Vava in the 18th: Inventive, clever, enuf, “I’ll be back.”

Vava in the 18th was my choice for my first meal freed from culinary deprivation and I wanted to make the best of it with Colette and two dear friends from downtown.  The 20-25 menus and 38-60€ carte choices are stunning and pre-dinner “tapas” temptingly varied.  One look and everyone fixed on the gazpacho and sweetbreads.  But all not of us stuck with our first impulse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indeed, we went three ways for firsts- the gazpacho with tomato, pineapple, algarve syrup and olive oil; white asparagus with poutargue, tarragon and a mousseline sauce and squid minirolls (Incredibly crisp, moist and tasty), petit pois, pickles and a sauce of spicy smoked herring (oh boy!)

Then three of us stuck with our first impulses, and had the (unpictured) sweetbreads with nori, cauliflower, fennel and curry, the latter of which I got not a hint of.  Colette decided to go with a good product but mild tasting bar with almonds, cherries and an “ok” side of Long grain rice.

For dessert we shared a strawberry tart with elderberry flower and pistachio, cherry, vanilla creme glacée and Chantilly mascarpone - just look at the ingredients listed.

Our bill, with 2 glasses white wine while Colette and I kept our friends waiting coming from the food Sahara, 2 bottles of Beaujolais, no bottled water but 2 coffees (offered), was 291€ or 145.50€ a couple.