Tofino Wrapup

Home now after a great week trip in Tofino - I'm so sad as I miss the waves already. We didn't take too many photos as we were too busy having fun and surfing in the rain!

I did get some snaps of a really delicious dinner at The Spotted Bear Bistro. This relatively new restaurant is in the location that used to belong to the Rainforest Cafe. It's quite small, and reservations during the summer are recommended. Inside, the decor is westcoast (long cedar bar, First Nations prints and arts) but uniquely modern. Like their food, it's Westcoast with a modern twist.

We were extremely hungry after a day in the surf so we started off quickly with two appies to share. We ordered the Beef Tartare with local organic greens and thinly sliced Yukon potato crisps and a Seared Albacore Tuna with garlic foam, crunchy chickpeas and greens. Both were wonderful - really nicely balanced in terms of flavour. Not usually a big fan of foams on my food but the garlic foam added a surprisingly tactile touch which enhanced the dish. The beef tartare was marinated very nicely and the little thin chips added just the right amount of crunch.


For our mains, hubby ordered Seared Scallops with Wilted Greens and shitake mushrooms, and I had seared duck breast on a bed of roasted yukon golds (no doubt with the duck fat as it was sooo delish) and asparagus. Again, these dishes were smashing. Perfectly seasoned, just rich enough to be satisfying and light enough to want every last bite.

We were getting very full but since it's been spot on so far for this bear, we wanted a last course. I ordered a Molten Chocolate Pudding and hubby savoured a selection of cheeses. Heavenly!

Tofino has nourished not only my belly but my soul. As the carefree days of Tofino fade away, I am looking ahead to the next couple of days - the Southlands Classic Horse Show. I am ready to compete on Friday and Saturday, and there's lots to do before then. Wish me luck!