It’s remarkable how you can build up an appetite at Ste. Anne’s Spa. Especially since all I did that morning was relax in the hot tub, take a short stroll in the gardens, clear my pores in the eucalyptus steam room, and soothed the kinks in my back in the massage chair. Yet, somehow, I was ravenous by noon.
I’ll
admit, there was some apprehension... hearing their menu was delicious but
healthy, I braced myself for quinoa salads and broiled fish. Luckily, while
they do have options that are lighter, they also offer some hearty dishes as
well. In general, they just give you a lot of choice; so much so that I couldn’t
choose between the beef tataki salad
and the potato and scallion cakes to start. As a testament to their
hospitality, our waitress brought both.
The beef
tataki salad was filled with crunchy
fresh vegetables - radish slices, edamame, spring peas, and crunchy smashed
cucumbers – so the lightly seared beef slices, while present, weren’t the star
of the dish. All the ingredients were nicely tied together dressed in a
delicious ginger vinaigrette with tamari glaze drizzled on the plate for an
extra savoury element.
Meanwhile,
the potato & scallion cakes were a letdown. The crispy French style crepes
were in reality savoury pancakes, which tasted like they were made from Aunt Jemima mix with
scallions thrown in. Having pictured the starter to be similar to latkes or rosti, it was very disappointing that the potatoes seemed missing
from the equation. At least the tangy relish accompanying the pancakes were delicious
and gave them some flavour.
It was
probably for the best that I didn’t finish the pancakes anyways - the Ste.
Anne’s beef burger was a towering creation that demanded an appetite! The thick
patty was cooked through but still juicy and dressed with aged cheddar and the
customary fresh toppings. I could hardly squish the fluffy brioche Kaiser down
to fit in my mouth. Overall, a very tasty burger and the horseradish
chive aioli a lovely condiment in lieu of sugary ketchup.
Despite
it being a hearty burger, I can see why people describe Ste. Anne’s food as “healthy”.
Firstly, the burger doesn’t come with fries, in fact there’s nothing fried on
the menu. Instead, side options consists of soup or salad and even the Caesar dressing
is light and vinaigrette based.
Any menu
item with “Ste. Anne” in the name is worth trying as there’s something special
about the dish. The Ste. Anne burger gets its moniker given they raise the
cattle – something I realized after lunch. Wandering their property, to make my
ways to the stables, I saw the herd grazing on grass and making their way down
from the rolling hills towards the water fountain. Looking into their large
eyes, as they lapped up the water, made me instantly feel guilty about how much
I loved the burger.
The butter
tart is also called the “Ste. Anne” butter tart and is created on site at their
bakery. It was my kind of desseert: a thin crispy crust filled with a gooey filling
that’s sweet, but not in a teeth hurting manner. In lieu of brown sugar they
use a flavourful maple syrup, which gives it an added depth.
If you like these, you can head to the bakery to buy ones to take home – but go early as they were less than a dozen plain ones left when we visited at 5pm. And what a shame it’d be if you didn’t have something to bring home to love ones. It’s the least they’d expect after a day of relaxation.
If you like these, you can head to the bakery to buy ones to take home – but go early as they were less than a dozen plain ones left when we visited at 5pm. And what a shame it’d be if you didn’t have something to bring home to love ones. It’s the least they’d expect after a day of relaxation.
Overall mark - 8 out of 10
How To Find Them
Location: Grafton, Canada
Address: 1009 Massey Rd
Address: 1009 Massey Rd
Website: http://www.steannes.com/
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____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
Is That It? I Want More!
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