DEVOURED

The Blvd: Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel

November 6, 2015

Legendary. That’s how I’d describe the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel. But that shouldn’t be news to you. With guests ranging from John Lennon and the Dalai Lama to residents from Elvis Presley to Warren Beatty (yup, they lived there — in fact, the hotel still receives mail for them) it is one of the most recognized properties in the world (Pretty Woman didn’t hurt its reputation either). And along with its world-class suites, service and spa, the hotel also offers up some of the best fine dining in Beverly Hills: Wolfgang Puck’s CUT and The Blvd. We recently headed to the latter for some Contemporary-American cuisine, classic cocktails and people watching…

Located at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive, The Blvd is the see-and-be-seen spot in the ultra-luxe neighbourhood. And while the restaurant has a very chic vibe inside, we opted to sit on the outdoor patio so we could take in all the glitz and glam. Cocktails in hand, of course…

Oh the cocktails. Swoon. I wanted to try them all! But after much deliberation, I decided to give a nod to old Hollywood and ordered two classics with a modern twist: The Capone (macallan 15, luxardo amaretto, pineapple juice, agave) and 20th Century Fox (beefeater gin, lemon, simple, rose champagne). Inspired by Al Capone’s favourite drinks, The Capone won me over at first sip…

The champagne and amaretto kicked my appetite into full gear so I shifted my attention from people watching to the menu. As my hungry eyes darted from line to line, I spotted a familiar name at the bottom of the menu: Executive Chef Thomas Bellec!! Why the excitement? Because the incredibly talented French chef used to head the kitchen at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. Having devoured his food in the past, I was super excited to see what he’d do with the local bounty (there’s a big focus on farm to table ingredients at The Blvd – from the olive oil to the seafood). I kicked things off by ordering the Maine Lobster ($25) and can honestly say it was one of the best appetizers I’ve ever tasted. It was summer on a plate: fresh, light and fragrant. The lobster was perfectly-cooked, the creaminess of the avocado was brightened up by the acidity of the lemon oil and the watermelon – yes, watermelon – was absolutely genius!

I could’ve gone home a happy woman after the lobster dish. But who am I kidding?! A glutton’s work is never done. Next up was the Beets & Goat Cheese ($19) which was certainly the most beautifully-plated dish of the night. I really liked the flavour profiles: the fresh strawberries, basil, walnuts and cucumber came together quite nicely.

For my main course I ordered the horseradish crusted chicken breast ($34). Although there’s room for improvement in the plating department, I could taste the love that went into this dish. That’s always a good thing. In fact, the rustic meal had me smiling and nodding at first bite. The chicken was moist, everything was expertly-seasoned and the parsnip puree served with roasted figs and chanterelles was divine.

My hubby ordered the Seafood Saffron Bouillabaisse ($39) as his main. I stole a spoonful and was immediately transported to some of my favourite ports in southern France. Perfectly-cooked seafood (jumbo prawns, scallops and flounder), baby vegetables and a rich broth with just the right amount of saffron…

Following our virtual jaunt to Provence, we moved on to a Roasted Vegetable dish ($26) that had us reminiscing about Canadian Thanksgiving (which we sadly missed this year because of our Cali trip). We loved the presentation — and so did passersby!

After devouring our feast, we were whisked inside by Parker (the lovely assistant manager and a fellow Canadian!), so we could enjoy dessert in the beautiful restaurant. The ambiance was perfect: comfortable yet elegant. Think lofty ceilings, a stunning crystal chandelier and a backlit wine display featuring over a thousand bottles. The live pianist was a nice touch: entertaining but not distracting.

I was really excited to dive into the dessert, but the Kiwi Strawberry Pavlova ($12) was nothing to write home about. Although the pavlova meringue had a crisp outer shell and slightly soft centre (as it should), the mango chutney was excessively sweet. The kiwi-strawberry swirl sorbet did provide some acidity, but sadly not enough to balance out the dish. Sigh, the Tropical Pavlova at Le Bernardin in NYC still reigns supreme in my books.

We also tried the Apricot & Berry Charlotte ($12) which was better-executed, but still not at the same caliber of the other dishes put out by the kitchen. Both desserts left much to be desired, BUT I’m happy to report that the restaurant appointed Chris Ford as Executive Pastry Chef soon after our dining experience. I’m absolutely certain that the highly-acclaimed chef will elevate the desserts and sweep diners off their feet with his brilliant creations (just check out his Instagram account and you’ll see what I mean).

Aside from the soon-to-be-improved desserts, our experience at The Blvd was fantastic. The cocktails, appetizers and mains were beautifully-executed, the service was attentive and the location really can’t be beat. Whether you’re staying at the iconic Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel or just in the neighbourhood for a shopping jaunt with friends, I highly recommend including The Blvd in your Beverly Hills experience. We can’t wait to go back!