Last night we attended a “Clandestine Dinner”. To keep things a secret, we find out where to
go at the last minute. We meet the other
guests when we get there, and the menu unfolds once we sit down at the
table. I grew up on meat and potatoes, so
a secret menu is kind of scary.
This dinner was hosted by Kitchens of Distinction Culinary
Arts and owner and head chef Shirley Lang.
The dinners are small and intimate with around ten guests and are
designed to give talented local chefs an opportunity to showcase their
skills. The real trick is getting
invited to one of these events. Well,
that is really not too hard to do, apparently!
To get your name(s) in the pool, just email Shirley at secret@kitchensofdistinction.ca
and soon you will be receiving notifications of these exciting, delicious and
mysterious “clandestine” events.
Our dinner turned out to be a “Journey to Morocco”. Moroccan cuisine is considered one of the
most influential cuisines in the world.
Located in North Africa, it influences date back in history of its many
colonizers and immigrants. The first
inhabitants, the Berbers, left staple dishes of tagine and couscous.
The Arab invasion brought new spices, nuts, and dried fruits, as well as the sweet and sour combinations.
The Moors introduced olives and
citrus while the Jewish-Moors left behind their sophisticated preserving
techniques that we see in the frequent use of preserved lemons, pickles, etc.
The Ottoman Empire introduced kebabs and even the short-lived French Colony, left behind cafes, pastries, and even wine. Over time, cooks in the kitchens of the
four royal cities (Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes, and Rabat) have developed and
perfected the dishes that blend each of these distinctive tastes. Every Moroccan dish has its place in society
and varies with the market, the season, and the region.
As we arrived at the table, we were provided with a
menu. Each course was unique and for me,
surprisingly delicious. Our pictorial
will demonstrate the quality of the dinner.
To get into the tastes, you will have to sign up for one of Shirley’s
Clandestine Dinner. Till then, it will
be a secret!
If you are a tourist coming to Victoria, then it is unlikely
that you could tie into one of these dinners, but you can still try. It certainly is worth more than a try. If you are local my recommendation would be
to move on this one as quickly as you can.
If you don’t you may get no closer than these pictures.
For more pictures of the Clandestine Dinner, visit our Facebook Page.
It was that good! Visit Shirley's Web Site.
No comments:
Post a Comment