Out & About #559 | Something About Simcoe DAY 1: Amiche Restaurant

​The start of another Barrie trip commenced with a disarray of last-minute packing. And by "last-minute", I mean scrambling to gather not only outdoor clothing, but also downsizing skincare essentials with the departure time ticking down to its final sixty minutes.

It was early afternoon as we made our way northwest. Lunch was skipped, naturally, due to the deadline that lay before me; instead, an Egg McMuffin, Iced Coffee, and Nature Valley Bar summed up the components of my mid-day meal.

​The forecast had warned of precipitation, but little was I aware that the droplets would only increase in size and density with every passing minute. To say that it was merely pouring when we pulled in was an understatement: it was raining cats and dogs!

As such, we turned to indoor activities for the remainder of the day - namely a brief gym session (where I  finally caught up with a bit of Absolute Boyfriend) followed by swimming. The events eased us into the evening, simultaneously leaving us ravenous yet uninspired to hunt for sustenance beyond a 10-kilometre radius.

​Food delivery services were nonexistent, whether it be Foodora, UberEats, SkipThe Dishes - you name it. The luxuries of urban and suburban neighbourhoods could not be applied here. It was then that we bit the bullet and dove back into the car, taking no breaks until we arrived near the highway exit.

Amiche Restaurant had been passed by on several occasions, whether it be to visit Chelsea Chocolates or simply since it was situated at a busy tourist(y) intersection. For the duration of our visit, it wasn't too busy. Rather, guest volumes had seemed to slow with the angry patter, leaving both the asphalt lot and interior relatively quiet.

​We were seated immediately, then shortly provided menus and our beverages of choice. The waitress batted not even an eyelash at my frizzy head of post-swimming waves - "volume" as orangecane calls it - which was something I greatly appreciated in my famished state.

The menu was scanned briefly, and items of interest were narrowed down accordingly. Primarily Italian with a few options for pub grub (this term never fails to bring a grin to my face), we settled two dishes: one carby and the other protein-heavy. As Bruschetta seemed to be a prominent side on quite a number of assortments, I suggested adding the nine-dollar appetizer to start. This was later revealed a very poor decision on my part.

Given its title of a "Social House", I had anticipated orders to be received, processed, and delivered at a leisurely pace. Perhaps it was due to the low flow of traffic, but the Bruschetta emerged without much delay, and the entrées followed after a mere ten minutes of its complete consumption.

< Pictured above and below: Bruschetta, Seafood Linguine, and Brie and Asparagus Stuffed Chicken >

​The five-piece platter proved no more extravagant than a dollop of Costco's premade Plaisir Gastronomiques over toasted baguette slices. Mind you, the starter could have easily been elevated with a few slight tweaks. Yet the tomato topping was bland, in spite of the addition of red onion chunks and, regrettably, bland bits of goat cheese; sourcing a higher quality baguette from COBS would have resulted in a greater dose of aroma as well.
All factors taken into consideration, one could easily deem the quintet a despicable selection that could be recreated in one's home at a dollar or less apiece.

​Next to be sampled were the Seafood Linguine and Brie and Asparagus Stuffed Chicken.
​
At first glance, the pasta dish had satisfied the visual appeal factor: resting comfortably at the mound of thin noodles was a single stick of cheesy garlic bread, then mussels all around. Far from fishy, they had been cooked just until tender; they were a bit shrunken though. Satisfying morsels of shrimp, crab, and other styles of unidentifiable fish pieces were dispersed throughout, but, alas, the highlight was unmistakably the stellar garlic bread. A sharp contrast to the runny, lacklustre "cream" sauce that the rest of the plate bathed within, the oblong object prompted wide-eyed amazement upon first bite. Adequate seasoning, a golden toasted underside, and an unbelievably plush interior contributed the best (soft) rendition of garlic bread I've ever tasted. (Note: Papa Giuseppe's and Spaghetei fall under the "crispy" class.)

​The Brie and Asparagus Stuffed Chicken was marked seven dollars more at an incredibly steep twenty-seven. That said, the flesh was supple and devoid of any tough, inedible bits. Four stalks of asparagus had been arranged underneath - roasted instead of charred to retain sufficient moisture content. Sundried tomatoes were another fragrant addition that not only provided texture, but a well-received dose of umami.
The sauce, on the other hand, bore an identical flavour profile to the Seafood Linguine, though contained within a slightly thicker consistency. It did not come with a side salad either, an off-putting absence of leafy greens.

All in all, the dish was executed well, even if pricey with consideration to portion size.

There was the option of adding black pepper and Parmesan shavings to either dish. I took advantage of this to heighten the overall creaminess of the Chicken.

​Towards the end of our meal, I began contemplating a Tiramisu. The dessert selection even included interesting caffeinated post-dinner boosts: Spanish Coffee, Irish Coffee, and B52 Coffee - essentially a triple-punch comprising of Kahlua, Baileys, and Grand Marnier.
Eventually, desires were successfully suppressed desires after a few gulps of warm water. We requested the bill, with the thought of applying our 10% off promo slipping our minds entirely.

The bathroom was not visited on this excursion - I know, shocking - so remarks cannot be made in that regard.
Service was great, extremely friendly and meticulous enough to verify information with other staff when clarification on specific menu items was requested.

​Precipitation continued throughout the evening and into the night, causing us to have doubts about trail riding the next day.