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Fro rom page 16

fireplace mantle. Slate floors. Patio with
», parasols. Eager opening night crowds.

It was a contender.

“Bur the Tusk never really gor
‘untrack ked.

It suffered initial growing pains.
“Not Surprising. Top end personnel
changed several times. Unsettling for
those on both sides of the kitchen

~ counter,
- And then came Afilestones. Right
next. ‘door:.."

‘Spectra’s overnight success story

cked dining ‘business from ail parts of
the North Shore, but its proximity ‘to’
the. Black Tusk exacted a direct toll on

“its foundering neighbor's dining trade.

However the Tusk’s initial attributes
remain:“And the'success of Milestones is
roviding a positive spirioff for its less

well-known neighbor. -

Overflow crowds and lost“:
Milestoners are ‘discovering 8 the Black -
Tusk.

stage, the Black Tusk bs not have: |
ble, to take dvantage of thes"
facto

carly.
a’ bit,on the watery side,
“bur? thi

- Steak,

Tusk has stripped away any misplaced
pretensions of glamor.

Its 64-seat dining room is, well-lit
and uncluttered and serviced by an able

"kitchen that produces good quality

hamburger and pasta cuisine at reason-
able prices.

The Tusk doesn’t have the frenetic
energy of Milestones with its lineups
and venue for people-watching.

It has, instead, 4 parkside serenity
and the matchless entertainment of
mixing golf (a driving range) and din-
ing. F
A recent dinner experience in the’
Tusk’s'outdoor patio underscored its
value as an overlooked summer dining
locale.

Chef Ashley: Page has put together a -
simple menu that doesn’t get too far
beyond pasta (Linguini with seafood:
Fettuccine Alfredo, Penne with chorizo
sausage), hamburgers and other sand-

‘wich food (focaccia sandwiches, chick-

en and veggie burgers, beef dip).
Main entrees ($8 to $13) include

“such items as B.C; Salmon Fillet,

Curried Chicken and Mountain Strip

A specials ise served Thursday

through S Sunday adds a trio of seasonal

to Took around (I found i it at-
the: Lynn. Valley LDB}, but

worth the hunt:
Rich’

where.

deep cherry. and
blackcurrant flavors with a
hint of cedar in there some-

der faces ohanenge |

entrees to the regular menu.
The sampled beef filet from that
addendum was well received. It was

presented on a large brightly colored

plate.

Accompanying the beef: cottage-
fried potatoes, grilled zucchini and red
and green bell peppers along with
steamed squash, cauliflower and broc-
coli — an unusually generous assort-
ment of vegetables.

The meat itself was flame grilled
medium (our waitress neglected to ask
us how we wanted it cooked) and
served beneath a rich blue cheese
sauce.

It was a very good entree.

The duck breast, however, was not
as weil prepared. It came with the same
supporting cast, but the portion of
meat was inadequate and it was over

~ cooked.

Our dessert Profiteroles were gener-
ously doused with chocelate and cream

“and made for a sweet finish.

And the Tusé’s outdoor patio pro-
vided a welcome backdrop of cool for-
est-side tranquility.

Past its formative years, but hardly
long i in the tooth, the Black Tush i is

~ worth trying.

Thanks to this year’s heavy
bine harvester to mow the
croquet ‘pitch and’ scour the
locai hills fora new caber

‘bucked and split the old one

. fain, we had to hire a com-'

since scmebody mistakenly

An impulse’ buy that paid
ff..Worth tucking /a few

for firewood. .

© California‘ Maki
OBC, Roll
© Teka Maki.
* Salmon’ Maki

i

under the bed and forgetting
about them ‘at feast until the
next spring cleaning.

LEES &: DREGS: Sorry
about, the absence, but the
Annual . General ‘Meeting of:
the. Garibaldi. Croquet::and.;
Caber-Tossing” Club. took a:
. heavy toll on the elected offi-

‘BEFORE You.
‘VENTURE ABROAD

explore the. Nets for new travel
. ads every Sunday

” revth shore

' ..0 Free Weekends
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Lage aaxisie
*gooking area °

Self-cleaning
anti-flare ceramic briquettes
ga, stainless .
“steel Super 8 fnfinity b
for quick even heat
uré-Lite ignition syste
Heavy gauge tubular steel
wobble-free cart:
Perma Mold Sige Sheive
Pacelain-coated cast Iron

L yaNcouven
 SS-100T
eickariy td

tractable parce cat
warming rack -
10, 00 U sida! purner. .

pay du electric rotissarie
‘2, 0000 BTU rear rotisserie