Post by geordy on Oct 2, 2013 14:20:05 GMT -5
Plus1!
Le Grand Vefour, Rech………and Benoit!
Pre-B’day, B’day, and Post B’day lunch..Wed, Thurs and Fri. Lunch rather than dinner because I can’t start eating all those courses and food after 8 pm after having eaten during the day! And it is far less expensive..esp if you can’t eat it all!
Benoit was decided on ahead of time and Friday picked because Fri nite was the Opera-en-plein air starting at 1930. The ther 2 surprises!
Having eaten at the Benoit in NYC..most recently the site of the BBAOPFGT..I was curious to try the one in Paris!
Benoit looks like a classic bistro…all red and gold but understated..classique! 39 Dej menu. The same little cheese puffs as in NYC to start. Very nice wait staff and young, helpful sommelier. We started with coupes of Champ and then a bottle of Bordeaux. My starter was a cold crème of coco bean soup..I am a beany but particularly partial to white ones! Then porc with herb crusted polenta and a delicious wine sauce.. Dessert..3 little tart slices, one chocolat, one seasonal fruit including figue, and citron. Fab but getting oh so full, left some crust! Little financiers and chocolates from Ducasses’s new chocolat workshop/store but too full even for café! Lovely , tasty lunch!
Rech..another Ducasse..seafood is the theme here. Clean sparse decor, white and beige, like an upscale beach house. Dej menu also about 38 E. Amuse bouche divine..roasted cauliflower in bottom of bowl, specks of other veg for color..then they pour lobster sauce over it..ah the aroma..and then the taste..made me want to roast a cauliflower! Champagne in the shallow coupes. Started with a mackerel/eggpant/parmesan crispy tart..actually a long rectangle(S/O had other starter, rock octopus and pasta). Growing up mackrcel was considered “pauper food”, now I keep encountering it on ritzy menus! And quite tasty!Seared/ Hake to follow, more coco beans and tomatoes/pistu..all roasted. A St. Joseph White wine. Dessert pain perdu with salt caramel glace. The same little financiers and chocolats with café. Again great service, though head guy was a bit obsequious. In that sinister way? Thought he was star of show..sorry food is!
And now Le Grand Vefour….S/O purposely did day before actual B’day in case it disappointed at all!
A bit pricier..98 E dej menu, including a 4th cheese course…with wine prices to match. Famous, jewel box, ornate décor! Drawback of a very old bldg…toilette is upstairs..up a very narrow, wooden, spirally staircase in the middle of dining rooms! And I was wearing high platform sandals(yes the OPFGT ones!
Having survived that I needed a drink so again coupes of champagne. 2 amuse bouches..little piece of fish with various sauces, veggies, and roe..the other gelled coriander something and cucumber…tasty Service here more formal in some ways..loads of folks but they did seem to spend a bit of time in a circle in the middle of room with backs to tables. Sommelier not very friendly or particularly helpful..as we were having mixtures of fish and meat and whatever we just decided to go B’day route and have bottle of rose Champ! First course …foie gras mousse..4 little blocks , watermelon cubes, some kind of fenne foam in basil. Little f toasted baguette.
Main cod with roasted almond and pea sauce, tomato coulis and “mixed veggies” on a separate little plate..about a tablespoon.
But no worries..more than enough food….
A big tray of cow cheeses, smaller with sheep and goat…we choose a few..good nutty bread…cheese is orgasmic!
Before dessert course vanilla glace with figues, jellies, and a little shot glass of fromage blanc with tart little berries on top. And a tray with four different things..2 of each..macaron, choc tart, apricot tart, and something else foamy in a little glass..
The dessert arrives..noisette and chocolat/hard dark chocolat with gold leaf covered tart …next to it a hard dark chocolat tower filled with noisette and mild choc mousse..on top a curved tuile with salt caramel glace..ate about half. Then comes by a tray of chocolates..I said NO! waiter said NO?
? Oh and caramels and nougets..but they were wrapped so took a couple. No café..not possible! Then head guy comes out with a sweet brioche..made in one of those molds that looks like cathedral..2 slices..we each ate a bite….
So the food was delicious but a bit overkill..I guess at those prices…
But service was disappointing, waited for wine list, for water,glasses to be refilled, and for check after asking. They did seem to get involved with “regulars” Other than the history, experience and all..my least fav of the old time Paris classics we’ve been to. But glad we went……
Le Grand Vefour, Rech………and Benoit!
