Alder

The flame is an eternal symbol of life. It's an awe-inspiring element that invokes far-ranging emotions. When paired with food, the union is undefeated. Pleasing palates since the beginning of time. It comes in many forms, creating one delicious morsel after another.

On Toronto's dynamic Restaurant scene, it is celebrated. From its docile nature to its unbridled wild potential. Most Eateries boast a unique technique. Some highlight its humble roots while others honour more inventive procedures.

At Alder, a recent addition to Toronto's growing Restaurant scene, their take is a signature wood-fire grill. Drawn to the flame it's where I found myself for this Month's Culinary Adventure.

Summer although dwindling has been enjoyable even with the lack of heat. It was a confusing day as the sun played hide and seek for its majority. I had been fasting all day and by the time early evening came around, I was ravenous. Hungry and excited is one of my favourite emotions and I was at the peak of both.

I put on my favourite Summer dress as was on a ride-share within the hour. The nearly half an hour ride from Midtown to the Ace Hotel was an Adventure. Traffic was a nightmare and my Driver was a Magician, weaving through alleys to get me to my destination. I arrived with eight minutes to spare and took a quick stroll down the block to kill a bit of time. It had been a while since I was around the King West strip and I pledged in those eight minutes to make it a more frequent occurrence.

As the clock struck five, I entered the Ace Hotel and was directed downstairs to Alder. On time for my reservation, I checked in and was greeted warmly and seated promptly. My table was lovely with views of the kitchen and the entire space. I settled in and took in the Menu. I was happy to see that it was the same as the one posted online. I had a pretty good idea of what I would have. By the time my Server approached, I was ready for my customary Bubbles, this time a Cava. It arrived and as I took my first sip I was reminded how hungry I was, quickly followed by excitement. The Adventure was underway.

At first glance, Alder's grand, modern room, may seem cold. However, the neutral colour scheme and central kitchen warm the room at further gaze. Exposed concrete is featured prominently while wood accents provide fashion and function.

Refreshing and full of dimension, this Salad was the perfect choice to begin my meal. Loaded with texture highlighted by the Dukkah that topped the dish, every bite was a revelation. Different levels of crunch were also a standout making each mouthful an Adventure. Perfectly dressed there was a creamy yet light finish. I ate every bite.

I love braised anything, and when I saw these on the menu, I had to partake. Tender and rich this was braised perfectly. Balanced nicely with the swiss chard and tomatoes, I made sure to get a bit of each on every forkful. The deep beefy flavour reminded me of a homemade stew, made on a cold Winter night. I left nothing on my plate.

Kimea write about this wine

I have to admit that I only had one of these because I had overloaded myself with tomatoes. It was sweet, full-bodied and flavourful. It's a pity I couldn't eat more but I had already eaten the heirloom cherries in the Entree. Although it was a small bite it was a good one.

Instead of a traditional dessert, I opted for just a Cocktail. I was stuffed and after only eating one of the San Marzano tomatoes, I didn't want to waste anything else. Citrusy and fresh this was the perfect last sip.

My experience at Alder was spectacular! From the warm greeting and goodbye to the professional yet friendly service at the table, everything was A plus. I love a well-paced service and this was one of the best I've experienced since documenting these Adventures. An outstanding job!

Considering that I didn't have a dessert, this bill was a bit pricey for one person. Taking into account the setting and the quality, I'm not going to say it's not worth the price. The things I ordered were at about the middle of the price points. There are lower priced items on the Menu so you can have Dinner for less than what I paid.

If you find yourself in or around the King West area, Alder is worth a stop. They're located at 51 Camden Street inside the Ace Hotel

Enjoy!