Brix

[HKDave]

First visit to Brix. After a stop at HSG's bar to build up our courage, we made our move. 8pm Friday reservation, seated promptly despite a bit of a crowd at the door, nice deuce. They had obviously wedged in extra tables for DOV, and had a couple of cheapie 10-tops drinking Capilano Springs, both of which turned while we were there. Service was generally good, no staff running, no sense of them being out of control in spite of obviously being slammed.

There was a $25 and $35 menu, and apparently no regular menu. We both went for the same app off the $25: pork/veg finger spring roll with hoisin 'glaze' (actually, not glazed, just splotches for dip). Nice presentation, but not very exciting taste, and greasy - as in possibly re-heated? The other app was a green salad (...yawn).

We also went for the same main: Elk sirloin, 'Yukon Gold'(definitely not Yukon Gold) mille fuille spuds, port brasied red cabbage (with half of a broken cinnamon stick in my companion's cabbage), maple syrup roasted carrots (the best item of the night, totally yummy), with a truffle oil (I couldn't taste or see any) 'demi glaze' (demiglace?). Decent, but again, not great. The other $25 main option was a 'fresh Dungeness' crab cake that appeared on other tables to be deep fried to a dark brown, and we were both happy we didn't order it.

Desserts were better: an apple strudel and a couple of sorbets - great flavour and presentation. Long wait for the desserts despite my request to fire them before hell froze over.

My friend started with a 'flight of Reislings' - I know zip about Reisling so all I can say is that she didn't finish them. We chose a bottle of 2001 Chilean Carmenere, $58, for the main, which went well with the elk. This wine has lots of sediment and the sommelier - in this case one of the owners - didn't know this or didn't care so a lot ended up in my glass.

Total tab $150 w/tip. Overall? OK, but no reason to go back. I got the feeling that this would be a better place after DOV, because I can't image they get a lot of tapwater-drinking 10-tops normally. Interesting wine list.

[Daddy-A]

Long wait for the desserts despite my request to fire them before hell froze over.

Was that how you asked for it, or is that just poetic licence?

The only time Brix ever did it for me was an office Christmas party I went to with J, just after we had started dating. I don't really remember the food, but I do remember the 20 year old port, and my beautiful date

A.

[*Deborah*]

Wow, I'm scared now!!

I'm headed there on Wednesday...I've had several very good meals there, and I'm guessing DOV got the best of them, which is nonetheless sad. You're right, Dave, tap water tables are not the norm there. I've had many lovely bottles of wine at Brix. I can't remember ever getting such nondescript food; I've had good food and really delicious food.

I also hope that the Parkside meal you're joining me for on Friday is more like a regular Parkside meal....

[HKDave]

Long wait for the desserts despite my request to fire them before hell froze over.

Was that how you asked for it, or is that just poetic licence?

←

Of course not! We were faultlessly polite throughout, plus we left a 20% tip. Hell freezing over was just a bit of literary license for how long it took.... we were seated at about 8:05pm, and left close to 11pm. Service was smooth except for the very long pause between main and dessert. I thought they might be waiting for us to lick the sediment out of the bottom of the wine, hence my request to fire the desserts.

I didn't want to sound horrendously negative about the place. I'm looking forward to hearing what *Deborah* has to say - maybe I just caught them on an off night. Hard to imagine any kitchen being at their best on a Friday evening during DOV.

[Andrew Morrison]

Hard to imagine any kitchen being at their best on a Friday evening during DOV

And there it is.

Deborah, I think if you go knowing all that DOV entails your experience will be better (and you know, so don't worry ).

There's a lot of talk about whether a DOV experience is representative of a restaurants calibre the other 330-odd days a year. It's regrettably impossible to gauge a restaurants' soul this month. We've all discovered this. Especially on a Friday night. West has been the universal exception. But they knew we were coming.

So really, it boils down to the enjoyment of less expensive food at excellent restaurants for the duration and judgement calls of the serious kind remain moot until the shitstorm stops (profanity for superfluous emphasis).

To package it methphorically: imagine driving to an amusement park in a Jag, and then imagine climbing into a cage full of bumper cars driven by pre-pubescents. You bang around for a while, have some fun, and then get back in the Jag and turn up the Brahms.

We'll all be back in the Jag soon.

Edited January 31, 2005 by editor@waiterblog (log)

[SushiCat]

It is clear to me why some restaurants and also some patrons avoid dine out ... overall discussions have enlightened me, imagine if you had nobody to discuss such points with ...

anyway just wanted to say that at Brix I have had crabcake and springrolls and many other delicisious food items as well as a number of good wines - almost always recommended by our server / FOH staff.

