After graduation, we all went to this amazing French bistro called "Bistro LQ" for a 6-course, fixed-plate meal. I can honestly say it was like nothing I have ever done before, but I would totally recommend that everyone do it at least once in their lives -- it was an experience I will never forget! It's important to try new things in this new chapter of my life, and while I have always been a pretty open eater, I thought I would just post what we got to eat last night. It was all really good!
Course #1:
This was the first course, which consisted of sea urchin, over a bed of tapioca pudding, infused with something fishy (lobster, I think). I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it was actually really good! On the right was some sort of gelatinous fishy tasting thing, with a whole mussel at the bottom. I actually couldn't eat this part, but I did manage to get the muscle down! Larry really liked it though.
Course #2:
The second course foie gras over ox tail in a pastry dough, with some greens between. The center of the foie gras is stuffed with huckleberries, which were really good! The consistency of the foie gras was a little weird, but overall the dish was pretty good! I really liked the ox tail, which was warm, and gave the dish a really savory flavor.
Course #3:
The third course was my favorite dish of the night. There was cod on the bottom, in some sort of buttery sauce, and a dumpling stuffed with crawfish. The dumpling actually tasted like a seafood potsticker! On top was some sort of leafy thing, fried in a tempura...which was really good, but now I can't remember what it was called. I think it was the buttery sauce that tied the whole thing together. Yum!
Course #4:
This one was quote an interesting experience. On the left was fish liver, which I could not eat. I did try a little bit, but it was just so fishy, I couldn't get it down. On the right side of the plate was monkfish with porcini mushrooms and some sort of green pesto sauce. It was really good, and I don't even normally like pesto sauce!
Course #5:
This one was really good too. Veal in a delicious sauce, with blood sausage and a few pieces of tripe. If I had to pick another favorite, this would be it. The veal practically fell off the bone it was so tender, and that sauce was just so amazing, I wish he had told us what was in it.
Cheese Course:
No French meal would be complete without smelly cheeses! The first picture is their entire cheese cart...and it was sitting right by our table. Every time the wind blew, we got a good wiff of cheese; not necessarily the best smell. However, while I didn't necessarily care for the cheeses they brought us (second picture), the rest of the family sure enjoyed them!
Course #6:
Dessert was the last course of our French meal. Each of us got a piece of chocolate cake, which was soaked in rum, and the cherries were soaked in sherry. Then they brought the whole table that long plate full of different little desserts, most of which were chocolate in orientation. At this point, I was so stuffed that I couldn't really eat much (especially since it was a lot of chocolate), but my mom and aunt were in heaven!
So, that was my first, 6-course French meal. It was so much fun, but it took a long time (2 and a half hours). I would certainly recommend Bistro LQ to anyone; the food was exquisite! I am really glad that I got to try new things, and it was a great way to start out my new, post-graduation life!
Until I got to the "I was so stuffed" comment I couldn't imagine actually being even remotely full from that - most of those dishes were more dish than food! But I guess if there are six of them, they will pile up. Glad you enjoyed your experience and that you had a lovely time with your family and dearly beloved!
ReplyDeleteAlso, WOOO WE'RE GRADUATES!