LA CUISSON CAFE Neighbourhood ..... Corydon Address ..... 774 Corydon Ave Phone ........ 204-691-6046 Entrées ....... $ 7.50- $ 28.95
Beyond a really good cup of coffee or a bite to eat , La Cuisson Café serves unique delicacies with showmanship , flair , and a refreshing lack of pretension .
Nestled in the space formerly occupied by Loft Gastropub , this café balances old-school elegance and casual coziness , with prim sofas , soft jazz music , and shelves showcasing freshly roasted coffee beans . Elegance and earnestness are endearingly entwined , as eager servers fuss over details like gingham-lined cutlery baskets and leather-bound menus .
Coffee is a source of pride here , and each cup comes with tasting notes to rival those of a sommelier . The main event is java brewed by siphon pot , an order of which rewards with an invitation up to the bar for a show . The science beaker-like gadget hangs over a butane burner , which forces water up through coffee grounds , then vacuums the brew back past a cloth filter . The result is a fragrant , smooth cup , served in bone china so as not to dilute its rich flavour .
A well-stocked and ever-changing pastry case shows off pastry chef Stella Wang ' s French training with lines of perfectly even macarons , glistening tarts , and impeccably smooth cheesecakes . These well executed classics share space with tongue-in-cheek creations , like the line of yellow macarons which stared up from the case on one visit , each sporting an emoji face .
For the full experience , order high tea ( no need to reserve ahead ). Miniature sandwiches and sweets are ciao ! reviews
loaded onto a two-tier tray , accompanied by coffee or tea . A dollop of tuna salad perched on a single cucumber slice is inserted into the middle of a bite-sized , flaky croissant , while a little bundle of salty prosciutto is layered with creamy mozzarella on a soft mini crostini . Egg salad sandwiches are full sized with ( in classic teatime tradition ) crusts cut off .
A selection of sweets is included , from sophisticated tarts smacking of buttery pine nuts to rustic , still-warm scones , studded with cranberries and ready to be slathered in cream and berry preserves .
Larger versions of sandwiches are on hand for those who prefer twohand eating to pinky out , as are rich Belgian style waffles . Batter infused with matcha green tea shows off this shop ' s Japanese influence , topped with a ball of grassy matcha ice cream and sweet red bean .
The relaxed atmosphere is ideal for chatting or contemplating over a cuppa , served with just enough pomp and circumstance to make it memorable .
La Cuisson Café is open Tue-Thu 11 am-9 pm , Fri & Sat 11 am-10 pm , Sun 11 am-6 pm .
BOMBOLINI Neighbourhood .... Downtown Address .... 326 Broadway Ave Phone ........ 204-943-5066 Entrées ........... $ 16- $ 22
Nestled between brick buildings , this lower level spot is the casual sibling to fine dining restaurant Amici . The food is just as impeccable , and the attention to traditional Italian fare is just as detailed . For more than 25 years , Bombolini has had a reputation for quality , creative meals .
The room is dark but welcoming , exuding contemporary glamour . Often , diners studiously attempting to choose from the menu ' s inviting selection cause the room ' s hushed atmosphere .
With restraint and balance , the polished menu takes a trip through Tuscany , offering incredible pastas , seafood and succulent meat dishes using ingredients of the highest quality . Tuscan-style acqua cotta is a hearty , tomato-heavy mushroom fusion that is cheesy and comforting . Expect entrées to be made with precision by chef Todd Bjornson .
The menu covers a wide scope of Italian signatures . Those in the know share a pizza before digging into bountiful mains . Pizza con frutti di mare is an eight inch pie accessorized with plump shrimp , juicy scallops and topped with fried calamari , melting lovingly with pesto and goat cheese . A crackly crust is smothered in a thin layer of semi-sweet tomato sauce that complements savoury squid .
Beautifully balanced pastas like fettuccini con pollo blend flawlessly with an enlivening squeeze of lemon . Fettuccini is as smooth as a silk handkerchief , and grilled chicken is juicy and herby .
Crunchy pieces of asparagus interlaced with a rich but not heavy dill cream sauce , sundried tomatoes and mushrooms make spaghetti alla primavera a potential to be an autumn staple . Flavours of roasted tomato in a pesto cream sauce take center stage in salmone al pesto e pomodori . Flaky salmon vibrant in colour is a worthy indulgence .
Bombolini is open Mon-Fri 11:30 am-9 pm , Sat 4:30 pm-10 pm , closed Sun .
ciao ! / oct / nov / two thousand fifteen 35