Timothy Renshaw
TABLE HOPPING

‘babysitter? Call a babysitter.

Menu for tonight

. 1992 ($24.95)

“ “eDuckling al’ orange ($17.95) °
# Passion Fruit Mousse ($5.25)

IME. TO take care of
‘“.Mother. And who bet-
ter to take on that deli-
cate and demanding task
“than the Segur brothers?
: ., -In their oft-overlooked sec-

. { the Segurs have kept the French
food flame burning brightly for
the past 15: years. It is their gas-

an. impartant.crosstoads;-
The waves of: cuisines nou-

'veaux and West Coast nouveair,
north Italian, Pacific Rim, Tex-

arian have all rushed by in the
street: below, carrying with them
hosts of diners who might other-
wise have chosen French for
“ their night‘on the town.
.. And Chez Michel has been -
many people's first ©.”
choice for French food
_on the North Shore for .
Uthe past decade and
‘more. =.
A restaurant does
“not stay in business
» “long if it is unable to
‘attract repeat business
! and a regular clien-
tele. it does not stay in
,. business'15 years if its.
“ownership tacks that
fare combination of
| charm, talent and ded-
. fication.
Chez Michel adds consisten-
cy of good French cooking, an
“extensive French wine list, quali-
, ty serving staff and an affable
. and accommodating host to the
i foregoing.
But while consistency is
‘admirable in the restaurant
: trade, predictability is not.
Owner Michel Segur knows
it’s time for some changes. His
“restaurant’s interior needs
pgrading. The walls need some
‘paint; the decor needs some
.4,Spice. An outdoor deck atop the
:Ladjacent building would be a

‘Fboon.to business. °°
And Chez Michel's menu
~ needs an overhaul.

., He has managed to hang on
oa loyal clientele, but Segur
eedsto-attract-new-diners.ifhis
‘restaurant is to survive.

: New Agers seek out lighter
fare that is lighter on the New
tAge wallet and the New Age
i Sdigestive tract. It relies less on

Chez Michel, 1373 Marine Dr. ,
"West Vancouver. 926-4913.
Visa, MasterCard and American
Express accepted. Open for
lunch and dinner Tuesday to
Saturday. Take the kids or call a

‘eBottle Beaujolais DuBoeuf

Fresh Mussels ($6. 95)
© Chef's ‘Special Venison
($18.95) -

ond-storey loft on Marine Drive, °

:, tronomic signature. But they face

Mex,’ Mexican- Californian, vege-

eats and rich sauces and n more

BON APPETIT ... LAn elegant table setting at West Vancouver's.

Chez Michel restaurant.

,on vegetables, seafoods, pastas
and assorted meatless exotics.
Chez Michel regulars, howev-
er, patronize the restaurant for its

66 Chez Michel has been

many people's first choice for
French food on the North Shore for
the past decade and more. 99

selection of Lapin a la Moutarde
($17.95 for rabbit in mustard
sauce); Beef Tenderloin Neptune
($18.95); Partridge.
Bourguignonne.($19.95) and
other traditional Chez Michel
entrees ($14 to $20) that do not
fit the slim and prudent New Age
dining profile.

\tis a decision tres difficile,
then, to drop any menu favorites

_ and risk offending loyal patrons

to make way for new dishes that
might attract a whole new gener-
ation of Chez Michelites.

But a new menu is planned
for the summer and other
changes are under way.

Last year, for example, chef
Gerard Page, Chez Michel's
original chef when the restaurant
opened in 1979, returned to the
Chez Michel kitchen.

“He replaced Philippe Segur,
who had taken on kitchen.duties_
in. 1990 with the departure of
long-time Chez Michel chef
Joseph Lassaga.

Philippe performed ably in his

HEWS photo Mike Waketieid

brother's kitchen, but he is a
more valuable asset to the
restaurant in the dining room
providing another dimension of
Segurian customer ser-
vice.

Page, meanwhile,
has added some flair”
and flourish to the
restaurant's tradition-
ally good quality food.

The sampled fresh
Prince Edward Island
mussels, for example,
were served in a light
cream sauce’suffused
with garlic and fin-
ished with a splash of
brandy.

My Venison was presented a
juicy medium rare in a raspber-
ry-honey sauce topped with
slices of baked apple.

The entree plate included a
small fan of roast potatoes,
asparagus spears, julienned car-
rots, zucchini and squash and a
sprig of broccoli.

Chez Michel's dessert selec-
tion is well worth sam, ting:
items range from Tarte aux
Pommes ($3.95) to Peche Melba
($4.95) and Sabayon au Grand
Marnier ($10.95),

All are fine finishers. The spe-
cial Passion Fruit Mousse was
excellent.

It was served in a dark choco-
late cup and accompanied with
raspberry coulis.

Chez Michel loyalists will be
pleased to know thatthe tradi-
tion of fine Gallic.foods and
informed service continues at

~"€hez-Michel; discerning New
Agers will Be" pleased to know
that its scope is expandityg soan,
to include them.

“980-1213.

4 fapue

*Exciudes boverages and Tandoor Entrees. Dinner Mon-Sat. 5-10; Sun.5-9

FAST OR FREE Complote Lunch (any dish from our menu)

Served ir 20 min. or less or it's Freel

985-5477

for $5. 12-2:30 - Mon.-Fei,
175 E. 3rd St., N.Van. Fully Licensed

Name:
L Address:

|
I
I
I
i
I tessur value FREE. Expiros June 2/94
H
I
]
I
l

Phone #;

Fx: 985-1770

WR HUbHE, TMH) 2B Pod Wan Bhar Nes Hi

Oe eee cam ee a oe ones ome

Flavour of India

SUN. THRU THURS.
1 FREE DINNER

Purchase one dinner entree, receive a second entree of equal or

as.
| 2 FOR 1
| DINNER SPECIAL | :

i Enjoy one complimentary entree when a second entree
of equal or grearer value is purchased.
Value up to $14.95

i BRIDGE HOUSE
RESTAURANT

E 3650 Capilano Road
North Vancouver

g Valid until May 31st, 1994
Nor valid with-any other coupon

or on daily specials
i SUN - THURS ONLY

1 987-3388

: reservations strongly recommended
CHM ERE) ME PERCE

Now available
Latie, Cappucino «gga™
Special ™

95°

fillings: Black Forest
ham, roast beef,
smoked chicken,
corned beef or
vegetarian.

VALID ‘TIL JUNE 30, ‘94

125 E. 2nd St.
N. Vancouver

985- 9192

a “butter croissant is filled oes
with lively alfalfa’ sprouts & tomato’
slices & served with Caesar salad; choice of

es TG, Wy ,

_Lunch Only

-

%

progegrc near nnn nee

OR
PRAWN CURRY

Dinner inciudes your cholce of rice or
potatoes, vegetables and hot"

sourdough Se a M a les

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
998 Marine Drive N. Van.

Sauteed with mushrooms in a light wine sauce.

Offer expires
Sune T/ 1994

one

L