Dinner in Chablis

Dinner at Au Fil du Zinc

Au Fils du Zinc

Chablis, France (Burgundy)

Our first night in the Burgundy wine region was spent at Au Fils Du Zinc in Chablis, France. All the French menus encourage three courses and so we went for it. My favorite bite came from the starter. It was fried squid, beets and an incredible sauce. The squid was perfectly cooked on the inside and it had an incredible batter on the outside. When pared with the beets and sauce, it was unique and remarkably delicious. The other starters were also solid: a tomato done three ways and ham, parsley and a special dressing. For our mains, we enjoyed quail and veal. The quail was cooked perfectly and was combined with an interesting variety of vegetables that were full of flavor. The veal was extremely tender. The puree and mash potatoes alongside the veal let the meat really sing. Finally, we enjoyed desserts: crepes in an orange sauce and a chocolate ice cake. Both were incredible. Throughout the night we drank one of our favorite wines from the region. The Chablis Grand Cru helped compliment all of the dishes in a subtle yet sophisticated way.

A casual dinner in Paris

Le Pere Fouettard

Le Pere Fouettard

Paris, France

We decided on a restaurant that had more of a pub-vibe for dinner. The music and chatter was strong at Le Pere Fouettard. You could see a ton of locals enjoying themselves. The best bite came from the steak, foie gras and potato dish. There were so many rich flavors working all together. The foie gras (which is made from liver of a duck or goose that's been fattened) gave the steak dish that extra wow that we aren't used to eating in Austin. The pork and mash potato dish was also pretty solid. The potatoes tasted like something you eat on your death bed. They were packed with so much cream and butter it was insane-- insanely delicious. The veal was the most simple, but also the most disappointing. Mainly because the meat itself was very chewy. Overall we had a fabulous dinner with fabulous red wine.

Our first meal in France

Lunch at Pirouette

Pirouette

Paris, France

Our first meal in France set the bar high. My mother-in-law had heard Pirouette was incredible and since the restaurant didn't have any availability for dinner we decided to stop in for lunch. Every single dish was packed full of flavor. They all had a wonderful combination of savory, spicy and even sweet bites. My favorite bite came from the slow-cooked veal with anchovies and capers. The meat was incredibly tender and the flavors were so unexpected. The capers and anchovies mixed with this incredible sauce that made us all go wow. The fish was also top-notch. It sat on top of a unique puree and was doused with an incredible sauce. There were even sultanas and apricots, which added extra texture and depth to the meal. The ceviche starter was also solid. My husband said the flavors of the beef were incredible, but he did find the meat itself slightly chewy. Overall, it was a fantastic initiation into French food.