Post by geordy on Oct 6, 2011 9:20:46 GMT -5
CHEZ RENE AND BOFINGER
These were the two dinner reservations that were made prior to the trip.
Chez Rene for Wednesday because we had no evening entertainment planned and because we had to cancel our res last trip.
Bofinger for Friday..the dreaded LAST night..because it was in the 'hood and for some inexplicable reason I'd never been there before!
Plus I like to hit at least one good old fashioned, belle, brasserie per trip!
Had a memorable experience at Chez Rene a few trips ago so was eager to repeat. Knew exactly what I wanted..the woman next to me on the banquette(with a dog and a bad boy husband..son of a famous interior designer among other things including a hotel here in NYC)who was obviously a regular, had a starter for her main course. It was a luscious looking casserole of foie gras, potatoes, etc. I had been thinking of it since!
So, S/o and I chatting away as usual, I order the celeri remoulade as a starter and then the Foie gras starter..in the same spot as it was the last time... the last starter on the carte and the most expensive starter.
The celeri is served in your own big bowl..serve yourself. It is my new favorite veg since having it as a puree on last fall's trip and not easy to find on menus in NYC..though I have tackled the gnarly looking root on my own! Perfectly dressed and I over indulged!
Then the main courses arrive..my foie gras is not what I was dreaming about...two large slabs of pate with nice accompaniments!
Waiter says this is the only FG we have, made here, specialty, etc.
I explain the other one..oh off the menu sometime now
Oh..was it there last February..... 
Well after all the anticipation..but also after all that celeri...the pate was rich and delicious..more than enough for a main course...I had only one slab..S/O the other and all I could manage was a bite or two of his lamb special.
And of course I was saving myself for the other thing I was dreaming about..the famous mousse au chocolat! The last time I was too full for dessert after the wonderful ravioli and boeuf bourguignon..
It arrives adorned only with a thin slice of pound cake..all it needs, dark, dense, rich, silky....decadent and delicious! Doesn't look like a lot until you start eating it....more than enough but since I didn't get my other dream I wasn't missing a bit!
All of this washed down with Champagne, Morgon, and cafe, Oh and there is a lovely bowl of bleu cheese dip with pointy toasty sticks on the table when you arrive... too good!
I'm going to try not to leave Paris again on a Saturday(even though having Sunday to recupe before the workweek was helpful
)....as we are heading back to hotel Friday afternoon ..jovial spirit abounds as everyone, but us, is in a good mood, "Bon Weekending" each other, terrasses full of merry makers...and we're going to start the packing! 
:(Heard organ music from St. Merry so stopped in to listen a bit then stopped at L'etinee for big glasses of Grimbergen bier to enjoy the sun and prolong the last afternoon!
Nice to have a destination for the last night(though not always, depends on trip)..particularly an easy walk away... so after our last rest period we head to Bofinger. Nicely greeted and seated "under the dome" Beautiful lilac design on stained glass and real lilac bouquets! WE start with Champagne and oysters..but of course!
Then not having had enough lamb..just the bit at Chez Rene, I have lamb served with a veggie "cannoli" more like a canalloni..pasta wrapped around diced seasonal vegetables.
Very good, though I would have liked a last creamy puree, but should have went with my original idea and just got more oysters or other raw bar items. Too much! Though I ate most of the lamb I got the disappointed waiter look and the "You didn't like it? and the shrug at my explanation of being too full.
Desperately wanted profiteroles so S/O ordered and we each could only manage one...but that was enough! Just the taste. Nice bottle of Bordeaux so we got the "trinity" experience..red wine, chocolat and strong cafe! ;D
Strolling home we stopped at Fountaines de Sully to ask if the raw bar was gone for good or just not out for the season yet. A bouncer like guy just inside the front door was a surprise! He didn't know, summoned waiter, he said yes..no more raw bar, new management. Also said the big security guy was because they are open late and there are occasionally "unruly groups from the discotheques"
I mentioned this to the nite guy at our hotel (S/O says I get MUCH chattier with the locals as the trip goes on :
and he said something about the economy, more folks on the street, but not dangerous like...he paused..pretty sure he was going to say like in NYC or US and thought better of It! ..and then said, they ask for money but.... Don't think this is the same group the guy in the restaurant was talking about..
