Count Metromix's Hot Plates Live as another successful tasting event at the Bell House

Featuring small bites (or, if we were in an episode of Top Chef, "amuse bouches") from 11 local restaurants, and four beers (Can I have four beers?) served in dixie cups (though, let's face it: I probably wouldn't be happy unless I was served beer in gallon jugs), alongside a cheese plate, the event space at the Bell House was crowded but not obnoxious at the Metromix Hot Plates Live shindig.

HOW'S THAT FOR A RUN-ON SENTENCE? Suck it, bitchez, I've got some food to write about.

On the menu:

Aqualis Grill (773 Fulton St., Fort Greene, 718-797-3494) served Anise Cured Salmon (with yogurt and dll).  Placed on top of a crunchy cucumber, this could have been good if it wasn't as warm as it was.  Cucumbers and salmons tend to be very bland, and a little extra seasoning would have gone a long way on this dish. 

Bussaco (833 Union St., Park Slope, 718-857-8828) served grilled, charred octopus skewered on a fingerling potato with a delicious vinegarette.  This was, by far, my favorite of all of the dishes—the flavors were vibrant, sophisticated, and clean and the octopus was cooked perfectly.  This dish is on their menu as a $12 small plate—you better believe I'll be hitting up this North Slope spot soon so I can eat me some Ursula from The Little Mermaid (that bitch!).

Calexico Carne Asada (122 Union St., Park Slope, 718-488-8226) presented "Green Gazpacho" made out of of green tomatillos topped with roasted corn, cilantro, and fresh cream.  The guy that was serving it insisted that I take the gazpacho all in one shot, which was a little difficult considering the portion size, but the gazpacho itself had very good, clean flavors.

Latitude Zero (82 S. 4th St, WIlliamsburg, 718-384-8282) offered up a tasty Shrimp Ceviche Manabita, alongside a curious "chicha" shot that tasted like peanut milk.   

Mesa Coyoacan (372 Graham Ave., Williamsburg, 718-782-8171) served up two delicious tostadas—one crab, and one shredded chicken.  Perfectly seasoned, with just the right kick of spice, these might make me trek all the way to Williamsburg (a neighborhood I categorically HATE). 

Zuzu Ramen (173 4th Ave., Park Slope, 718-398-ZUZU) served braised pork shoulder in a weird little tortilla, topped with cucumber, scallions, and sweet chili sauce.  This dish was excellent upon first tasting, but when we went back for a second, the tortilla was incredibly doughy and essentially inedible.  Of course, cooking for the masses on a hot plate is never the ideal condition, but it's important to pick something that will hold up well.  "A" for effort.

Umi Nom (433 Dekalb Ave., Boerum Hill, 718-789-8806) offered up sauteed Chinese sausage with a Thai chili lime sauce skewered on a small sticky rice ball.  While the consistency was a little off, the flavors were spot on.

At this point, everything was going well, save for the Chipotle beer that tasted like someone poured cayenne pepper into some crappy dark beer (and we all know how I feel about dark beer); and then all of a sudden, several tables seemed to go fucking eggtastic.  I can deal with food trends (i.e: bacon everything—let's get real, it's awesome almost always), but serving everything with eggs in it is a trend that I cannot get behind.  So here I am, faced with pickled eggs, quail eggs, egg sandwiches—and I was not exaclty looking forward to pushing on.  For realsies. But i have fucking journalistic integrity people...so I went for it.

Eat Records (124 Meserole Avenue, Greenpoint, 718-389-8083) did the thing that can cause a table at an event like this to be a huge hit: Among tiny little bites, they served up pretty substantial sandwiches.  You're all like "Oh, awesome, something that'll actually fill me up," and then you realize that the sandwich in question is their "Boiled Egg Banh Mi Sandwich," made with hard boiled eggs, cilantro, and (supposedly) hot sauce.  The bread, which was actually very good, couldn't make up for the fact that the sandwich was dry and tasteless...and well, full of eggs. 

The Vanderbilt (570 Vanderbilt Ave., Prospect Heights, 718-623-0570) served golden pickled eggs, alongside an inexplicable crostini.  Listen, if you like pickled eggs, you would have probably liked these.  I hate pickled eggs, so there's that. 

Sui Ren (302 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, 718-218-7878) served a delicious piece of big eye tuna sashimi alongside a quail egg, wrapped in seaweed. The latter of the two made me extremely nervous, but, it was actually very good, despite the creepy texture of the quail egg.  I bet their sushi rolls (i.e. safe, boring options for people like me) are really great.

Vue (370 4th Ave., Park Slope, 718-625-1500) The evening ended at the table of our favorite hotel restaurant, Hotel Le Bleu (or Luh Bluh, as the Brooklyn Paper likes to say).  Despite an initial dicey run-in at the restaurant itself, I decided to give it a chance, mainly because after the egg marathon, I was excited at the prospect of their filet mignon roll. Overall, the dish was adequate, and very nicely seasoned. But the filet was sliced so thin that it could have passed off as some nicely cooked roast beef.  I'll call it "le mediocre," but I'm intrigued enough to go back to the restaurant to check it out.

High points:
Bussaco
Mesa Coyoacan

Low points:
Eat Records
Aqualis Grill
The Vanderbilt

But to be fair, let's not read too much into my criticism.  I think every place that participated in this food extravaganza deserves a chance—especially when you'll be given a menu and you can pick out your own food.  Just hold the eggs for me, please.

UPDATE: Loads'o pics here.