‘6 66 - Friday, November 15, 1985 ~ North Shore News Slavic aromas fill West Van MY FIRST impression of Yugoslavian cuisine, I’m afraid, was somewhat tainted. I made its acquaintance in a stark cafe 20 miles outside the grey Yugoslavian city of Skopje. I entered armed with feeble bag of luggage and long hair to be met with grim faces frozen in a scene from the Gulag Archipelago. After tucking into a stale bun and tin cup of acrid coffee, I made hasty steps for the nearest Yugoslavian high road. The flavors of the country were to elude me for my entire trip through Yugoslavia, table by Timothy Renshaw But Yugoslavian food is, 1 , have - since. found, * much. more than gruel and black’: bread bolstered © with plum..” brandy.°: On Friday night, I was reintroduced to that which I missed my first time around, courtesy of the Dubrovnik West. Restaurant, 4368 Marine Drive; West : Van- couver. . , : Though it temporarily DUBROVNIK WEST chef Gojko Bodiroga serves up his internationally renowned Chicken Gojko to the res- taurant’s assistant manager Linda Hopkins. Taking up residence in the former Cypress Inn, Bodiroga’s new restaurant features a selec- tion of the Yugoslavian con- tinental cuisine at West Vancouver's first Yugosla- vian' ‘restaurant. Dubrovnik West is open Monday to - Saturday for dinner. u given. an remains the Cypress Inn, the Dubrovnik West should, by month’s end, be fully con- verted to the North Shore's first outpost of Slavic cuisine. It is chef Gojko Bodiroga’s first run at the highly competitive Lower Mainland restaurant market. The Yugoslavian-born, French-trained chef, who uses fresh-ingredients-only, arrived in Vancouver two months ago, defecting from the chill northlands of Win- nipeg. His new restaurant’s name, he says, is a tip of the hat to his’ brother’s original Dubrovnik restaurant’ in Winnipeg, where Bodiroga was head chef for 10 years. Sandwiched, between a gas’ station and a. convenience store in a tiny shopping cen- tre in deepest West -Van- couver, the Dubrovnik West betrays a less-than-appealing stone-wall exterior to the first-time visitor. Inside the former Cypress Inn, however, is the warmth of a blazing fireplace and a dining intimacy ensured by a maze of. mirrored walls and light wood lattice. ~ Dubrovnik West menu ‘is temporarily that of its predecessor, with nightly specials from Bodiroga’s soon-to-be unveiled bag of Yugoslavian culinary delights. On Friday night, my fa- ther, my wife, and | were intriguing sneak preview of tastes to come beginning with Gibancia, a lovely Yugoslavian rendition of Greek Spanakopita (cheese and egg pie encased phyllo pastry) made with the flakier Greek edges removed and the overall pie softer and spongier. All made especially digestible with the knowledge that they were the NEWS phato Mike Wakellold r " i] | I | a I FOGG N’ SUDS AUSTRALIA DAYS H I Bring your mates, and this coupon, and receive a FREE McFogg i I Burger ($4.25) or FREE Classic Nachos ($4.95), whenever another { I - is purchased. Offer expires Nov. 30th, so hop down now! — i { 1215 Bidwelt 9293 West 4th A ! ¥ . at Davie silano ¥ ty 669-9297 1732-3377 cont wt evening's complimentary appetizer special. Bodiroga’s Borsht ($2.95) betrayed robust Slavic bloodlines: a deep red pool of beet and onion broth sur- rounding an island of sour cream, all further charged with the added brawn of fried ground beef. New York Steak ($13.95) with creamy peppercorn and port sauce, a hold over from the Cypress Inn menu, was devoured by my father who claimed between mammoth forkloads, that his appetite was not what it used to be. For me, well | could hard- ly turn down Chicken Gojko ($15.50), Bodiroga’s own creation, featured in the cur- rent edition of Bon Appetite and one of the highly touted show-stoppers at the original Dubrovnik North. The dish features a chicken breast stuffed to bursting seams with a blend of shrimp and Manitoba wild rice all drenched in a creamy Dijenaise and lemon sauce. An excellent dish overall, but to my tastes a_ THE CLASSIFIED CONNECTION | north shore |. hews Wonderful Chinese Seafood Restaurant © Authentic Cantonese cuisine ¢ Live seafood . © Hong Kong chef * Dim Sum daily (Just across the 2nd Narrows Bridge) For Reservations call 3555 E. Hastings 294-1118 ‘Open seven days a week 10-10 a ee A SS en nS ND RE OG SO tS DS : trifle salty. We rounded out the even ing with a slice of Baklava and a block of Chocolate Concordia Cake (both $3.25); the former another Greek phyllo pastry speciali- ty, this one filled with raisins and walnuts, and further bolstered with pecans and covered in honey; the latter a bonanza cf chocolate and meringue. Both are made on the premises and both are recommended for the con- firmed dessertaholic. When the Dubrovnik West shifts into full Yugoslavian production, Bodiroga prom- ises its menu will resound with flavors and aromas swept in aboard Adtriatic winds: Shopska Salad, Muckalica and Veal stuffed with Kajmak Cheese. Dubrovnik West is apen for dinner from 4 to 1! p.m. Monday to Saturday. Lo Michel is Featuring ‘a SPECIAL MENU for Beaujolais Wines. . _ Nov. 12-Dec., 8 a * Buffalo» Quail * Reindeer °* Duckling °# 12 different cR A whole Dungeness crab average 1% lbs. ¢ garlic butter while quantities last. — O95 EACH EVENING FROM 5 PM Free Valet Parking . 1184 Denman St. |’ at Davie * 684-5322 Dinners # Buy one of the following entrees for $8.95 and your guest will receive any of the following entree Free @ with this coupon. © Deep Fried Prawns served with baked potato and fresh vegetable * Schnitzel Newburg ~ f = Panfried schnitzel topped with shrimp, scallops & seafood in a Newburg sauce. Served with rice & fresh vegetable. * BBQ Beef Brochettes served with rice and fresh vegetable * Shrimp & Scallop Crepe 2 crepes stuffed with shrimp, scallop, seafood ina white § wine sauce. Served with rice J & fresh vegetable 7 days a week from 4:30-8:30 p.m. This offer good to Sat. Nov. 23 Reservations 987-8812 1301 Lonsdale, North Van FREE UNDERGROUND PARKING 1 BF Lunch 11:30 430 Dinner: hom Spm Sundays from 4 pm Sat. & Sunday Brunch 9.30 3:30 Salad ane, Sea TLR Win Reweccbdedin neg, oa AIR Rnd Ne lee! Bee TK A ean AO ale