RON SWARNER: HOW IRONIC >>>

The signs are everywhere: Bleached white skin emerges from months hidden in fluffy coats. Tops roll down on convertibles. Hormones that seemed dormant, frozen by winter’s chill, bounce back to lusty life with a speed and vigor that would frighten Larry Flynt, and thoughts that were only yesterday directed at snowy steeps and chutes turn to barbecues and beaches.

OK, not really. But today's weather is quite lovely.

Ironically, Brix 25 rolls out its 2009 Winter Menu tonight. Seems a bit late to me, but with mangalitsa pork raviolo ($25), Oregon elk ribeye with a sun-dried blueberry foam ($38), pan=seared deep sea scallops accented with bacon onion relish ($28) and phyllo triangles stuffed with pear and Oregon blue cheese ($12) on the menu, I don't give a crap about the weather.

LINK: Brix 25 capsule review

[Brix 25, 7707 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, 253.858.6626]