Dish March 2020 | Page 5

DISH MAGAZINE MARCH 2020 An appetizer of carved lamb loin seasoned with celery root puree, rhubarb and Jordan cherry chutney and rosemary jus. events and “pop-up” meals the Niagara Parks chefs produce every year. And call- ing the meals “special” is no exaggeration. As soon as we arrived at the second floor foyer of the Table Rock Centre where the appetizers were being served, with tall windows overlooking the glit- tering ice-bedecked waterfalls, I knew it was going to be an amazing night. Admission was pricey at $125 a head, but the view, to me, was already worth the price of admission.   On three long tables was an extensive and extravagant offering of charcuterie with beautifully displayed Ontario-cured meats from a simple prosciutto to a more exotic smoked muscovy duck breast, which paired with an impressive line of Ontario produced cheeses like Thornloe Devil’s Rock blue. Around us, servers offered gleaming glasses of sparkling Cuvee, a bubbly drink made by Inniskillen Winery at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Roaming servers also offered intricately made appetizers, such as white ceramic spoons holding carved lamb loin seasoned with celery root puree, rhubarb and Jordan cherry chutney, and rosemary jus. There were also maple-marinated chicken lollipops made from chicken wings as well as some other delights passing by that I didn’t have a chance to try. While sitting on a bench waiting to go into the restaurant for dinner, my husband and I chatted with Alex and Joe Kucharski, a retired couple from St. Cath- arines, who follow the events presented by the Niagara Parks chefs like others might follow rock bands. They estimated they’d attended at least ten of the “pop- up” dinners offered by the Niagara Parks Department – gourmet meals served throughout the year at locations like the Butterfly Conservatory, or, as occurred in February, at the new Canadian Winter Lodge.  Within the hour, we were seated in the beautiful Table Rock House Restau- rant, which has recently undergone renovations, and, with its icy blue design, looks upscale and inviting, with vast windows presenting the miracle that is Niagara Falls from the closest vantage point available to diners in the region. It’s right there in all its amazing splen- dor, just outside the window. Now Taking Easter Orders 5714 S. Transit Rd. (Behind Verizon store) Lockport, NY 14094 • (716) 438-7452 Bakery Hours:Tuesday-Friday 7am-6pm; Saturday 9am-2pm For our menu and examples visit our website: www.TaterCakesWNY.com 5