I was invited to check out the new Fall and Winter menu for Blossom Dim Sum and Grill. As this was a lunch tasting on a weekday, I didn’t get to try all the items since I had to go back to work. This will be a limited review of the appies and small dishes that came out first.

The space was bright and inviting with beautiful murals on the wall. the use of velvet chairs gave the space an even more luxurious feel.

I only tried one of the Sushi Balls (BBQ Eel) and they really didn’t seem that special considering you can get sushi somewhere else.

I think this is the size they give you for the tasting. The Albacore Tuna was quite tasty from being marinated in the sesame oil. The ponzu part seemed to be some coagulated jelly though so I didn’t find that texture too appetizing.

The presentation of the Quinoa Salad was really nice but based on the small portion that I sampled I don’t think there was enough of the vinaigrette for me. It tasted healthy though!

The Risotto Lotus Wrap at Blossom was unique since they used risotto rice instead of sticky rice! As a result the texture is completely different since the risotto rice grains are larger and fluffier and of course, not sticky. The dish was very fragrant with mushroom flavour but I still found myself missing the sticky texture since that’s what I’m used to.

If you look at the drink in the top right corner, they used bamboo straws which I thought was really eco-friendly!

The Char Siu Octopus Salad was paired with fried rice and I thought that was an interesting combination since Chinese food doesn’t incorporate a lot of octopus. The octopus was tender and not over cooked but I don’t think I tasted much char siu flavour in the pieces that I got. However since this is a tasting it might not be representative of the whole dish. The mayo had a nice spicy kick to it which was nice.

The Siu Mai Ravioli was the last dish that I tried and ended my being my favourite. I was expecting a few pieces of ravioli but instead it was one giant ravioli that was shaped like a siu mai.

The sauce was like a carbonara sauce and the filling was a combination of pork and prawn. The addition of the egg yolk made everything creamier. The wild boar bacon was nice and crispy but I wish there were more pieces! I like how this dish married Chinese and Italian cuisine elements. If you’re looking for the cheese, it was presented as a crisp that topped the ravioli.

Based on the location and the space, this would be a great spot for client meetings if you work downtown. If you’re not a fan of fusion food then Blossom may not be the place for you. They are really embracing the “east meets west” concept here. Unfortunately I didn’t get to try any of the main dishes or dessert but the dishes I tried were average. They’re appies though so they aren’t usually mind-blowing but there’s still lots of room for improvement.

Thanks Eat With Mao for the opportunity!