Borealis - The Taste of Ontario

When I started The Locale back in May, I was excited at the prospect of learning the area, tasting a new side to the familiar and exploring the pride of the entrepreneurial spirit. Thus far it has been a very rewarding experience and throughout all of my dining, business and musical ventures, there have been some really great people, all with a vision and hope of keeping the sense of community growing strong. Well, not to suggest that any predecessors fall short of standing proud, but when I walked into Borealis the other night, I found precisely everything that The Locale intends to stand for and expose to the rest of Guelph. So, with hometown spirit on a high, read on, and get hungry.

Like most things worth while tend to do, the recommendation of Borealis came to me by reputable word of mouth praise; and while I will continue to pay forward what is proven to be the best form of marketing for this restaurant, I must first delve further into the experience that surrounds it. They are, after all, selling a culture, a movement and an inspiring concept with every meal.

First off, fortuitous was it for us that, showing up at 8:00 on a Monday evening, we happened upon their couples evening and cheap S.P.A pint night. First impressions? Hoorah!

And so, initial excitement from sweet deals and increased cravings aside, when we entered into the lobby we were greeted most amicably and offered a seat at the bar while we waited for a table (yes, 8:00 on a weekday and the place was at its capacity, so, second impressions? It must be worth our while to wait) It didn't take but 10 minutes for us to find ourselves with cold pints, menus and a table on the bar side where we would enjoy the remainder of our evening. After a detailed study of the menu, it came down to some tough decisions on how this meal would play out for us. See, with the couples menu you are entitled to one appetizer, two mains and one desert; the problem, however, was that choosing only one of the descriptors on the menu was difficult when tummies were rumbling in anticipation. But, after much deliberation, the baked goat cheese, fish and chips, beer can chicken and butter tart were the path on which we chose to take the culinary adventure.

Now then, I could sit here and dwell on the fabulousness of the food, the freshness of the ingredients, the care in which they were presented, how we had portions filling enough that we had to take the desert to go, and I could certainly take up much of your time in explaining how these seemingly plain menu items are worlds apart from what you might be comparing them to in your head; but for me to do so would only take away from a greater part of this restaurant's story, and so I continue...

See, Borealis, while priding itself on local foods, organic produce, free-range poultry, and knowing precisely where each and every one of their ingredients comes from, there is an equal pride and gentle care taken with absolutely every aspect of the restaurant. From floors to ceiling, taps to tables, and preserves to paintings, the place has been constructed with Guelph in mind. Owned and operated by the same great people that brought us the Wooly downtown, the concept of this restaurant has been researched and planned for many years, often times at the expense of the owners and investors. As the general manager explained to us during our stay, it would be easy for the restaurant to cut corners, save a few bucks in places where no one would know the difference, but there is a refusal on all parties involved to make that sacrifice. They have vowed and dedicated themselves to the local, green, sustainable market, no matter what it costs them.

As Court (the aforementioned GM) continued to explain, there is a further pride taken in making sure that the staff are all behind the project as well. I've personally worked in many restaurants through the years, and never before have I experienced the pleasure of having my managers take me on a field trip to the farm where we buy our greens; but perhaps that's because most restaurant managers couldn't tell you where that farm is, I mean, it just comes off a delivery truck and gets put in the walk-in with everything else. Ah, but not here my friends, here they know exactly where each detail got its harvest. The tables, for example, were constructed from a dying tree that once stood proudly by the Woolwich Arms, and why wouldn't' they be? Why waste what need not be wasted?

And so it goes that I find myself rambling a little bit, but rambling spawns from the excitement of discovering a true local entrepreneurial spirit that I've been craving for so long. It should be plenty obvious here that my recommendation towards Borealis stands strong; be it on couples night in their dining room, or a weekend dine with pals on the bar side, get out there and try anything on their menu, learn how fresh, local food is really supposed to taste, and talk to the staff about what it is they are achieving, each and every one of them should be proud of it.

Cheers Guelph
Phil

Borealis
http://www.borealisgrille.ca/