Dining on our Own Version of the Orient Express!

As you well know, last night was our long-awaited dinner in celebration of my husband's 50th birthday, as well as the 50th birthday of another friend, Donald.  These two gents were born within 3 days of one another 50 years ago in the same hospital.  In those days, mothers remained in hte hospital for upwards of a week, which means that their little hospital cribs might have been side by side.  Isn't that a fun idea?  Then they met 22 years later when they become the boyfriends, then fiancees, of two good friends, Wendy and Dawn.  We got married within one week of each other in September 1985.  So last night was a wonderful way to celebrate both birthdays and lasting friendships!
Six couples made the trek to a little town called Florenceville-Bristol, which is about 1.5 hours north of where we all live and nestled beside the St. John River.

 Our desination: Fresh Fine Dining, which is considered one of THE if not THE best restaurants in New Brunswick these days!

What makes it special?  Let's talk location!  It is located in refurbished Canadian Pacific Railcars!

You enter in this door:

And then it is a delight.  It's as if you have stepped back in time and are about to have a meal on the orient express or in one of the dining cars during the golden age of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

A completely refurbished railcar, re-fashioned as a fine restaurant!

A large table at the back is where we were all located:



The menu changes every 6 weeks.

What did I have last night?

They started us with a little amuse-bouche - little risotto-mushroom bundles.  I ate mine accompanied by an apple pie martini.  I know - it sounds awful, but it was fresh and delightul!

I think moved on to pinwheel pastry, described thusly:  Shredded pork tenderloin with goat's cheese, rosemary and red onion rolled in puff pastry. Served crisp and golden with a side micro Boston Green salad.

It was good.  Then a light orange sorbet to cleanse the palate.

The main course for me?

You know I love pheasant so:

Stuffed Pheasant Breast           
Pheasant breast stuffed with fresh mozzarella risotto and roasted to a crispy finish, with winter vegetables and finished with a warm maple squash emulsion.

Did I move on to dessert?

Uh-huh!
Peppermint Ice Cream           
'Tis the season! House made vanilla bean ice-cream infused with peppermint.

It came with the cutest little ginberbread man cookie tucked into the glass bowl..

No pictures of that - I had finished my wine at that point and was ready to walk up the hill to our bed and breakfast, the Shamrock Inn, singing christmas carols at the top of my lungs, as I am wont to do this time of year anyhow, regardless of apple pie martinis and wine:



The Inn didn't look like that this morning as it snowed over night and all was covered in a lovely dusting of the white stuff!

My friend Dawn and I (our friend Mike is lurking in the background!):

No full pictures in the dress - we were all so busy talking we lost track of the picture taking!!

And finally, the birthday boys, Barry and Donald:

I must say, having recently spent a week in Paris, the food in this restaurant is on par with anything I ate in France this year - it is that good!  This is worth a stop (GF - am talking to you, sweetie and I am happy to meet you there!) if you are ever coming to New Brunswick, you must make it a destination.  The St. John River is a glorious river, the little town of Florenceville-Bristol is out of a postcard and the people are so friendly.  For you are a french fry aficionada, the original McCains french fry factory is located 4 minutes down the road.  Yes, the McCains frozen french fries, apparently favoured by Will and Kate:

So, you can have fine dining, but when you get tired of that, slog down the road and get some french fries!

Happy Sunday/Monday and stay safe out there!