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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Le Cafe de Paris--a bit of France on Las Olas Blvd., Florida

715 East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2236
(954) 467-2900‎
lecafedeparis.com

Florida tour books tout Ft. Lauderdale's Las Olas Blvd. and for good reason. We met June and Sid there for dinner at Le Cafe de Paris, a family owned and operated charming French restaurant where impeccable service and excellent food made this reunion perfect. We dined inside, but there is a sidewalk cafe as well, and if the weather had not been unseasonably cool, we probably would have availed ourselves of the outside seating. Coincidentally it was Sid's birthday, and Le Cafe de Paris was a great place to celebrate.

Hors d'oeuvres selections were simple. All four of us chose escargots bourguignon. We joked about days gone by when escargots were served in the shell. In fact, June and I did them that way at home although now we do as the restaurants do and serve them on special plates with individual hollows brimming with bubbling garlic/herbed butter. This treat is absolutely delicious, hot, buttery and garlicky. A delightful morsel and a place for French rolls to be dipped and enjoyed.

As similar as we were in our hors d'oeuvres, we separated in choosing our entrees. Rob and June chose fish. Rob selected Filet of Sole Meuniere, several large slices lightly breaded and served with vegetables and lyonnaise potatoes. June selected Mussels Mariniere, a heaping pile of plump beautiful mussels, incredibly tempting. Sid and I chose from the meat entrees. Sid selected the Chicken Breast Francaise with shallot butter and angel hair pasta. I enjoyed the Veal Francaise in shallots, lemon butter, and capers served with a mushroom risotto. The three delectable, thin slices had a lovely light lemony flavor, and the risotto was full of sliced mushrooms. Absolutely delicious.

We might have ended only with our coffee, but dessert was impossible to resist. Once again we came together, each couple sharing an exquisite crème brulee served with a fresh, sliced strawberry—a sweet touch.

What could be nicer than a stroll along the boulevard after such a lovely meal. We did not walk far, but we stopped to gaze at several of the galleries and shops we passed. We hugged goodbye, once again wishing Sid the happiest of birthdays, and thought Le Cafe de Paris was one restaurant we could highly recommend.

Just some closing thoughts about Le Cafe de Paris. The menu offers selections for every budget, and I thought that was unusual. Our escargots, for example, cost $8.00, an extremely reasonable price. I could have ordered Russian Osetra Caviar—1 oz. For $100.00. The same kinds of choices exists in for choice of entree or dessert. I was impressed. Additionally there are complete dinners offered that include appetizer and dessert, and they are very reasonably priced. If you are in the Ft. Lauderdale area, think Le Cafe de Paris.


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2 comments:

Louise said...

Your description of the escargots was so delicious sounding, I might have to try them some time. When we first visited Disney World Rebecca was 7 years old. We were at a French restaurant and when she ordered escargots the waiter in his tux raised his eyebrows and said, "Little girl,do you even know what escargots are?" Rebecca looked him right in the eye and said in her best grown up voice, "I do, They are snails with garlic and I love them!" I am not sure she ever had them before, but it certainly shut the condescending waiter up. When they came, she ate every one of them and proclaimed them delicious.

Anonymous said...

Il semble que vous soyez un expert dans ce domaine, vos remarques sont tres interessantes, merci.

- Daniel