About Us
How It All Began
Brie & Barrel was inspired by a small wine bar in Sidney BC. Owner's Sharie & Colin Minions had a dream to create an elegant restaurant featuring quality wines, local craft beer, and unique flavourful dishes utilizing local ingredients wherever possible.
The space was quickly chosen and work began. Since the start, Brie & Barrel has prided itself on an always changing menu to an ever growing wine list featuring the best of local and international small wineries. Brie & Barrel always has something new and exciting to try.
With our most recent change, Brie & Barrel is excited to now be home to a beautiful new luxurious covered patio space and a stunning garden section covered in wisteria vines. Each table equipped with it's own personal table-top fire to enhance your dining experience, we are so proud of the space we've created at Brie & Barrel.
Meet the Chef
Chef Brad joined our team at Brie & Barrel shortly after opening in 2019. Born and raised in Port Alberni, Brad started his culinary journey as a student at ADSS quickly realizing a passion that would take him around the world.
After leaving Port Alberni he moved to Victoria to attend Camosun College where he became a Red Seal Chef. Victoria had much culinary diversity to offer. Brad spent 14 years working in top restaurants and hotels under some of the most talented chefs in the country.
The late Chef/writer Anthony Bourdain played a huge role in shaping Brads desire for travel and authenticity which became major influences in his culinary journey.
Leaving the Empress Hotel, Brad sold everything and moved to the mountains of Fukushima Japan to a Samurai town famous for Ramen (but also Earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear disaster). In the aftermath of the Fukushima, Brad made another move finding himself in the Arctic for most of the last decade. While working in the Arctic, Brad was able to continue his travels; always taking in new cultures and experiencing their most authentic foods.
As Sous Chef at Brie & Barrel, Brad has always been an integral part of building our incredible menu alongside Chef Dave. In late 2020 we were excited to move Brad into our Head Chef role and begin to transform our space and menu again.
​
We are so proud to now have Chef Brad leading our kitchen team at Brie & Barrel.
