Cafe Rabelais

Went to grab lunch in the Village. 

Drove by the French restaurant and thought, why not?!

First thing first, they like to provide you with water for the table.  Very fancy looking bottle.  I just wanted some iced tea. 

While you wait, here's something to nosh on.  Warm breadstick with butter and some olives.

I got a Nicoise, but don't recall it looking like that last time I had it, though that was many years ago.  The tuna is albacore tuna (mushed up), anchovy, olive, tomato, potato, egg, green beans, and monster giant salad leaves.

Here post a challenge, your giant leaves for the salad are at the bottom, they are (as mentioned) giant, so you have to cut it up.  Essentially the execution would be to pull it out from under, cut it into easy to chew pieces, then add tuna, egg, tomato, potato, whatever.  Functionally it was not easy to do.  Then, I have a slight issue for the tuna.  Given I paid $18 for the salad, I sure hope that it is from an import canned tuna from Europe.  Otherwise, it's just a canned tuna on your salad.  Still not sure about that, and the texture is so mixed that I can't tell.  Usually the European canned tuna are not used in restaurants because of the possibility of high mercury content, but the olive oil doesn't taste like it.  So I cannot determine.  But for that price on a salad, I kinda was hoping I switched to French Onion Soup with something else. 

Ah well, I got some fries as consolation prize. 

The service was good, no complaint there.  Parking at the shopping center do charge.  You can try your luck at the street or the side of the building.  Pay attention to all the signs.

Cafe Rabelais

2442 Times Blvd

Houston, TX 

713-520-8841

https://www.caferabelais.com/

 

My French Croissant

Heard about French Wine Tasting in the Village area and went to explore.  This is made by Valerie from My French Croissant.

Of course what greeted me when I walked in were the beautiful eclair.  This is their chocolate mousse eclair.  It's nice and rich and definitely good quality chocolate.  It's not the same milk chocolate that you taste in your regular bakery.

Then she has a deal that's $20 for 6 macarons.  Of course, twist my arm there.  L to R: got Lemon Yuzu, Mango, and Blackcurrant.

Look at the beautiful pied.  So lovely, not crunchy and nice and soft as you bit into them.  The blackcurrant is a tad sweeter than I'd like.  The Mango is definitely my favorite, lucky that I got the last 2.  The Lemon Yuzu has a little zing but not over empowering.  

Valerie put a little table at the French Country Wines, and every Saturday they have open wine tasting.  Sometimes they even have the wine maker here to host them.  The wine selection is from all over France, pretty wide in terms of selections.  Then Valerie has her little table as a stop on your way out.  It's a pretty good deal.

My French Croissant

https://www.myfrenchcroissant.com/

follow their Instagram for up-to-date pop ups.

https://www.instagram.com/myfrenchcroissant/

 

Magnol Bakery

Came back to Magnol, hoping for some raisin bread, but came in too late.

But the line is still long given that it's 'late'.

They still have alot of bread available and the kitchen staff were busy still making more. 

Got some goodies....

Top is the pumpkin tart, not too hard, the center is pumpkin mousse and topped with golden pumpkin seeds.  Tart has custard and soft shell.   Then Opera cake on the right, it has multiple layers for the chocolatey goodness.  Then we have the Paris Brest, it's like a sandwich where you have choux bottom, cream, and choux top with almond slices and powdered sugar.  The middle cream is hazelnut almond praline, so good every bite.  Now I just need some more coffee.

Magnol Bakery

1500 North Post Oak

Ste 160

Houston, TX 77055

281-846-6661

https://www.magnolfrenchbaking.com/

 

HRW - PS 21

This year there weren't too many menus on the Houston Restaurant Week that excites me.

We came back to PS 21. 

You can do the HRW for dinner is $55 for the prix fixe and lunch is $25.  The place is small, so a reservation is a great idea.

I got a mojito

Casablanca - with tumeric, ras el hanot syrup, lime, and cardamom bitters

I got the Petatou - which has goat cheese on top of potato salad with olive and thyme.

