Just in time for summer – fresh new dishes at Brother's Bistro

Rarely have I seen a menu revision like the one that just happened at Brother’s Bistro this week. Fresh summer items have been added and they all sound delicious. The recipes are proprietor Dee Nusser’s creations. She and her husband, Ron, opened the establishment in 2004.

“Grilled Shrimp with Herbs and Feta Cheese over Orzo” is a mouthful in more ways than one. The orzo is one ingredient that gives this dish a Mediterranean flair. What is orzo? It’s not rice, although it looks the part. Orzo is a pasta which is cut into rice-shaped forms.

Feta cheese makes a flavorful adhesive for the orzo and for the other fresh ingredients. Cucumbers, green onions, tomatoes, kalamata olives and dill cling to it in marvelous fashion.

As my fork pierced this refreshing salad I realized that the anchor for this dish is the succulent grilled shrimp. The herbs, some slightly spicy, punch up the shrimp to smoky grilled perfection. The entire salad, including the grilled shrimp, is served chilled – at exactly the right temperature for a summer dining interlude.

Enjoy your salad in the cheerful restaurant or on the cool patio where a fish pond fosters a relaxing ambiance. Add a glass of wine and you have it made. Ron Nusser noted that, “A nice chilled Chilean Sauvignon Blanc” is his recommended wine pairing for the Shrimp Orzo salad.

“Portobello Mushroom Soup” is a simple soup made with tiny pieces of mushrooms in a creamy base garnished with green onions. Yes, this is soup, but it’s still light enough for a summer day. The texture is creamy and the flavor is mild, but delicious, and it doesn’t need any help from salt or pepper. The tiny pieces of mushroom give only a subtle nuance of texture, but a lot of mushroom flavor.

A sandwich made with “Grilled Fresh Fish of the Day” is another menu enhancement. Or try the creative “Grilled Vegetables, Herb and Goat Cheese Sandwich,” made with marinated and grilled Japanese eggplant, zucchini and roasted bell peppers on a toasted ciabatta roll. A house-made herb and goat cheese spread ties a bow of flavor around the mix.

Find Brother’s Bistro at 835 South Main, Suite A in Fallbrook. Reach them by telephone at (760) 731-9761. See http://www.brothersbistro.net for restaurant hours.