After yet another cinema excursion (afternoon showing of "Good Morning England" in a big comfy theater with a huge screen and good sound - take that, New York!), I met my friend Michael in the Marais for a drink. We sat outside at Les Philosophes, which is prime people-watching territory, and had some chablis and enjoyed the newly warm weather.
We strolled over the Pont Louis Philippe to Ile Saint-Louis and had an amazing dinner at Mon Vieil Ami. After all the rich food of the previous couple of days, I nearly swooned with the arrival of my first course: a beautiful shallow bowl of vegetables - beets, carrots, broccoli, peas, favas, new potatoes, tomato, cauliflower, sprouts - you name it. They were bright and fresh and lightly cooked, with a little bit of a simple broth as seasoning. And Reader, I confess: I was so thrilled, it never occurred to me to stop and take a photo.
We then had a terrine of lamb, with a chickpea puree and some zucchini and summer squash, all followed by a cherry clafoutis with ginger ice cream and raspberry sauce, and all accompanied by a bright and refreshing mineral-y red from Languedoc.
Mon Vieil Ami is a lovely restaurant - an elegant and modern room, serving elegant and modern food. It's one to make note of, especially since it's open on Sundays, unlike 99.9 percent of the restaurants here.
I, too, have fond memories of Les Philosophes. Try their Tomato Tarte Tatin. It made the day for this humble vegetarian.
ReplyDeleteWe've really enjoyed the blog. It makes me cry.