(Yesterday was Tom's review of Mon Plaisir; today, here's Esther's)
And so we arrive, travel weary but hungry for... well, food. And where on this hypothetical earth could our first stop be? Oh mon dieu, c’est la France! (well, Covent Garden). And the name of our first establishment? Mon Plaisir — My Pleasure.
So, first impressions. Initially, I couldn’t find the restaurant, which I believe is more testament to its modest exterior (understated but welcoming) than to my terrible navigation skills (though I will say perhaps it’s a good job this is a metaphorical trip!). The restaurant is cosy, with nooks and crannies jammed with chintz and, oddly to me but perhaps not so to the French, pictures of hens. This restaurant is not a typical imitation French restaurant where the decor feels almost forced – La Vie en Rose was not playing nor was there a heavily French-accented waiter with a moustache to greet us — it is simply French in the nature that you come in, sit down, and get on with the meal. I will say, however, the waiting staff are most definitely French — one girl didn’t have a clue what we were asking her, and did not seem to care about this. Treat that as delightfully authentic or inconvenient as you will. Mais oui, onto the food itself...
Les Hors d'Oeuvres
Rillettes de Lapin au Chablis parfume au Romarin et Baguette Toastee, £7.95
(Potted Rabbit with Toasted Baguette)
Cassolette d'Escargots,
Les 6 £6.95; Les 12 £13.90 (
Snails with Garlic and Parsley Butter)
This was my first time having snails, and I must say, I flippin’ loved them! Loved the texture, the taste and dipping the bread into the garlic sauce after I had gobbled up my share. Then onto the rabbit. Not so much a fan of this – rather dry and rubbery, but I’ve not had rabbit before, so perhaps that is rabbit at its best! Though I was certain I had chewed on a rubbery rabbit nail at some point... So the snails definitely won that round for me. (Now wouldn’t that be a fun game – snail vs rabbit. Obviously you would have to decide if you wanted to enlarge the snail to rabbit size, or reduce the rabbit to snail size. I think perhaps the latter would be less messy, and less nightmare inducing! But I digress...)
Les Entrees
Cuisse de Canard Confite, Coeur de Salade Frisee et Pommes Sautees au Thym, £18.95 (
Duck Leg Confit with Curly Endive Salad and Sauteed Potatoes)
Entrecote Grillée Béarnaise et Pommes Allumettes, £19.95 (
10oz Scottish Sirloin Steack with Pommes Allumettes)
Before I get onto the beef, which was the dish I ordered, I must mention the Petits Pois that we ordered as a side. Lovely, lovely, lovely! Came in a creamy sauce with bacon bits, just as my mother makes when we’re in France – bon! (Sorry, it’s hard not to throw cheesy French lines into this review!) Anyway, the beef: perhaps a little too rare for me the thicker the cut got, but superb nonetheless. And after a switch with Old Parn I got to taste the duck, which was delicious. I haven’t eaten much duck before, but this has inspired me to order it more frequently! So, for me, this round was a draw. (Hmm, cow vs duck … you know what, my money would be on the duck, whatever size reduction/increase!)
Dessert
Craquelin de fruits rouges a la creme de cassis, £6.50
(Almond tuile, lemon cream, red fruit's compote and creme de cassis)
Vacherin glace a la vanille et aux framboises, £6.50 (Meringue with vanilla ice cream and raspberries)
Oh the deserts. Oh my, the deserts! These were amazing. If you are deciding between sharing a starter or desert, share the starter – you will want the desert completely to yourself. Though of course you should all try each other’s in the spirit of sharing … but just a spoonful!
Albeit looking remarkably like a white pooh on my dish, the meringue was perfect. That lovely balance between chewy and crispy; just beautiful. And with a passion fruit sorbet to compliment, I was one very happy, and by this point, stuffed bunny (though perhaps that’s a faux pas considering our starter?) Old Parn’s was delicious also, so I would guess we both felt we won this one. (Damn, the conceit isn’t half as interesting for this one!)
Now, leading on to topic of conversation, which really could be a blog in itself. It’s hard to summarise the twists and bends of our conversing, but highlights included:
Spy sharks, prostitutes, talking bullshit, what is the point, drugs, exes, pressure from parents, awkward mouth noises, writing for an audience, the derivation of ‘converse’, of which Old Parn provided a brilliant Latin breakdown – ‘con’, meaning with/about, and ‘versare’ – meaning to turn. Literally, to turn about with. Isn’t it amazing how a word we are so familiar with can be reinvented in a moment? Fascinating.
I’m sure I am missing some, but that is why this is a joint blog, so that Old Parn, who is by far the more experienced blogster of the two of us, can rectify any damage I may have done to his reputable blog persona! (NB: for those of you familiar with Old Parn’s blog, do not despair, my use of expletives will increase the further along we get!)
So, first review done, time now to saunter southwards to Spain!
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