Some of my best experiences with food have been those where I’m all alone, eating with my hands and using absolutely no table manners whilst inhaling my food like I haven’t been fed in 10 years. Usually this type of etiquette (or lack thereof) is only acceptable in your own kitchen. But alas, I have found an event that not only allows you to do all of the above, but also allows you to do it with fine-dining cuisine and in the company of other fellow foodies.
Chambar is easily one of the best restaurants Vancouver has to offer. It offers a cool yet classy environment with an “unpretentious” fine-dining feel. They recently invited me to represent 604 Now and attend the National Belgium Day Feast, which was crafted by Executive Chef and Owner, Nico Schuermans and his team. It was a medieval theme, meaning no vegetarian options and no cutlery. (Very Fred Flinstone-esque but I wasn’t opposed). The dinner was 11 courses and consisted of 8 different birds including Ostrich, Squab, Pheasant, Duck, Quail, Turkey, Chicken and a Pastry Swan to finish the meal. The was also a few tasty side dishes to complement the roast beasts.
My top 2 favorite of the night were the Ostrich TarTare and the Tea Smoked Duck.
This was my first experience with any sort of TarTare and my first experience with Ostrich. Who knew such an exotic bird could be so full of rich and delicate flavor? It was served on a toasted crostini with pickled pearl onions, topped with a generous dollop of lemon aioli. The meatiness and silky texture of the TarTare paired perfectly with the crunchiness of the crostini and the tartness of the onion. Every bite was full of flavor, making this one of the best items of the night.
Duck has always been a favorite of mine. Every time my family would venture out of Saskatchewan and take a road trip to Edmonton, my mom would buy pounds upon pounds of BBQ Duck from Chinatown and we would live off that for days. The duck at Chambar was a spiced rubbed breast served on top of roasted kale chips with Okanagon herbed goat cheese, hazelnuts, and a sauce bigarade. The duck was cooked to a perfect medium, which made every bite a tender and moist flavor bomb for my palate. The herbed goat cheese acted as a creamy dipping sauce and went well with the savory bigarade sauce. The kale chips were an interesting addition, but were appreciated as they were roasted to salty perfection.
I do have to mention the Flambeed Foie Gras. This was another first for me and as much as the texture threw me off and I wasn’t able to eat my full portion, it deserves an honorable mention. My fellow diners ranted and raved about this dish for probably a good half hour. The Foie Gras was simply pan seared and served with juicy, roasted apricots and brioche bread. The portion size was extremely generous as this is usually a very expensive delicacy. I would describe the texture to be buttery, startlingly silky, and one that you may have to grow to get used to. (Or maybe that’s just me.) My fellow foodies looked more than impressed with the rich flavor of the Foie, as they mopped their plates crystal clean with the brioche.
All in all, my experience with no cutlery, 8 different birds and heaps of wet-naps was definitely memorable. Tickets for this event were $80/piece and for the amount of food you get – it’s money well spent. I rolled myself out of Chambar with a full belly, a new appreciation for finger bowls, and an eagerness to come back for a second visit.
Written by Melanie Booth
@melaniejibooth
