Hawksworth: Giant fries and Mouth-Watering Confit Pork Shoulder
801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, inside the Hotel Georgia
Opened by former Executive Chef from West, David Hawksworth, this restaurant was on my wishlist for a while. When we sat down, I was instantly in love with the eye-catching art deco wall.
I knew exactly what I wanted to order: the confit pork shoulder served with braised lentils, apple and walnut. I’m not crazy about lentils but I am definitely crazy about pork. And the pork shoulder smelled so incredible when it came to the table that I could care less that it was on top of a bed of lentils.
The colours were beautiful, the deep pink pork against the earthy green lentils with pale, paper thin ribbons of apple shavings on top. The apple shavings were surprisingly juicy and sweet, bringing out the robust pork flavours. After all, what’s a more classic pairing than apples and pork.
I’m not sure what the foam was but it was sweet and tangy, only David Hawksworth can make even foam tasty and memorable.
The pork shoulder was so tender that I didn’t even need my knife. Just a few pokes from my fork made the meat fall apart. And the flavours! It was salty and moist, like the best cross between the tastiest piece of bacon and the juiciest pork chop.
The walnuts also added a wonderful crunch to contrast with the soft and tender pork meat.
The Hawksworth beef burger was plated so neatly that it almost looked like a toy on the picnic board. I was also amused that the fat fries were arranged in the shape of an ‘H’ for Hawksworth.
Even though the beef patty was very thick, the meat turned out to be extremely moist and tender. The applewood smoked bacon was the perfect crispiness and was nutty and salty.
The fries were so huge, we had to eat them with a knife and fork. But boy, were they tasty, crispy on the outside and soft, and fluffly on the inside. They were like baked potato sticks.
The steelhead salmon was also very delicious, cooked to a perfect medium rare, the meat was a gorgeous pink. It was juicy and flavourful, the fresh salmon flavours coming through nicely. I also loved the crispy skin on the fish.
The crispy chips sprinkled on top of the fish also added an extra, playful and tasty element to the dish.
The cauliflower puree was smooth and creamy, the perfect accompaniment for the delicate salmon.
I really must find out where to buy the pretty glasses here, with their curved tops, the glasses were stylish and practical (anti-dribble!)
I loved our lunch at Hawksworth and will definitely return again to try brunch and dinner.
One Response to Hawksworth: Giant fries and Mouth-Watering Confit Pork Shoulder
MizzJ
on April 3, 2012
Reply
Wow this all looks so good especially those giant fries!