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Dinner At West Restaurant

written by John Chow on June 27, 2008

How to make $593 in less than one hour

Recognized as the jewel in Vancouver’s culinary crown, West Restaurant offers outstanding contemporary regional cuisine and seamless service to help it garnered four consecutive wins as Restaurant of the Year by the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards.

Located at Granville and West 13th Avenue, West makes great use of locally sourced ingredients to present a menu that is fresh, entertaining and true to the region. From the moment you step in until the moment you leave, West will deliver an experience that is second to none. The room is open and luxurious. The walls are lined with marble and leather with huge mirrors so you can see your waiter go up the temperature-controlled wall of wine. The staff is friendly, the service is great and the food is even greater.

Diners at West can choose from a normal three course dinner menu or do what we did and order the eight course tasting menu that will explode every sense in your body. Dinner for four came to $700 with tax, tips and drinks. That should knock some sense back into you!

The Eight Course Tasting Menu

Amuse Bouche. This is a starter dish to prepare the taste bubs for the culinary assault that is about to come. It’s made from tuna and very refreshing.

Tian of Duggeness crab and couscous, smoke tomato gazpacho. Light, refreshing and airy is the best way to describe this dish.

Foie Gras Terrine. I was a bit disappointed that West didn’t make the pear seared Foie Gras as that’s my favorite. As a Terrine, the one at West was among the best I’ve tasted.

Fresh seared Qualicum Bay scallops with buttered lentils and pineau des charentes. This was a stand out dish.

Supreme of spring salmon, petits pois a la francaise and tomato fondue. Perfectly cooked with just the right firmness.

Veal tenderloin and sweetbreads with roasted peaches and mint polenta. The veal was so tender you could cut it with a fork.

A selection of cheeses from Quebec and France. My favorite was the Blue Cheese on the right.

Chocolate praline mille-feuille with espresso cream pistachio chocolate swirl ice cream. This was a great way to end a three hour meal.

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{ 55 comments }

Shawn Knight June 27, 2008 at 6:54 pm

I can’t even pronounce 80% of the stuff in that list… but I would be willing to try it all!

Abdul June 27, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Same here, I think Veal tenderloin and the sweetbread is great and is worth trying!

Shanel Yang June 27, 2008 at 7:07 pm

Yu-um-my! My mouth is watering! Thanks for sharing. This satisfies my cravings for The Food Network (which I gave up along with cable to be more frugal). So, about $350 for 2? That’s not bad, but still too rich for my blood probably for years to come. We’ll see how my blog does. :wink:

Mr. Rajawang June 28, 2008 at 5:20 pm

only for the rich and famous blogger can afford this..

jake June 27, 2008 at 7:09 pm

Hot damn that made my mouth water John!
Can you spot me so I can go try it out for myself ;)

OCGolfCourse June 27, 2008 at 7:22 pm

Wow the food is awesome. John’s photography skills seemed to have improved too (or is it just better lighting in this restaurant?)

4ALL2ALL June 27, 2008 at 7:41 pm

WOW… What a delicious dish!

Jonathan June 27, 2008 at 7:54 pm

I’m so jealous right now.

Simon Lau June 27, 2008 at 8:28 pm

That food looks amazing. What was the occasion? Also, given that it is an 8 course meal, how full were you at the end? The portions are small but the food is very rich, I’m curious to know if you were full, satisfied or craving an 12oz steak after!

John Chow June 27, 2008 at 9:10 pm

We were full by the six course.

Abdul June 27, 2008 at 10:36 pm

John. what do you mean by “This was a great way to end a three hour meal”
Did it take you 3 hours to eat that stuff? lol

John Chow June 27, 2008 at 10:45 pm

Yes it did.

Ecko June 28, 2008 at 1:37 am

What? 3 hour to eat that meal??? What a long time to eat. I usually eat only in minutes. 5-10 minutes is enough, or my mom will angry and shouting me. :D

Abdul June 28, 2008 at 10:54 am

I hardly take 30 minutes at a maximum, maybe you’re a slow eater or maybe you included the time waiting for the meal and the time you spent in taking photographs of the food!

Simon Lau June 28, 2008 at 11:09 am

From start to finish, 3 hours sounds about right to me.
It is 8 courses and you want to enjoy every single bit of that $700 dinner! Time to talk, enjoy your food, drink some wine, it’ll pass by in no time

Thiago Prado June 28, 2008 at 4:21 am

I don’t know how you can take so good pictures at the restaurants you go.

Simon Lau June 28, 2008 at 11:05 am

that works out well then, full just before dessert arrives
I was asked to go to Susur in Toronto before he closed, never had the opportunity. I’ll make sure a tasting meal gets put back up on my radar

James Wilcox June 27, 2008 at 9:18 pm

I had sweetbreads once while on a cruise to Alasksa…thing is, it’s not bread at all…it’s the gland from a cow. But nobody wants to order something on the menu called “glands”. Pretty tasty considering.

