I didn’t really intend for Frenchie to become my “good news” place, but, it seems, the universe has decided for me.
It was, after all, over dinner at Frenchie Bar à Vins that I celebrated signing with my literary agent a few short months ago. And while it was unplanned, my sister and I were dining at Frenchie the day I got the news that I had become French.
It seems only appropriate.
The night we visited, we were lucky enough to sample our tasting menu at the bar, where we could watch as the chef de partie (a lovely friend of my sister’s) assembled some of the dishes we would be enjoying.
Our meal started with two bite-sized maple-bacon scones, a favorite from the takeaway outpost, Frenchie to Go. Buttery and rich, these were a great indicator of what was to come.
We next enjoyed a dish of carrots several ways – roasted, raw ribbons, and a delicious sauce. This dish was topped with shavings of foie gras, and while I found the pairing interesting, the foie gras was a bit too cold for my liking – a necessity, of course, to get the peelings into shape, but not the ideal way to enjoy rich, fatty foie.
The next dish may have been my favorite savory plate of the evening: sweet potato ravioli with Parmesan emulsion and shaved white truffles. Rich and full of flavor, this dish made me want to lick my plate (and order another).
Next up was a dish of smoked trout and both raw and roasted cauliflower. I was a huge fan of the interplay of textures in this dish, as well as its use of citrus: an orange beurre-blanc and delicious grains of finger lime made this dish bright and vivid.
I know that most Americans don’t eat much pigeon, but I really love it. We were encouraged to pick up the leg and eat it like a chicken wing; it was actually more reminiscent of duck in texture and in richness. I loved the roasted cabbage served alongside as well.
By this point, we were quite full, but there was still dessert to contend with. This coffee semifreddo was like a deconstructed tiramisu and completely negated the need for a post-dinner coffee.
But my favorite (of course) was a lemon curd disc served atop a pile of macadamia nut crumble with a quenelle of ice cream.
Frenchie has been hyped for a long time, and these days, the dining room often feels more Anglo than French. But with its attention to texture in addition to flavor and its innovative dishes that don’t stray too far outside of most people’s comfort zones, I can understand how it has become so popular.
Frenchie -Â 5 Rue du Nil, 75002 Paris