...ontheroad

I'm not bräve, just naïve...

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Smiling until it hurt...

This week Laura went looking for restaurant reviews on the internet. She was looking for somewhere on the Plateau for Ulli's farewell meal. After living in the du Buillon apartment since last autumn, it was time for a suitable send off as she moved her mattress, books and immense collection of tea down Mont Royal to our apartment. Laura found a slightly pretentiously written but informative review relating to the Plateau's best little French restaurant, Le P'tit Plateau...

In a quiet but very central location (one block from the intersection of Mont-Royal and St. Denis) is this delightful restaurant. The atmosphere is perfect - a small room with open kitchen and honest decoration. Service very amenable, especially as we arrived after the start of the second sittings (at 1830 and 2030... go for the second so you aren't rushed to clear your table). Don't forget to bring your own wine. Entrées excellent: duck pâté perfect and grilled goats cheese to die for. Main courses - duck for me and salmon for my partner (from that day's menu of just six: a sure sign of a confident kitchen) were spot on. Maybe too fussy - lots of different but utterly agreeable flavours in the vegetables and intense sauces, but that's good solid French cuisine for you and it was a dream. For desert, the crème brulée is a simple delight, followed by good firm espressos. Bill for two, three courses (plus salad to start) came to $125 including service. Very worth while, perfect romantic night out for young, middle aged or older lovers.


And then she noted that the review was contributed by a Yahoo Travel user called 'jamesbrownontheroad'. Hmmm. Who could that be? Last January, Beatrice and I spent a three figure sum in the aforementioned establishment for an frighteningly perfect meal for two... the most wondrous grilled goat's cheese, an arrangement of vegetables and duck that almost made my legs melt and the finest crême brulée I have ever teasted. Laura was wise to follow my recommendation, and she, Mélisse and Ulli went out on Saturday for the second sitting at Le P'tit Plateau. I met up with them afterwards for a few beverages in le Boudoir, on Mont Royal Est.

And did they enjoy it? I shall just say that Laura was complaining of 'face cramp' from the smile she had been unable to shift from her face during the meal. Ulli was still rubbing her stomach and groaning with satisfaction the next morning at breakfast. And I think Mélisse had, for a brief moment, forgotten how far away from France she really was.

We drank, talked, danced briefly and then christened Ulli's new room with a half hearted pyjama party. Half hearted because no-one was wearing pyjamas, and Ulli feel asleep as soon as she lay down on her new bed. The sky was turning blue again as I went to bed, pausing only when I realised that, for once, it was a reasonable hour to call my girlfriend. Yep, the drunken phone calls have started again, although at least now there's no risk of me waking her up...

*j*

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