The Divine Dish

Tasting Menu at Five Sails Restaurant, Vancouver

Posted on Aug 17, 2010 under Archives | No Comment

On my last trip to Vancouver to visit my dad (and do a story for lowfares.com), I was lucky enough to get to visit the Five Sails restaurant located in the Pan Pacific Hotel at Canada Place.   The restaurant is owned by husband and wife team Chef Ernst Dorfler and Gerry Sayers.  Five Sails restaurant diners enjoy panoramic harbor and mountain views as well as seafood focused delicacies on the AAA Five Diamond menu.   Highlights of the fresh Northwest/Asian fusion cuisine include soy glazed sablefish, rack of lamb and roasted breast of duck.

My friend, and my dad’s wife, Lynda joined me for a really good tasting menu from owner and Chef Ernst Dorfler.  Here’s what we had.

We started with a lovely trio of foie gras.  I loved this as I can’t get enough foie gras.  This is labeled “Foie Gras – Yin and Yang” on the menu and it is spectacular.

This version was traditional, with a nice petal and gold leaf topping.

Equally good was the middle selection on the plate, plated with fruit compote and toasted brioche.  Yum.

Our third version was a pan seared foie gras with caramelized mango and a port wine reduction.  I could eat this all day.  If you like foie gras, this is the dish to order. This was served with a Armajan des Ormes 2003 Sauternes from France.  A terrific pairing.

Next came a delicious duo of fresh big juicy scallops, glazed with mirin, capers, lemon and shallots.  They sat on a celeriac mousseline scented with vanilla bean and a carrot reduction.  This was expertly paired with a Laurenz V. Singing Gruner Veltliner, 2007, Niederosterreich from Australia.

I have to mention something about the view.  Five Sails looks over the harbor, Stanley Park and the Vancouver coastal mountains.  This, as well as the exceptional food, is a huge draw and a great choice for a first date, celebration, or just as an excuse to get out and enjoy a great meal with beautiful surroundings.  When we went in early June it was typical dreary Vancouver weather but if you can dine here in mid summer around sunset it is truly spectacular.  Okay, enough about the view and back to the food.

One of the signature dishes at Five Sails is the homemade Austrian style mountain ravioli, which we were lucky enough to get to try.  It is filled with spinach, herbs and ricotta cheese and served with hazelnut brown butter.  It was paired with a Matua Shingle Peak Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, from Marlborough New Zealand.

Our last course before dessert was this yummy lamb, cooked perfectly, served with a fresh mint aioli, honey glazed artichokes and vegetables, and crispy yam wafers.  We really loved this dish.  It was paired with a glass of Therapy Merlot, 2008 from Naramata Canada.

Our dessert was a chocolate delight, a valrhona chocolate opera slice with caramel ice cream.

It was served with a lovely Inniskillin Riesling 2006 Ice Wine, very popular in Canada, from Oliver.

We loved both the view and the food.  I highly recommend making a stop at Five Sails if you happen to visit Vancouver.  It’s a short walk from gastown, located on the R level at the Pan Pacific Hotel at Canada Place. Reservations are recommended, 604/844-2855.