Life has been moving pretty fast for us lately (Aki is walking!), and there are a bunch of great eateries we haven't had a chance to dish about yet, if you'll pardon the pun.
Way, way back in May, for example, Dr. & Mrs. T treated us all to a feast at Barbrix, a new wine bar and restaurant in Silver Lake. The occasion: a slightly belated birthday bash for both Tommy and Yuri.
Barbrix had just opened, and it was already chalking up rave reviews. In its first week, according to co-owner Claudio Blotta (of Campanile fame), Barbrix already had regulars. It's easy to see why: The wines are delicious and eclectic, but not overpriced; the food is, in the words of our hero Jonathan Gold, "surgically designed" to match with the wines; and the atmosphere is casual, a neighborhood spot you can stroll to. You can pop into the long, low-ceiling'd, dark wood interior -- a converted bungalow with a walk-in wine bar -- or you can nab a table in the front-end patio ringed with lemon and olive saplings.
Baba, Mommy, and Baby at Barbrix.
Daddy and Uncle Tommy after a few glasses of wine.
Barbrix rides the wave of small plate innovators (two of our favorites are Orris and Cobras & Matadors) who have revitalized the conversational, wine-sipping, "variety pack" aspects of dining in L.A. Unlike many of these places, though, Barbrix's dishes are all clear and distinct. We could give a blow-by-blow run-down of everything we tasted, but that would be moot. To keep everything fresh, Chef Don Dickman draws from local farmers and markets; as a consequence, the menu is seasonal and changes often.
Give Peas a Chance: The summer faro salad
In general, though, we found a range of mostly pan-Mediterranean flavors, like the multi-textured summar farro salad: English peas, pine nuts, mint, feta cheese, and red onions. It was hard to choose from so many yummy looking dishes, but luckily for us, Yuri had done her research. She unfolded several printed blog posts (in color! with her picks highlighted and underlined!), and ordered away.
You're pulling my duck leg!
Among the standouts were the drool-worthy duck leg confit, with a handsomely caramelized skin (browned with fig wine) and a smattering of mouth-watering potatoes.
Angelic deviled eggs.
The deviled eggs were nothing to brush off, either. Draped with boquerones (small, filleted anchovies that are a tapas standby), we can only classify them lovingly as eggs-quisite flavor bombs.
Baby and Auntie Lisa.
We sat out on the patio, which is good for both clinking glasses with your trendy urbanite pals and enjoying a family meal with a feisty little baby. The dusk was just criss-crossing our cutlery and wine glasses as we sat, and the evening got a little cold, but luckily we had Aki's aunt, uncle, Ojii-san and Obaa-san with us to help keep him warm. There's nothing like a good meal in a good setting with good company!
Aki does his best doll impression with Baba and Jiji.
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