“Less homelike and more formal (and thus the special-occasion
destination of many couples), the Aerie Resort offers stiff competition with
its premium-quality kitchen and jaw-dropping setting, high atop Mallahat Summit
at 1,200 feet, overlooking Finlayson Arm
and southern Vancouver Island.”
Aerie has changed its name to Eyrie, but it’s still got a gorgeous
view from the top of the mountain.
Initially, I was going to roll Sooke Harbour House into my splurge
hotels, but alas, it is closed for renovations.
I started thinking if I could sort of count it if I spent a day exploring
Sooke Harbour, but ultimately scrapped that, too. It didn’t even occur to me
that this entry was actually two locations and I could still have a fancy lunch
at Eyrie Resort. The Eyrie struck me as slight run-down, maybe past its
original glory, but the food was delicious and the staff was great.
I was torn between a couple of entrees and asked my waitress
for a recommendation. She said the chef
is German so I really should have the Jaegerschnitzel. Jaegerschnitzel it was. And it was delicious.
Jaegerschnitzel: breaded pork tenderloin, spätzle, cranberry
chutney, broccolini with almond butter, mushroom cream sauce.
Keeping with the German theme I had the Matterhorn for dessert: dark chocolate almond sponge cake, amaretto syrup, swiss dark chocolate mousse, almond cream, bittersweet chocolate ganache, alpine berry compote, marbled chocolate cup.
I’ve already decided I need to go back to Vancouver Island – so #216 will be revisited at some point starring Sooke Harbor House.
