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Gastropost: Ste. Anne’s Spa Dining Room Menu

April 19, 2014 By Lena

Indulge without the guilt; as a Canadian health spa, Ste. Anne’s believes in nourishing the body on all levels.

My recently Culinary Retreat at Ste. Anne’s Spa in Grafton, ON was everything I could have imagined, and more. Nestled in a private cottage just a stone’s throw away from the main inn, my husband and I enjoyed the many delights of Ste. Anne’s Spa, in addition to a private lesson with their celebrated Pastry Chef Khushroo Khambata. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my experience – everything from the accommodations to our chocolate-making triumph. Today’s entry is a gastropost dedicated to the sumptuous delights you’ll find at the main dining room.

Ste. Anne’s is an all-inclusive destination spa; whether you choose a day or overnight getaway, your stay will include at the minimum two culinary experiences in their dining room. For overnight guests, your stay includes a 4-course dinner, breakfast, 3-course lunch and afternoon tea.

“Relaxation would not be complete without taking care of the great appetite that develops during your stay at the spa. We have gone to great lengths to put together a dining experience that is both healthy and wholesome. You will notice that we don’t discuss calories or fat content on our menus. If your requirements are left wanting by our philosophy please feel free to ask the chef to prepare a special meal. The dress code in the dining room is very casual, be yourself, and be relaxed!

Our culinary team considers the healing powers of food for the body and soul when creating Ste. Anne’s breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Specifically designed to intrigue and delight, each dish generates a strong response from guests who appreciate the creativity while taking comfort in knowing that every ingredient is hand-selected after thorough consideration.”

Upon arriving at the spa, we were treated to the most delightful afternoon tea.

I highly recommend the Sampler Plate, which achieves the perfect balance between sweet and savoury. All baked goods are prepared fresh daily by Ste. Anne’s gluten free bakery, and although the menu has been created for simplicity, guests can feel free to choose their favourite items for a special, personalized plate.

Above: Smoked salmon pinwheel with a spinach flavoured wrap, fresh sprouts, herb and honey mustard; open-faced cucumber sandwich with sundried tomato cream cheese and fresh chopped herbs, served with havarti and old orange cheddar cheese, crackers and dried cranberries. 

Above: An oatmeal raisin cookie, white chocolate and macadamia nut cookie, espresso hazelnut chocolate biscotti, reverse chocolate chip cookie and almond florentine. A delicate rosette of whipped cream perfectly complements the fresh fruit skewers.

The highlight of this intense celebration of flavours: an orange cranberry scone. Light, buttery and melt-in-your mouth good, the flaky pastry is worth raving about. (The next morning, I *may* have overindulged once again at the breakfast buffet.) In fact, I am thinking about it again at this very moment.

Dinner was sublime; to start, I enjoyed a cream of mushroom soup with Ste. Anne’s antipasto plate, followed by slow roasted beef served with a red wine demi-glace. Adequately portioned with quality evident in every bite, it was the most wonderful birthday dinner a girl could imagine. Now I am far too polite to whip out my DLSR with obnoxious flash during romantic evening rendezvous, hence, to respect the other diners, I have no photographs of the meal.

However, a very special birthday dessert was delivered – Kahlua Tres Leches Mousse Cake with Salted Caramel – which you can view here via Twitter.

The next morning, after unceremoniously depositing two more orange cranberry scones on my plate, I opted to bypass the continental buffet and order straight from the a la carte breakfast menu.

(For those interested, the continental buffet includes muesli and other assorted cereals; a wide variety of breads and pastries prepared by Ste. Anne’s Bakery; homemade lactose-free yoghurt, made fresh daily; an assortment of fresh fruits and homemade high protein granola.)

From the menu, I settled on Atlantic Eggs Benedict.

With diner’s choice of bread, topped with smoked Atlantic salmon, perfectly poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, capers and dill – and paired with a mini potato rosti served with tangy creme fraiche – the symphony of flavours is almost too heady for an early morning meal. However, a palate-neutralizing serving of fresh fruit is the perfect finish to the opulent offering, and guests will no doubt revel in the savoury feast.

Lunch at Ste. Anne’s Spa is a must-do, as the culinary team creates its own soups, baked goods, preserves and salad dressings. Initially set on having the honey and white wine poached pear salad, I was lured into ordering the daily special, which was described as a Greek pasta salad with quinoa and romaine. Since I will eat almost anything that includes feta cheese, it was a very easy sell for me.

Although not the most visually stunning dish, I nevertheless must pay respect to the kitchen for finding the perfect balance of flavours and textures. Crisp, bright and loaded with Mediterranean flair, I wondered vaguely how I could recreate this masterpiece at home.

For my main, I selected a seared wasabi and sesame marinated tofu steak, served with a kale and assorted vegetable slaw in a tahini and ginger dressing. The tofu steak was seasoned with finesse and incredibly flavourful. The only blemish was the salad; it was heavily dressed to the point of being inedible, and in fact, I concluded my meal with almost all the the greens still on the plate.

