Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Blake House Press Release:

The Blake House revamps menu with new, soon-to-be classic items just in time for the summer season.

The Blake House is best known for its tasteful Canadian menu and outstanding patio filled with ambiance. Located in the trendy “Village,” on Jarvis, The Blake House (449 Jarvis Street) introduces some new, soon-to-be classics to its menu while staying faithful to its Canadian roots.

Bumping up their menu just in time for the summer season, The Blake House has added mouth-watering items including the Seared Apple Glazed Pork Chops and Three week dry aged steaks. Also new to the menu is the Market-Fresh daily feature using the most reputable meat, dairy and produce from local suppliers and fish mongers. Having their very own garden located in the restaurant itself, The Blake House has chosen to blossom their own fresh herbs as well.

Growing all of its own herbs in the garden found alongside the building, The Blake House believes in providing its diners fresh produce and most homely meal possible. The all-local menu features food purchased from famous Toronto markets, including Kensington and the St. Lawrence market.

The Summer Splash is their signature cocktail drink. Mixed with passion fruit Alize, Vodka and Citrus Soda makes it a perfectly refreshing drink for the summer to enjoy on The Blake House’s gorgeous patio.

The Blake House has one of the biggest patios in the GTA. Its enchanting patio is framed with lush tress and the buildings classic architecture is accented by slick Italian furniture, creating the ultimate summer dining experience.  In the evening, The Blake House building is illuminated adding an alluring charisma to the atmosphere.

The Blake House features 25 wines including 11 new international consignment wines unavailable at liquor stores. Wines such as the Malivoire, VQA Lady Bug Rose, Gamay Niagara, International Shiraz, Mitchell Mount Oakden from Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ironstone from California, and Tempranillo, Pinard from Spain.

Hosting a number of breweries, The Blake House drink menu is featuring new Craft beers from Unibroue, Blanche de Cambly and Maudite. Also Great Lake Brewery’s Devil’s Pale Ale and Red Leaf, Scotland’s Innis and Gunn Original, Muskoka’s Mad Tom IPA and Okanagan Springs IPA.

Participating in Summerlicious again this year, The Blake House has created an attractive Summerlicious lunch and dinner menu including Capri Spaghetti, Baked Spicy Shrimp Cakes, Seared Atlantic Salmon, Cherry Sundaes and much more. Summerlicious will run until July 22, 2012.

About David Araya

Canadian born and of Chilean descent, Chef David Araya has crafted a menu full of flavour and uses only local ingredients. With influences from Asian Fusion to Mediterranean, the Toronto-based Chef takes all of his cooking styles, influences and techniques from his previous experiences to create a menu with a Canadian twist.

About The Blake House

Built in 1891, The Blake House is one of Toronto’s last standing heritage structures mixing 19th century Victorian and Second Empire architecture. Originally occupied by Ontario’s second premiere, the honourable Edward Blake, The Blake House has been restored to a contemporary establishment while maintaining its authentic charm.

For more information, please visit: http://www.theblakehouse.ca