Pre-B’day, B’day, and Post B’day lunch..Wed, Thurs and Fri. Lunch rather than dinner because I can’t start eating all those courses and food after 8 pm after having eaten during the day! And it is far less expensive..esp if you can’t eat it all!
Benoit was decided on ahead of time and Friday picked because Fri nite was the Opera-en-plein air starting at 1930. The ther 2 surprises!
Having eaten at the Benoit in NYC..most recently the site of the BBAOPFGT..I was curious to try the one in Paris!
Benoit looks like a classic bistro…all red and gold but understated..classique! 39 Dej menu. The same little cheese puffs as in NYC to start. Very nice wait staff and young, helpful sommelier. We started with coupes of Champ and then a bottle of Bordeaux. My starter was a cold crème of coco bean soup..I am a beany but particularly partial to white ones! Then porc with herb crusted polenta and a delicious wine sauce.. Dessert..3 little tart slices, one chocolat, one seasonal fruit including figue, and citron. Fab but getting oh so full, left some crust! Little financiers and chocolates from Ducasses’s new chocolat workshop/store but too full even for café! Lovely , tasty lunch!
Rech..another Ducasse..seafood is the theme here. Clean sparse decor, white and beige, like an upscale beach house. Dej menu also about 38 E. Amuse bouche divine..roasted cauliflower in bottom of bowl, specks of other veg for color..then they pour lobster sauce over it..ah the aroma..and then the taste..made me want to roast a cauliflower! Champagne in the shallow coupes. Started with a mackerel/eggpant/parmesan crispy tart..actually a long rectangle(S/O had other starter, rock octopus and pasta). Growing up mackrcel was considered “pauper food”, now I keep encountering it on ritzy menus! And quite tasty!Seared/ Hake to follow, more coco beans and tomatoes/pistu..all roasted. A St. Joseph White wine. Dessert pain perdu with salt caramel glace. The same little financiers and chocolats with café. Again great service, though head guy was a bit obsequious. In that sinister way? Thought he was star of show..sorry food is!
And now Le Grand Vefour….S/O purposely did day before actual B’day in case it disappointed at all!
A bit pricier..98 E dej menu, including a 4th cheese course…with wine prices to match. Famous, jewel box, ornate décor! Drawback of a very old bldg…toilette is upstairs..up a very narrow, wooden, spirally staircase in the middle of dining rooms! And I was wearing high platform sandals(yes the OPFGT ones!
Having survived that I needed a drink so again coupes of champagne. 2 amuse bouches..little piece of fish with various sauces, veggies, and roe..the other gelled coriander something and cucumber…tasty Service here more formal in some ways..loads of folks but they did seem to spend a bit of time in a circle in the middle of room with backs to tables. Sommelier not very friendly or particularly helpful..as we were having mixtures of fish and meat and whatever we just decided to go B’day route and have bottle of rose Champ! First course …foie gras mousse..4 little blocks , watermelon cubes, some kind of fenne foam in basil. Little f toasted baguette.
Main cod with roasted almond and pea sauce, tomato coulis and “mixed veggies” on a separate little plate..about a tablespoon.
But no worries..more than enough food….
A big tray of cow cheeses, smaller with sheep and goat…we choose a few..good nutty bread…cheese is orgasmic!
Before dessert course vanilla glace with figues, jellies, and a little shot glass of fromage blanc with tart little berries on top. And a tray with four different things..2 of each..macaron, choc tart, apricot tart, and something else foamy in a little glass..
The dessert arrives..noisette and chocolat/hard dark chocolat with gold leaf covered tart …next to it a hard dark chocolat tower filled with noisette and mild choc mousse..on top a curved tuile with salt caramel glace..ate about half. Then comes by a tray of chocolates..I said NO! waiter said NO?
? Oh and caramels and nougets..but they were wrapped so took a couple. No café..not possible! Then head guy comes out with a sweet brioche..made in one of those molds that looks like cathedral..2 slices..we each ate a bite….So the food was delicious but a bit overkill..I guess at those prices…
But service was disappointing, waited for wine list, for water,glasses to be refilled, and for check after asking. They did seem to get involved with “regulars” Other than the history, experience and all..my least fav of the old time Paris classics we’ve been to. But glad we went……
Good luck on your shopping trip 
(not your fault, I know), I really hope you get a new laptop ASAP. 
) and the scarf from a mall store here(B'day gift from Sis) but I appreciate the confidence! 
(big ad in NY Magazine)..I think they cater more to Hermes and Chanel repairs...wanted $200.00...I think not....
hahahha