Derrick Hoare with his head chef, Roark MacKinnon (left) and apprentice Michael Bradley (right).
If you go
Both beetroot and black garlic star in an
impressive finale to my meal at The Table.
Chocolate Beetroot Cake in the shape of a
maple leaf is an unusual and inspired creation, complete with strawberry glaze and
dustings of rosemary and black garlic.
Derrick serves what he calls his “New
London version” of Anne of Green Gables’
raspberry cordial, a refreshing drink made
with fresh raspberries that have been marinated overnight with sugar, water, honey
and lemon zest. The drink is a nod to Lucy
Maud Montgomery’s fictional heroine,
whose story has put Prince Edward Island
on the tourism map.
One of The Table’s most popular classes,
especially with Japanese visitors, is the
Taste of the Past class, where all the dishes
featured are from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s cookbook.
One of the Maritime Provinces along
with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, PEI
yields some of Canada’s finest produce and
its cuisine has been shaped by the Scottish,
English, Irish and French who settled there.
Food and tourism go hand in hand as the
island’s main industries.
“The food industry is devoted to keeping the most amazing bounty here on the
island,” said Roark. “I could write a book
about what PEI means to me. There’s an
energy here unlike anywhere I’ve been in
the world. I love to travel and I love to experience food all around the world but the
food I like to cook is right here on Prince
Edward Island.”
Every Monday to Thursday evening,
The Table offers a family-style fine dining
experience for up to 24 diners. Derrick says
the experience is “so different and eclectic”
compared to most restaurant experiences.
“Hopefully they (guests) have half as
much fun as we have doing it,” he said.
“People say, ‘Thanks for treating us like
family’, and that for us is one of the nicest
compliments. It’s fun sharing Prince Edward Island with them.”
The Table Culinary Studio
4295 Grahams Road, Route 8
New London
Prince Edward Island
Canada
Tel: 902 886 2025
www.thetablepei.ca
Christine Salins
Christine Salins is one of Australia’s
most highly regarded food, wine and travel
writers. She spent more than
20 years as a newspaper journalist, including nine years as
Food & Wine Editor for The
Canberra Times, the major
daily in Australia’s capital city.
She has freelanced for print media since
2003, and together with Maurie O’Connor
manages www.foodwinetravel.com.au,
bringing all their great loves together in
their award-winning website.
FALL 2016
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