A Hearty Meal on a Cold Rainy Day (reblogged from June 2013)

I haven't been eating too well due to adjustments and the fact that the university residence is far from town and there isn't much that one can do when the kitchen's not equiped with utensils. Well, I decided to go for a good meal in town and I remembered having dined in a little restaurant in a hidden corner: Le Café Café. Strange name, even by French standard. The food can be described as simple and hearty with a touch of regional flavour but the setting is as French bistro as it can get...lunch starts at 12 sharp (I was early) and the service was friendly and quite efficient. One thing is that French restaurants always have very tight spots that do not allow much moving spaces and people really have to eat quite close to each other...

 Entrance to the restaurant is really hidden from general view in the street...

 Chose a small and comfy corner...

 Simple but nice decor...

 The tiny bar counter...

 Serving table where bread and desserts of the day are being kept...

 The waiter will explain the menu to you in details before you choose...

 Ordered the Filet Mignon de Veau with wild mushrooms and risotto.

Cup of tea to finish...

The finest restaurant in Besançon: the Poker d'As (reblogged from June 2012)

This summer, I get to return to France for my summer classes but this time, I get to go to a totally different region that I did not know before: Franche-Comté. As luck would have it, public works to built a new tramway for the city of Besançon is in full throttle, stirring up dust everywhere, coupled with the heat of summer - I felt like I've not left Malaysia!

To cut the story short, I was tired and 'lost' because of some technical error on my place of stay and so, once everything settled down, I went strolling to get to know the city a bit. I was in Galleries Lafayette (bought myself a panama hat) and I casually asked the salesperson if she knew any good place to have dinner, one that will restore some strength to the weary traveller and she excitedly suggested "le Poker d'As".  It actually sounded vulgar in English but luckily it was in French...As it was summer, the sky was still bright at dinner time (19H00) and as I arrived (the restaurant has a rather sombre allure on its facade), the Maitre D was in the midst of preparing the tables and service. Well, it did take me awhile to find the place, having being sent on a wild goose chase by the French on the street, and this, I can communicate perfectly in French!  Every person in the street suggested an opposite direction of the precedent (which was already wrong to begin with!) until I finally gave up on them and used THE MAP. I reckon this is a fair warning to all would-be travellers out there - trust your map than those confused locals!

Back to the restaurant, well the Maitre D, which is a lady, showed me to a table after having took my panama. I was allowed in even though I was in shorts and was given a menu to ponder on while the waiters continued busying themselves with the tables. I chose the 39.20 Euro menu consisting of 4 entrees: an entree, a main dish, a cheese tasting and a dessert. Not bad, value for money...

the main entrance

The interiors of the restaurant is dimly lit with a lot of wood and rustic decor in the Alsatian flavor. Not surprised, we are very close to Alsace and Switzerland...

the hanging bells vary in sizes - the largest is a REAL one used for prize winning cows during a competition!

rustic settings of the restaurant

my table - notice the hand painted plates...

an amuse bouche - mousse of cucumber with espelette pepper, a special labelled AOC red hot pepper from the Basque region in Southern France.

First course - Croustillante of escargot of Bourgogne, crayfish and fresh Girolle mushroom. Too heavy on the salt. The prawn bisque sauce has a nice tangy base but still way too salty.

Main course: slow-cooked canette (young duck) with panfried cherries (now in season) and lemon-scented pearl barly, served with potatoes confit. OK

Good selesction of cheese. tried two eventhough there are quite a few to choose from.

I didn't die for the dessert because it wasn't impressive enough for me. Too sweet and too acidic at the same time. I find the overall composition of taste too "busy" on the tongue.

