The Curzon in Leslieville (Twitter: @TheCurzon, Facebook: The Curzon), known to the locals as mostly a weekend joint with fun bartenders serving cheap drinks, has recently been overhauled by The Food Network's Restaurant Takeover. J.J. Hope, manager of The Curzon, said the goal of the renovation was to have the Leslieville landmark be known not only as a neighbourhood-friendly bar on Fridays and Saturdays, but also an actual restaurant serving great food during the week.
The Curzon brought on consulting chef Deron Engbers (@TheDeron) to launch its new menu.
I was invited to The Curzon for a tasting last week. Here's what I had:
Vanilla Cured Rainbow Trout / Butter Lettuce / Orange / Lentils
Albacore Tuna Crudo / Caper and Parsley / Caramelized Onion
Potato Gnocchi / Cherry Tomato / Cauliflower
Tarragon Potato Salad / Potato Chip / Double Smoked Bacon
Seared Trout / Pea Shoot Salad / Red Pepper / Caramelized Onion
Mixed Winter Greens / Carrots / Crispy Shallots / Sherry Vinaigrette
Grilled Flat Iron / Frite / Bone Marrow Puree
Extra Frites!
Frenched Chicken Wing / Cabbage Slaw / Crunchy Honey Mustard
Chicken Boudin / Apple / Walnuts
Grilled Pork Loin / Green Onion Relish / Jerusalem Artichoke
Braised Short Rib Croquette / King Oyster Mushroom / Chili Crema
My favourites of the night were:
Double-Smoked Bacon - Who can resist bacon?! This thickly-sliced, double-smoked bacon was meaty and juicy. The lemony-sour tarragon in the potato salad complemented the bacon nicely.
Seared Trout - Perfectly seared, the trout sat on top of a very delicious medley of pea shoots, red peppers and caramelized onions.
Frenched Chicken Wings - Super delectable chicken wings with a side of honey mustard...I can eat these all night. The thinly shredded carrots and cabbage was lightly dressed and very delicious.
Grilled Flat Iron - The creamy bone marrow puree was a delightful addition to the classic steak frites.
Braised Short Rib Croquettes - The crunchy shell, the melt-in-your mouth texture and the rich beefiness of the braised short ribs made these croquettes so tasty. Loved the chili crema too! What a fun dish.
All the above dishes are now available at The Curzon. Go check it out :)
