Last night I was invited to attend the opening of Quattro Restaurant’s latest endeavor, al Centro. This chic “centrally” located restaurant on Richards near Robson is inside the l’Hermitage Hotel and opens starting today for lunch and dinner. The interior is gorgeous. There’s enough room for 70 plus a spacious bar. I also learned that the flooring is eco-friendly and made of natural cork!
Media and invited guests were treated to a selection of delectable dishes throughout the course of the evening. The space was jam-packed [I’ve not yet experienced an event this crazy busy before!] in order to accommodate those wishing to taste the quality culinary wizardry that Quattro Restaurants are known for.
[Crab Cakes]
[Lamb sausage and mushroom pizza]
[Seared tuna appetizers]
[Meatballs prepared with pork, beef, and veal]
Being close to the kitchen had its obvious advantages: Easy access to the food and watching the busy chefs at work. It was awe-inspiring to see such a large volume of food being prepared over and over to perfection! The chefs never seemed to tire and were happy to pose for photos.
[Executive Chef Bradford Ellis]
[L-R: Sous chef Alain van den Meersche, Executive Chef Bradford Ellis, Alex B. Tsakumis (Partner), Patrick Corsi (Managing Partner)]
[Risotto balls infused with truffle oil]
Of all the wonderful selections served, these were my favourite! The tender risotto coupled with the truffle oil essence were a treat for my tastebuds. The delicate flavour combination married very well with my Pinot Grigio, one of the many wines poured during the event. Champagne and vodka were also on offer, however I kept coming back to the white, which also went well with the pizzas and sun-dried tomato crostinis.
[Crostini served with pesto, sun-dried tomato, and goat cheese]
[Tenderloin with horseradish cream, topped with crispy shallots]
[Richard Wolak, Grace Cheung]
Also adding to the lively atmosphere was Casey Lynn at the DJ table/laptop (love that many DJs use Macs!), spinning a fine collection of lively beats.
[DJ Casey Lynn spinning the tunes]
[Q4 al Centro’s fun-loving bar staff]
