5.0 La Carte Blanche, coordinates well-known in the 9th is a place that has recently had a change of chefs with a new guy from Pasco, where I had a dreadful meal in 2008, taking over. But I asked a friend whom I trust and lives nearby what he thought of it and his judgment while tempered, stimulated me to go - plus I read Pasco as Pinxo, which I love, so fool me at least once.
It was a snowy day, just getting slippery underfoot, when I arrived and it continued madly during our leisurely lunch. The amuse bouche was a pleasant enough thing of tuna and avocado in a shot glass with faux ivory spoon and the bread was OK.
My old/new male friend K. had the soup with I believe bits of foie gras while my old/new friend P. had the foie gras full bore (with my hand print thrown in for good measure). I meanwhile had a third item which I've placed down below for a reason.
Now I challenge you - what are these? And how are they different? One is the crusty tete de veau, one coq au vin their style and the third is lamb with beans in Grandma's style. It was kinda spooky - all three looking like similarly pressed and cooked combos of protein and vegetables. This guy is clearly enamoured of this process or form.
We sort of split three desserts: a ho-hum macaroon with clementines and a Paris-Brest called a Paris-Tokyo because of untastable wasabi.
When K. came back from the toilets he said "I've got a favor to ask; tell me which sign on which door is male and which female?' And by George I was totally at a loss.
The bill, with a bottle and a half of wine (the plus - they charged exactly 1/2 for 1/2; the minus - except for the Samur, the other reds were rather pricy), no bottled water and two coffees was 150.75 E, thus just a tad over 100 E per couple.
Go? I guess if you're my friend who's walking distance away, OK, but I'm not sure I'll return.
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