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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Another gem in Beaune, France

Le Comptoir des Tontons in Beaune, France







Just a few doors down from Caves Madeleine, you'll find le Comptoir des Tonton. We went there after several locals told us it was the place to go. The restaurant did not disappoint. There were so many delicious bites. My favorite came from the lamb special. It was tender and almost a little sweet. Perfect. The close second for me was actually the tuna tartare. The presentation was fantastic and the citrus sauce brought out the tuna's flavor and made you want more. We also really enjoyed the crab and black rice risotto. Everything was a real treat. The perfect way to end our time in Beaune, France.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

A night at Swift's Attic

A great night at Swift's Attic













Swift's Attic is a great restaurant for small groups. I went recently with four other people and we all shared these amazing small plates. I wasn't as impressed as I was with Odd Duck, but I think there are still a lot of stand-outs. I also think everything we had was solid. My favorite bite came from the "haute country shrimp boil." It packed a range of flavors and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. I was also very impressed with the simple snacks on the menu. The charred edamame with chili oil and pop rocks is irresistible. Same goes for the blistered shishitos with this amazing dip. The warm tender belly farms pork cheeks was also a top-notch dish. It comes in a surprising way: a bowl filled with the pork cheeks alongside sourdough toast, fig and mustard. If you order this dish make sure to use all of the options together. It's a wonderful combination. We also enjoyed the sweetbread and fois gras mousse, the egg and the pea, the braised windy hill goat shoulder, the warm brussels, and desserts: popcorn and a movie, commander crunch and nanner pudding. My favorite element of the desserts was this house made candy bar on the popcorn and a movie. The only thing that really disappointed was the brussel sprouts. They were combined with a lot of great flavors, but they were slightly raw on the inside. Overall, I can't wait to go back. Oh and the whole set-up is pretty neat. You should definitely check-out the special ambiance at Swift's Attic.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

The October Menu at Odd Duck

Another incredible meal at Odd Duck









Wow! Our second visit to Odd Duck may even be better than the first. This time we went for my husband's birthday and it yet again surpassed expectations. Every bite was so incredible I had to take a break from my French blog posts to write about it. First of all, the October menu is all new with the exception of a few favorites. At first it made me feel a little uneasy, but then I started to dive into this new line-up. Hands-down the best bite came from the steamed dumpling. The waiter suggested we each order one (unlike most dishes) and we're so glad we did. The perfectly cooked dumpling combined with the marinated duck egg, mushrooms and broth made me want to sing. The flavors were so dynamic and powerful and yet it all worked so well together. Unbelievable. A close-second was the goat confit. The meat was tender and packed with goat cheese, red chile and popcorn on a gordita. It was absolutely divine. It also made me notice that the chefs often find special ways to give each dish a bit of crunch. I really appreciate that because it works! All the elements -- even some seemingly bizarre ones work. I would recommend all of the dishes we ordered, which also include: pork cracklins, spiced butternut, soft cooked duck egg on rice, grilled bacon, whole wheat spagetti with pig face and egg yolk and an apple cake doughnut.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Dining at Caves Madeleine in Beaune

Caves Madeleine in Beaune, France








All of the dishes at Caves Madeleine were seemingly simple, yet very complex. We started with a popular starter drink in Beaune. It's essentially champagne and blackberry juice. The drink definitely rivals Austin's famed mimosas (even the ones from El Alma). It's incredibly refreshing. Up next, a fantastic bottle of red burgundy: Nuits St. Georges. As for the food, we all decided to pounce on the rabbit starter. It was surrounded in this incredible jelly-type sauce. It tasted fresh yet powerful. The duck and veal were also top notch. Overall the best bite came from the duck. It was extremely tender and stood in a delicious sauce. The short-bread pudding dessert was also mouth-watering... especially because it was covered with a sweet yet salty caramel sauce. Yum!

Lunching & Biking in Cote De Beaune

Biking, wine tasting and lunching in Burgundy




One of the most amazing experiences we had in France was going on this wine and bike tour through the Cote de Beaune. You start at the top and therefore have a fun ride (mostly down) through all of the incredible vineyards. After wine tasting at Chateau de Chassagne - Montrachet, we headed to La Maison d'Olivier Leflaive for lunch. It was a simple menu: Vegetable tart and side salad, a charcuterie and cheese plate and coffee and sweets. I can't tell you how amazing every single bite was. The vegetable tart was packed full of feta cheese and I just couldn't get enough. All of the cheese and meats were top-notch. And to cap it off, we had the best wine of the trip: A 2009 Puligy-Montrachet 1st Cru. If I could transport myself back to that moment right now I would in a heart beat.

French markets... Wow!

Delightful bites at a French market





We were mesmerized by the incredible markets in Chablis, France. Everything is fresh, extravagant and tasty. Once you learn a few key French phrases (which are definitely needed to communicate) you're set to enjoy some amazing bites. All of the vendors are happy to offer you a taste and we snacked for hours. I have to say the figs, dates and almonds were full of flavor. We also enjoyed salami with goat cheese and the most amazing array of cheeses. Not to mention, all of the wonderful bread. This is an absolute must for anyone visiting Chablis.