So to bed for the last time...for now...in Paris....
These were the two dinner reservations that were made prior to the trip.
Chez Rene for Wednesday because we had no evening entertainment planned and because we had to cancel our res last trip.
Bofinger for Friday..the dreaded LAST night..because it was in the 'hood and for some inexplicable reason I'd never been there before!
Plus I like to hit at least one good old fashioned, belle, brasserie per trip!
Had a memorable experience at Chez Rene a few trips ago so was eager to repeat. Knew exactly what I wanted..the woman next to me on the banquette(with a dog and a bad boy husband..son of a famous interior designer among other things including a hotel here in NYC)who was obviously a regular, had a starter for her main course. It was a luscious looking casserole of foie gras, potatoes, etc. I had been thinking of it since!
So, S/o and I chatting away as usual, I order the celeri remoulade as a starter and then the Foie gras starter..in the same spot as it was the last time... the last starter on the carte and the most expensive starter.
The celeri is served in your own big bowl..serve yourself. It is my new favorite veg since having it as a puree on last fall's trip and not easy to find on menus in NYC..though I have tackled the gnarly looking root on my own! Perfectly dressed and I over indulged!
Then the main courses arrive..my foie gras is not what I was dreaming about...two large slabs of pate with nice accompaniments!
Waiter says this is the only FG we have, made here, specialty, etc.
I explain the other one..oh off the menu sometime now
Oh..was it there last February..... 
Well after all the anticipation..but also after all that celeri...the pate was rich and delicious..more than enough for a main course...I had only one slab..S/O the other and all I could manage was a bite or two of his lamb special.
And of course I was saving myself for the other thing I was dreaming about..the famous mousse au chocolat! The last time I was too full for dessert after the wonderful ravioli and boeuf bourguignon..
It arrives adorned only with a thin slice of pound cake..all it needs, dark, dense, rich, silky....decadent and delicious! Doesn't look like a lot until you start eating it....more than enough but since I didn't get my other dream I wasn't missing a bit!
All of this washed down with Champagne, Morgon, and cafe, Oh and there is a lovely bowl of bleu cheese dip with pointy toasty sticks on the table when you arrive... too good!
I'm going to try not to leave Paris again on a Saturday(even though having Sunday to recupe before the workweek was helpful
)....as we are heading back to hotel Friday afternoon ..jovial spirit abounds as everyone, but us, is in a good mood, "Bon Weekending" each other, terrasses full of merry makers...and we're going to start the packing! 
:(Heard organ music from St. Merry so stopped in to listen a bit then stopped at L'etinee for big glasses of Grimbergen bier to enjoy the sun and prolong the last afternoon!Nice to have a destination for the last night(though not always, depends on trip)..particularly an easy walk away... so after our last rest period we head to Bofinger. Nicely greeted and seated "under the dome" Beautiful lilac design on stained glass and real lilac bouquets! WE start with Champagne and oysters..but of course!
Then not having had enough lamb..just the bit at Chez Rene, I have lamb served with a veggie "cannoli" more like a canalloni..pasta wrapped around diced seasonal vegetables.
Very good, though I would have liked a last creamy puree, but should have went with my original idea and just got more oysters or other raw bar items. Too much! Though I ate most of the lamb I got the disappointed waiter look and the "You didn't like it? and the shrug at my explanation
of being too full.Desperately wanted profiteroles so S/O ordered and we each could only manage one...but that was enough! Just the taste. Nice bottle of Bordeaux so we got the "trinity" experience..red wine, chocolat and strong cafe! ;D
Strolling home we stopped at Fountaines de Sully to ask if the raw bar was gone for good or just not out for the season yet. A bouncer like guy just inside the front door was a surprise! He didn't know, summoned waiter, he said yes..no more raw bar, new management. Also said the big security guy was because they are open late and there are occasionally "unruly groups from the discotheques"
I mentioned this to the nite guy at our hotel (S/O says I get MUCH chattier with the locals as the trip goes on :
and he said something about the economy, more folks on the street, but not dangerous like...he paused..pretty sure he was going to say like in NYC or US and thought better of It! ..and then said, they ask for money but.... Don't think this is the same group the guy in the restaurant was talking about..So to bed for the last time...for now...in Paris....
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha