Aurora Bistro (now closed)

by Lauren Mote

Sunday morning. The beginning of autumn. Main street in Vancouver. Sunshine. Brunch.

Sometimes, when you wake up, you have the time, you have the company, and you have the transportation, Provence waits until next weekend. Today was about Aurora Bistro. It’s been a long time, almost 8 months since I have had the decadent breakfast that I enjoyed so much. Having a slight headache, and hunger pains resulting from an exciting evening at Chow Restaurant, then Uva Wine Bar the night before, I was ready for the three course event, minus the Old Fashioned Cocktail.

Accompanied by a good friend who takes brunch equally as seriously as I, we discussed the dishes to be had while our personal 8 cup french-press steeped on the other side of the table.

To start, mixed organic greens, thinly sliced yellow beets in a Agassiz goat cheese dressing. This was immediately followed by the ultimate autumn soup – celery root and organic crabapple puree, with crumbled blue cheese from Salt Spring Island. For main course, house-made duck bacon, with poached eggs, and hollandaise, set atop fingerling potato hash.

Who can survive the brunch without Aurora’s famous signature 5 spice donuts? We shared a plate for the finale.

Once again, I marvel at the brigade – the execution is flawless, flavours are simple, and come together nicely.

It’s always a hit for brunch, but how will Chef Van Geest do at dinner? One way to find out – right now between 5:30p-7p Monday-Thursday, a 3 course menu with wine pairings, celebrating the heirloom tomato is available for $49.

The fresh heirloom cherry tomatoes seen above should make you crave the simplicity that recent Vancouver cookery has to offer.

Aurora Bistro

2420 Main Street

604-873-9944

www.aurorabistro.ca