Birthday dinner - Deseo

After going to BDIs, we had dinner reservations for my birthday. Being able to find a restaurant that a group of eight mid 20 semi-professionals would all enjoy is always a tough task. Having spent an hour scouring Urbanspoon for hot spots in Winnipeg, I came upon Deseo. I wanted to try a highly rated restaurant and thought a tapas (small plate) style meal would do best. Plus we have the strength in numbers to try a TON of the menu.

To start off we had one of the funniest, down to earth and eloquent servers I had the pleasure of meeting. He quickly ushered us all into our seats and promptly urged us to order one dish per diner and share everything family style. Now, I am all about family style dining (being Chinese and all), so this worked out fantastic.

Up first was the Steak Tartare with white anchovy. Served with puffed beat chips. Anchovies are typically not my favourite ingredient but here they added a saltiness and creaminess to the fatty beef.

Close up of the star of the dish. Enjoyed by all at the dinner

One of the specials for the menu that night was Octopus. Lightly marinated with a lemon based sauce, this was a perfect light and refreshing contrast to the meaty tartare.

Eggplant was polarizing at the table with some enjoying the greasy vegetable while others abstaining. Somehow, Deseo made a convert out of all the naysayers and this eggplant dish was one of the standouts of the night.

Scallops. Succulent large scallops accentuated nicely with a squash puree and some trout caviar. Drooling already.

Perfectly done scallops show the skill of the chef. The accompaniment show his creativity.

Perhaps we had a bunch of picky eaters at the table but Brussel Sprouts was also a slight point of contention. Again, Deseo made us a bunch of converts. Delicious in every bite.

Called simply Steak on the menu. The grilled tenderloin was done perfectly medium rare. I thought there was too much going on this plate as the pine nut risotto got lost in the dish. However, the piquillo pepper sofrito on top was divine.

Sablefish is a common fish of the Pacific Ocean that has a nice light texture. It was roasted here and paired with maple and pea shoots. Nice balance of flavours.

The Gnocchi was a table favourite. The luxirousness of the boar bacon and black truffle added a ton to the al dente pasta. I felt the pasta was a bit oversauced and rich. The bacon and truffle became the star of the dish overshadowing the gnocchi itself.

The Tuna was served raw with pomegranate and jalapeno. Fresh tuna with a slight bit of spiciness, delicious.

Poor camera quality alert. The Mushrooms were devoured as quickly as they came. Fried with black garlic and topped with chevre.

On a recommendation from one of my dining companions, we ordered the Mac & Cheese. Boy did it not disappoint. Rolled pasta with chorizo and finished with smoked paprika gave a wonderful kick as we neared the denoument of the meal.

Last but not least was the Fried Chicken. There was nothing particularly memorable about this dish. Well executed but nothing surprising.