Dine Out Vancouver Festival is back for it’s 22nd year and it’s bigger than ever. This year, I got to preview a number of restaurants before the official festival dates and one of the spots was Alouette. I have been to this charming French spot a few times now, and for Dine Out they have a $54 dinner menu. Alouette Bistro is located inside the Executive Hotel Le Soleil in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. They are bringing the classic taste of French bistros while showcasing the beauty and variety of West Coast flavours and ingredients. Check out my Alouette Dine Out Vancouver $54 dinner menu review below!
Alouette Dine Out Vancouver $54 Dinner Menu – Starters
For starters there is a selection of three dishes –
- Beef Tartare
- Baked Brie
- Carrot salad
Normally their signature Beef Tartare is prepared tableside, but for Dine Out it will be served already platted. This dish features shallots, cornichon, truffle, chives, egg yolk and baguette. Alouette makes one of the best tartare’s in the city and this would definitely be my pick for my starter.
The Baked Brie features a maple gastrique, pickles and baguette. It’s ooey gooey and cheesy in the best way. A very rich dish and definitely best shared. The maple gastrique adds a nice sweetness that cuts through the overall richness of the dish.
The Carrot Salad features multi coloured carrots, lardon, radish, frisée and vinaigrette. The carrots are sweet and earthy and if you love carrots this dish is definitely for you.
Alouette Dine Out Vancouver $54 Dinner Menu – Entrees
Similar to the starters, there are three options for the entrée portion of the menu:
- Trout Almondine
- Duck Cassoulet
- Truffled Risotto
The Trout Almondine features green beans, peppers, radish, almonds, capers and a brown butter sauce. The trout was moist and flakey with a perfectly crispy skin. I love the topping of ikura for a fresh pop of saltiness. A beautiful presented dish with delicate flavours.
The Duck Cassoulet is a signature dish here and features a crispy confit duck leg, lardon, sausage, cannellini bean, carrots, celeriac, tomato and onions. The duck leg is so crispy and flavourful. I love the cannellini beans – they are very flavourful with just enough saltiness. The beans are cooked perfectly, not too mushy.
The Truffled Risotto features wild & cultivated mushrooms, black truffle, mascarpone and parmesan. It’s not your traditional risotto because they use farro instead of arborio rice. Farro is a protein and fiber-packed whole grain. It’s got bit more of a chew so it’s not as soft as a traditional risotto. This is a good choice if you’re not into duck or fish!
Alouette Dine Out Vancouver $54 Dinner Menu – Dessert
The dessert offering for the Dine Out menu is their Lark Bar. It features dark chocolate marquise, chiffon and sorbet. The bar is light and fluffy with a delightful crunchy base. Even though it’s very chocolatey, because of the use of dark chocolate it’s not too sweet. A lovely way to end the meal.
Worth a Try?
Yes! The portion sizes were generous and all the dishes were very well executed. The service, as always was spot on and I really enjoyed my experience here! I’ve been here as both a media guest and a paying guest and I have always had a great time. Their dine out menu value is definitely there and this is a great way to indulge in a fantastic 3 course French dinner!
Alouette Bistro
Address: 567 Hornby Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2E8
Website: www.alouettevancouver.com