Auberge du Mouton Blanc (The White Sheep Inn)
This "typical" Parisien restaurant is set in the chic 16th arrondisement of Paris near the Bois de Boulogne, and so with a clientele of mostly middle-aged or elderly "comfortable" French couples who can afford to dine out most nights. Sometimes accompanied by their dogs as is normal in Paris restaurants. Hard-working, professional waiter, bordering on servile - not at all normal in Paris restaurants. The menu has a set special for each night of the week as well as a "special" special for each night. Thusday's special was Confit de Canard but I choose to eat from the 29€ menu, which included a half bottle of Buzet with its five courses and so represented top value. I saved the Confit till Sunday night in another restaurant.
Hors d'oeuvre
Smoked salmon to start. Rarely disappoints. The menu didn't say where it was from but it was a substantial piece of succluent fish served with a panier of fresh sliced baguette, an oil dressing and some fresh corriander to counterpoint its subtle flavour.
Entrée
Magret de Canard. Simple and straightforward filet of duck breast, pan fried then sliced. Each slice with a sealed, slightly crisp skin with tender and slightly pink inner meat. Juicy but not particularly strong flavour. Lovingly laid, slice by slice, upon a hemisphere of spinach cooked (steamed?) to a perfect firm texture, avoiding the easy pitfall of over-cooked slush so common when I turn my hand to it in the kitchen. Served with its own wine-based sauce and more bread. The Buzet came in useful at this point. Soft, though no major nose or longevity.
The Cheese Course
A very thin slice of pungent Camembert served with thinly sliced tomato. Worth saving some of the wine for this slight but powerfully cheeky little entre-acte.
The Dessert
Moelleux au chocolat served with creme anglaise. Small but packed with chocolate flavour and such an interesting texture - half cake, half mousse, which comes from the runny inner sanctum of its delights. To an Anglais the custard is, of course, too thin but I loved it; a strong and natural vanilla flavour complemented the powerful chocolate impact of the moelleux. Too soon over.
With coffee to finish (included in the 29€) a satisfying experience to recommend to friends. I copied the couple next to me and left a 1€ tip, which seemed perfectly acceptable to the waiter.
Hors d'oeuvre
Smoked salmon to start. Rarely disappoints. The menu didn't say where it was from but it was a substantial piece of succluent fish served with a panier of fresh sliced baguette, an oil dressing and some fresh corriander to counterpoint its subtle flavour.
Entrée
Magret de Canard. Simple and straightforward filet of duck breast, pan fried then sliced. Each slice with a sealed, slightly crisp skin with tender and slightly pink inner meat. Juicy but not particularly strong flavour. Lovingly laid, slice by slice, upon a hemisphere of spinach cooked (steamed?) to a perfect firm texture, avoiding the easy pitfall of over-cooked slush so common when I turn my hand to it in the kitchen. Served with its own wine-based sauce and more bread. The Buzet came in useful at this point. Soft, though no major nose or longevity.
The Cheese Course
A very thin slice of pungent Camembert served with thinly sliced tomato. Worth saving some of the wine for this slight but powerfully cheeky little entre-acte.
The Dessert
Moelleux au chocolat served with creme anglaise. Small but packed with chocolate flavour and such an interesting texture - half cake, half mousse, which comes from the runny inner sanctum of its delights. To an Anglais the custard is, of course, too thin but I loved it; a strong and natural vanilla flavour complemented the powerful chocolate impact of the moelleux. Too soon over.
With coffee to finish (included in the 29€) a satisfying experience to recommend to friends. I copied the couple next to me and left a 1€ tip, which seemed perfectly acceptable to the waiter.
posted by Jean-Paul Sartre at
1:22 pm