[canucklehead]

Hard to imagine any kitchen being at their best on a Friday evening during DOV

There's a lot of talk about whether a DOV experience is representative of a restaurants calibre the other 330-odd days a year. It's regrettably impossible to gauge a restaurants' soul this month. We've all discovered this...

To package it methphorically: imagine driving to an amusement park in a Jag, and then imagine climbing into a cage full of bumper cars driven by pre-pubescents. You bang around for a while, have some fun, and then get back in the Jag and turn up the Brahms.

We'll all be back in the Jag soon.

←

Dude!

You totally captured my thoughts about DOV - I felt like I was doing a very poor job of explaining myself. Alot of people I know have enjoyed the DOV thing and I am looking forward to hitting some new places once the dust has settled (West and Feenie's among others). But for me - I want to try out these places in their 'natural' setting.

FYI - My brother has been hitting DOV pretty hard and the big winner for him so far has been Pastis.

[Mooshmouse]

FYI - My brother has been hitting DOV pretty hard and the big winner for him so far has been Pastis.

←

Whoohoo... am heading there tomorrow night and can't wait!

[*Deborah*]

My parents were there (Pastis, not Brix) the night we all went to West; they had a very good dinner and a bottle of Chateau Carignan that they enjoyed very much.

Edited for clarity although Brix, not Pastis, is where I've had Chateau Carignan

Edited February 2, 2005 by *Deborah* (log)

[*Deborah*]

Tonight: Dinner A; a bottle of Oculus 2001; and some most pleasant dining companions, courtesy of eGullet.

I am happy to say that our dinner sems to have been rather better than yours, HKDave, although the Oculus wasn't the equal of other Oculi I have drunk; I should have ordered the Bordeaux. But anyways. Regardless, I am a bit too tipsy and certainly too tired to stay up and provide the blow by blow I know you all crave, so I shall bid the forum a fond goodnight, and give you all the low down in the A.M.

À demain, mes amis.

[*Deborah*]

So! I arrived five minutes early for my 7:00 reso and found that Chocklateer was ahead of me. We had our choice of tables at that early hour, and as I'd never sat at one there, I chose the tall table along the back wall.

We spent more time talking than looking at the menu or the list, waiting for our others. janevm had confirmed, but Xando Head had not...hope all is well; I think she may have gotten held up on her business trip. We waited for her for a bit, but ever-mindful of the Rules, we couldn't wait too long! Jane came in at 7:00 and I overheard her asking for Dorothy; she left and came back; when she came back, I went up and checked if she meant Deborah actually, which she did. So our party was complete. That's nothing! usually I get "Brenda"...

The VQA pairings were on the menu; Chocklateer (who told me many fascinating things about baking and chocolate) had a half-litre of the Kettle Valley Gewürztraminer, and I ordered that 2001 Oculus which was OK if a bit...nondescript. Jane shared it with me, sparing me a gross headache this morning.

My two new friends both started with the Organic Greens which they seemed to be happy with; they both finished their plates. I started with the very cute small Spring Rolls which I thought could have been a tiny bit hotter, but which had a very light, non-greasy taste and which I liked very much. The little watercress garnish I particularly liked...I'm eating quite a bit of watercress these days!

Chocklateer and I had the Dungeness Crab Cake which happily was not overdone! very very tasty, mmm I love crab. It was served with a seared scallop that was still translucent in the centre, perfectly done, and smoked salmon mashed potatoes piped up in a cute frilly tower, which I didn't like as much as the smoked chicken mashed potatoes I have often eaten at Brix, but they were still good. Jane had the Elk Sirloin which she pronounced delicious, it was gorgeous presentation, the meat nice and red in the centre in the dark sauce, obligatory rosemary stalk in the potato mille-feuille (Jane didn't mention whether she could tell the variety of potato, Dave ). The vegetables that came with my plate (green beans) were nice and firm to the tooth, garlicky and good.

For dessert, we all opted for the Apple Struedel with Walnuts, and we all finished it. I can't say it was the very best I've ever had, but I really liked how the walnut flavour mixed with the apple. Basically, anything that is not sticky toffee or gingerbread pudding is a disappointing dessert, these days!! Not much to be done about that

I finished off with a Monte Cristo (coffee, not cigar) and since there was no lineup or anything, Chocklateer and I stayed and chatted till about 10:00; Jane had another engagement so couldn't linger. Oh, Yaletown! my facialist, Odette, was seated at the next table! hee hee.

I had a very enjoyable evening! but I must say, both my Visa card and my waistline will be glad to see the back of Dine-Out~!

