Eating on the Hill: Ending the session with lunch at the Parliamentary Restaurant

I do miss the old Parliamentary Restaurant on the top floor of Centre Block. It was such an elegant space steeped in history. 

And the highlight as a staffer was the Friday buffets where, for around $20, they would have a great selection of all you can eat hot and hold dishes. Often, there was a theme. They did each of the provinces one year, with regional specialties. You always had to make a reservation to get a seat, as it was a popular ticket.

With Centre Block closed, the buffets sadly are no more. They have a very nice, if lacking in natural light, spot in the basement of West Block, but unfortunately it's not large enough to recreate the buffet.

Still, it's a nice space, the restaurant staff are still great, and they tend to have tasty Canadian food on offer, albeit at a premium over the cafeteria down the hall. And seeing that that seem to have recently refreshed the menu, the team dropped in for lunch before the House rose for the summer.

I started with the special, which was a very tasty seafood chowder. It was hearty and flavourful. And it was a full bowl, it was just too delicious I was well into it before I remembered to snap a photo.

I have often had the seafood entrees here as they do a good job. I remember one time having a very tasty Ontario pickerel in a beurre blanc that was on special. While there was a fish dish and a shrimp and scallop dish that were tempting options, I ended up going for the beef striploin.

It was served with cheddar and chives croquette balls with broccolini and mushrooms in a jus. I think that tipped it from seafood to beef for me were the potatoes, and they delicious -- crispy outside, creamy inside. The veg was also good, but the beef was both overcooked (more medium-well than the medium-rare I ordered) and lukewarm, like it had been sitting there for awhile.

Looking at my colleagues perfectly cooked scallops, I definitely had order envy.

Thankfully, desert ended the meal on a high note.

I love chocolate and raspberry together, and so the salted chocolate cream tart with coconut raspberry whip and raspberry splash was the easy choice. A tasty sweet treat to end the meal, and not too large a portion.

Next time I'll stick with the seafood.

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Six Foot Jesus Made Of Chocolate

Sometimes really off topic press releases find there way into my e-mail box at work that have nothing to do with my work as a technology journalist. What some of these PR people are thinking I have no idea.

This one today at least, while wildly off topic, was at least amusing. Rather than post a photo I'll link to one here and be warned, when they said anatomically-correct they weren't lying...

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* Press Contact:
March 2007 Sarah Cirkiel / Danielle Simone

Pitch Control Public Relations

212.475.4919
scirkiel@pitchcontrolpr.com
dsimone@pitchcontrolpr.com

Six Foot Jesus Made Of Chocolate
Cosimo Cavallaro’s Most Anticipated Show At Lab Gallery

NEW YORK (March, 2007) -- World renowned artist Cosimo Cavallaro unveils his latest and most striking installation at the Lab Gallery (at the Roger Smith Hotel, 47th and Lexington avenue) in the early morning hours of April 1st. Cavallaro’s work, entitled “My Sweet Lord” is a 6 foot tall, anatomically correct sculpture of Jesus Christ in milk chocolate.

“I’m truly thrilled to be working with Cosimo again,” says Matt Semler Creative Director of the Lab. “The sign of any great artist is how their work affects the observer. His art always gets a reaction, but this is the most dramatic piece of his career. It is absolutely amazing” The exhibit can be viewed from the street when the velvet curtains of the gallery open from midnight to 1 AM and 6 PM to 7PM (starting April 1st and closing April 7th).

Although Cavallaro has work in permanent collections of museums world-wide, he is best remembered for covering a New York City hotel room in melted cheese (1999). His Jesus is made with over 200 pounds of chocolate, which has been donated by the San Francisco based Theo Chocolate Company (theo as in the obrommin cacao or “Fruit of the Gods”). The confectionary Christ is having its world premier in time for the Easter holiday.

The exhibit is cosponsored by artnet, the respected on-line art gallery and art magazine. It has a supporter of serious artists like Cavallaro since 1995. http://www.artnet.com/

THE LAB (for installation + performance art) is a New York based, converted storefront turned fishbowl producing 30+ fast paced performance art and installation exhibitions annually. Aimed at furious midtown foot traffic, THE LAB’s programming is designed to confront modern relationships between art and audience and seeks to force interaction between high energy, “outropsective” exhibitions and nearly 25,000 daily passersby. It is THE LAB’s goal to reach out through the glass and capture, fascinate, amuse, bemuse, soothe, shake and satisfy any and all who pass within eye or ear shot of the corner of 47th and Lexington. For more information, call 212-339-2092, or email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com.

THE GALLERY IS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF 47TH STREET AND LEXINGTON AVENUE
ALL EXHBITIONS ARE ON VIEW 24/7.

For more information regarding The Roger Smith Hotel, The Lab, or Lily’s, to speak with a representative, or to schedule a tour of the space, please contact Danielle Simone, dsimone@pitchcontrolpr.com , or Sarah Cirkiel, scirkiel@pitchcontrolpr.com, Pitch Control Public Relations, 212.475.4919.

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