As my husband and I had participated in a chocolate-making lesson just prior to lunch, we opted to skip dessert. However, I hope I’ve painted a scrumptious picture of the dining experience when you book your overnight getaway to Ste. Anne’s Spa. Just thinking about the food makes me want to return immediately!

Click here to visit Ste. Anne’s Spa.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Culinary Retreat, family travel, health and wellness, Ontario Tourism, Ste. Anne's Spa

Previous Post: « It’s Time to Have “The Talk”.
Next Post: Ste. Anne’s Spa: The Art of Chocolate »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan T.

    April 19, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    Everything looks so good! That eggs benedict makes me drool!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:40 am

      Oh it was sooo good Susan!

  2. sarah sar

    April 19, 2014 at 9:16 pm

    Oh my goodness….everything looks so scrumptious! Love the afternoon tea and the tofu steak. *mops up puddle of drool forming around her*

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:40 am

      Hahaha it was to die for!

  3. heather robbins

    April 20, 2014 at 12:51 am

    Looks wonderful!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:40 am

      Thanks Heather!

  4. Teresa Claire

    April 20, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    Everything looks cooked to perfection. I love presentation and these all look fantastic and delicious. I hope that you are enjoying your stay…you deserve it!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:40 am

      it was a wonderful weekend Teresa, thank you :)

  5. Judy C (Judy Cowan)

    April 20, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    The food really looks good! Sounds like you had a nice little getaway!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:40 am

      It was perfect!

  6. Anne Taylor

    April 20, 2014 at 12:30 pm

    Wow, the food looks amazing! I wish this place were just a bit closer to me lol

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:41 am

      You may have to pop by next time you are in town!

  7. Flora M

    April 20, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    All of the food sounds delicious, and you had me at the orange cranberry scones (oh I do hope you can scoop that recipe LOL) :)
    Definitely going to be dropping hints for Mother’s Day ( for next year) :)

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:42 am

      Oh it was the most delicious scone I had ever had – melt in the mouth!

  8. Lynda Cook

    April 21, 2014 at 8:18 am

    The food looks so good, sounds like a great place to go to getaway!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:42 am

      A perfect stay, Lynda!

  9. Nicky

    April 21, 2014 at 10:30 am

    yum – all the photos looks delicious!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:42 am

      Thanks Nicky!

  10. Soozle

    April 22, 2014 at 10:50 am

    Oh wow :) Everything looks SO amazing! That is such a phenomenal idea for the perfect get away! :)

    I dont know how you couldn’t leave their relaxed and happy!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:43 am

      It’s true Soozle – it’s impossible to NOT have a perfectly relaxing stay!

  11. Rick F

    April 22, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    Very nice. I love Eggs Bennie

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:43 am

      Me too! Thanks Rick!

  12. Mary

    April 22, 2014 at 10:36 pm

    Wow how lovely! The food looks amazing, and the experience is one that I’d like to have. Now to bug the hubby to go!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:44 am

      Bug him for sure Mary!!

  13. Rossana Wyatt

    April 23, 2014 at 10:28 am

    Wow, pictures are amazing! I love that they have a gluten free bakery. :)
    Sounds like a perfect place to get away and relax!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:44 am

      Yes they do :) You’d love it Rossana!

  14. Deirdre

    April 23, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    Lucky! Sounds awesome!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:44 am

      It was beyond amazing, Deidre!

  15. Melinda L.

    April 25, 2014 at 10:17 am

    Afternoon tea time is awesome! Love the selection and the photos, I’m drooling right now :P

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:44 am

      Thank you Melinda!

  16. Stephanie LaPlante

    April 26, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    All that food looks and sounds delicious!!!

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:44 am

      It really was Stephanie :)

  17. Shelley N

    April 27, 2014 at 9:37 am

    sure looks yummy. I have heard great things about St. Anne’s. I wonder how they made a lower fat version of Salmon eggs benedict -Hollandaise is always so high in fat but I am sure they found a way

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:45 am

      They will pretty much do anything to customize the menu, Shelley!

  18. MrDisco

    April 27, 2014 at 2:13 pm

    There is a distinct lack of bacon on that plate

    • Lena

      May 4, 2014 at 7:45 am

      Ha! I went for the smoked salmon over Canadian bacon :)

  19. MrDisco

    May 11, 2014 at 11:14 am

    That’s a great place to go for Mother’s Day!

    • Lena

      May 11, 2014 at 12:36 pm

      I completely agree – and may insist on it next year!

  20. Bailey Dexter

    May 13, 2014 at 10:31 am

    After reading the review and seeing the pic’s, sound like a place I will have to look further into. What a nice get away for you!

    • Lena

      May 13, 2014 at 11:35 am

      Awesome Bailey! Please do look into Ste. Anne’s!

  21. Rossana

    May 13, 2014 at 9:17 pm

    Looks like it was an amazing experience!

    • Lena

      May 14, 2014 at 6:20 am

      It truly was Rossana!

  22. Angie In My 30s

    May 14, 2014 at 9:35 am

    oh my that looks so tasty!

  23. BobbiJo Pentney

    July 30, 2014 at 9:22 am

    This picture made me stop and drool. It looks so yummy.

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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