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Post by Happygoin on Apr 18, 2007 10:35:35 GMT -5
I am likely going to stir up some trouble for saying this, but am I the only person who disliked this restaurant on rue St Dominique? I keep reading glowing reviews and I just wasn't all that impressed. They were out of two of the most common menu items (rabbit and pork). That itself was disappointing. I ordered the chicken and it was so ho-hum...just forgettable. And the service wasn't memorable either. Well??
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Post by sistereurope on Apr 18, 2007 11:33:58 GMT -5
Hello troublemaker! I wouldn't say that I disliked it...but I would agree with you that the food wasn't glowing review worthy. I can't really remember what we had (which I suppose says something!) I just remember thinking "well, that wasn't bad". Overall I'd sum it up with the rousing "some things were pretty good, others were ok and nothing was really bad". I've had some worse meals in Paris, but many better. With SO many other really yummy, great places in Paris I wouldn't go back.
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Post by Truffaut on Apr 18, 2007 11:53:06 GMT -5
Maybe it will get better now that Christian Constant is no longer running it. Sometimes, these power chefs get too distracted operating multiple restaurants and the quality slips. You can often do better by finding the restaurants where their proteges are cooking. Try Le Bistral in the 17th for some fabulous (if unusual) food by an Alain Passard (L'Arpège) disciple.
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Post by Happygoin on Apr 19, 2007 7:08:32 GMT -5
Truffaut, I'm curious what you mean by "unusual" food at Le Bistral. I am one of those foodies who just hates "precious" food. I don't like pretentious chefs who make food that is better looking than it tastes. I also didn't enjoy the fusion craze. Thankfully, it seems to be less a trend than it was several years ago. If it was intelligently done, it could be interesting, but I found that, more often than not, it muddled flavors.
And sistereurope, I felt the same way...just ho-hum about FdM
Did someone say something about opinionated people being welcome here??? ;D
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Post by Truffaut on Apr 19, 2007 9:08:17 GMT -5
Good morning Opinionated Happy!
Le Bistral's chef/owner is Alex Mathieu. He is well-known for unusual pairings with lots of flavors. I've not had anything that was less than superb, but I know Phread had a dessert there once that nearly sent her wretching into the streets (she did, however, appreciate, the pigeon).
I've had things like chilled beet soup with goat cheese and passion fruit seeds; cabbage rolls filled with veal and heavily spiced with coriander seeds and a veal reduction; an entree of green apple gelatin with scallop tartare and shredded lettuce. When didn't eat there our last visit, but I did stop by to take a look at the menu. He was featuring a "ball of mussels". I can't imagine what that was, but it certainly piqued my curiosity. Usually, there are only 3 selections for each course, and those may change in the course of an evening when ingredients run out. I can't remember his name, but there is a very famous organic vegetable grower in France (he's written a coffee-table book!), and Alex buys all his produce from him.
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Post by Happygoin on Apr 19, 2007 12:35:30 GMT -5
All but the beet soup would be worthy of a try. I'm afraid that beets are one of the few vegetables I don't care for. A "ball of mussels" hhhmmm? He sounds like a chef who stays up nights thinking of dishes to confound his clientele. Imaginative at any rate!
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Post by Truffaut on Apr 21, 2007 7:04:43 GMT -5
Happy, my partner hates beets. He can barely stand to be in the same room with them! When we went to Le Bistral, we were seated at the chef's table (we had done something unusually nice for him) and we were treated to the beet soups as a little extra surprise. The minute I saw the little glasses, I knew it was something beety--there's just nothing else that makes that wonderful color. But G tucked right into it and proclaimed it delicious. He also said he just couldn't imagine what the chef had done to make raspberries taste so good!!! I didn't say a word Eventually, Alex came over to explain the ingredients, and G looked a little stunned when he asked me translate the word "betterave".....
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Post by Happygoin on Apr 23, 2007 7:12:27 GMT -5
Oh Truffaut...I loved the beet story! I've always said that the only good thing about beets I can think of is that they are a beautiful color. Good one.
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Post by phread on Apr 26, 2007 2:44:27 GMT -5
I went to La Fontaine de Mars once and was VERY disappointed. I don't think that it was ever a CC restaurant, he has Les Fables de la Fontaine which is across the little square.
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Post by Happygoin on Apr 26, 2007 6:29:14 GMT -5
I KNEW I should have eaten there! We sat outside at FdM and were close enough to see across to the other restaurant. It looked interesting and, being so disappointed in where I was, I remember thinking that we should have gone there instead. I'll remember that.
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Post by trechic on May 26, 2007 19:13:55 GMT -5
I LOVE BEETS!! With mescalin greens, gorgonzola, tangerine slices and walnuts!!! Yummmmm
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Post by Truffaut on May 26, 2007 20:45:16 GMT -5
Ooh, that sounds good. I'm an avid beet lover!
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Post by Shoesy on May 26, 2007 21:44:30 GMT -5
This is the first time that I've ever heard someone say that he LOVES beets. I have nothing against them, and I believe they have lots of some kind of vitamin, but they're only beets!
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Post by GitteK on May 27, 2007 2:06:12 GMT -5
Are we talking the red beets that can also be pickled ? If yes - I like those too. Cut them in chunks, mix with all sort of other roots: potatoes, celery, carrots. Put in a big plastic bag - add olive oil generously, salt, pepper, thyme, basil - whatever you like. Shake around to mix - put on baking platter (or what it's called) with bakingpaper on it, and fry at 200-210 C untill tender. Eat with a dip of cold greek youghurt mixed with lemonjuice, garlic, salt, pepper, chopped parsly. mmmmm....... No need for meat that day.
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Post by susanb on May 27, 2007 3:06:36 GMT -5
I love beets. Warm ones,, cold ones, pickled ones, ones in the deliciouly sounding salad up above, warm with a little cr. fraiche. Yum!
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Post by andi on May 27, 2007 3:32:58 GMT -5
I love pickled beetroot on grilled cheese on toast but other than that I really don't like it (did that make any sense?)
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Post by Happygoin on May 29, 2007 6:27:40 GMT -5
Blechhh!
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Post by trechic on May 31, 2007 21:06:59 GMT -5
Ohh Gitte, that sounds delicious!!! Thank You! Shoesy??? You don't like beets, oysters, escargots.... !! Is it just Berthillion ice creme??? That's it for you???!!!
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