I got the Crispy Salmon, which are salmon filet wrapped with pastry baked and a side of ratatouille.  Entire dish was great.

For dessert, we each got something different to split.  We got Crepe Suzette, it seemed to be a bit overcooked on this one.  It's too crispy on sides.  It's suppose to be chewy crepe. At any rate, it does have the citrus-y taste.  But the ice cream was good.

I got the Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding.  That was a great ending for the night. It is nice and moist and it had bourbon caramel sauce with the ice cream.  We liked this one best.

As mentioned earlier, it pays to have a reservation early on, simply the place is small so walk-in might now work.  They have a small parking lot but they do have valet.  So getting there also helps with parking as well.  We got a new server the night we were there, so it took longer because he has to get thru his training.  But food is good, service is fine.

PS-21

2712 Richmond Ave

Houston, TX 

346-571-8988

https://www.ps21htx.com/

 

PS - 21

A new French restaurant in town - of course I have to be nosy about,

especially since I'm a huge Francophile.

PS 21 is from the familiar Phillipe Schmidt of Phillipe that turned into Tables on Post Oak.

This was formerly the Queen Vic Pub space on Richmond.  What drawn me was that they have Raclette for dinner. 

Instead, we came for lunch.  They did attempt the Arnold Palmer for me, it was a lot zingy-er than a normal AP, but I appreciated the effort since it's such an un-French thing to order.

We both ordered lunch set.

Mine was Quiche of the day, which was gruyere and proscuitto (call it a fancy ham and cheese).  The crust is done well, fries and a small side of veggies to make sure your meal is set.  I will say, they do everything right, true French flavors in the quiche and for lunch the serving is more than enough.

Service is attentive and happy to explain anything we asked.  The space definitely lost the pub feel and up-classed all the way.  You saw the patio space at the top of the post, that'll come in handy when the temp cools down.  Not to mention their wine list is tight, so having a meal or having a happy hour then would be a great match.   

For lunch, reservation is not necessary.  But for dinner, reservation is highly encouraged.  The parking lot they have is small and tight, so pay close attention.  You can park around the corner on the street but do pay attention to the signs.  If the art gallery nearby has opening, the parking will present a challenge, best to valet, which they do offer during dinner hours.

PS 21

2712 Richmond Ave

Houston, TX 

346-571-8988

https://www.ps21htx.com/

 

Mon Ami Gabi

Came to Vegas for a girls trip.

First thing we did after dropping off bags, is to go grab brunch.

Even though they serve brunch, the brunch menu wasn't big, mostly lunch offerings.  Since I forgot about the time difference is 2 hrs instead of 1, I was starving by the time we arrived.  

Nonetheless, we got some coffee, some mimosa, and some brunch food.  I got the corn beef hash with poached eggs, and potato.  I just love to break the egg and mesh everything together.  All nice and gooey.  The bread they have comes with jelly and butter, but no fear, I ate those too.  I told you I was hungry.

The corn beef hash is done well and the potato seasoned very complimentary together.  Definitely filling for a meal.  The bread was a nice add, but didn't need it.  Just needed the carb for walking around.

Service is great, but let me tell you, if you don't have a reservation, which seems to be the theme for this trip, you'd be waiting for 20-40 minutes.  Trust me, your few minutes online is well worth your time.  We pretty much walked straight in.

Mon Ami Gabi

inside Paris Las Vegas

3655 S. Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 

702-944-4224

https://www.monamigabi.com/

 

Brasserie Du Parc

Went back to Brasserie du Parc for happy hour/dinner.

They have the Happy Hour only in the bar area.  If you seated in the dining area, they don't offer the Happy Hour prices.

That said, they offer enough that you won't starve.

I quite like their Herbal Lemon Soda, a bit salted with fleur-de-sel which cuts the zing from the lemon.

Meat and Cheese Board, has pate, cold cut, bread, pickle, apricot, baguette, cheese.

