On Saturday S and I drove down to Niagara and had dinner with my parents at the Good Earth Food and Wine Company, located in Beamsville in the beautiful Twenty Valley. They were having a Dia de los Muertos dinner for their monthly Good Girth Supper Club that piqued all of our interests.
A dark and spooky iPhone photo, but there is nothing spooky about this place.
We were warmly welcomed when we arrived. The rooms were decorated with vibrant bunting, ribbons on the chairs, and colorful tissue paper poms sticking out of brightly painted Corona bottles. The whole mood was festive.
We decided to sit on the patio. It was closed in and had a bunch of outdoor heaters to keep everyone toasty. Each chair had a blanket draped around the back, just in case you were still feeling chilly. I threw mine over my legs and was snug as a bug in a rug for the whole dinner. It was a really thoughtful touch.
The meal was fantastic, the services was great, and the atmosphere was fun.
What we ate
- Green Chile & Pork Tamales with Salsa Verde and Salsa Blanco
- Chile Rellenos with Beef, Queso Fresco, Ancho Chile Sauce, Mexican Rice and Fried Pinto Beans
- A dessert trio including: Deep Fried Chile Chocolate Ice Cream, Churros & Dulce de Leche, and Tres Leches Cake
It really seemed like they offered something for everyone and included gluten-free and vegan options. Our other choices were Shrimp Tostadas, Savory Mexican Parfait, Fish Tacos, and Vegan Posole de Frijoles. We all ended up getting the same meal because tamales and chile rellenos are a family favorite. It's just too difficult to pass them up.
Before I go any further, I have to say that I grew up eating exceptional New Mexican food. I started eating hot salsa with 3. And even though we moved from New Mexico when I was still knee-high to a grasshopper, my dad makes the authentic stuff himself.
So the bar for any kind of Mexican food is pretty darn high--whether its Old, New, Tex-Mex (heaven forbid), or any other variation. We tend to temper our expectations here in Canada, but we were all really impressed by this meal. No, it wasn't hot and spicy. At least not by our standards. But it was obviously made with care and attention to authentic Mexican recipes. The tamales, which are labor intensive when made right, tasted like the real thing. I could have eaten so many of them. The relleno was just delicious. And the beans and rice were spot on.
The desserts were tasty, too!
Fried ice cream is an old favorite of mine, but I can't seem to find it anywhere anymore. So I was most excited to try the Deep Fried Chile Chocolate Ice Cream. I threw being dairy-free out the window for that alone and it was the only thing I was disappointed in. It was more of a deep fried ganache. Tasty, but not the true warm, crispy shell and cold, melty center I remember.
The Churros with Dulce de Leche and the Tres Leches Cake, on the other hand, were the unexpected stars for us.
What we drank
We shared a bottle of Good Earth's 2013 Big Fork Red. It's a blend of 49% Merlot, 38% Pinot Noir, 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Syrah. I found it fresh, light, and fruity with lots of berries. While I normally like a bigger, bolder red wine, it was good with our meal. I'd order it again.
We also shared a French press pot of decaf coffee. I wouldn't normally comment on coffee, but I found it to be extra delicious. I believe the beans were from Vintage Roasters in Hamilton. I loved it enough that I looked them up this morning to see if we could get some here int Toronto.
Practical Information for Visitors
If you are interested in going to one of the Good Girth Supper Clubs, they are held on the first Saturday of each month. The prix-fixe menu generally revolves around a seasonal theme and consists of 3 courses for $45. Beverages, of course, are extra. You can check out the monthly menu under their events page. It's easy to book online, but you will need a credit card to hold your reservation.
The next dinner is on December 6th. The theme is Sinterklaas and the menu is European-inspired for the holiday season. I'll have the onion cake and the chicken schnitzel, please. Or maybe the pork loin. Mmm.
The Good Earth does much more than just the supper club, though. We had a great lunch this past July, which I wrote a bit about here (there are more pictures, too!).
It is open daily for wine tastings (daily 11 am to 5 pm) and the bistro serves seasonal dishes from 11 am to 4 pm (5 pm on Sundays). They also have other events like cooking demos and classes. Check their events page for updated information about what's happening each month.