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September 17, 2003

Opinions ¢

A Night Spent at the Aquamarine Tasting Bar

Angie Cameron
David Lam Contributor

I had the wonderful opportunity to go
to White Rock’s newest Martini Tasting
Bar recently. When my clashing
entourage, wearing skirts and blouses or
shorts and plaid pyjama bottoms,
walked into the small modern bar, soft
house music and attractive hostesses
welcomed us. One of them seated us to
a table and placed little, black menus on
the tables in front of us.

The menu included BBQ’d Quail,
Dungeness crab cakes, and Calamari
rings. Another menu contained marti-
nis, lagers, teas, and wines. Votive can-
dles illuminated the tables. They
reflected off the salt & pepper shakers
that reminded me of IKEA or thin sil-
ver lipstick tubes, and off the miniature
silver sugar bowls filled with colourful
pieces of rock sugar. Clear vases were
placed strategically all over the bar. A
blue, jellied ceiling mystified and
enthralled me and I wondered if it was
a cool optical illusion or if the clean
fans’ blade vibrations really did move
the ceiling like the never-ending
motion of the sea.

When my mind snapped back to reali-
ty, I could see the chefs...not a bad
looking one in the group. I could see

Name: Matthew

Age: 26

What’s your sign?: Virgo
What are you taking at
Douglas?: Associate of Arts

from the way they prepared each dish
that they enjoyed and took immense
pride in what they did. When I walked
over to the white and chrome plated
bar, I could see a few jumbo prawns
marinating, and things being sliced and
diced. It made me want to try it all.
When I asked one of the sous chefs
what he thought was one of the best
dishes there, he looked at me and said
that everything there was delicious and
that he couldn't choose just one item.

I went back to my clashing group of
misfits and stared at the menus, willing
it to tell me what I should have.
Everyone else had ordered from the
black-clad waitress, and were getting
their drink orders. I finally decided to
be crazy and daring...after I canvassed
everyone else as to what their taste buds
had decided to get.
One by one, the
up...crispy Calamari rings with pan-
seared (in Soya sauce) Japanese eggplant
slices with Wasabi mayonnaise ($9).
Another order was passed by
me...warm Foccocia bread, covered in
caramelized onions, topped with aged
Parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes

($4). All of the selections had me want-

orders came

Degree, with a major in English.
Your favorite instructor?: I have
none, I think all the instructors

here are wonderful.

What's in your CD player?:

Actually, P’ve been listening to

Chinese lectures.
The last movie you saw?: I can’t
recall.

Your favorite place to hang
out?: Queens Park.

the other press ©

 

ing to change my order to whatever |
had just seen get placed at our table, not
minding the fact that I bet it would
have really pissed off our dedicated
waitress. While I impatiently waited,
my fork mysteriously delved its way
into everyone else’s divine orders, of
course they
looking...fools. Another order was
placed next to me...Atlantic Black
Lipped Mussels with Merguez Sausage,
garlic saffron broth, and tomato oil
($10).

Finally, after all my sneaky attempts at
tasting everyone else’s food, mine had

;
when werent

arrived. I thwarted most attempts from
the others tasting my food, filchers. I
had BBQ’d Quail with a jumbo prawn
perched on top. There was Pemberton
potato salad with little slices of ham,
grilled fennel and a few slices of jicama
(pronounced hic-a-ma) ($18).

For the Grande finale, I split a Frozen
Espresso Ice Cream Bombe, with two
chocolate ladyfinger sticks, a toasted
cashew praline, and vanilla rum
anglaise ($6).

For our sipping pleasure, one of us
ordered an Aquamarine Martini
(Absolut Citron with Blue Curacao,

Name: Angeline

Age: 23

What’s your sign?: Virgo
What are you taking at
Douglas?: Criminology and
Political Science.

Your favorite instructor?: I have
two, Terry Ferrell and Hannelle

Jantti.

What's in your CD player?: I’ve
been listening to Sublime today.
The last movie you saw?: Spun.

It was really good — it has an
enormous reality to it.

and a hint of Passion Fruit) ($7). It had
a unique taste to it. Another was the
Espresso Martini (Stolechay, Bailey's,
Kahlua and Frangelico shaker with a
shot of Espresso) ($7) I personally did-
nt like it, but I don’t like coffee. I had
the Creamsicle Martini (Absolut
Mandarin, Absolut Vanilla and a drop
of Cointreau - $7). This martini was
too strong for me to enjoy, so it wasn’t
high on my quality factor and to
upgrade in size, it was a whopping $5.
All in all, the staff was courteous, the
food was just great, but the drinks
could have been better, with a bigger
variety. The prices weren't too outra-
geous, for the White Rock Strip. I
would return occasionally with a group
of friends but it’s not quite the right
area for a romantic dinner for two, even
with the waves crashing against the
moonlit pier just 200 meters away. I
give the Aquamarine Tasting Bar 3 1/2
stars out of 5. To book a group or to
find out more information, you can call
the Aquamarine Tasting Bar at
604.541.6339. Your taste buds will
thankyou, mine did. Bon Appetite.

Your favorite place to hang out?:

A bench by the lockers.