One of Vancouver's Michelin Guide-recommended restaurants is kicking off spring with a fresh new brunch menu, inspired by the cuisine of Germany.
Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge will debut its Bavarian Brunch on April 20, giving weekend brunch-goers something new and different to enjoy in Vancouver.
German-born chef Stefan Hartmann has tapped into his roots to create several new elegant dishes, offered alongside Bacchus' most popular brunch items.
One dish joining the roster is the picture of spring: a nest of filo (kataifi) holds smoked salmon and a poached egg under lemony horseradish creme fraiche and is placed atop refreshing cucumber. Hartmann says the dish was part of the Bacchus Easter brunch menu but has proven such a hit with diners it is now a fixture.
German dishes include sausages, schnitzel
Along similar lines, many of the Bavarian-themed dishes Hartmann has crafted for the new Bacchus brunch are lighter than perhaps the notion of German fare might conjure. Sourcing meats from Granville Island's legendary Oyama, Bacchus has a dish like the Poached Weisswurst, featuring the traditional white sausage of veal and pork that is tender and mellow - almost creamy - paired with a perfectly squishy and salty house-made pretzel bun and sweet mustard.
The Bavarian Meatloaf, which Hartmann says is basically Germany's version of Spam, is served sliced and grilled with melted onions, mustard, German potato salad, and an egg (any style); the suggestion is to work a dab of everything onto your fork for the perfect bite.
The best Hollandaise sauce in Vancouver? Might be!
While there are several other German dishes on the brunch menu, Bacchus has a home run with the Chicken Schnitzel. The thin but juicy chicken is golden-fried and placed on a mound of crispy potatoes with a poached egg on top draped in the restaurant's incredible Hollandaise - one of the best in the city, thanks to its velvet texture and pronounced acidity.
For a sweet finish, Hatmann has Oma's Rice Pudding, which is thick, firm, and creamy, with refreshing bits of wine jelly, golden raisins, and poached pear.
Even the drink menu has a few Germanic flourishes, including the Kirsch Royale, which will give brunch a bubbly start, and Bavarian Coffee for that cheeky kick.
“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate my heritage, and I look forward to preparing some of my favourite German dishes for guests in Vancouver,” said Hartmann.
Bacchus offers an upscale, contemporary European dining experience
The new Bavarian brunch dishes are one portion of the menu, which includes Bacchus' beloved weekend daytime classics, like French Toast with fruit compote and Eggs Benedict (with that stellar Hollandaise).
The restaurant's dining room is cozy and lounge-like, with a roaring fireplace and comfy armchairs at many of the tables, and the hospitality is top-notch.
Bacchus was added to Vancouver's list of restaurants categorized as Recommended by the Michelin Guide in 2022 and 2023.
"Just off the intimate lobby, where stunning flower arrangements, a glittering chandelier and marble reception area exude tasteful luxury, Bacchus transports guests to a more refined era," described the Guide in 2022. "This elegant restaurant is the kind of place where quotidian concerns immediately disappear."
Bacchus is located at 845 Hornby St (at the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa) in Downtown Vancouver. Brunch is served weekends and holidays.
Video: New Bavarian Brunch menu launches at Bacchus Restaurant
@forkingawesomevia A new brunch menu debuts April 20 at this Michelin Guide recommended Vancouver restaurant. #forkingawesome #vancouverbc #brunch ♬ Remembering You - Jazzy Jim + The NoBSXpress
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