The thing that won me over about The Christ Inn Bistrot before was the exceptional value of the 14-euro three-course lunch. Not only was the food good but also the portions were quite hardy. Also the menu had a generous selection of dishes to choose from in each category, not like other restaurants with formules that limit you to only one or two selections to choose from.
On this day there were almost too many good ones to choose from and I was salivating before I ordered. I chose the Salade Piemontaise, a mayonnaise based salad with potatoes, green olives, and vegetables, much like an American style potato salad. Although it was served cold, it was comfort food that satisfied. I find Blanquette de Veau on fewer menus these days, so I was eager to try their version.
I was surprised to find that it was served with a brown sauce instead of the classic white sauce. I dove in anyway without questioning the curious color change of sauce and was rewarded with robust, tender meat with a roasted whole tomato and white rice. I couldn't get enough of the piquant brown sauce and soaked up every last drop of sauce with crusty bread.
On this day there were almost too many good ones to choose from and I was salivating before I ordered. I chose the Salade Piemontaise, a mayonnaise based salad with potatoes, green olives, and vegetables, much like an American style potato salad. Although it was served cold, it was comfort food that satisfied. I find Blanquette de Veau on fewer menus these days, so I was eager to try their version.
I was surprised to find that it was served with a brown sauce instead of the classic white sauce. I dove in anyway without questioning the curious color change of sauce and was rewarded with robust, tender meat with a roasted whole tomato and white rice. I couldn't get enough of the piquant brown sauce and soaked up every last drop of sauce with crusty bread.
Lynn's salad
Salade Piemontaise
Blanquette de Veau
We were beginning to catch up but were distracted by a boisterous man in the back of the restaurant who was speaking so loudly we could barely hear ourselves. We were wondering who was this obnoxious character was interrupting our precious conversation. It turns out he was the owner of the restaurant and was laughing and putting on a show for some of the restaurant regulars. He looked like a crusty old Bretagne sea captain with a long, wild, gray beard and a beret, a clichéd character out of a French storybook.
My dessert was a sliver of apricot tart and a refreshing finish to my hearty dishes before. Lynn eyed her new friend from Prague downing a mammoth sized chocolate mousse with an obscene cloud of whipped cream piled high on top of it. She decided it was a must have and of course she couldn't finish it, so guessed who had to do the job. After almost 90 minutes I left stuffed and almost in a sugar coma and staggered home to have a nap.
Le Christ Inn Bistrot
15 rue Montmartre, 75001
Metro: Les Halles or Etienne Marcel
Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner
Tel. 01 42 36 07 56
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