Omni King Edward Hotel Serves up a Menu fit for TIFF Royalty

Sipping champers in the Consort Bar at the Omni King Edward Hotel. How TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) can you get? The hotel recently put on a press preview of its pop-up Moet & Chandon Champagne/Hennessy Cognac inspired menu, running through to the end of TIFF (Sept. 6- 16).Boy, were my husband and I treated like royalty. Although there were a few items for my tax bracket included on the menu, I could tell they were really hoping to land movie industry whales with the big ticket offerings such as the Royal 75, a cocktail of Hennessy Paradis Imperial, citrus cordial, fresh lemon juice, and Dom Perignon, garnished with a lemon twist. Price? $500. Or if that’s a bit rich, you could just order an once of the Hennessy Paradis Imperial for $340. Needless to say, these weren’t on offer at the preview.But this was, The Unconventional Love cocktail with Moet & Chandon Imperial Rose, Belvedere Vodka, coconut water and muddled raspberries ($35).Do you like gold flakes with your burger? Try the Royal Burger with wagyu beef, Hennessy caramelized onions, shaved fresh truffles, black garlic aioli, Ontario heritage cheddar paired on a brioche bun topped with gold flakes. Can’t forget the truffle parmesan hand cut fries…all for a mere $149! (This one was for photos only.)
Here’s what else they served…Smoked Fiore de Latte, a lovely plate of herbed migas, heirloom tomato, tomato gel and rooftop garden pesto ($20).Yuzu seared tuna with citrus compressed watermelon, Acadian sturgeon caviar, avocado cream and crisp bread ($45).Luckily they gave us the mini version of the Royal Burger, since one on the menu was the size of my head.Free-form duck egg crème brulée ($15).Chef gave us a little run down of his creative process.Getting the champagne/cognac story.I think she would approve.