Summer delights at Azure Restaurant and Bar

Allow Azure Restaurant and Bar’s recently honored Chef de Cuisine Grace Di Fede to serve you up some summer delights.

By: Nicole Fairbairn

Last night, on a lovely summer night, I was able to sample a perfect summer meal at Azure Restaurant and Bar. Azure is the lobby restaurant at the Intercontinental Hotel on Front Street and it has an industrial, open-air feel with high ceilings and lots of light.  I sampled the Summerlicious menu, a meal that gets top marks from me.  My guest was equally enthusiastic about her plates.  It’s a great experience for $48.

Before our meal, we indulged in one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails, a very refreshing raspberry slushie. Dinner was a delicious bouquet of flavours.  We both opted for the Seared Albacore Tuna with cucumber, avocado aioli, pineapple salsa and seedling cress. A light, clean, tasty starter.

For the main, I went with the Maple Almond Crusted Salmon with wild rice, sautéed stone fruit and mirabelle plum nage.  The salmon was tender and flaky and cooked to perfection.  My friend indulged in the Bradford Bay Chicken Supreme which came with a yummy looking poutine made with sweet potato fries and cheese curds.

And dessert, oh my, dessert.  I adore a good dessert and this was beyond.  I had the Chocolate Almond Cake with lemon cream and my friend had the Strawberry Tart with lime basil curd.  These were wonderlands of taste explosions and a delight to look at with candied fruit, edible flowers and a mini macaroon on mine.

Service was friendly and attentive.  Don’t miss this Summerlicious sampling and afterwards you can walk a few blocks south and take in one of the many events at Harbourfront or just go for a stroll along the boardwalk.

Azure’s top female Chef de Cuisine, Grace Di Fede recently achieved her Chef de Cuisine Certification (CCC). The Chef de Cuisine Certification is one of the highest achievements and honours for a Chef in Canada.

Summerlicious runs through July 23. Click the link for more information on Azure Restaurant and Bar at the InterContinental Toronto Centre.