Mussels with shallots cream sauce.

Cesar Salade - with anchovy of course.

Pomme Frites

Beef Gnocchi, super packed with flavor, the sauce is super yummy too.  Having slices of parmesan helps too.

Beef tartare - this is a raw dish, not for the weak stomach, doesn't taste bad, but wouldn't recommend that as your first dish if you have never had that before.

Arancini a la Truffle, it is butternut squash with truffle risotto ball.  Pretty delicious.

If you are to take advantage of their Green Hour, you don't need a reservation.  Actually, if you go to dinner early enough, you don't need one either.  They're not super busy or their prices scared people away.  While they have good dishes, not enough to impress folks to come back time and again.  Given the area, there are many other choices, and you see folks just hang at the bar area and not the dinner area.  If it's a popular night, like a game or a popular concert nearby, it might be a good idea to make a reservation, but didn't find it necessary the night we went.

Brasserie du Parc

1440 Lamar St

Houston, TX 77010

832-879-2802

https://www.brasserieduparc.net

Rise No.2

It's been a while since I've been back to Rise.

Always loved their set up, put a little European in the middle of Uptown.

Love the wine rack.

Great attention to details.

We decided to split the cheese plate, which came in 3 types, 4 types, or 5 types.

Let's just admire the beautiful display of cheeseeeeeeeeeee.

Cute little plate of 3 types of cheese, there's Bardy Buzzed from Utah, St Andre's brie from France, and forgot the last one, sorry... BUT!  It comes with chutney, walnut, fig, pickle and olives to go with the toasts.

So, we split the dishes, which makes the lunch that much more fun.  You get to try a bit of this and that, and not feel like a pig. 

This is the Cauliflower & Brie.  You definitely can taste the brie, the cauliflower you know it's there, but not over empowering at all.  Sorry, missed the soufflé's shot.

The other dish we shared was the Salad Nicoise, which is seared Tuna with sliced egg, potato, tomato, with onion on top of a bed of greens.  Since their size is pretty generous, sharing is just right.

Of course, I have my priority straight, and that is, to save room for the Chocolate Soufflé.  This is so delectable.  The server, first create an opening and then drizzle the chocolate sauce into the space and the soufflé deflates some, and then drizzle more on top of the dish.  Oh my goodness, just wonderful. It was nice and piping hot, but it is not too sweet as one might suspected.  It is so fun to do this.

Ran into another set of friends, turns out they do cooking classes there in the shop.  So, that's something to consider if you're trying to think of something to do for a small group.  

That said, no matter if it's a holiday or not, dinner or lunch always make a reservation.  They do get filled up quickly.

Rise No. 2

1700 Post Oak Blvd

#290

Houston, TX 77056

713-850-7473

http://www.risesouffle.com

Eclair Paris

Went back to Eclair for breakfast (petit dejeuner) during a weekday.

I love the place, but right now there's a bunch of constructions right outside of their side of the street. Even though they're open at 7am, with the sign being inside, it was a tad misleading like they're close.  So, do me a favor, if you drive by there, really take a good look, they may really be open.

Start with a cup of tea.

Got a Omelette My Way - which has 3 eggs with toppings I selected.  I asked for spinach, mushroom and bacon.  It comes with 2 slices of mini baguette (warning, those are cold) and a side of roasted potatoes.  

Frankly, 3 eggs is a lot, so by the time I ate the omelette, I don't have room for anything else.  So, as delightful as they are, I just can't fit it all in.  That said, the breakfast is $12, so on top of my tea and tax, it's over $15 for one person.  

Now, don't be discouraged, because for lunch, they have a prix fixe for $14, and it is either Soup + Entree + drink; OR Entree, Dessert, and drink.  That is actually a very good deal. Their dessert looks amazing and definitely deserve to try it out.

Eclair Paris

2278 W. Holcomb Blvd

Houston, TX 77030

832-623-7754

https://www.eclairparis.com