Dinner with Friends (Food)

Going to Freshwood Grill is always a good thing. The food invokes mach-speed searching for enough superlatives to last from the first round of drinks through to the last smidgen of garlic mashed potatoes stuck to the plate.

But last night it was the best yet. We were meeting friends that we don't see nearly enough of but now see about once a month thanks to the informal supper club we started. Freshwood Grill was our choice, as we had been there 3 times and each time was like a tiny sliver of culinary heaven that carried us through the more pedestrian meals of the day. Next time they choose. It is a wonderful way to get to know neighbourhoods and restaurants outside of your own usual suspects or that was recently selected as the "reader's choice." And, we get to see two of our favourite folks, which is, to keep the food terminology going, the icing on the cake.

We started with a pitcher of sangria, as it had been a cold and rainy long weekend and suddenly brightened into the kind of evening where you want to throw caution and jacket to the wind. The wine was buoyant and the addition of juice, ice and fresh fruit was the perfect start to a summer's evening feast.

To begin the meal it is impossible to not get the sourdough chips with guacamole (or tapenade - they are both divine). The sourdough is not a chip so much as a triangle of hot, soft grilled pita that had been delicately brushed with oil and perhaps sprinkled with salt. It is tremendous on its own, and that says a lot, considering that the guacamole and tapenade are so voluptuous you just want to scoop it out with your fingers.

Luckily, we all chose different entrees, which meant that when our dinner arrived, we were an intersection of arms traveling from plate to plate, fish traversing kitty corner and short ribs nearly bouncing off the table amid the frenzy.

The maple salmon was tender but not mushy, flavourful but not overwhelming. The short ribs were meaty and chewy and a helluva lot of fun to eat. They also tasted damn good. The catfish was done perfectly and delectably, but it was the veggie burger that surprised us most.

Its soft liverwurst consistency was at initially shocking, but before we had a chance to comment, the spiciness and crunchiness set in and we were agog. It was quiet for a couple of seconds and then we all rushed to try and find the words for it.

It is rare that a restaurant does its sides and condiments as well (and/or better) than their mains, but it is a fact here at Freshwood. It was hard to decide which was better - the chipotle or curry mayonnaise. It was decided and voted upon that that were both amazing and one was not better than the other, only different.

My soy broccoli was so enticing - crisp and green grass fresh - and my garlic mashed potatoes so sinfully addictive (neither whipped nor lumpy, the perfect potatoes for any occasion) - that I practically forgot about my catfish, like the cousin you went to prom with and then only remembered because they drove.

I have gone on and on about the food at Freshwood because it's what you do there. It is simply impossible to not "ooh" after taking a bite, or exhale repeatedly while looking through the menu (just thinking about it makes me salivate). But for one night and one night only, it was the company that topped my list. And for a place like Freshwood, that’s simply the cherry on top.