Thanks to my companions for joining me, you added a lot to my evening, and I am at your disposal for other culinary adventures

[janevm]

So! I arrived five minutes early for my 7:00 reso and found that Chocklateer was ahead of me. We had our choice of tables at that early hour, and as I'd never sat at one there, I chose the tall table along the back wall.

We spent more time talking than looking at the menu or the list, waiting for our others. janevm had confirmed, but Xando Head had not...hope all is well; I think she may have gotten held up on her business trip. We waited for her for a bit, but ever-mindful of the Rules, we couldn't wait too long! Jane came in at 7:00 and I overheard her asking for Dorothy; she left and came back; when she came back, I went up and checked if she meant Deborah actually, which she did. So our party was complete. That's nothing! usually I get "Brenda"...

The VQA pairings were on the menu; Chocklateer (who told me many fascinating things about baking and chocolate) had a half-litre of the Kettle Valley Gewürztraminer, and I ordered that 2001 Oculus which was OK if a bit...nondescript. Jane shared it with me, sparing me a gross headache this morning.

My two new friends both started with the Organic Greens which they seemed to be happy with; they both finished their plates. I started with the very cute small Spring Rolls which I thought could have been a tiny bit hotter, but which had a very light, non-greasy taste and which I liked very much. The little watercress garnish I particularly liked...I'm eating quite a bit of watercress these days!

Chocklateer and I had the Dungeness Crab Cake which happily was not overdone! very very tasty, mmm I love crab. It was served with a seared scallop that was still translucent in the centre, perfectly done, and smoked salmon mashed potatoes piped up in a cute frilly tower, which I didn't like as much as the smoked chicken mashed potatoes I have often eaten at Brix, but they were still good. Jane had the Elk Sirloin which she pronounced delicious, it was gorgeous presentation, the meat nice and red in the centre in the dark sauce, obligatory rosemary stalk in the potato mille-feuille (Jane didn't mention whether she could tell the variety of potato, Dave ). The vegetables that came with my plate (green beans) were nice and firm to the tooth, garlicky and good.

For dessert, we all opted for the Apple Struedel with Walnuts, and we all finished it. I can't say it was the very best I've ever had, but I really liked how the walnut flavour mixed with the apple. Basically, anything that is not sticky toffee or gingerbread pudding is a disappointing dessert, these days!! Not much to be done about that

I finished off with a Monte Cristo (coffee, not cigar) and since there was no lineup or anything, Chocklateer and I stayed and chatted till about 10:00; Jane had another engagement so couldn't linger. Oh, Yaletown! my facialist, Odette, was seated at the next table! hee hee.

I had a very enjoyable evening! but I must say, both my Visa card and my waistline will be glad to see the back of Dine-Out~!

Thanks to my companions for joining me, you added a lot to my evening, and I am at your disposal for other culinary adventures

←

well said Deborah never Dorothy. the strangest thing though - when I asked the hostess for Dorothy's table, she said "is that the party of nine?" and I replied in the affirmative which led to even more confusion. I felt rather silly as I hate being late especially for dinner reservations. note to self: make a point of remembering people's names...like Carmen, the check-out girl at Donald's market on Hastings Street (and a great place for produce). She has memorized 1,300 customer's names!!!!

But back to Brix: to reiterate Deborah, the meal was good not great but whaddya expect for a measly 25 bucks. My elk sirloin was tender with deep earthy flavours although I missed the truffle oil. But I would go again and having dinner with foodie strangers (not anymore) was a treat.

[chocklateer]

A fine recap Deborah. Thankyou for inviting me. I enjoyed myself thoroughly! Infact, I think the Brix Xperience was my favourite DOV out the three I had this year. Overall, I take DOV with a grain of salt. I don't think it gives the diner the full experience any restaurant. But it does or atleast can whet the diner's appetite/curiousity for more! And I definitely would spend my hard earned wages on another-full priced-meal at Brix! And I look forward to more culinary adventures!

Thanks again,

D.

[snacky_cat]

Brix was Mr. Snacky Cat's favourite DOV restaurant last year, and we've gone back several times for dinner. Oddly enough, the DOV menus we've had there have sometimes been a bit better than our experiences when ordering a la carte. I recall once having a bite of Mr Snacky Cat's wasabi mashed potatoes that were a little imbalanced in their wasabi:potato ratio. Worrying about if your food is going to hurt tomorrow is all fine and good when you're in university and 25-cent hot wings make up a large portion of your food budget, but one should not have to live in fear of sensitive-area-spice-induced irritation when dining out at most classy joints (Korean excepted.)

I like the room a lot, as it straddles the boundary between intimate and bustling nicely, and have nothing but good things to say about their wine list and parisings suggestion. And the summertime terrace is one of the prettiest in the city, methinks.