Little something to accompany the dessert; a madaleine, a truffle, a crispy caramel chips and a tiny meringue.

the service table at the entrance to the restaurant

Dinner at a 2 Michelin-starred Restaurant at Arbois (reblogged from July 2013)

My friend reserved a place for us to try out (for once at least in a life time) a 2 Michelin-starred restaurant in Arbois. It is a small town about 40 minutes drive from Besançon town and like all quaint little towns of France, extremely charming and rustic. If there isn't that much to brag about restauration in Besancon, this tiny little enclave has much to shout about: its famous yellow wine called "vin jaune", a wine with an interesting yellow tint and an earthy taste, another light claret wine called "vin de paille" or "straw wine" is equally famous for its sweetness close to a Sauterne...But the two biggest draw has to be the world renowned Hersinger Chocolate Maison and a 2 Michelin-starred restaurant called simply Jean-Paul Jeunet d'Arbois (namesake of the chef).

 View of the town centre in the evening...

 Outside of Hirsinger, right in the middle of the town...

 A sweet toothed person will have troubles in this shop...

 Nougat in all its possible incarnations...

 and fruit candies too...

 some remaining pastries and chocolate confisserie at the end of the day...

 Chocolat galore...the price is actually not as forbiding as one would imagine from an upscale chocolatier but it is never cheap to begin with...

 The name of the shop...

 and outside...

 Across the street, at a turn and this is a rather unassuming hotel/restaurant...

 Beautifully dressed room with a brigade of service to make sure everything meets the client's expectation. I ordered the tasting menu (lowest priced) at 110 euro...the waiters are extremely competent and will be able to address any requests, big and small...however, they'll never cease to try to push their expensive wines to you...

 A small tray of tasters called amuse-gueule to get things going...the fried quail egg was interesting but not shouting...the rest is a tiny window to the taste range of the region - summer tastes are typically linked to fenouil, aneth, artichokes, and wild flowers as well as regional products like the absinthe (a strong liqueur), jésus de Morteau (a large sausage) and vin jaune... the restaurant seems to concentrate on quality regional products used in imaginative ways.

 A trio of butter was offered to go with the meal: simple salted butter, seaweed infused butter and speciality sausage-infused butter (jésus de Morteau).

 Maquereau de Ligne Juste Poché au Beurre Citronné,

Sablé & Royale aux Graines d’Aneth Torréfiées,

« Chantilly » Légère à l’Absinthe

 Truffe d’Été & Artichaut Bouquet en Salade Décomposée,

Barigoule à l’Amande Fraîche & Fleurs d’Origan,

Croustillants d’Artichaut

 The summer truffles were crispy but they only have a faint perfume. The use of raw almond to balance the saltiness of the sausage and almond parfait was interesting.

 I chose this special bread - it is really yellow in colour because of the use of absinthe as a flavouring agent...

 ESCARGOTS DU PETIT MERCEY, BLETTES & ORIGAN

Etuvés au Beurre de Gingembre, Côtes de Blette Glacées, Tuile de Lard Cul Noir,

Petit Farci de Vert de Blette & Jus mousseux à l’Origan

 There are actually only 3 snails inside, perfectly cooked and prepared without a single trace of earthy sandiness. However, this is really a light dish, even for me who doesn't eat a lot.

 Entrecôte de Boeuf « Hereford Prime » à l’ Armoise,

« Farçon » au Jésus de Morteau Révisité

Radis Confit & Girolles Clous,

Beurre de Vin Rouge

 The beef was by far the most outstanding dish but again, too tiny for my liking. I actually had 5 entries (+ 2 light tasters and a selection of cheese) but felt like I didn't actually had that much to eat...

 Les Affinés à Souhait du Pays Comtois & de France: cheese as much as you can take.

 Chose a 24-month and 18-month Comté, a light blue cheese from the Jura and a smoked cheese from the Perigord...

 Abricots Bergeron Juste Pochés dans un Sirop Aromatique,

Blanc Manger à la Reine des Pré, Un Lait d’Amande,

Sorbet Abricot

La reine des prés, Filipendula ulmaria, is a wild flower that grows in wet habitat and has a rather strong aroma that needs getting used to.

 To finish, some tiny sweet things...

 Arbois is the birth place of Louis Pasteur...

 Some famous chefs came visiting...

 and the restaurant...