Enkay Blog June 27, 2008 at 9:21 pm

Now thats what I call fine dining. $175 a person seems a bit expensive but it depends what you were drinking!

tyna June 27, 2008 at 10:01 pm

The interior is well decorated and very inviting.Their food look delicious but i think 8 course meal is too much,I will settle for the 3 course meal.French blue cheese eaten with warm baguet is a taste out of this world.The Supreme of spring salmon, petits pois a la francaise and tomato fondue is my favourite out all shown here.At $700 for 4 am thinking is it cheap or expensive considering the quality of the food.I might never know unless i try eating there.

Earnblogger June 27, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Delicious post. Eight course? I should note down the restaurant name, as there is a chance of visiting Vancouver next year. Thanks

Pallab June 27, 2008 at 10:23 pm

You got yourself a tender loin for youself! Nice going John :lol:

shanker Bakshi June 27, 2008 at 10:31 pm

A post without any back link. wasn’t that meal sponsored. seems cho tasty food.

Abdul June 27, 2008 at 10:34 pm

The Desert that is the icecream is awesome, I love praline!

arthritistreatment> June 27, 2008 at 11:26 pm

ow i really ice cream. the ice cream john posted might be expensive.

Noobpreneur June 27, 2008 at 11:38 pm

John,

What a fine dining you have. 8 courses are surely enjoyable :p~

Al Young June 27, 2008 at 11:45 pm

I would love to try West Restaurant on my next trip to Vancouver.

Jan Alvin June 28, 2008 at 1:13 am

My saliva is dripping now.

Tom June 28, 2008 at 2:01 am

looks stupid and gross.

Tom June 28, 2008 at 2:06 am

by the way… what camera do you have? It takes very clear pictures.

Mr. Rajawang June 28, 2008 at 4:21 am

yeah, i want to know about JC camera too.. :grin:

John Chow June 28, 2008 at 8:12 am

Canon SD870. Just make sure you take the pics in macro mode.

Abdul June 28, 2008 at 10:58 am

Aha… so thats the secret behind it, Now I gotta search mine for macro mode!

Tom June 28, 2008 at 1:55 pm

it’s the flower button

Tom July 4, 2008 at 3:57 pm

I went out and purchased this camera, I didn’t catch it while it was on sale because I’m impatient. I look forward to seeing how it works out. It seems to be a pretty popular camera.

Mr. Rajawang June 28, 2008 at 5:21 pm

No wonder you can take the picture sharp in short distance@macro..nice job.

IronBlogger June 28, 2008 at 4:35 am

Maybe it’s just JC and not the camera at all???? :razz:

These posts always make me want to go and get something to eat. Which is what I am going to do now…

Thiago Prado June 28, 2008 at 7:31 am

hey Jonh,

I’d like to know why my comments is taking almost a day to show in the post?

thanks,

John Chow June 28, 2008 at 8:13 am

For some reasons, all your comments are ending up in the spam folder.

Geiger June 28, 2008 at 7:45 am

The great thing about blogging about this is that nobody knows if your spelling is wrong.

Affiliate Confession June 28, 2008 at 7:51 am

Looks pretty good, and for only $175 per person…

Thorsten Bonn July 18, 2008 at 12:28 am

Considering the amount of dishes you get and the work in the kitchen that is actually a steal. Trust me, try it once and you know what I mean.

Can’t wait for Lumiere to reopen on Broadway…

Erin June 28, 2008 at 8:23 am

Wow…looks amazing!
(Thanks, John. Now I’m hungry)

fas June 28, 2008 at 10:14 am

The food looks absolutely delicious.

Syed Balkhi June 28, 2008 at 11:48 am

This food looks super good very well organized … I better go get something to eat.

Nicholas Finnegan June 29, 2008 at 4:05 am

I think its hilarious how those very expensive resurants charge you so much for a little piece of food in the middle of a plate lol. I want to see my food go to the edge of the plate lol :D

congratulations though, maybe in a few years i’ll be eating food from an expensive restaurant like that too. :)

http://www.nicholasfinnegan.com/

Nicholas Finnegan June 29, 2008 at 4:06 am

Oh and what did you create this blog with?? its awesome!! Im using blogger and the themes either suck or don’t work!! Is this wordpress? i think im going to convert lol.

fas June 29, 2008 at 10:36 am

Nicholas yes this is wordpress and the design is awesome.

Start Blogging June 29, 2008 at 7:21 pm

The restaurant looks beautiful! I can’t imagine sitting through eight courses of food though!

jatt June 29, 2008 at 8:34 pm

John, it looks super delicious!!I wonder how much cost!

AhTim June 29, 2008 at 11:38 pm

Wow, such a huge and nice restaurant. I think the courses are too little for you, John. :smile:

–blog for dream–

Flimjo July 1, 2008 at 7:41 am

As always, John, these posts are fantastic. I love fine dining, and these posts just get my appetite geared up!

Waterproof Memo Boards July 8, 2008 at 1:24 pm

Wow it all looks so pretty – I think I would want to photograph it too – each course looks like an art work!

cheatcodes July 17, 2008 at 11:06 pm

What a delicious dish!!! :razz: :razz: :lol:

Thorsten Bonn July 18, 2008 at 12:25 am

Yummy report on the culinary ways of Vancouver. We are truly fortunate to have such great restaurants here.