At Vicky’s Bistro/Wine Bar I open a wine menu that reads “Wine is bottled poetry.” Intrigued by Robert Louis Stevenson’s words, from The Silverado Squatters, my guest and I test his theory.
My friend orders a quattro flight – single ounce pours from four significant bottles of red wine. Swirling and sipping one by one, she tastes hints of cherry, oak and spice, giving her the chance to pick a favourite.
Combining culinary tips from two very different parts of the world, the menu blurs a distinction between traditional Greek food and Western cuisine.
Craving substance, we start with saganaki. Exquisite from the first bite, we cover pita in vlahotiri – a traditional Greek cheese – and squirt lemon on top. Sprinkled in herbs, baked to a golden crisp, the dish tastes like a mild version of melted feta touched with oregano. Our conversation halts as we scoop up our fair share.
Red upholstery stands out against black furniture next to brick walls. Wrapping around the outside of the building, the patio boasts a scenic view of Festival Place.
The chicken Souvlaki comes coated in a mild tomato marinade, which lies on a bed of lemon rice. It’s a big serving but the large quantity doesn’t equate to a sacrifice in quality.
I decide on a more Canadian entree – steak and shrimp. Tender, juicy and soaking in a to-die-for mushroom cream sauce, the steak is incredible. Succulent shrimp and lemon potatoes – fit for Aphrodite herself – put my meal over the edge, along with my degree of fullness. (100 501 Festival Ave., Sherwood Park, 780-417-1750, vickys.ca)
