Today, just a day after posting my essay of the week entitled "Why haven't you been back? Please come", I had almost the same friendly request from Gregory Marchand of Frenchie, where I haven't been in over a year.
Reasonable question: Why? Feeble answer: So much to do, so little time in which to do it.
But Colette and I remedied that today with a fine lunch, our last surely before he closes the luncheon window to have more time for "projects" and will serve two seatings at dinner.
Colette loved the speck salad with clementines, parmesan and mint leaves while I was enchanted by the warm smoked sardines and brussel sprout leaves on a butternut squash puree.
Colette then had the fish (merou) on lentils and I had gnocchi with a beef ragout with greens and microtomed horseraddish and regular raddish; both of which we tasted and both of which we liked greatly.
For dessert I chose the Fourme d'Ambert with cherries and Colette went with the pot of chocolate with caramel; again both of which were quite good.
Our bill with a bottle and glass of wine and two coffees was 90 E.
Go? Lunches cease after the New Year and two seatings at dinner will commence then. Do.
I was there yesterday and ate exactly the same things !!!!!! When did you go???? That sardine was excellent!
Posted by: adrian | December 02, 2010 at 10:34 AM
We were the second and third persons to arrive at about 12h30 and sat behind the door to the toilet. That's funny; a couple from Conn. who read this the blog also introduced themselves.
Posted by: John Talbott | December 02, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Have you tried Carte Blanche recently? Is it still good? How about Chti Catalan? Both are in the 9th.
Posted by: Gerry Freeman | December 02, 2010 at 05:16 PM
I was there December 1st at the high table at the entrance with Peter Schaf the absinthe expert .........didn't see you!!!!
Posted by: adrian | December 03, 2010 at 10:14 AM
My wife thought one of you looked familiar; I was facing the wall so really didn't look much. The couple I talked to were at the first lower table towards the cuisine. Small world.
Posted by: John Talbott | December 03, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Frenchie never ceases to amaze me. Every time I go (okay I've only been three times, but I FEEL at home there :) , I think "it can't possibly be better than last time" and Marchand then outdoes himself yet again. I'm still dreaming of a physalis (not, in fact, a sexually transmitted disease but actually a delicious fruit) tart he made a couple of months ago. I haven't been for lunch, but may just have to check it out asap! Merci beaucoup for your always fabulous reviews!!
http://lafleurdeparis.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Rebecca | December 04, 2010 at 09:26 AM
Not sure I ever replied Gerry but I did go and thot it was OK, no more, no less.
http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/john_talbotts_paris/2010/12/carte-blanche-in-the-9th-it-seemed-to-not-have-quite-the-old-pizzazz-but-not-bad.html
Posted by: John Talbott | December 10, 2010 at 08:30 PM