Petit Mignon
Where? Petit Mignon (Bordeaux, France) Map
When? Sunday May 7, 2017
Who? Zamora and Eric
Food Style? French
I need steak. I've come back from a half day trip around some wineries and I've been drinking red wine all afternoon. I'm with a couple of people from the tour who have agreed to humour my steak needs. I've gone for a three course menu and a glass of local red. The waitress doesn't speak English and my friends don't speak French, so my rudimentary French is up to the test again.
Entree
Pané de chevre with honey and mesclun salad
Chevre is goat's cheese, usually baked. It's delicious. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with tasty dressed greens. It's simple but very well done.
Mains
Faux filet with homemade fries and Corsican wine sauce
The steak is excellent. It has that lovely grilled flavour and the sauce is perfect. The fries are nicely cooked and crispy, and even the salad is well dressed. My only criticism is the steak is so small - I was hoping for something more substantial.
Dessert
Tarte au citron
The tarte au citron is a bit goopy, not really meringue like at all. The biscuit base is nicely caramelised. It's very sweet but at least the lemon is pleasant. Definitely the weakest part of the meal but still enjoyable.
Posted by Jeremy at 8:31pm on Friday June 9, 2017 :: 0 comments :: 
Cafe du Port
Where? Cafe du Port (Bordeaux, France) Map Menu
When? Saturday May 6, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? French
I arrived in Bordeaux quite late and needed to do laundry, so by the time all of that finished, I was quite hungry and needed food fast. Fortunately, on the way back to the hotel, there was Cafe du Port, sporting a lovely view of the river and cathedral right by Pont de Pierre, and even more fortunately, they have a Bordeaux must-eat on the menu - oysters!
Entree
Oysters
They are so good that I don't even pause to write about them. The six oysters vanish in the blink of an eye; smooth, creamy, and delightfully juicy with a few drops of lemon juice. I would have easily eaten 24 more if I was made of money.
Mains
Rack of lamb with baby vegetables and ginger sauce
A large plate of lamb arrives. It smells incredible and the taste matches - perfectly cooked, soft and succulent meat, delicious rendered fat, and a rich appetising sauce. Even the roasted root vegetables on the side are worth mentioning; they've been drizzled with olive oil and they're sweet and full of flavour, a sign of good produce. Any leftover meat on the bone is torn away savagely by my teeth; I hope this isn't too much of a faux pas. Any leftover sauce is wiped away with a slice of bread. I have enjoyed this immensely.
I wasn't going to have dessert but after a meal like that, I have to. I choose the unpronounceable one, which means "soft", but really I have no idea what it is.
Dessert
Moelleux with almonds, apricots and pistachio ice cream
It turns out it's a very moist but dense cake. The raspberry coulis is well balanced and I like the inclusion of the pistachio nuts, but my favourite thing on the plate is the pistachio ice cream. It's an unusual combination but pistachio and raspberry goes quite well. An excellent meal!
Posted by Jeremy at 8:22pm on Friday June 9, 2017 :: 0 comments ::
Le Nouveau Monde
Where? Le Nouveau Monde (Nantes, France) Map Menu
When? Friday May 5, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? French Fine Dining
Named in honour of Jules Verne, who was born in this building in 1828, Le Nouveau Monde is an upmarket restaurant in central Nantes that serves some classic Nantais cuisine. Their website listed frogs legs on the menu but unfortunately they aren't serving it today - I would have been so keen otherwise. I've gone for a three course meal from the Jules Verne Menu, which is €29.
Entree
Double tartare with salmon, yellowfin tuna and citron confit vinaigrette
The salmon and yellowfin tuna tartare arrives. It's got a delicate, smooth and creamy texture with lots of great flavours. The citrus is subtle but pairs perfectly with the fish. I think it's a pretty generous portion, given the quality of the ingredients. A very good start!
Mains
Cod with Nantais butter
The cod arrives with beautiful orange streaks of pumpkin and a side plate of creamy artichoke purée. The fish is cooked to perfection, smooth white flesh that falls nicely when I slice my knife through it. The Nantais butter is rich and has a sprinkling of lemon in it, and I'm happily soaking the baguette in the leftover sauce and purée. Another excellent dish.
Dessert
Chocolate dome with pistachio sand and hazelnut ice cream
Finally the chocolate dome is here. Wow. Decadent and so, so wonderfully rich, the chocolate mousse and pistachio biscuit base brings an appreciative smile to my face. It has crunch, it has depth, it is very well made - the glaze is so smooth and reflective I can see the blue sky outside on the surface of the dome. It reminds me very much of Louis Sergeant back home in Wellington.
Definitely the best meal I've had so far in France. The skill and finesse of the chef is evident in every dish served tonight, the menu is well thought out and presented immaculately. Parfait!
Posted by Jeremy at 8:14pm on Friday June 9, 2017 :: 0 comments ::
Margaux
Where? Margaux (Saint Malo, France) Map Menu
When? Thursday May 4, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Crepes and Galettes
The little town of St Malo is a beautiful walled establishment, overlooking several islands in a section of the English Channel that sparkles emerald green in the sun. It's known for its savoury crepes, or for galette, as well as its sweet ones. I've chosen a little cafe with no English translations called Margaux for a quick lunch, because I need to be back at the bus soon.
I chose the Enzo. I was very interested in the "canard fumé", which, without looking it up, I hope is smoked duck.
Galette
Enzo - smoked duck breast, pear, roquefort and balsamic reduction
Holy moly. It is absolutely delicious. And my translation is also correct. The smoked duck and the blue cheese, beautifully rich ingredients, perfectly balanced by the sweet poached pear and a slight hint of the balsamic reduction. The for galette is crispy, not soft like a crepe. I am very impressed.
Posted by Jeremy at 8:08pm on Friday June 9, 2017 :: 0 comments ::
Chez Laurette
Where? Chez Laurette (Honfleur, France) Map Menu
When? Wednesday May 3, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? French
Honfleur is a small town right at the mouth of the river Seine. The waterfront area is a bit touristy so I've tried to go into the back alleys to get something with a hint of authenticity and also something that isn't ludicrously expensive. This place says "cuisine actuelle" so I hope they live up to that. I've chosen mussels in white wine sauce with fries since seafood is in abundance at this coastal town.
Mains
Moules à la marinière - mussels with white wine, parsley and onion
I need to get used to the fact that mussels in Europe aren't the fat juicy green lipped variety from New Zealand, which makes me slightly sad. Nevertheless, the mussels taste great, lots of onion and parsley and a hint of white wine, but some of them are a bit gritty, probably with a bit of sand. It's not on the same level as my favourite moules avec frites from Leuven, the Belgian beer cafe in Wellington, but it's not bad.
I finally get to the sauce at the bottom. It's maybe a bit watered down, and doesn't taste very good with the baguette. It's missing sweetness, like maybe a bit of citrus to balance out the sourness of the white wine.
Posted by Jeremy at 8:04pm on Friday June 9, 2017 :: 0 comments ::