspired furniture and artwork.

I had the chance to preview a number of dishes from the Lunch and Dinner Winterlicious menus.

Starters:

Crispy Calamari with Heirloom Tomato Salsa (Lunch)

This was FANTASTIC! The portion size was massive and the batter ratio was spot on.

Wild Mushroom Veloute and Black Trumpet Mushroom Croquette (Dinner)

Very earthy with a velvety texture

Lobster Bisque (Dinner)

Roasted Baby Beets, Peppery Citrus Salad with Aged Balsamic Reduction (Dinner)

I love roasted beets, and this salad was perfection. The arugula salad was delicately dressed with a sweet, citrusy dressing.

Mains:

Pan Seared Sea Bass with Beet Ravioli, Shaved Fennel and Lemon Butter Sauce (Dinner)

Marinated Beef Rib, Butternut Squash and Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes with Horseradish Jus (Dinner)

This was my favourite main course of the evening – the meat was tender, rich and oozed so much flavour!

Braised Lamb Shank with Sweet Potato Puree, Glazed Root Vegetables and Fresh Bean Tempura (Dinner)

The Lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender and the portion size was so big!

Chicken Roulade stuffed with Spinach, Mushroom, Polenta, Vegetable Tempura and Thyme Jus (Lunch)

I typically don’t order chicken at restaurants with the fear of the meat being overcooked. This dish was well seasoned and moist.

Desserts:

Lemon Trio (Dinner)

If you love lemons, this dessert trio is what your dreams are made of. Variations of tart, sweet lemon treats to complete your meal 🙂

Vegan Truffles (Dinner)

Rolled in peanuts and pistachios – delicious!

Overall:

I enjoyed my dining experience at The Living Room. The portion sizes were much larger than I expected and the dishes were expertly crafted with fantastic flavour profiles. If you haven’t already, book your reservation before Winterlicious is over!